Rules of debate: No asking each other questions
111160
Excerpts from the &quot;Memorandum of Understanding&quot; signed by President Bush&#39;s and Sen. John Kerry&#39;s campaigns before the debates: No opening statements, but each candidate gets a two-minute closing statement.
763288
There are no rules as to when they can do it. Or how they do it. Or who can do it.
758768
Amazing, but even in this time of goodwill and cheer, some folks are always looking for a fight. A recent exchange with a regular reader got me thinking how divisive things can get.
78820
The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits the government from conducting "unreasonable searches" of our "persons, houses, papers, and effects" without a warrant.  The First Amendment, of course, protects our right to free speech.
119307
If he wanted, the Barack Obama of today could have a pretty good debate with the Barack Obama of yesterday. They could argue about whether the death penalty is ever appropriate. Whether it makes sense to ban handguns. They might explore their differences on the Patriot Act or parental notification of abortion.
478948
The last time I checked there were a lot of issues in the world that deserve debate. This isn&#39;ta political column or a business column so I do my best to stay away from those hot-button issues.
80996
Editor&#39;s Note: Both Democrats and Republicans show their discomfort with homosexuality -- and their willingness to use anything for political gain -- in the firestorm of debate surrounding comments about Vice President Dick Cheney&#39;s lesbian daughter.
217701
A number of assertions in the latest Republican presidential debate went unchallenged because candidates spent more time criticizing Democrats from afar than challenging Â and correcting Â each other face to face.
697814
QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. President. How will you go about bringing people together? Will you seek a consensus candidate for the Supreme Court if there's an opening? Will you bring some Democrats into your Cabinet?
361804
The Democrats' internecine squabbling over the war is a family argument about tactics, not a showdown over principle. The left should remember that.
558179
If the 2008 presidential candidates are forced, kicking and screaming, to debate science, what questions should they be asked? An impressive array of scientists, academics, politicians and journalists have joined Science Debate 2008, the grass-roots group urging the candidates to have a debate on science and technology. I can't imagine the candidates' handlers are happy [...].
562850
Traditionally, clashes over academic freedom have pitted politicians or administrators against instructors who wanted to express their opinions and teach as they saw fit. But increasingly, it is students who are invoking academic freedom, claiming biased professors are violating their right to a classroom free from indoctrination.
112339
In theory, putting presidential candidates on the same stage to debate the issues in a national broadcast is a great idea. Barring a major gaffe or a cute one-liner, however, the upcoming debates will likely be of little consequence.
388137
By David Schoen  THERE IS NOTHING like a good debate. Coke or Pepsi? Alyssa Milano or Christina Applegate?   And thanks, at least in part to David Stern, we have our next great debate.
348637
I love these NeoCon vote supression rules.  They're *sooooo* cute!  I have some more:   - If you've ever traveled outside of the US you can't vote.   - If you have a graduate degree you can't vote.   - If you make less than 6 figures you can't vote   - If you can spell Nuclear and pronounce it correctly then you can't vote.   - If you haven't accept Jesus as savior then you can't vote.   - If you've never ordered anything from Bass Pro Shops then you can't vote.  This is fun... if you can think of anymore please add a comment!
510893
Nevermind the civil war debate - the real question is why didn't the U.S. make a war declaration in the first place? That could bring an end to something that never should have been started
395558
Comment is free: Madeleine Bunting: It is not anti-choice to want a more thoughtful debate on why women have so many abortions.