DebateScoop.org: (Not) Just Another Liveblog -- GOP in NH 9-5-07

(Not) Just Another Liveblog -- GOP in NH 9-5-07

By Ross Smith 09/05/2007 08:54:23 PM EST

There are liveblogs galore if you know where to look (go to del.icio.us and use the search "debatescoop liveblog").

Many are play-by-play, others seem to have little relation to the debate being watched, some are from partisans on blogs, and Ana Marie Cox's at Swampland are hilarious (add humor to the search above for the older ones). Cox's liveblog of tonight's debate is here.

Tonight I will use this one as an experiment for the special purpose of DebateScoop: I will pose potential research questions or story ideas for those of us most interested in better analysis of political candidate debates.

Read the comments and add to them yourself for the liveblog discussion . . . .

Tags: liveblog, GOP presidential primary, debate, debates, elections 2008

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(Not) Just Another Liveblog -- GOP in NH 9-5-07 | 20 comments (20 topical, 0 hidden)

New format wrinkle (none / 0)

Off-site correspondent brings questions from restaurant. Is this a first? What is most effective way to involve citizens as questioners?

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 09/05/2007 09:03:32 PM EST

Does the bell work? (none / 0)

FOX uses a bell to indicate time is up. Does the oral signal help control the time?

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 09/05/2007 09:04:55 PM EST

How common are meta questions about politics? (none / 0)

The first question tonight was about Fred Thompson's candidacy. The first question a couple weeks ago for the Dems in Des Moines was about Obama.

Are questions about the "inside baseball" of politics increasingly common? Do they increase as the primary season wears on?

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 09/05/2007 09:08:09 PM EST

Huckabee has been moved (none / 0)

He is placed in the center with the other frontrunners. Can you track candidates' movements from debate to debate?

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 09/05/2007 09:16:58 PM EST

Restaurant commentary a first? (none / 0)

They are not asking the citizen to pose a question, just asking them how they feel about an issue (immigration) -- then they rephrase and send it back as a question.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 09/05/2007 09:20:52 PM EST

Breaking my own rule (none / 0)

Mitt just called the undocumented all "criminals" -- rhetorically charged and factually false. It's a civil violation.

Back to comments about stories and research questions . . .

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 09/05/2007 09:24:49 PM EST

Good story and follow up (none / 0)

Argument check on Brownback: is rebuilding the family really the responsibility of government and the president? Argument check are like fact checks but go further, not just checking facts but assessing the argument in all of its aspects.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 09/05/2007 09:27:52 PM EST

Vast social experiments (none / 0)

Should be prohibited by the federal government. Is blogging a vast social experiment, Mr. Brownback?

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 09/05/2007 09:37:00 PM EST

NYC third largest government? (none / 0)

Giuliani said it is the third largest in the country. True?

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 09/05/2007 09:42:11 PM EST

Chris Wallace (none / 0)

Has a more slanted question ever been asked than when Wallace put words in Paul's mouth asking, "So you're saying we should take our marching orders for Al Qaeda?

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 09/05/2007 09:49:17 PM EST

Debate breaks out! (none / 0)

Huckabee vs. Paul -- FOX lets the back and forth play out! Beautiful.

Q: how often does that happen? Do the dial testers in focus groups like it as much as I do, whatever side of the debate they are on? Can dial tests measure this?

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 09/05/2007 09:54:02 PM EST

Strawmen and mischaracterizations (none / 0)

Do the Dems or the GOP do it worse? How would you measure. Romney just claimed the Dems want to remove Maliki and withdraw all at once.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 09/05/2007 10:02:08 PM EST

High percentage of researched questions? (none / 0)

Many of the questions tonight were prefaced with research and quotes, like the one Wallace just asked of Huckabee about Fair Tax.

Do such questions elicit more focused answers or do candidates just ignore the premises?

Does FOX have more of such questions?

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 09/05/2007 10:18:55 PM EST

Uh Oh -- scenario time (none / 0)

Like the FOX debate in SC last May.

That time it was a "24" episode scenario.

My guesses: Iran or natural disaster.

Q: did the candidates practice with their coaches? Brainstorm scenarios?

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 09/05/2007 10:25:14 PM EST

I guessed right! (none / 0)

Originally I just typed Iran. Hedged with the natural disaster. Should have trusted my gut, not added item from head.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 09/05/2007 10:28:02 PM EST

Scenarios (none / 0)

Is this a productive device for debate? Especially when each candidate gets a different question as the scenario gets tighter and tighter?

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 09/05/2007 10:29:52 PM EST

Has their ever been a more absurd position (none / 0)

than to say that the real danger to America is political correctness?

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 09/05/2007 10:30:37 PM EST

Rejecting the question (none / 0)

When are candidates comfortable doing so and how best to do it? Huckabee just did a good job of it?

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 09/05/2007 10:33:54 PM EST

Good move? (none / 0)

To preempt opponent by giving their answer and approving of it before the opponent has a chance to claim the answer as his own?

Rudy just did it w/ McCain, quoting McCain, taking the wind from McCain's rhetorical sails?

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 09/05/2007 10:36:16 PM EST

Focus group (none / 0)

Guy just said, apropos of my last question, that other candidates quoting McCain and referring to his answers and positions made them think more highly of McCain.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 09/05/2007 10:42:07 PM EST

(Not) Just Another Liveblog -- GOP in NH 9-5-07 | 20 comments (20 topical, 0 hidden)