We need this!

We need this!

I wrote a lighthearted diary yesterday about the 2016 Presidential Debate Schedules.

As I was researching, I discovered that the RNC already has firm commitments for many of their nine scheduled debates. Using the same source, I discovered that none of the DNC's six planned debates have actually been scheduled. No actual date, no time, no venue and no sponsor. I also found some other very disturbing information.

Before we get too far into this, let's back up and take a look at how the 2008 Democratic Primary Debates were handled.

In 2008, there were eight candidates running for the nomination. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, Bill Richardson, John Edward, Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel. There were a total of 26 presidential debates and the first was on April 26, 2007 in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Two more debates were conducted in June, another two in July and by the end of August, a total of nine debates had been conducted. By the end of December, a full 17 debates had been aired.

It wasn't until January 3, 2008 when the first candidates, Joe Biden and Chris Dodd withdrew from the race. They were followed by Bill Richardson on January 9, Dennis Kucinich on the 24th and John Edwards on the 30th.

Things certainly have changed since 2008. As we approach the end of July, when we had already seen five debates in 2008, we have seen none. Granted, that many of the five candidates vying for the nomination in 2016 joined the race at later dates, we have yet to have a single debate. Even more disturbing, as I write this, there is not a single one of the planned six Democratic debates that have even been scheduled!

The DNC released it's schedule on May 5th 2015. Details were vague at best, six debates would be held, the first four in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina and the remaining two to be determined. No hosts were announced nor were any firm dates. In the link above, the schedule indicates that the first planned debate is to be held sometime in August or September.

If you compare this with the RNC debate schedule that was released on January 16, 2015 you find that not only did the RNC announce there would be nine debates, with the possibility of adding three more, but they announced the state for each debate and which news organizations would be conducting them. On May 15th, 2015, the RNC announce that their first debate would take place on August 6th, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio and would be hosted by FOX News.

At this late date, it seems nearly impossible that one could select a venue, pick a date, obtain a sponsor and take care of the necessary logistics to actually conduct a debate by the end of August. The republicans announced their first debate nearly 3 months in advance of the actual debate.

Follow me over the fold and we'll look at some of the disturbing news I found.