Tonight was the first and only debate between Phil Angelides and Arnold Schwarzenegger, the two candidates for governor of California. It was a one-hour debate, with about 7 questions asked of the candidates. The format was meant to be a conversation between the two men, but it degraded IMMEDIATELY into stumping and scripted statements. In fact, this was the quickest I think I have ever seen two candidates shelve the format of a debate and descend into their own sad vision of the affair.
The debate didn’t change how I feel about my vote in this election. However, it did overall make me feel much less happy with both candidates. Neither was able to actually articulate an answer to the questions. Even Arnold’s softfall to Angelides at the end – “What is the funniest thing that’s happened to you on this campaign” – was dodged by Angelides (is that man hiding a comic scandal?). Amazing.
I listened for a discussion of science in the public forum, about support for research and education. Neither gave either issue much discussion. Rather than taking questions on education as a chance to say what they would do, each pretty much spent their time attacking the other. This is a classic mistake in public engagement – you never argue for your own case by arguing against the case of another. In the end, you’ve said nothing good about yourself, so in killing the other person you do nothing to bolster yourself.
I think this debate was a classic example of sad, modern politics. Neither candidate was actually up the the task of speaking with wisdom and vision about anything. Both men spent all their capital attacking the other. Instead of talking to each other, they talked past or around each other. Sad.
