Third candidates can change the dynamic. Who will the libertarian side with? That's the key.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 10/09/2006 08:54:10 PM EST

Burns fails to make it through the first sentence without a grammatical mistake.  Watch for many more.

Steve Mancuso

by SPMinOHIO on 10/09/2006 08:57:30 PM EST

Not personable, lurching.  Hard to believe he practiced it.

Steve Mancuso

by SPMinOHIO on 10/09/2006 08:58:56 PM EST

It was the theme of Burns in previous debates. It's his opening note here. Bringin' home the bacon.

And Tester goes right after the pork argument, flattering the people and LINKING (key debate tactic) to a favorable issue, tuition.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 10/09/2006 09:00:10 PM EST

His emphasis on personal narrative was effective.  Should have done more of that.

Why so much focus on one Montana university?  

Tester's eye contact pretty weak in opening.  Again, practice?

Tester begins with aggressive attacks on Burns.

Steve Mancuso

by SPMinOHIO on 10/09/2006 09:00:45 PM EST

Decent strategy to attack the process, not so much the substance.  

Although he gets a little confusing.  Against all earmarks.  Montana's can stand the light of scrutiny.

Steve Mancuso

by SPMinOHIO on 10/09/2006 09:03:34 PM EST

Porky Burns. Libertarian and Tester double team him.

But he stands by his bacon.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 10/09/2006 09:06:06 PM EST

Burns ties Jones (Independent) with Tester by grouping them in the same sentence.  That's a good tactic if Jones keeps coming across as a little sketchy.

Steve Mancuso

by SPMinOHIO on 10/09/2006 09:07:27 PM EST

I'm Conrad Burns and want to tell you about alternative fuels -- we need me to bring home the bacon for the farmers and alternatives producers.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 10/09/2006 09:09:41 PM EST

Did Burns just cite the price of gas in Ohio?  Is there some relevance to that?  Strange use of evidence for a Montana Senate debate.  

Steve Mancuso

by SPMinOHIO on 10/09/2006 09:10:24 PM EST

What is Stan Jones doing in this debate? He has been a candidate in every race for years and typically gets his 1-2% of vote. At some point debates have to cut bait and not include everyone.  Winnowing has already happened. Multi-candidate debates mean we hear much less of those who are the actual contestants. I expect some will say "more voices."  OK, but that is what primaries are for. Stan is a very nice fellow, but not a "serious" candidate, so clear the track for those running the race.

For those who defend "everyone gets to play" position, should listen and see it tips the debate in the sense that in MT a libertarian and a Republican outnumber one democrat.

Allan Louden, Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, NC

by Allan Louden on 10/09/2006 09:11:01 PM EST

Tester sounds good when he's talking about the need for leadership in Washington.  

Representing "Montana values back in Washington DC" also a very good line.

Steve Mancuso

by SPMinOHIO on 10/09/2006 09:11:46 PM EST

Tester links the alternative fuels issue to the Energy Bill to lobbyists to Burns. Oil lonnyists. Texas.

Enthymeme: Bush, Abramoff.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 10/09/2006 09:12:38 PM EST

I feel like the small screen on C-SPAN has been a major distractor in these debates.  There are empty spaces on either side of the debate feed and an information bar at the bottom.  All the debates I've seen have been presented in this format and this one even has an information bar at the bottom of the small screen.  

The background behind the candidates is both ugly and distracting in addition to the lighting issue that throws shadows everywhere.  Hard to focus on anything except Burns is adamantly yelling and throwing his hands around.

by lbneub on 10/09/2006 09:12:40 PM EST

I would have though Burns would have answered the charge of failure of  leadership and representing Montana values in DC.

Burns first attacks on Tester - tuition up 48%, voted for all tax increases.  Let's see if Tester responds more directly.

Burns taking broad credit for bipartisan legislation in Congress passing.

Steve Mancuso

by SPMinOHIO on 10/09/2006 09:14:42 PM EST

Pretty good defense of his policy in the Montana state senate.  He has a list of policies.  Associates with popular Democratic Governor.

