--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Debates are set up for nothing more than…" description: "\"Debates are set up for nothing more than to tear down the candidates. It's pretty hard to be able to sit and lay out your ideas and your concepts with ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/rick-perry-1638_able_debates-are-set-up-for-nothing-more-than_870372.png" --- # Debates are set up for nothing more than to tear down the… ![“Debates are set up for nothing more than to tear down the candidates. It's pretty hard to be able to sit and lay out your ideas and your concepts with a one-minute response.” quote by Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/rick-perry-1638_able_debates-are-set-up-for-nothing-more-than_870372.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/rick-perry-1638_able_debates-are-set-up-for-nothing-more-than_870372.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/rick-perry-1638_able_debates-are-set-up-for-nothing-more-than_870372.png) > “Debates are set up for nothing more than to tear down the candidates. It's pretty hard to be able to sit and lay out your ideas and your concepts with a one-minute response.” [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Debates often become destructive, preventing candidates from clearly presenting ideas within brief time limits. **In simple terms:** Debates are destructive. Key Takeaway Seek clearer communication. Themes politics communication debate format Mood critical analytical Type political commentary When to use this quote - election cycles - policy discussions - media training - public speaking Key Concepts public discourse media framing Questions to Reflect On - How could debates be restructured for substance? - What alternative formats allow deeper idea exchange? A Different Perspective Time constraints hinder depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Candidates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidates/) [Candidates Pretty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidates-pretty-946195/) [Concepts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concepts/) [Concepts Minute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concepts-minute-946194/) [Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate/) [Debates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debates/) [Debates Set](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debates-set-946193/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Lays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lays/) [Minutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minutes/) [One minute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-minute/) [Response](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/response/) [Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) ## Related quotes > [Mexico isn't a country of routine debates among presidential candidates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-dresser/mexico-isn-t-a-country-of-routine-debates-among-presidential/) [Denise Dresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-dresser/) > [Presidential primary debates are an important part of our political process. But the media has wrested complete control from the parties and candidates over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/presidential-primary-debates-are-an-important-part-of-our-political/) [Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/) > ['Doctor Who' is, unavoidably, a product of mid-twentieth-century debates about Britain's role in the world as its empire unravelled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-lepore/doctor-who-is-unavoidably-a-product-of-mid-twentieth-century-debates/) [Jill Lepore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-lepore/) > [Debates go on to this day about what caused the Great Depression. Economics is not very good at explaining swings in economic activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-fama/debates-go-on-to-this-day-about-what-caused-the-great-depression/) [Eugene Fama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-fama/) > [But I do think its necessary to have debates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-ferraro/but-i-do-think-its-necessary-to-have-debates/) [Geraldine Ferraro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-ferraro/) > [I don't do formal debates, because formal debates where you have two people up on a stage in equal status, and each of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-don-t-do-formal-debates-because-formal-debates-where-you-have-two/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“Almost all political debates by politicians are no more than mutual leg pulling.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-ranjan-goswami/almost-all-political-debates-by-politicians-are-no-more-than-mutual/) [Ravi Ranjan Goswami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-ranjan-goswami/) > [At the height of the Cold War, when Ronald Reagan was president, the Soviets and their allies and satellites did not shirk human rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/at-the-height-of-the-cold-war-when-ronald-reagan-was-president-the/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [I oversee debates, premises, questions. And that's my role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-hoyle/i-oversee-debates-premises-questions-and-that-s-my-role/) [Lindsay Hoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-hoyle/) > [There's no question that many factors contribute to voters' perceptions about debates and who wins and who loses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/there-s-no-question-that-many-factors-contribute-to-voters/) [Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/) > [In general, I found that the more that debates can be about facts and data, the more likely government is to make sound decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-genachowski/in-general-i-found-that-the-more-that-debates-can-be-about-facts-and/) [Julius Genachowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-genachowski/) > [I never listen to debates. They are dreadful things indeed. The plain truth is that I am not a fair man, and don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/i-never-listen-to-debates-they-are-dreadful-things-indeed-the-plain/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [When I start getting embroiled in heated debates and feeling stressed, I just turn everything off and disconnect from the world. I simply tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-wadhwa/when-i-start-getting-embroiled-in-heated-debates-and-feeling-stressed/) [Vivek Wadhwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-wadhwa/) > [In 2000 the majority of people wanted me and Buchanan on the debates in two thousand. And me on the debates in 2004. have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/in-2000-the-majority-of-people-wanted-me-and-buchanan-on-the-debates/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [“Arguments led by subjectivity are a waste of time. And, if they take place online, add to that, a waste of one’s keyboard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/arguments-led-by-subjectivity-are-a-waste-of-time-and-if-they-take/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) ## More by Rick Perry > [I've never struggled with that at all. In the state of Texas, if you come into our state and you kill one of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/i-ve-never-struggled-with-that-at-all-in-the-state-of-texas-if-you/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [We understand that you have to create an environment where that those men and women who are entrepreneurs can risk their capital and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/we-understand-that-you-have-to-create-an-environment-where-that-those/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [George W. Bush did an incredible job in the presidency, defending us from freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/george-w-bush-did-an-incredible-job-in-the-presidency-defending-us/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [I think there are a substantial number of scientists who have manipulated data so that they will have dollars rolling into their projects. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/i-think-there-are-a-substantial-number-of-scientists-who-have/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [What I learned growing up on the farm was a way of life that was centered on hard work, and on faith and on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/what-i-learned-growing-up-on-the-farm-was-a-way-of-life-that-was/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [The people who illegally cross into the country are from countries that have very close ties to al Qaeda, whether it's Yemen or Afghanistan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/the-people-who-illegally-cross-into-the-country-are-from-countries/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [It is up to us, to this present generation of Americans, to take a stand for freedom, to send a message to Washington that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/it-is-up-to-us-to-this-present-generation-of-americans-to-take-a/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [I know for a fact that Ted Cruz every day uses two checklists - to guide him through his personal and professional life -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/i-know-for-a-fact-that-ted-cruz-every-day-uses-two-checklists-to/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [There is evil prowling in the world - it shows up in our movies, video games and online fascinations, and finds its way into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/there-is-evil-prowling-in-the-world-it-shows-up-in-our-movies-video/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [Religious freedom does not mean freedom from religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/religious-freedom-does-not-mean-freedom-from-religion/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [We need to stop apologizing for celebrating life. We need to stop apologizing for wanting to protect an individual's right to build a business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/we-need-to-stop-apologizing-for-celebrating-life-we-need-to-stop/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [America does not need to be worried with bailing out a European country that has made irresponsible expenditures, and then all of a sudden,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/america-does-not-need-to-be-worried-with-bailing-out-a-european/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [It (Social Security) is a Ponzi scheme for these young people. The idea that they're working and paying into Social Security today, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/it-social-security-is-a-ponzi-scheme-for-these-young-people-the-idea/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [I don't believe man-made global warming is settled in science enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/i-don-t-believe-man-made-global-warming-is-settled-in-science-enough/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [Reforming public education, cutting property taxes, fixing adult and child protective services and funding our budget can all occur when Democrats and Republicans engage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/reforming-public-education-cutting-property-taxes-fixing-adult-and/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) [Explore all 219 Rick Perry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) [Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Debates are set up for nothing more than to tear down the candidates. 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