Tag: 2008 Presidential Election
Obama's Rhetorical Challenge
The following appeared in the Chicago Sun Times:
"Constrained by a 60-second limit for replies that worked against Obama's speaking style -- a very long windup to the pitch -- his tendency to generalize meant he did not directly answer some questions" (Lynn Sweet, Chicago Sun Times, April 29, 2007, http://www.suntimes.com/new
s/sweet/362269,CST-NWS-swee
t29.article).
Can/should Obama be prepared to move away from this style? After all, his attack on the demands of the sound bite-style of politics (the very style demanded by debate formats like the one in South Carolina), forms the center of Obama's campaign.
Join me below the fold to consider Obama's rhetorical challenge further...
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: Obama, 2008 presidential election, 2008 Democratic primaries, Sotuh Carolina, debates, rhetoric
Does the Format Serve Its Purpose?
The question in this title requires us first to ask, "What is the Purpose?" The format, invented and controlled as it was by NBC, should be expected to serve NBC's purposes. Those purposes, typically, are those that best serve commercial media interests in selling news coverage and advertising time. Those purposes include: generating short sound bites, pressuring candidates in the hope they will make notable gaffes, and inducing conflict and controversy that can lead to televised fireworks. For those purposes, the fast-moving format of the South Carolina debate seemed very well designed. A little humor, a little controversy, some awkward pauses, and some incomplete answers gave Chris Matthews and Keith Olberman plenty to talk about for quite some time following the debate. And don't forget the expectations game. With systematic regularity, the questions demanded the candidates to demonstrate not just or even primarily their grasp of policy issues, but rather their ability to meet the expectations laid out for them before the debate by NBC commentator Tim Russert.
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: South Crolina, 2008 Presidential Election, Democratic Primaries, Debate Formats
Giuliani Weekly Update 4-15-07
THIS WEEK:
Rudy's fear-mongering
Obama's response
Earth Day and Oklahoma City comments
He side steps around Bush's Iraq policy
But then praises him in Houston...
More below the fold...
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: Rudy Giuliani, 2008 Presidential Election, newspaper coverage, blogosphere
Giuliani Weekly Update 4-18-07
Rudy responds with tact to the tragedy at Virginia Tech.
And wins points for having been pro-gun control before it was cool.
But does Rudy hate America?
And will Thompson be Rudy's running mate?
Also....
Conservative extremists think Rudy winning the GOP nod is the worst case scenario.
Liberal extremists accuse Rudy of being a draft dodger and a vampire.
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: Rudy Giuliani, 2008 Presidential Election, newspaper coverage, blogosphere
Giuliani Weekly Update 4-11-07
Rudy's still ahead in the polls...
but there's a lot of debate over his stance on public funding for abortions.
And he may not do his own grocery shopping.
Does not remembering his position on Terry Schiavo make Rudy senile?
A bona fide flip-flop on his wife's potential attendance at Cabinet meetings...
and some fundraising stats.
Also, he's sticking up for Don Imus.
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: Rudy Giuliani, 2008 Presidential Election, newspaper coverage, blogosphere
Giuliani Weekly Update 3-28-07
Rudy's still leading in the polls...
He wants us to give Gonzales a break...
He's getting money from Hillary haters...
His campaign is focusing on his economic policies...
Oh yeah, and Steve Forbes joined his campaign...
And the question that's on everyone's minds... What will Fred Thompson's impact be??
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: Rudy Giuliani, 2008 Presidential Election, newspaper coverage, blogosphere
Giuliani Weekly Update 3-20-07
SUPER LONG CATCHUP ROUNDUP:
NB- All Citgo/Rudy/Chavez material will be dissected in a special report tomorrow, on my regular posting day.
-Rudy's new MySpace page and YouTube feed
-More of the same from social conservatives
-Rudy hates black babies?
-Rudy's son not campaigning, Rudy asks for privacy
-Kerick: Rudy's scooter
-Firefighters disagree with Rudy over 9/11
-CPAC fallout
-Some new polling data
-And much, much more...
