Poll | 10/02/2008 12:00 am

Did you watch the '04 vice-presidential debates? Will you watch tonight's?

Read more about: Debates, Election 2008, Joe Biden, Sarah Palin, Vice President

53 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

I’m a news junkie, and this year’s debates are of special interest because of the state of our Nation and our World. CA

By C A Rose on 10/02/2008 12:56 am

e-mail alert

It was after watching Edward’s debate, I thought he would make an excellent presidential candidate. While I am personally disappointed in him now, I still remember how well he debated.

By Brooklyn Gal on 10/02/2008 3:17 am

e-mail alert

Still an excellent debater,just made a bad judgement call!!!!! Very sad.Glad to see Elizabeth out for her cause and not staying at home.One tough cookie.

By kathy hurt on 10/02/2008 9:44 am

e-mail alert

I have been watching the debates and conventions since childhood. My parents felt it important to stress the importance of Elections. I remember when we had 3 channels and they all carried the debates. Their was an air of importance that even as a child you payed attention. Then at school we would have mock conventions, debates, and elections. I look back on those school day events and smile, every teacher had to know where our households stood. Yet it gave me an appetite for Politics. I went on in High School to be apart JSA and Youth in Government with the YMCA. Great hands on education that was also a lot of fun.

By Jennifer Dooley on 10/02/2008 6:17 am

e-mail alert

I have too. My parents were very interested in politics and world events and they imparted that passion to us. Tonight, my 8th grade daughter will be watching with us and I applaud her teacher, who will be giving extra credit to those who turn in a reflection. I was disappointed to hear yesterday that many young people aren’t all that interested — the results, after all, will impact their future.

By Lucinda Herbert on 10/02/2008 6:39 am

e-mail alert

Lucinda, ” I was disappointed to hear yesterday that many young people aren’t all that interested — the results, after all, will impact their future.” Yes that is disappointing. I was thinking about the youth last night and how it should matter how they feel about this Election and the Bailout. For the very reason you stated, it is their future that these issue will effect the most. Please give your daughter big Kudos for be involved in such important events. She will never forget tonight or this Election Season.

By Jennifer Dooley on 10/02/2008 8:36 am

e-mail alert

My son is in boarding school and I just shot an e-mail to the headmaster asking him whether the kids are being encouraged to watch the debate and suggested that a weekly current events dinner for everyone be held, during which a discussion of the major domestic and world events could could be led by a teacher or student at each table. Both my husband and I were raised in homes where our parents took the time to inform us and involve us in matters of world importance. The seeds planted when we were young served us well and have stuck with us throughout our lives.

By Lucinda Herbert on 10/02/2008 9:10 am

e-mail alert

Way to go Mom! This moments are what devolope individuals that are aware and involved in caring about the world we live in. Thank you for carrying on the value of Voting and be involved. See you tonight on the blog I hope!

By Jennifer Dooley on 10/02/2008 9:22 am

e-mail alert

Jennifer,my husband and I are also political and news junkies.We have finally got our children to understand how important thsi election is.They now fully believe it is about them and the new granchild born this year.We decided to make it fun for this eve and are using Skype to watch the debates,so we can have conversation among us,we are in 4 diffirent states.Just proud they are registered voters and are interested in knowing and learning the process. Go Obama/Biden

By kathy hurt on 10/02/2008 9:50 am

e-mail alert

Kathy, WOW! what a great idea Skype-ing the debate. Excellent ! Maybe wOw will bring that edition to the site for events like this. What a fabulous thing that would be. Parents are the greatest influence on their children whether they know it or not. As I grow older, I become more and more aware of how many things that I did not realize that mine where teaching me through their actions and life styles. Once I got pass the ,Oh My parents stuff, I now see that their errors were small and not meaning to cause harm.It was the overall experience of being their child that really has brought me valuable lesson for life.

By Jennifer Dooley on 10/02/2008 11:39 am

e-mail alert

In talking to my daughter and her friends, their response has less to do with ambivalence about the election — they’re actually quite interested and involved in that — and more to do with a sense of boredom about Sarah Palin. They don’t get her “star quality” and find her annoying and lame. They’re also annoyed by their parents’ fascination with her.

By Susan B on 10/02/2008 10:24 am

Susan, It is uplifting to know that their are bright young women on the Horizon, that have a more open minded out look on Star power. That comes from their parents, so Kudos! We will miss you tonight, but Supporting your daughter is far more important than anything else. Look forward to hearing your voice on the Show tonight after you get a chance to see the re-run.

By Jennifer Dooley on 10/02/2008 11:44 am

e-mail alert

Thank you for your kind words, Jennifer. I’m very proud of her, and I have great hope that she and her peers will keep a steady hand on the wheel when we have turned it over to them. For their youth, they have a wisdom of the world that astonishes me sometimes. It flows so naturally from them, but I can’t take all the credit. They’re plugged into the world in a way we never were at that age, and the wisdom could be a cumulative result of sifting tons of daily input. Who knows. But I’m happy to see that the media-induced drama runs off of them most of the time. They see the manipulation, because they’re more cynical about mass media, perhaps. (Although, I can’t imagine anyone being more cynical about the mass media than I!)

By Susan B on 10/02/2008 12:44 pm

Susan, You know in someways we are nothing more than the privilege of being their parents. I have had people ask how did you raise your kids to be so hard working and kind. And I most often reply, “They are just being who they are, it’s not me they came to me that way, it been a real gift to be their parent.”

By Jennifer Dooley on 10/02/2008 12:58 pm

e-mail alert

It’ll be sufficient to read about it in the morning. I never watch television - I think the act of watching the screen is actually bad for the brain. I’ll read my book this evening (“The Year of Living Biblically”) and read the NY Times and various blogs and on-line news feeds tomorrow.

By Sam Mirando on 10/02/2008 8:17 am