Blogcritics: Comments on Debate Challenge to Senator Evan Bayh

Comment by Al Barger

Tue, 14 Sep 2004 01:13:25 EDT

Thanks, Eric. Re: debating Bayh, as our president would say, I'm going to smoke him out.

Comment by Eric Olsen

Mon, 13 Sep 2004 20:49:44 EDT

Give 'em hell Al, I think you have grown notably thus far via your campaign, and this is exactly the kind of thing any serious candidate would do. It's a good story either way. If he doesn't do it, it's a story, if he does, better still. Keep after it!

Comment by Bob A. Booey

Mon, 13 Sep 2004 19:46:58 EDT

Procreation usually requires sex of some sort.

Comment by RJ

Mon, 13 Sep 2004 01:01:18 EDT

"It'll make a great story you can tell to the grandkids you'll never have" What the hell is this supposed to mean?

Comment by Bob A. Booey

Sun, 12 Sep 2004 19:38:33 EDT

You should thank your lucky stars you and your micro-party never get a sniff of a televised debate with Bayh. Based on what you write here about politics, he'd reduce you to a ridiculous, raving caricature within two minutes. He's far more experienced at being cool, calm, and persuasive in front of the media and your positions wouldn't be defensible no matter how much wild-eyed fervor you put into your Dungeons & Dragons attack plans and Ayn Rand quotes. But maybe you want a spectacle. What's your big argument? That the voters should trust a libertarian in a beret more on national security and that everyone who's not a libertarian is a socialist? Look at this election. Both parties are pro-business and get lots of corporate donors as a result -- fringe parties lack credibility to business leaders, much less in the area of foreign policy or national security. Go ahead and try and talk tough about radical Muslims -- get out a stopwatch too and see how long it takes people to start laughing. Or do you plan to win on big ideas like getting the government out of education or abolishing taxes? If all that fails, you can always go after the drug legalization constituency or run solely on your biography and character as an unknown. All winners. People in the Midwest like common sense, not childish notions about dismantling the state or ad hominem attacks against a popular elected offical. I welcome skepticism toward our leaders, but speaking truth to power is about having better ideas and better values, not immature posturing and tired ideologies that are long on canards and rhetoric and short on practical experience in governing. People are taking this election seriously and are looking for serious candidates and respectable public servants more than ever before. I give Mike Kole credit for his perspective on this -- he seems like a fairly sharp, reasonable organizer even if I think you libertarians are inherently limited by your ideology (and image, to an extent) in gaining broader support. Live your life already, Senator. This desperate attention-seeking is infantile. Or at least recognize your motivations for what they are. I'm not trying to be a spoil-sport or a bummer, honestly. Have fun going out and meeting people. It'll make a great story you can tell to the grandkids you'll never have, but don't delude yourself into thinking you'll ever get the attention of Bayh or most voters. I give you credit for trying, though, and I hope you're learning something you can take with you after you get less than half a percent in November. That is all. P.S. -- I voted for Nader in 2000.

Comment by Al Barger

Sun, 12 Sep 2004 13:13:43 EDT

It's not just a question of wanting Evan booted. Even if you think that Evan Bayh is the greatest thing since sliced bread, he should be expected to come out and debate his opponents so that Hoosier voters can decide that for themselves. Last I heard, Senator Bayh had $7.4 million dollars in campaign cash. Neither I nor Marvin Scott, our Republican opponent, will ever see that kind of money in life. Corporate lobbyists just aren't beating down the door to buy influence from a third party candidate such as myself. But that's cool with me. Give me a few simple debates with the senator on radio and tv, and I'll have no complaints about the money. If I get a chance to get my two cents in, then the voters can hear and make their choice. Beyond that, I don't care if he spends a bazillion dollars buying every tv ad, billboard and radio spot going. Especially considering that Evan Bayh is obviously being set up as a future presidential contender, the good people of our state should get a little closer look at him NOW before he goes national. I've talked to numerous voters who just think Evan is great - but I have not yet found one who could tell me one thing that he's actually done as a governor or senator to merit those high opinions.

Comment by Hal Pawluk

Sun, 12 Sep 2004 12:49:53 EDT

I'm with you on this one, Al - I'd like to see Evan Bayh booted, too. Is there a second Republican contender to include in the debate? (Bayh, a member of the Democratic Leadership Council, seems to me a mini-me-Republican along the lines of Joe Lieberman and a number of others rather than a Democrat.)