Before I get going, a semi-disclaimer: I haven't watched any of the presidential debates start to finish. But I've watched substantial parts of most of them, including last night's Republican debate on CNN.

My views:
I don't have a problem at all with nutty questions, if they're occasional. Some journalists have written that the moderator was way out of line a few weeks ago with the Democrats to ask if they'd ever seen a UFO. I think that's a good question — it's surprising, and it might shed light on a candidate who actually has to answer something that he or she could not have rehearsed.

There is an axiom about interviewing people for profile stories or Q&As (so you're interviewing someone about himself or herself) that you definitely throw in a surprise question or two: "How early do you get up in the morning? What's your routine before work?" Or: "If you could choose one person other than your spouse/partner to have dinner alone with tonight, who would it be?" Asking a business CEO or a governor a question like that can provide more insight than drilling them on profits or taxes. So I like surprise questions in moderation.

The YouTube thing is hit or miss. Some of the questions are excellent. I thought the question last night about black-on-black crime (from an African-American father and his son) was excellent, though the answers were so-so. Then again, the song that started the debate and the question about gun control — which was funny, but too basic — added little.

There are too many debates with too many candidates. I am interested in politics and have followed them all my adult life, as a citizen and a journalist. But the debates are running together in my mind now and I agree that only the top 4-5 candidates should appear. On the other hand, that may have meant Gov. Huckabee was not at the GOP debates a few months ago. And he's coming on now.

I agree with critics of last night's debate too that NOT asking about energy was a huge mistake. If the YouTubers didn't think of it, Anderson Cooper definitely should have. He is a millionaire and the son of a multimillionaire (Gloria Vanderbilt). Maybe it showed that he isn't concerned about paying $3.10 a gallon for heating oil and gasoline this winter, while the rest of us are petrified. Heck, it's even related to Iraq and the Middle East situation, because of all the oil over there.

Now, I have questions for you. What do you think of the debates, and should we play them more prominently in the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel? No Maine newspaper played the GOP debate on page A1 today but I believe the Boston Globe did. How much should we play up the early primaries in New Hampshire, Iowa and elsewhere? (I say pretty much. Both races are close and the early primaries will be important...). You can post or email me directly at: econrad@centralmaine.com