Why do conservatives and liberals never debate?

Forget that.

Why are all debates between the extremists, while the moderates never debate at all? The dialogue is always dominated by the lunatics.

The primary goal of politicians is to get elected.

Getting elected means first appealing to your party's base and activists to win a primary/get money, and the tacking to the center in the general election just enough to get 50%+1 of the votes. This means that obfuscation helps - you can switch positions as needed - and distorting the truth about policy and your own record can help with this. Making your opponent look as bad as possible is helpful at either stage.

The primary goal of people who come here is to yell at and insult each other - there are better forums for civil discussions. For starters, go to a website where it is actually possible to have a back and forth. Yahoo answers is designed for hit and runs.

I have to disagree here. It's my observation that Conservatism is built upon sound principles that hold up under scrutiny. Those on the Left don't like the inflexibility of steadfast principles and seem to base opinions upon feelings and appearances. As a result, their ideas often crumble under scrutiny. They know this and thus prefer attacking their opponents character in an attempt to discredit them, and by extension, their ideas. I believe Conservatives love a good debate of ideas and it is liberals wh do not.

This section is not for debate think of it more as a competition to see who can best cleverly word a rant disguised as a question insulting the other side soliciting other in their ranks to insult them as well.

What I see on YA politics is that most progressives believe that insults, name calling and obscene remarks are the way to win. They cann declare themselves as the winner and feel good that they put down another teabagger.

The GOP are frustrating one yet another for the republican nomination because of the fact purely one candidate for the presidential election would be chosen. The GOP applicants will debate one yet another and the losers would be eradicated until there there is entirely one individual left. That individual will opt for his vice president and those 2 will debate in 2012 against Obama and Biden. by potential of then we can be so unwell of political debates and marketing campaign advertisements we will not like each of them.

Because liberal are idiots and they beat you up with experience at it.

no they don't. the only thing holding the US together is the Americult

can't debate because conservatives won't agree on the facts..

for example..liberals can't debate conservatives on the causes of global warming because cons simply will say...its not happening.