Here’s how the next debate should go

Now that President Joe Biden has announced that he will not seek re-election, and as a result there will be a new candidate representing the Democratic Party, I would hope that there will be at least one more presidential debate held before Election Day. If that happens, I propose some changes to the debate format.

The debate time would be two hours total, broken down like this: a 45-minute question and answer session, followed by a 30-minute recess, ending with a second 45-minute Q-and-A.

During the 30-minute recess, two things take place. A non-partisan group of fact checkers use the sophisticated technology currently available to check statements, claims and/or answers the two candidates made during the opening 45-minute Q-and-A session for accuracy, falsehoods or lies. While this fact checking is going on behind the scene, each candidate will provide a pre-recorded 15 minute video presentation sharing their plans and agenda for our country during their new administration. Because this is pre-recorded, there will be no interruptions or arguing between the candidates, allowing the viewing audience quiet time to listen and consider each candidate’s platform.

After these two presentations, and before the second 45-minute Q-and-A session, the fact-checkers will present the viewers the results of the research — an “honesty report card” if you will. Sharing this type of information with the viewers may shed light on the character and trustworthiness of each candidate, and may make the viewers even more discriminating listeners for the final 45 minutes.

Perhaps these ideas, coupled with the last debate’s muting of microphones to eliminate speaking out of turn, will help provide Americans an enhanced, truthful and informative debate, something we all deserve.

Mike Miller, Lakeland

A seamless pairing

Minnesota voters rarely make sound decisions, see our big city mayors, attorney general and, of course, our governor.

That governor, Tim Walz, is being mentioned as a potential vice presidential candidate and running mate with Kamala Harris. No pairing could be more seamless, Harris coming from the brutally incompetent Biden administration and Walz coming from an equally inept DFL.

Oh the stories they could share, Harris laughing about the way she secured our southern border, and Walz giggling about how he made 18 million taxpayer dollars disappear.

And while it is quite unlikely that this dream team will actually come to be, it certainly would have been good for some grins.

Jon Swenson, Eagan

What goes around, comes around

We cannot afford to have a President who is too old.

We cannot afford to have a President who can’t walk down a ramp unassisted.

We cannot afford to have a President who slurs or creates words — cofefe.

We cannot afford to have a President who mixes up names, and even countries.

Bada bing, bada bong.

Alan Miller, Eagan

How the story changes

I find it funny how the story changes. Last week President Biden was a strong, capable leader who was going to continue to campaign and return for another term as President. He had the vision and message of the future. Now he has dropped out of the race and says that it’s time for “fresh voices … younger voices.” It makes me wonder who is controlling his strings.

Thomas Mortensen, St. Paul

What Pence said

Joe Biden entered the 2020 presidential race believing he was the candidate with the best chance to defeat Donald Trump. His stated intentions were to restore civility in politics, and improve the nation’s standing in the world, without the chaos, turmoil and divisiveness of the former administration.

Fast forward 3-1/2 years, and many say that democracy itself is on the line in the upcoming election. And while Joe Biden has always been a never-quit fighter, overcoming numerous obstacles over the years, he made the gut wrenching decision to step away from being the Democratic nominee, which was his for the taking. Putting the best interest of the country before personal interest, he realized that while he succeeded in removing Trump from the White House by entering that 2020 race, his best chance of keeping Trump from returning to the White House, is by leaving the 2024 race.

And if democracy really is on the line this November, consider this. The former second highest ranking Republican from the last administration, Mike Pence — someone who knows a thing or two about saving democracy — had this to say: Biden “made the right decision for our country and I thank him for putting the interests of our Nation ahead of his own.”

Pat Cullen, Stillwater

Opportunities

The Associated Press, as printed in the Pioneer Press, is quoting Vice President Kamala Harris as saying, “We believe in a future where every person has the opportunity not just to get by, but to get ahead.”

I pray that someday Vice President Kamal Harris will be quoted as saying, “We believe in a future where every person has the opportunity not just to be conceived, but to be born.”

David Hobbs, Newport

Hyperbole for all!

In response to President Biden’s decision to drop out of the race and endorse the VP; “Kamala Harris —a s well as every other Democrat in Washington, sat by and did NOTHING,” Trump senior advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles said in a Sunday statement. “They are all just as complicit as Biden is in the destruction of our once-great Nation, and they must all be thrown out of office.”

Or …

“House and Senate Republicans sat by and did NOTHING as Trump watched and applauded an attack on the Capitol. They are all just as complicit as Trump is in the destruction of our once-great Nation, and they must all be thrown / kept out of office.”

If we’re going to use hyperbole, then let’s apply it equally.

Doug Hansell, Burnsville

Investing in cleaner energy

3M recently announced that the company is investing in Ohmium, a firm that produces electrolyzers for the generation of clean hydrogen. It is gratifying to learn of the investment in a new market segment, one that is contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions, by a corporation that is expanding into a market that will aid in the reduction of greenhouse gases, the chief cause of global warming.

This is a responsible decision and one that should contribute to 3M’s profitability and give it a return to help cover its legal costs for defective earplugs and “forever chemicals.” Green hydrogen is key to fueling aircraft, replacing jet fuel, and can also power land vehicles and seagoing vessels. Hopefully, 3M can find an opportunity to invest in carbon sequestration, which must accompany eliminating carbon emissions, if we are to keep the planet from warming beyond 1.5 degrees Centigrade.

Arthur E. Higinbotham, Northfield

Breach after breech

Don’t you just hate the too frequent “we’re sorry” letters that seem to be templates — about the data security breach incident that affected you. Too many to count. Two or three colleges attended, an employer, and today — from our colonoscopy clinic. U of M: I thought you had departments teaching cyber security? The colonoscopy clinic letter ends by saying please accept my sincere apologies (it is unsigned) but be assured that we have now taken steps to protect our systems. Even though the hacking incident took place 11 months ago, we take this urgent matter seriously. Yes the hackers obtained your name, address and SSN info. Given that it is a colonoscopy clinic, perhaps your inner-most secrets as well.

You can’t count on anyone to watch your backside anymore.

Jim Finnegan, Roseville

Sainted

I would like to publicly recognize the good Samaritan who went out of his way, on July 22, to change a tire, on my 21-year-old pickup, that blew out after running over an object on a very busy Highway 52. Having decided I was not going attempt replacing the tire, I was about to call for assistance when Tony Silva stopped and offered to change the tire.

It turned out that the tire jack I had was not adequate for the task, causing Tony to get the jack from his car. After the tire was replaced, Tony told me that he had driven past me and as he did, thought that the person standing next to the pickup (me) could have been his dad. So he exited the highway, backtracked and stopped to help.  At almost 83 and being the parent of three great adult children, I know Tony’s dad would be proud of him. Tony, I can’t thank you enough.

Robert B. DeNardo, Eagan

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