Hits another broad theme - vision of education.  

Attacks Burns for cutting education funds.  More on leadership in Washington DC.

Steve Mancuso

by SPMinOHIO on 10/09/2006 09:17:01 PM EST

Nice laugh line, and shows that Burns cannot claim small government mantle while bragging about pork.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 10/09/2006 09:18:11 PM EST

The MSU Student Body President asks the "student" question - tuitions.

Burns wraps himself in MSU and anti-taxes. What could be better in Bozeman?

Tester does a much better job on specifics in answering the tuition question.
So what wins debate, ethos or logos? :)

Stan Jones attacks traditional education. Wow, and in the Student Center with a student crowd. . .  We'll he said it was tech. . . .

Allan Louden, Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, NC

by Allan Louden on 10/09/2006 09:18:45 PM EST

Jones says we may not need these "very expensive" people in front of our classrooms.  

by lbneub on 10/09/2006 09:20:02 PM EST

Tester was excellent on this.  He supports "public participation" in the process.  He says he will focus on the issues.  Quickly turns the question back to an attack on Burns.  

"Cannot run our businesses like that, cannot run our families like that..."  Very good line.

Corruption back in Washington DC, "all the garbage that happened last week," we need change in Washington DC.   Very strong themes.

Leadership, again.

Steve Mancuso

by SPMinOHIO on 10/09/2006 09:22:19 PM EST

Wow, now helping Tester - Bush has committed dozens of impeachable acts. . .

Allan Louden, Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, NC

by Allan Louden on 10/09/2006 09:23:10 PM EST

This is another dynamic of the third party candidate.  

Steve Mancuso

by SPMinOHIO on 10/09/2006 09:23:40 PM EST

"opportunities that wasn't here years ago"

"you have not given up one freedom under the PATRIOT Act than you had before"

"there is consequences, folks"

Steve Mancuso

by SPMinOHIO on 10/09/2006 09:25:47 PM EST

Tester's answer is excellent: there should be hearings. I will focus on Montana. Responsibility. Debt. (Another link). Ends up on corruption and lobbyists.

Stan clapped for impeachment! Then lists impeachable offenses in his response. Patriot Act will help Tester (ads are flying back and forth between Tester and Burns on that, and Montanans are not fans of the Patriot Act.)

Burns: PORK. Tech jobs. We brought money. Making an ass of himself. Yelling. Losing the audience along with his cool. Connect the dots argument is incoherent. The Meth arg. is in his ad.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 10/09/2006 09:25:54 PM EST

Tester got it all together with "Running against Washington" answer. Tester worked pork, Burn's Lobby scandal, and the page sex scandal into one answer.  Running against Washington always works in the sagebrush rebellion country. Relegated Burn's to trying to change the topic to terrorism and Patriot Act. Awkward at best.  

Allan Louden, Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, NC

by Allan Louden on 10/09/2006 09:28:25 PM EST

9/11 and Katrina - "issues dealt with by other administrations, too"

huh?

Steve Mancuso

by SPMinOHIO on 10/09/2006 09:29:17 PM EST

Burns: not my fault. "Other administrations"??

Grow through it is a decent answer. Good linking job to the Montana economy.

Where there is not growth, I will provide PORK!!!

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 10/09/2006 09:29:47 PM EST

Burns ranked 10th out of 13 Committee Chairs.  That's a good piece of evidence.  

Tester hits broad themes again - looking out for middle class folks.  

More tying Burns to K-Street.  Montana will be his first priority.

Steve Mancuso

by SPMinOHIO on 10/09/2006 09:31:53 PM EST

1. Links it to two very popular issues: drug prices and Iraq contracts.

2. Uses the Montana way, balance a checkbook.

Middle class, the people "settin" in this audience (sounds like a Montanan, too.

Then ties it to Abramoff.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 10/09/2006 09:31:54 PM EST

Tester in reference to Burns to distinguish him from Jones said, "my opponent, the one on the far right."  Clever, double meanings.

