Debating is very informative. It would be nice to have some real debates between the remaining four candidates for the Republican candidate. It would really be informative to watch a real debate between that person and President Obama. Unfortunately, it won’t happen.

A real debate is one according to Robert’s Rules of Order. In these debates the only persons asking questions are the debaters. There is a monitor who makes sure they are debating according to the rules. Each debater is given thirty minutes to make their case and then twenty minutes to make a rebuttal.

At the moment, what we are having is a farce. It is almost impossible to make a point in three minutes or less. It is even more impossible to make a rebuttal in thirty seconds.

During these primaries we have Republicans arguing to become the candidate. This process is by nature, negative. This is a good thing. Why? Because it is preparing them to take the heat they will receive from President Obama.

When they are negative, doesn’t that give President Obama ammunition? President Obama and his staff already know each Republican’s dirty laundry. This is the reason that a long primary is a good thing. The Republican candidate had better be prepared to respond to the attacks made by the Democrats. Likewise, all the Republican candidates already know how they will attack President Obama and he knows them.

The tragedy is, the present system will not give the voter the information needed to make an intelligent decision. Why? Two reasons. Depending on the network sponsoring the debate, the candidate of their choice will be thrown softballs while they will throw hardballs to the candidate they want to lose. We need to get rid of the moderators and trust the two candidates to bring up major points. The only question either candidate needs to be asked is “Why will you be a better president than your worthy opponent?”

They longer the Republican primary runs the better it is for their candidates and the worse it is for President Obama. The worse thing Republicans can do is sell President Obama short. Like the last election, this election will be decided by the best debater.

Dale C. Flowers

Hendersonville