Debate on Demand

Guess MySpace isn’t all voyeurism and musicians publicizing themselves after all! Tonight, MySpace and MyDebates.org will stream the presidential debate between John McCain and Barack Obama live online.

But why focus on your tiny laptop screen instead of a TV? Well, your cable box doesn’t let you skip directly to the topic most important to you (after the whole debate is over, of course. They have yet to perfect time travel to the future...but maybe that's a goal for the next iPhone?). Clips of each candidates’ answers regarding specific topics will be easily accessible on the site. (For example, search “economy,” and see their responses--but no one’s interested in that now, right?) Talk about usability!

If you visit MyDebates, a survey will ask our views on taxes, health care, gun control, and same-sex marriage. Other viewers with the same political leanings will show up as your matches. All you politicos can also create profiles that, when placed on MySpace, show the millions of members your world views. Facebook is also getting in on the action and will team up with MyDebates next week. Check out our tips for mastering Facebook before diving in.

Do you like the way new media is intersecting with old politics?  Or are too many users, profiles and sites muddling the political discourse? [Yahoo! News]