Presidential debates are something that I no longer pay much attention to, although I almost alway listen anyway. The reason they are almost irrelevant to me is that the format that is so overly controlled and canned.
We will never see it, but I would love to see the following debate format.
One moderator (who is a time keeper only). No prearranged questions by the moderator or outside sources.
A 5 minute opening statement by each candidate.
After that 3-5 minute rounds in which each candidate can discuss their own or any opponents policy(s).
A 1 minute (on the last rounds topic) rebuttal each after every round.
End debate with a 2-3 minute closing remark each.
We will never see it of course, because candidates would have to think on their feet.
Dean thinks that Obama should gain some weight, like 10-15lbs. He thinks that he looks too thin and a bit like a gawky youth on tv and the weight will give him a more mature presence.
Jon Stewart talked about the small video size on TDS last night as well. I think the reason they didn't do that is that YouTube videos are very low-resolution, and they might have looked freaky blown up to that full screen size.
In a way I thought it was appropriate, because we all watch web videos in little postage-stamp-size windows as it is.
Joe Biden seems like the most sane man among them on the issue of Iraq. He stuck his foot in his mouth bigtime, though, with his response on the gun control question.
Richardson did better in this debate, I think, than he has in the other ones; his general performance has been atrocious.
Obama did very well in this debate. I think he's a bit short on substance, but at his best he exudes an almost Reaganesque optimism about America, which makes everyone else come off as dour and Dukakisesque by comparison.
Joe Biden seems like the most sane man among them on the issue of Iraq. He stuck his foot in his mouth bigtime, though, with his response on the gun control question.
Richardson did better in this debate, I think, than he has in the other ones; his general performance has been atrocious.
Obama did very well in this debate. I think he's a bit short on substance, but at his best he exudes an almost Reaganesque optimism about America, which makes everyone else come off as dour and Dukakisesque by comparison.
We will never see it, but I would love to see the following debate format.
We will never see it of course, because candidates would have to think on their feet.
And I like how every time Kucinich's wife gets mentioned on the air, my blog's traffic spikes.
Edwards: Most passionate when mentioning the August recess of the Iraqi Parliament, and the Bush vacation during the same month. Wankers.
Hillary: Most ready for prime time.
Obama: Keep that chin up! It makes him appear even taller and more statesmanlike. After all, modern politics is just TV with the sound turned off.
Lastly: Would it have killed CNN to get the videos to go full screen?
In a way I thought it was appropriate, because we all watch web videos in little postage-stamp-size windows as it is.
Dean couldn't be more correct.
This may sound odd, but Obama doesn't LOOK like he can run the country. And as many problems as I have with her, Hillary does.
Richardson did better in this debate, I think, than he has in the other ones; his general performance has been atrocious.
Obama did very well in this debate. I think he's a bit short on substance, but at his best he exudes an almost Reaganesque optimism about America, which makes everyone else come off as dour and Dukakisesque by comparison.
Richardson did better in this debate, I think, than he has in the other ones; his general performance has been atrocious.
Obama did very well in this debate. I think he's a bit short on substance, but at his best he exudes an almost Reaganesque optimism about America, which makes everyone else come off as dour and Dukakisesque by comparison.
This often describes Joe Biden.
Yours,
Wince