NPR: If That's a Mammoth, the NPR Debate Must Be Nearby

If That's a Mammoth, the NPR Debate Must Be Nearby

I just got back from the site where the Democratic presidential candidates will meet Tuesday for a debate hosted by NPR and Iowa Public Radio.

The debate is happening inside Iowa's State Historical Building, next to the capitol in Des Moines. The building includes a museum of state history, starting with a huge mammoth skeleton in the front lobby (which has led to a few jokes about how to find NPR's debate space: "Take a left after the mammoth and then it's two doors to your right.")

The candidates will meet in a section of the building that houses an exhibit about the state's caucuses. The space is about the size of a living room in a big house — many times smaller than the debate forums you see on television.

That means there's only a few feet between the candidates and the NPR moderators, Robert Siegel, Michele Norris and Steve Inskeep. I know because we just finished a debate run-through during which I stood in for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. (I didn't feel tall enough to carry off the part.)

There's no flashy staging. No huge video screens. No hissing or cheering audience. That creates a completely different ambiance, which perhaps will help the debate go deeper into the issues on the table. And, remember, some of the questions being asked are the ones submitted by you, the readers of this blog.

8:20 PM ET | 12- 3-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

A main reason Osama bin Laden, al-Qaida and other Islamic extremists hate the West, and particularly the United States of America, is the support (military and otherwise) that is given to Israel. This issue never seems to come up when discussing the motivations behind the 9/11 attacks or the motivations of Islamic extremists in general. Would any of the candidates re-examine America's level of diplomatic, military and economic support for Israel if it meant the US being more secure from groups such as al-Qaida?

Sent by Scott Allen | 1:33 AM ET | 12-04-2007

I have to agree with Scott's comment. Our unwavering support of Israel, and the undue influence of their lobby in Washington, which happens to be the most powerful single-issue lobby in America, is one of the most dangerous aspects of our foreign policy.

Sent by Michael Boulos | 8:01 AM ET | 12-04-2007

It seems to me that the social security table is on its head. After a certain amount paid you quit paying - shouldn't it be the other way around? Until a certain amount of income is earned (not just poverty level), you don't pay. Please remove the caps! Does a millionaire even notice that he is no longer paying SS anyway?

Sent by Cynthia Thornton | 9:59 AM ET | 12-04-2007

Most candidates have made reference to the importance of improving our K-12 educational system with trite,tired, and ineffectual ideas such as vouchers, choice, merit pay, teacher accountability, parent involvement, and raising the bar. The idea that there are wonderful, brilliant, and heroic teachers who if found, can and do turn the lives of their students around is a myth that prevents us from looking at the real problem of institutional failure. The focal point of American society must be to create and develop an educational system similar to those countries that excel in preparing their young people to lead sucessful lives on both personal and global levels. This could mean year-round school with breaks, longer school days with built in, supervised study time; arts and physical activities included on a daily and weekly basis, and fewer subjects taught in longer blocks of time as opposed to 7 or 8 subjects a day, 40 minutes each with 10 of those minutes used for grooming and socializing. When students leave school, they should be able to leave school behind, and spend time with family and friends. The growing drug and violent crime problem in America is directly related to the failure of our educational system as an institution and hallmark of a productive, just society. What do you think?

Sent by Ellen Greegor | 11:18 AM ET | 12-04-2007

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