Kerry rode his drubbing of President Bush last week to a lead in the national polls. Even Kerry supporters, however, have expressed dissatisfaction over the format, noting the absence of substance and genuine exploration of such key issues as affordable health care, environmental protection and education.
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Jeff OBrien
English teacher
Broadmoor Bluffs area
What's your read on last week's debate? I discount the debates because the candidates are telling me what I want to hear instead of what they really think. But I thought Kerry addressed the questions more than Bush, who didn't really think before he spoke.
What was the debate's most entertaining moment? It was kind of fun watching Bush's facial expressions.
What's the most ignored important issue? No Child Left Behind. Nobody wants to talk about helping kids progress. The emphasis is on standardized testing, and that doesn't really do it.
What question would you ask the candidates if you could? To spell out their plans for what's next in Iraq.
Who should be running for president that isn't? I kind of liked Nader, but I recently heard him speak in Washington state, and I wasn't impressed. I'd like to see candidates besides Bush and Kerry, though.
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Anthony Brooker
Helicopter pilot
Santa Barbara, Calif.
What's your read on last week's debate? They reaffirmed the impressions I had of both candidates going into it. There wasn't much actual debate.
What entertained you most? How Bush couldn't answer his questions within the time limit.
What question would you ask at Friday's debate? Why is it that, in a supposedly democratic society, what goes on in lawmaking is kept so secret from the common person?
What important issue is being ignored? Public health care. Every U.S. citizen should have access to that.
Who should run for president that isn't? Rudolph Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City. He brought down the crime rate and he had to work with a diverse population.
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Paula George
Disability specialist
Shooks Run
What did last week's debate do for you? It reinforced my idea that Bush thinks from a script, and that Kerry has some unique and refreshing ideas.
What important issue is Bush and Kerry ignoring? The unfunded mandates of No Child Left Behind. We're spending millions to rebuild and refit schools in Iraq, but we're cutting the funding to American schools.
What was the debate's highlight for you? When Sen. Kerry told Bush how much he'd enjoyed his family, especially his daughters and some of the things they'd said.
What question do you wish you could ask in Friday's debate? What three things will you do to affirm to lower- and middle-class Americans that they live in the greatest country on this planet?
Who should be running for president that isn't? Dennis Kucinich. I really liked his proposal to establish a Department of Peace.
