During the past many months, we have been treated to Republican presidential candidates engaged in what is only loosely called "debate." A more apt title for these might be "candidate position statements," as they answer (or, like Gingrich, refuse to answer) questions likely to elicit unpopular responses from a liberal-biased media. Sometimes the candidates have taken de bait, often to their sorrow.

Alternatively, candidates use the questions as a springboard to savage each other, and the last bloodied man standing will be opposing a fresh and well-funded Barack Obama. I wonder why the GOP signed on to so many (29!) of these fiascoes; maybe the left has some new political genius? Or maybe the idea is to get the voters so sick and tired of politics that they just forget to vote in November.

There were a lot of potential GOP candidates this time around, and we needed some type of sorting process. However, I think the "debate" thing has been overdone this time. Maybe Nielsen ratings will decide whether this process will be repeated. The phrase "bread and circuses" come to mind, recently replaced by pro sports and American Idol.

ROY BUNNELL, Kennewick