Eleven of the San Francisco mayoral candidates will gather at San Francisco's historic and tony City Club for yet another round of debates. While, sadly, neither Melissa Griffin nor Beth Spotswood will be there to conduct or tweet the wonky merriment, CBS 5 anchorman Ken Bastida will moderate, while Chronicle Editorial Page Editor John Diaz, Phil Matier and KCBS reporter Barbara Taylor sit on as panelists. (Since Bad Girls Club is a rerun, your SFist editor will be sitting in the audience. Do stop by to say hi if you see us.) more ›

Well, this should prove absolutely uneventful and 100% quiet with no fuss or muss. On Thursday, the fine folks that make up the San Francisco Young Democrats will host yet another mayoral debate featuring your favorite temporary wonk celebrities: Michaela Alioto-Pier, John Avalos, David Chiu, Bevan Dufty, Dennis Herrera, Ed Lee, Joanna Rees, Phil Ting, Leland Yee, and everyone's favorite surprise candidate, Mayor Ed Lee. more ›

This mayoral debate is going to be big, with a 99% chance of people heckling the stage. Why? Because Mayor Ed Lee, who announced today his intentions to run for full term, will appear at his first-ever mayoral forum. Hosted by the Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association (DTNA) and the Castro/Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association (EVNA), Lee will appear alongside such competitors as Michela Alioto-Pier, Supervisor John Avalos, Board President David Chiu, Bevan Dufty, Tony Hall, City Attorney Dennis Herrera, Joanna Rees, Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting and Senator Leland Yee. more ›

A radio debate between gubernatorial candidates Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman, which was scheduled for Tuesday at 10 a.m. on the Ronn Owens' show, has been cancelled. La Marinucci reports that the two candidates decided to squash the "discussion" by "mutual agreement,'' and not because of the Whitman campaign's spectacular implosion. (Because time spent debating issues is time not spent wasting money and abusing eBay employees and illegally-hired maids. And time spent... um, yeah, we don't have anything bad to say about Brown just now. Whitman seems increasingly atrocious by comparison. Alas.) [Chron] more ›

The debate to see who will replace Supervisor Sophie Maxwell goes down tonight. Who will reign supreme in the battle to represent Potrero Hill, Bayview Hunters Point, Visitacion Valley, Silver Terrace, Dogpatch, Little Hollywood, and the Portola districts? Only the November election will decide that. Until then, you can watch candidates Isaac Bowers, Malia Cohen, Kristine Enea, Chris Jackson, Tony Kelly, DeWitt Lacy, Eric Smith, Lynette Sweet, and Steve Moss vie for your votes/verbally duke it out this evening at the Southeast Community Facility (1800 Oakdale Avenue). more ›

One day after the primary election, professional politician Jerry Brown challenged newcomer Meg Whitman to a series of 10 town hall debates. So far, Whitman has yet to have her people form an appropriate no answer. Earlier this year, Brown challenged Whitman and Steve Poizner to a three-way debate. While Poizner had said yes, Whitman declined Brown's request. Will she agree to these town hall debates this time around? Probably not. [via SFGate] more ›

After venting on one of the many American Apparel threads we have going -- one a day keeps the cold pricklies away! -- SFist commenter Angrybat had a swell idea. He suggests that everyone switch their position and argue for the other side, re American Apparel. Which will, hopefully, be fun. And thought-provoking. And remind you of high school debate class. more ›

Back in October, the Yes on 8 "people" challenged California's Superintendent of Schools, Jack O'Connell, to a debate about gay marriage. According to Yes, even the remotest possibility of learning anything about gay marriage is harmful to children. Nothing hateful about that! more ›

If this is any indication of things to come, tomorrow's Palin-Biden debate could prove the single most entertaining trainwreck in television history. And we want you to share this moment with other inebriated strangers. So, readers, would you let us know of any Bay Area bars, all of them, hosting a viewing party for the big showdown? Thanks. more ›

Hey, the debate is back on tonight! John McCain dried his tears and will head over to the University of Mississippi to get reamed by Barack Obama. Exciting stuff, folks! Tonight's topic: foreign policy. Zzzzz, right? But at one of these venues, you'll have have plenty of comfort juice by your side to keep things interesting. more ›

Reader Chris writes SFist to ask the following: more ›

Hey, Mission dwellers. Put down your kombucha tea and gun, and listen up: Mission Mission has word that a District 9 Supervisor debate is planned for Tuesday, October 7 at the Victoria Theatre. David Campos, Eric Quezada, Eric Storey, Eva Royale, Mark Sanchez (yay!),Thomas Valtin, and Vern Matthew will all scratch each other's eyes out that night. What's more, you questions are needed to hurl at their heads. Visit Mission Mission to find out more. more ›

Check out former SFist Editor Eve Batey's amusing tweets on the D3 debate happening...well, right now! Go here for the controlled chaos. Wee! more ›

It's not too late to see the Green Presidential Debate that Matters more ›

Although we were much too busy with failed attempts at bit-part stardom to care about our civic duty this weekend -- a mistake we'll never make again -- we have read some interesting tidbits covering Saturday's Leno/Migden/some other candidate district 3 dance-off, or whatever. Ahem: -- San Francisco Blog claims that "Senator Carole Migden...took the high road and chose not to engage in dirty politics." Well, that's no fun. And...skewed perhaps. Also, it seems... more ›

The airtight smiles. Awesome. For those of you somehow not tempted into becoming a part of Van Santian art -- or, you know, if you sport a vagina -- might we suggest catching round II of the Leno vs. Migden smackdown? Sponsored by the Harvey Milk Club, this meeting is sure to ruffle a few plumes and have local politicos affectedly scratching their chins for days to come. That's right, kids, it's on. It is... more ›

In a final tip of the hat that sums up this year's (disappointing) election, Gavin Watch has celebrity candidate Chicken John's surprise Saturday night debate with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Not the real mayor, mind you, but Gavin in puppet form. (Kudos to those who created the puppet, though we would've have liked to have seen Newsom sporting a signature cold-blue tie. We digress.) It's a humorous bit, one that stretches on and... more ›