Interesting Article on Debates

[holiday]

http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/Features/Columns/?article=DebateZingers

Take what he said to Jimmy Carter in their Oct. 28, 1980, election-eve matchup. President Carter went on the offensive about Reagan's opposition to Medicare.

"There you go again," Reagan said.

With that burst of exasperation, he shut down discussion. It didn't matter that Carter was speaking the truth. (As president, Reagan would cut Medicare by $35.9 billion between 1981 and 1987.) Truth simply wasn't as effective as technique


TRUTH SIMPLY WASN'T AS EFFECTIVE AS TECHNIQUE... seems straight out of the republican handbook huh?

Here's the general rules

1. Lesson No. 1: Put them on the defensive

2. This brings us to Lesson No. 2: Keep it simple

3: Know your enemy's strength and make it a weakness

4: Stay on the offensive

5: Be funny

6: What not to do


I think Obama will do wonderful at the debates but I do think he needs to look calm, and like he enjoys it, and make jokes. He needs to have that Clinton-esque feel. Obama is already young, handsome and has star quality.

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1. He needs to watch Kerry's performance in the first debate vs. Bush in 2004

Kerry was concise, eloquent, on message, while Bush seemed impatient, unprepared and even a little resentful that he had to be there. That debate erased Bush's lead at the time.

[Bigleaf]

2. Should he channel Al and mention the "lock box" at all?

:sarcasm: I love Al! That skit on SNL was fucking funny, you have to admit!

[holiday]

3. lol yes it was. SNL will be new this Sat I think, I'm sure they will have

a heydey with what is going on now.

[quantass]

4. k&r