Lots going on just one day into February...
In Science magazine, Donald Kennedy has an excellent editorial called 'The Real Debate':
We in the United States are sliding down a ramp that will take us, in just 4 days, to the much anticipated "Super Tuesday" in the presidential nomination cycle, when voters in over 20 states participate in preliminary elections to select their favorite candidate. I have prepared for this by watching, in alternating stages of boredom and disbelief, the numerous "debates" staged by the creative powers who run television. I wonder whether the same sensations haven't affected our scientific colleagues in other nations, where leadership is decided in an atmosphere that is, well, a bit more stately. Here it may be too late to change anyone's mind about their vote on 5 February, but perhaps between now and the culminating summer conventions that will announce the final party candidates, we can have a debate focusing on the candidates' views about science and technology.
I disclaim any intellectual property rights to this idea; probably most of you have already thought of it. My News colleagues at Science have already examined the candidates' records and statements (4 January 2008 issue). But a public debate on science could launch disagreements among the candidates and sharpen positions. Chris Mooney and Shawn Otto have organized a group of concerned scientists, journalists, and leaders of government, nongovernment, and business institutions to push for that (www.sciencedebate2008.org). The American Association for the Advancement of Science, the publisher of Science, has agreed to cosponsor the debate, and the project has been endorsed by Congressman Bart Gordon (D-TN), chair of the House Science and Technology Committee.
The full text, including Kennedy's thoughtful consideration of who might moderate the event is available online here (although you need a password to see the full text). He provides suggests some great potential questions.
Also, over at A Blog Around The Clock, Bora interviewed me about science blogging, saving species, and (you guessed it!) ScienceDebate2008. Check it out...
This is all very well but the big problem is that this idea has apparently received exactly zero attention in the mainstream media. Until it does, I am afraid that the good folks promoting it are whistling in the wind.