Haven’t gotten an invite, but I’m throwing a party together with some friends. It’s gonna be dope, barbecue and hot debate action and whatnot.
This is like the Super Bowl for political nerds. I’ve been looking forward to this for weeks, which is quite sad. This is the highlight of the week.
I can’t wait to have a live discussion of this with you guys. I remember we did this back in 2004 and I just hope McCain will give us a line like “The Internets”.
What’s great here is that as far as the Obama-McCain debates, they’re REAL debates. They’re gonna have five minutes to go back and forth on a variety of issues. The key to the debates, I’ve learned from the last two elections, is do NOT look bored. If you look unhappy in any way, you’ve lost. John Kerry had the sense to just look amused and scribble when Bush was talking but at the same time, he missed several key opportunities to put him away.
I know the Obama campaign is going to try to make McCain lose his temper but it won’t happen. McCain may go off in private but I’ve never seen any footage of the guy blowing his top.
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| Originally Posted by EdHocken View Post I wonder if the dems would bring Tina Fey in so Biden can practice debate against her? |
He’s practicing with Jennifer Granholm, governor of Michigan.
Is the information on this page accurate? I kept hearing from political commentators that Friday’s debate is on foreign policy.
I’m really hoping Obama has been holding back on the campaign trail so he can really let McCain have it in the debates. I want “Game On”-style awesome here.
it is on foreign policy. The Obama campaign asked to move domestic (economy) to the last debate since it is percieved to help him the most and McCain’s group said “Yes, please!”
Who’d want to debate economy this week?
Let’s all remember that he’s not that good of a debater. The primaries were nothing special.
I hope he worked on it though.
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| Originally Posted by ElCapitanAmerica View Post Is the information on this page accurate? I kept hearing from political commentators that Friday’s debate is on foreign policy. |
I think the info on this page is incorrect. I seem to remember hearing that they switched the topics around a few days ago so that economy and other domestic issues is last now. Good for Obama.
Can anyone tell me what time they take place (London time) and if they can be watched online?
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| Originally Posted by ElCapitanAmerica View Post As for this round, people should remember that you don’t win debates by being the most intelligent guy in the room, and there’s quite a bit of luck involved in the process. Watch some of the YouTubes of the Gore/Bush debates and that should refresh your memory on this. |
This --^
These are politicians. They won’t answer questions, they won’t debate a damn thing. They will speak as confidently and eloquently as possible without sounding too confusing, and hope for the best.
I get the feeling that these debates will be fairly by the number affairs. I’d love for Obama to come out and destroy, but I think he is genuinely afraid of coming across as angry and will hold back.
Part of me is hoping for a McCain explosion, though. I know it’s doubtful, but if the guy just loses his cool one time it could be a game changer.
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| Originally Posted by Tati View Post Let’s all remember that he’s not that good of a debater. The primaries were nothing special. I hope he worked on it though. |
That was against the savvy likes of Hillary Clinton. These debates are against a guy who gets utterly owned by hardcore political news outlets like Glamour Magazine and The View, and who backed down from a Larry King interview after CNN asked too many hard hitting questions (such as, and I paraphrase, "WTF? Seriously?"
about his flower vase of a running mate. That disastrous interview for Spanish radio should have been a campaign ender.
Again, go to the YouTube videos of Bush/Gore debates, and that should help you lower your expectations.
It’s all about charisma isn’t it?
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| Originally Posted by Bitch Leave View Post It’s all about charisma isn’t it? |
If it was, then Obama would destroy.
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| Originally Posted by reggie-wanker View Post That was against the savvy likes of Hillary Clinton. These debates are against a guy who gets utterly owned by hardcore political news outlets like Glamour Magazine and The View, and who backed down from a Larry King interview after CNN asked too many hard hitting questions (such as, and I paraphrase, "WTF? Seriously?"Wink about his flower vase of a running mate. That disastrous interview for Spanish radio should have been a campaign ender. |
Of course, you have to take into account that the main criticism of Obama right now is being “elitist/uppity”. If I were part of his campaign I’d be going out of my fucking mind trying to figure out the best strategy for debating an outmatched opponent when your guy’s biggest liability is that people think he’s too good.
I understand that he’s a thinker, but I just don’t need Obama stammering and stuttering all over the place. I really hope he’s found a way to allow the wheels to turn and fill up the silence without the “aaaahs” and the “eeeehhhhhs”, making him look weak and indecisive.
McCain does the “My friends” bit. Barack needs a filler like that.
So the structure agreed to for the Biden/Palin debate:
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| In the negotiations, Republicans wanted to limit the amount of time available for their neophyte candidate, Palin, to be questioned on a single topic. Democrats, meanwhile, wanted to be sure Biden and Palin spoke from lecterns rather than sitting at a table the way Vice President Cheney and his rivals in 2000 (Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut) and 2004 (Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina) did. Both sides got what they wanted. Palin and Biden will each have 90 seconds to respond to questions, followed by a two-minute period for discussion between the candidates. |
Do the Democrats think this was some good negotiating? "She won’t have to give any real answers, but at least we didn’t let her get away with sitting at a table!
I don’t get the table thing.
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| Originally Posted by ElCapitanAmerica View Post I don’t get the table thing. |
A table seems less formal and, weird as it may sound, it probably less stressful on the candidate.