Tag: 2008

Election 2008 thus far

http://video.google.com/vid eoplay?docid=-6355773023591 053612
From the standpoint of both a debater and a potential voter, this debate was uninformative, useless, and inconsequential.

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Tags: Democratic, Iowa, debate, presidential, 2008

GOP in NH Liveblog, 6/5/2007

Join us in the comments section here as we catalog our reaction to tonight's debate.

You do have to be a registered user and log in, but it is free.

As an addendum to the preview thread let me predict here and now that Wolf wastes time on evolution since Brownback felt compelled to do a NYT op-ed after the earlier debates. Science issues are good. Evolution is just one more proxy for abortion, stem cells, and GLBT.

And in the least surprising development in debate coverage history, Lou Dobbs is beating the amnesty angst drum in the CNN lead in show.

And now for the debate . . .
Update [2007-6-5 18:59:35 by Ross Smith]: Just in the nick of time Dodd's campaign folks pass along a talk clock for this debate!

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Tags: liveblog, debate, debates, New Hampshire, republican primary, 2008

LiveBlog - Dems in NH in June

Join me in commenting on the debate tonight as it unfolds  . . .

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Tags: liveblog, debate, debates, New Hampshire, democratic primary, 2008

If Terrorists Attacked Tonight . . .

Last night and today one question has dominated the post debate spin and commentary about who won and lost. It also was the subject of the last portion of our blogtalk radio show when former National Debate Tournament champion and Jim Webb campaign staffer, Jon Paul Lupo, called in to discuss how the answers portray Democrats as weak or strong on defense and terrorism (you can listen to the archived version here starting at the 44:30 mark).

Listen very closely to the question in the YouTube clip. Very closely, especially to the end of the question.

The video shows the candidates in the order they answered: Obama, Hillary, Edwards. They were the only ones asked. Richardson demanded and received a chance to answer later (an attempt to show he belonged in the top tier?).

Join me below the fold and in comments for analysis on what the answers say about who "won" this part of last night's debate and more. In the YouTube age, candidate answers will be dissected more than ever. We had might as well do a good and productive job of it.

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Tags: terrorism, debate, debates, presidential primary, 2008, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, South Carolina, Democrats

Post Debate Open Thread

Use the comments section below to let us know what you thought.

If you missed the debate you can see it here.

Tune in to the debut of our Blog Talk Radio Show. We'll air at midnight EDT. It's good for all the night owls and those in the west. Plus we'll have time to digest the post debate spin and coverage before going on air.

Just click the nifty button and you're on your way.

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Tags: South Carolina, debate, debates, presidential primary, 2008

SC Dem Debate Liveblog

Use the comments below to add your reactions as the debate unfolds (and immediately before and after).

No TV? Here is the link to MSNBC video.

In addition to a liveblog and post-debate analysis, tune in to the debut of our Blog Talk Radio Show. We'll air at midnight EDT after Thursday's debate. Can't be earlier since new shows there are blocked from the 7-midnight slots. Nevertheless, it's good for all the night owls and those in the west. Plus we'll have time to digest the post debate spin and coverage before going on air.

Just click the nifty button and you're on your way.

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Tags: liveblog, debate, debates, South Carolina, democratic primary, 2008

Predict Tonight's Debate Questions

Get inside the head of Brian Williams and of the candidates. Williams selects the questions (even if a token few come from the average citizen via the internet), and the campaigns have been practicing answering the questions they anticipate.

There will only be 10 or so questions. Score more than 8 and you are above average. 7 is a minimum. 6 or fewer and you fail. Read more to see my predictions and use the comments to submit your top ten list . . .

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Tags: South Carolina, debate, debates, presidential primary, 2008, questions

Format Key to Tactics in SC Debate

Update [2007-4-26 21:28:10 by Ross Smith]: Well, you can throw out some of what is below as inapplicable since the format was somewhat wild. MSNBC kept it something of a secret until the debate, perhaps because it was too complicated to explain. More tomorrow on the format as applied. Much of the advice below is still useful, but . . .

While "pundits" and "Democratic strategists" are repeating mantras about syle and substance, smart debate coaches (to the extent the candidates employ any) start with the format because the format dictates the best tactics to achieve the substantive and stylistic goals.

Read more below the fold for the unique features of the South Carolina debate's format and how that will influence tactics . . .

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Tags: debate, debates, formats, tactics, presidential primary, 2008, South Carolina

First of Its Kind Online "Debate" Tonight

While there has been alot of news of Democrats refusing to take part in debates on Fox, tonight's online debate on Iraq, sponsored by MoveOn.org, will be "attended" by all of the Democratic contenders (save Gravel, if you want to call him a contender).

The Boston Globe has an excellent article.

While this event may slip under the radar of all but the most obsessed, the event is significant in a number of respects:

1. The subject matter is focused on the Iraq war.
   
2. It's the first ever live, national event of its kind where questions are answered in real time.
   
3. Questions come entirely from the listeners who are, in this case, also highly active citizens who can make a difference "on the ground" in campaigns.
   
4. The audience votes on the winner. No one spin room, just 100's of living rooms where MoveOn members gather to listen, plus the internet.

Debates do test ones ability to respond extemporaneously, and the live, phone-in method will do what on-line "debates" via keyboard cannot (who can even know if the candidate is the one typing?).

Future MoveOn "Town Halls" will cover health care and energy.

I'll use the comments to discuss and liveblog the event.

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Tags: debates, Democrats, 2008, Moveon.org, Iraq, online debate

Presidential Debates Coming Soon

It's now fewer than 4 months until the first of the presidential debates of the 2008 (yes, they will be in 2007) campaign season.

At first, it looked like South Carolina would host the debate debuts of the Democratic and Republican contenders. In August, the South Carolina GOP announced  that they would host a debate May 15, 2007 to be held at the University of South Carolina for GOP presidential hopefuls. Last week MSNBC and the SC Democratic party announced that they will host a debate April 26, 2007 at South Carolina State University for the Democratic contenders.

But today New Hampshire jumped to the front of the line with the announcement by CNN, WUMR and the Union Leader that on April 4 and 5 of this year the news organizations would be hosting presidential debates.

DebateScoop will have full coverage. We plan to have on site as well as on line reporters and analysts. While the "real" impact of the debates is, ironically, best assessed from the mediated perspective, behind the scenes reporting will enable us to round out the picture and to ask questions of the participants (candidates, spinners, media) that may help explain what we see on the screen.

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Tags: 2008, presidential debates, 2008 primaries

What Happens Next at DebateScoop?

Dear Readers,

Thank you for spending time at DebateScoop over the last several weeks.  We've gotten off to a great start this election season, generated some buzz, and developed a loyal group of readers. We've also learned a lot along the way in this, our inaugural year.  Now that the midterms are over, it is time to look ahead.  

For example, the first debate between GOP presidential candidates is slated for May 15, 2007 at the University of South Carolina.  The event will be jointly hosted by the South Carolina Republican Party and Fox News.  For other upcoming political events, we encourage you to check out ABC's The Note Futures Calendar.

What should DebateScoop do next?  Should we cover issue debates in the 100th Congress?  Should we present more retrospective debate analysis?  Should we offer coaching advice for prospective candidates?  What can we do to improve the site? What ideas do you have for developing an online community built "for the sake of better debating"?

In the coming months, we'll be working with our design team to completely overhaul the site. If you have ideas for building the premier debate site on the web, we want to hear from you!  

- Ross and Tim

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Tags: debatescoop, Presidential Debate, 2008