Allan Louden, Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, NC

by Allan Louden on 10/09/2006 09:32:34 PM EST

Tester has been repeatedly hammering Burns on the issue of corruption.  Burns really hasn't responded at all.

"We've been warming since the ice age" - possibly the worst answer made in any debate this election cycle.  Tester effectively addresses this issue verbatim.

Steve Mancuso

by SPMinOHIO on 10/09/2006 09:34:20 PM EST

Burns: no, I'm for Pork. And the lol line, "We've been warming since the ice age . . . and that's a well known fact."

Tester: ties it to international cooperation, North Korea. Good facts. And a bit of pork for MSU to study the solutions!

Stan: did not know that libertarians were naysayers. He should just use the standard libertarian line: economic growth solves.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 10/09/2006 09:35:43 PM EST

Tester has a very natural, down-to-earth demeanor.  He comes across very effectively.  

Burns, on the other hand, seems like a politician.

Steve Mancuso

by SPMinOHIO on 10/09/2006 09:37:12 PM EST

Tester asked the audience to please stop clapping during his response about global warming.

A necessary move?  Perhaps yes.  

A good idea to "shush" your supporters?  Maybe not.

by lbneub on 10/09/2006 09:37:59 PM EST

Acts angry. Feeds the image of ill tempered

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 10/09/2006 09:39:03 PM EST

I expect that students in "isolated" Bozeman Montana probably do not feel like they are immenently threatened by terrorist.  And I may know how scared they are, having graduated from MSU.  The paranoia seems to not be in the audience but in Burn's strident response in defense to Stan Jones call for impeachment one more time.

Allan Louden, Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, NC

by Allan Louden on 10/09/2006 09:42:22 PM EST

Shorter close: "Now that it is almost over and I am still here, let me tell you about the global conspiracy that includes radio chips."

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 10/09/2006 09:42:42 PM EST

What is Burns's closing? Taxes? Confusing statistics. Under Mr. Clinton?

Eggs to go with the bacon, I guess. Not really an issue that is at the top of anyone's list except those that would vote for Burns anyway.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 10/09/2006 09:45:45 PM EST

Health Care, Iraq, Patriot Act, Montana, lobbyists . all in the context of how Montanans do it.

Debt, balance a check bok, I have done it . . .  and back to the farm history of my family and forward to the future of Montana's way of life.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 10/09/2006 09:48:26 PM EST

Jones - one world communist government, whoa. This wasn't his planned closing statement?  He was reading it.  Self description as "conspiracy theorist" is the most accurate thing he's said all night.  The "Amereuro" currency.  Watch out for the Super Highways and the radio-chips in your ID cards.  World Communism?  Jones should check out the historical scorecard.

Burns - funny start poking fun at Jones, very disarming.  Has a strong connection between the Supreme Court, Kelo and his opponents.  Probably his best linked argument all night.  Does anyone really believe GOP tax cuts are progressive?  His closing was  a bit rambling, with no central theme.  No direct answer to charges of corruption.

Tester - Burns 23% sales tax.  Saved that one for the closing statement where Burns couldn't respond.  Abramoff, first direct mention.  More on Montana values in DC.  Very strong, natural style.  Nice argument on "rubber stamp" and comparing MT legislature and Congress.  Deficit spending "and they call themselves fiscal conservatives." Back to his narrative about who he is.  "The next generation" is a great summary.

Steve Mancuso

by SPMinOHIO on 10/09/2006 09:48:35 PM EST

Best I have seen Tester in the three debates I have seen him in.

In fact, best debater I have seen in any of the debates this season.

He smoothly linked answers to the issues that mattered most to any undecided voter while still answering with specifics, established his credibility, wove a them of "Montana values" and painted a picture of Burns as corrupt, all while not seeming to force anything. Smooth.

Burns was almost a parody of himself. "I bring home pork and I am irritable and occasionally incoherent."

How Burns could appeal to the media or the undecideds through this debate is hard to see.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 10/09/2006 10:57:41 PM EST