7 Phrases You Can't Say In Presidential Debates

While nodding in and out of the 2nd Presidential Debate last night in order to bring our fans their much-expected tweets, it occurred to me that, in addition to the secret debate agreement made regarding how the debate would be conducted, there must be some sort of even more secret list of banned phrases.  As far as I can tell, not only were some of the most important topics relating to the office of the Presidency completely ignored, but there were some key phrases that weren't even allowed to be uttered.A brief scan through the full transcript shows that I was dead on.  Without further ado, the 7 phrases you haven't and won't hear in the U.S. Presidential Debates:"Constitution"When the President of The United States is sworn into office, he puts his hand on The Constitution and swears an oath to the best of his ability to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." It's literally right there in his job description.  So shouldn't it maybe get at least a superficial mention? This would be like the Boston Red Sox interviewing for a new manager and never mentioning "baseball."  Though that may actually be how their interview with Bobby Valentine went last year.   "NDAA"Speaking of the Constitution, we've discussed the implications of the indefinite detention provisions of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act , or commonly referred to as NDAA, over and over and over again on this here site. Maybe we're just nitpicky, but any law that allows the government to detain anyone without due process, without trial, without a lawyer and without charge just gives us the willies. Not to mention that it blatantly violates the 5th Amendment of the that pesky old U.S. Constitution.Maybe there's not a whole lot of debate to be had on the subject. After all, Obama signed the bill into law after requesting the indefinite detention provisions himself .  Meanwhile, Mitt Romney has openly admitted that he too would sign the bill into law.  Both Green Party Candidate Jill Stein and Libertarian Candidate Gary Johnson oppose the NDAA...but of course they aren't allowed in these debates."Federal Reserve"All the talk about spending and deficits and tax rates and somehow nobody ever brings up the question of exactly where all this money comes from.  Through its inflationary practice of fiat money creation, the Federal Reserve has been stealing the value of our money since 1913.  And now that they are the largest holder of U.S. debt, how can we have a conversation about debt and federal spending without mention the enabler of all of it? A privately owned, but government mandated organization has a complete monopoly over the currency of an entire nation, and yet somehow that isn't deemed an important topic to be discussed amongst candidates for the highest office in the land.Seems a bit odd, no?"Marijuana"One of the many things President Obama and Mitt Romney agree on is their desire to throw people in a cage for the crime of consuming a plant.  Every year hundreds of thousands of people are arrested for mere possession of marijuana, a plant known to help many people who are ill with cancer, AIDS, and many other ailments.  With 17 states having passed laws partially legalizing marijuana and at least a dozen more considering similar measures, it's clear that the public is beginning to come to it's senses regarding the drug war.  And yet, not a peep about it during the debates.Again, perhaps there isn't much to debate here.  President Obama, despite promising not to crack down on States with marijuana laws his administration in reality has been worse than the Bush administration when it comes to raiding medical marijuana facilities.  Meanwhile, Mitt Romney told a sick medical marijuana patient to his face that he shouldn't be allowed to use the plant.  Of course, debate watchers would know none of this, as the subject is apparently taboo."Drone"Unmanned drones have become the centerpiece of not only our foreign policy, but also our domestic police state.  Between 2004 and 2012, it is estimated that drone strikes in Pakistan resulted in between 2,479-3,180 people were killed by drone strikes.  Between 482-832 were civilians, and 175 were children. That is just in Pakistan, not to mention numerous drone strikes killing civilians in other countries such as Yemen, Somalia, and Afghanistan.  Now the drones have come to the homeland, already being used for warrantless surveillance by police, and Congress approving funding for up to 30,000 drones to be in the sky by 2020.Is there any difference between the two candidates on the issue of unconstitutional use of drones both for attacks abroad as well as surveillance at home? You certainly won't find out by watching the Presidential Debates, but if you've read this far I'm pretty sure you can guess the answer."Guantanamo" In yet another failed campaign promise, President Obama has failed to carry out his decree that the military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba be closed.  This prison, where many "suspected" terrorists have been held for years without any sort of trial or charge while being subjected to treatment that can only be described as torture, remains a black stain on the United States since its opening after 9/11. While Obama has simply kept it open, Mitt Romney has called for "doubling Guantanamo."  We have no way to know if the people in Guantanamo Bay really are "terrorists" or not, but we do know that if they ever get out, they will certainly hate the United States enough to become one."Liberty" and/or "Freedom"The theoretical first duty of government is to protect the freedom of it's citizens.  The Declaration of Independence, ironically emblazoned on the wall behind the candidates during the last debate, calls for all people the right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." And yet, at not point in the debate were the terms "liberty" of "freedom" used at all.Every single question seemed to be about what "goodies" people can get "from the government," be it Pell Grants, birth control, an oil pipeline, etc.  The problem with this of course is that, the government doesn't have anything. It can only take from its citizens that which it promises to dole out to others.  The government is seemingly only good at one thing, and that is extracting the wealth of the citizenry.  Again maybe we're just nitpickers, but around here we see theft as an infringement upon personal liberty.So remember, when these two are up there promising this and that, be they educational grants or more money to military-industrial complex, they are promising to infringe on the freedom of every single one of us.  They are promising to ignore the Declaration of Independence behind them and the Constitution they are supposed to swear to uphold. Essentially, they are both promising not to do their job.And that, my friends, sums up the entire Presidential Debate.  We're hoping to see something different out of the 3rd party debate moderated by Larry King this coming Tuesday, October 23rd.  Be sure to follow @LionsOfLiberty on twitter and look for a recap of the debate here!Receive access to ALL of our EXCLUSIVE bonus audio content – including “Conspiracy Corner”, “Degenerate Gamblers” and the “League of Liberty Podcast” by joining the Lions of Liberty Pride and supporting us on Patreon!