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: Rudy Giuliani, 2008 Presidential Election, newspaper coverage, blogosphere
Giuliani Weekly Update 2-28-07
Rudy's "on a roll":
-The BIG QUESTION: Will evangelicals vote for Giuliani if he's nominated? Why? Why not? Everyone has a different answer and a different reason for it.
-Rudy talks about his Democrat days and why he switched
-Adding more staff and setting up for Iowa
-Damaging DVD out -- but how much is spin and how much is reality?
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: Rudy Giuliani, 2008 Presidential Election, newspaper coverage, blogosphere
Giuliani Weekly Update 2-21-07
The news on Rudy this week:
-He's ahead of Clinton in the polls
-He doesn't have as many MySpace friends as his opponents
-Debate on whether his "repackaging" of his social views is working
-He praises conservative judges
-"Yeah, I guess" may not be good enough for a Presidential announcement
-CA primary may be his golden ticket
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: Rudy Giuliani, 2008 Presidential Election, newspaper coverage, blogosphere
Romney Weekly Update 2-18-07
Mitt makes it official...
...and gets heckled in Florida.
Romney accused of insensitivity towards the Jewish commumnity.
"Multiple Choice Mitt" vs. Redstate.
Mitt and Ann on ABC News.
Is Romney a hawk on Iran?
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: Mitt Romney, 2008 presidential election, newspaper coverage, blogosphere coverage
Giuliani Weekly Update 2-14-07
New for Rudy this week:
-Rudy's leaked Vulnerability Study - and his "Weirdness Factor"
-Compares Bush to Honest Abe
-Still ahead in almost all the polls
-Shifting Language on Abortion
-Which Rudy are we seeing? -- The "Good Rudy" or the "Bad Rudy"?
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: Rudy Giuliani, 2008 Presidential Election, newspaper coverage, blogosphere
Giuliani Weekly Update 2-8-07
Big Issues for Rudy This Week:
-Almost/Sort of announced for the Presidency
-Is Rudy a real conservative? Too conservative? Not conservative enough?
-Rudy still ahead in the polls
-How much does the public know about Rudy's positions on social issues? What difference will it make?
-High speech fees, money made from 9/11 experience may come back to bite him
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: Rudy Giuliani, 2008 Presidential Election, newspaper coverage, blogosphere
Mitt Romney Weekly Roundup 2-8
Mitt Romney, meet Facebook.
Is America ready for a Mormon President?
Possible flip-flopping on campaign finance reform?
Romney making headway in Iowa.
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: 2008 Presidential Election, Mitt Romney, newspaper coverage
Giuliani Weekend Roundup 2-5-07
Rudy Campaign Roundup:
Rudy Pulls Ahead of McCain (It's Now a Rudy Romp!)
New Position on Judges
NY GOP chair disses Rudy?
Is Rudy even a GOP candidate?
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: Rudy Giuliani, 2008 Presidential Election, newspaper coverage, blogosphere
McCain on Meet the Press (November 12, 2006)
Meet the Press offers an interesting format for ongoing debates involving public officials. Russert's great skill follows a basic formula. He addresses the questions on people's mind rather than throwing the softballs for sound bites that you get in many other places. Russert presents the basic question and listens closely to the initial response. That much, you can hear anywhere. Following that response, however, the debate really begins. Maintaining objectivity by treating all his political guests the same, Russert will follow up the initial position with a serious challenge. Usually, the challenge is the guests own statements, if they are at odds with the response just given, or the statements of others who, although not present, are still in the debate. Russert follows up until the guest says something clear about the conflict, and then he leaves it to the viewers to consider the response.
Keeping up with Meet the Press offers a good understanding of the political debates beyond the sound bites. Here, I will offer analysis of these Russert-constructed debates. As always, the best way to check this analysis is with your own read. You can always see the MTP transcripts at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id
8987534
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: McCain, 2008 Presidential Election, Meet the Press
