Editorial - "Presidential Pivot" - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Editorial - "Presidential Pivot"

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By Collin R. Gaston - bio | email

  • Editorials

  • Thursday, May 16 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:20:04 GMT
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;

  • Tuesday, May 14 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-14 23:20:07 GMT
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 

  • Thursday, May 9 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-09 23:20:06 GMT
    What was the old Pan-Am gas station at the corner of Bibb and Coosa is now no longer.  Last weekend that landmark was demolished with nothing remaining where it once stood other than the outline of a foundation. What
    What was the old Pan-Am gas station at the corner of Bibb and Coosa is now no longer.  Last weekend that landmark was demolished with nothing remaining where it once stood other than the outline of a foundation. What
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MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -

Did you watch the debate on Wednesday?  I did, and like so many others I certainly have an opinion about who won and who lost. But, did you notice something?  It's something that has become all too common in politics.  The debaters did a typically masterful job of dodging the questions.  They….and I mean both of them, the President and the Governor, so often didn't even attempt to answer the question that was asked. I don't know about you, but the continued dodging of questions, to me at least is frustrating.

In the game of basketball to pivot you keep one foot firmly in place while holding the ball and moving the other foot in any direction as you decide where to pass the ball.  Did Wednesday night's Presidential debate feel like one big pivot to you with question after question posed by the moderator followed by pivot after pivot by the candidates?

When someone asks you a direct question what do you want in return?  A direct answer is what most everyone would say.   We certainly don't feel that was the case during the debate and I for one just wanted to yell at the screen, "Answer the question asked!"

Might we respectfully suggest a few things before the next debate on October 16th.  Number one, if you don't answer the question that was asked of you your time is up. Number two, have a moderator that keeps a firm grip on the clock and holds the candidates accountable to the tough questions asked. Number three, give each candidate 4:00 minutes at the beginning and the end of the debate to get all of their memorized talking points out of the way. 

We Americans have two more debates to learn as much as we can about the plan you have for this country in 2013 and beyond and we have a lot of direct questions – please give us some straight answers.

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