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Thursday, June 14, 2007

A Good YouTube Debate Takedown

posted by on June 14 at 12:45 PM

I’ve been too busy to do more than a cut-and-post job on the upcoming YouTube/CNN debate, but Postman says what I’ve been thinking:

I do want to see it. And I hope it’s more interesting and telling than the usual presidential debate. But I’m skeptical… If the debate is one of the biggest political innovations in history that says a lot about the stale nature of political debate in the country…

For years audience members have asked questions at political debates. TV stations have even sent video crews out to tape people asking their questions. The YouTube questions will be more creative and a little more, as the Times said, “anything goes.” But will there be revolutionary questions? Will there be things asked that can knock the candidates from their well-practiced balance of showing just enough emotion to not look like they are pre-programmed?

I don’t see how a debate produced by CNN with questions vetted and selected by someone or some ones who have to produce a TV show, can be expected to be revolutionary.

RSS icon Comments

1

Sorry, I just don't see it either.

Too fake.

Posted by Will in Seattle | June 14, 2007 12:56 PM
2

The debates aren't really meant for us, for whom they're a total waste of time.

They're meant for undecided voters who swallow spin and actually accept non-answers and political double talk.

Posted by Original Andrew | June 14, 2007 1:26 PM
3

Figures of speech are not rebuttals. I just wanted to say that.

Posted by Mr. Poe | June 14, 2007 1:27 PM
4

Is there really a difference, format-wise at least, between the "debates" of the last couple of months and the interview portion of the Miss America Pageant?

Posted by demolator | June 14, 2007 1:32 PM
5

the miss america contestants are actually better at spinning their answers?

Posted by infrequent | June 14, 2007 3:00 PM
6

Let me host the fucking debates. Give me an airhorn, and I'll announce at the beginning that whenever a candidate starts spewing either lies or spin (to-may-to, to-mah-to), I'll cover it up with the air horn. I'll ask aggressive and leading questions. I'll make my disdain for certain candidates and certain views obvious. I'll do my damnedest to made every single candidate spitting mad. I'll work Mitt Romney til he swears. I'll link all the documentation of their worst moments as I ask them to 'splain themselves. I'll tie candidates with opposing views wrist to wrist and make them slash at each other with knives while they present opposing points of view, and question the manliness of any candidate who refuses. I'll shoot them with pellet guns when they make specious arguments. By the end of the night, those left standing, unbloodied, and unbowed would have shown that they have the vigor, strength, and knife fighting skills to be president.

Posted by Gitai | June 14, 2007 7:51 PM

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