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Posted by Matt Armstrong October 11, 2008 at 2:12 p.m.

Super Bonus Debate Round!

Something that came to my attention this week (through the [New England Skeptical Society's][1] interview with one of their spokepeople) was a movement called [Science Debate 2008][2]. In their words, "We have noticed that science and technology lie at the center of a very large number of the policy issues facing our nation and the world - issues that profoundly affect our national and economic security as science and technology continue to transform our lives. No matter one's political stripe, these issues pose important pragmatic policy challenges." Basically, science is kinda important, and it's not being talked about at the debates or in national coverage. During the primaries, there were more questions about [UFO's than climate change, and preferences for diamonds or pearls.][3]When the race had boiled itself down to 3 candidates, the Science Debate team sent invitations to ask them to join in an extra debate, focusing on core scientific ideas, and how the candidate would use that understanding to influence policy. None of them accepted, which is a little bit of a miss for Hillary. It could have given Clinton a much needed bump when she needed it, since Obama was being a little bit hazy on his stances then, still defining his campaign on the main stage. Either way it went, it also would've taken a bite out of McCain's campaign, since it risks his already shaky holding on fundamentalists (than being said, I wonder how many of the undecided voters are the hardcore fundies? Anyone have any numbers, I'd like to see them).Now that it's just down to Obama and McCain, they've concentrated the planned debate down to [14 questions][4] (from 3,400!), and both have responded with their answers. And they're pretty well thought out, without direct confrontation of course, and without word limits. The questions run from the expected like Climate Change and Stem Cells, to more future building, like maintaining the U.S.'s place in science education and how to maintain scientific integrity in the world of sponsors with very specific interests. Check it out, and let us know what you think. Were the questions about the most important topics? Anything else you would have liked to see? How did both do? I thought the question on Oceanic Health was interesting, with Obama using terms like "Stewardship", where McCain just kind of wants to keep an eye on things (belying ignorance, IMO). I keep expecting some kind of haymaker punch from one or the other candidates, and in person they just don't do it. But answers like Obama's on Stem Cell Research, that's about as close as I can get.-m@ [1]: http://www.theskepticsguide.org/index.asp [2]: http://www.sciencedebate2008.com/www/index.php?id=2 [3]: http://thinkprogress.org/2007/11/29/cnn-debate/ [4]: http://www.sciencedebate2008.com/www/index.php?id=42