Prepared Remarks != Debate

I can hardly find adequate words to express my disgust at the fact that the major debate for the California recall election (ie. the only one they could get Arnold to show up for) has released the questions ahead of time. As per my comments previously on this site and in discussion with Barry over the weekend, it is a great failing of the way we conduct our campaigns that major candidates can make it through to election day without speaking more than a few unprepared and unscripted lines. The whole entire point of debates is to get candidates off their scripts and speaking candidly. If you're not going to do that, don't bother holding the debate at all (and that goes for you too, Jim Lehrer).