(More) Unsolicited Advice For Kevin Acklin

Kevin Acklin, the Post-Gazette reports, has proposed a series of four mayoral debates, declaring that the "voters of Pittsburgh deserve an open airing and discussion of the issues."

Instead of trying to maximize airtime for debates Pittsburgh voters "deserve," Mr. Acklin should be focusing on the distinction between "deserve" and "want," or that between "deserve" and "would pay attention to," or even the distinction between "deserve" and "could understand." City voters are the people who support Sarah Palin despite her "wonkish" nature and the way she "talks like some big-shot professor or something," and like her because she bounced around among a half-dozen colleges no one ever heard of.

If Mr. Acklin is to win, it will be because of a scandalous 72-point newspaper headline beginning with "Ravenstahl . . ." not because of anything that occurs in debates moderated by Sonni Abata, Trisha Pittman or Chris Fennimore.

This race will be won in 10 words or less, Mr. Acklin. The contents of that headline, or the lack of that headline.

Opposition research. The best available, the most you can afford.