(I wrote and recorded this piece as a radio commentary for Kansas Public Radio. It aired on January 27, 2004.)

When asked that question about the five people I'd have to dinner, if I could choose from anyone in the entire scope of human history, the first two who always come to mind are Lincoln and Douglas. This is so I could hear them argue the merits of popular sovereignty between bites of Hamburger Helper. I'd egg them on, too. "Oooh. Good one Abraham," I'd say. "What do you say, Stephen? You gonna take that from him?"

In short, I love political debates.

I live in Lawrence, a town with no shortage of competitive sporting events. And yet, nothing is as fun to me as getting some friends together, popping some popcorn, and watching one guy tell another guy he's no Jack Kennedy. We are now approaching the Olympics of American politics—the presidential election. In presidential debates, we get to see a small contingent of alpha men—and occasionally an alpha woman—duke it out to see who’s still standing. My favorite is when the candidates are given the chance to ask one another questions and then rebut, as the Democrats did in Iowa earlier this month. This is the equivalent of a cage match in professional wrestling, where a steel cage is lowered over the ring and neither person can get out until the match is over. The candidate asking the question may snarl, feign righteous indignation, or adopt the coy charm of James Bond, but, inevitably, he or she will go for the jugular. I love this part. If the attack is successful, I get a vicarious thrill that makes me feel a little like I'm watching bloodsports at the Coliseum. Likewise, if the rebuttal is a slam-dunk. But lest you think I am merely interested in the Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome aspect of debating, I can assure you there's more to it.

The reason I get worked up about this stuff is that I care about the issues. There's a lot at stake here, and the results affect all of our lives, whether we want to admit it or not. It's kind of cathartic, too. Sure, I vote, but beyond that, what I really want is someone to fight for me. I want a politician willing to go into battle and get bloodied up in my defense, and in defense of everyone else who cares about this country.

It's too bad Kansas won't get to host any kind of national debate, cause I'd be right there in the front row, shrieking like a groupie at a Stones concert. I'm also disappointed that we won't get our own presidential primary this year. However, the state’s relatively low profile on the political landscape won't stop me from getting as caught up in the elections as I always do.

Now, I'm well aware that the reality of politics is sometimes ugly. And yes, sometimes we get less-than-ideal results. But the idea of elections, of debate in particular, is an incomparably beautiful thing. It's a celebration of free speech. In an era of tabloid talk shows and reality show prima donnas, a political debate is one fight you can actually feel good about enjoying. In fact, you'll be doing your civic duty. So grab some snacks and settle in for a long, debate-filled election season. Become an activist if you can. And above all, remember what Tina Turner's character says to Mad Max, when he asks how a person gets into the great combat zone they call the Thunderdome. "That's easy," she replies with a wry smile. "Pick a fight."