The Debates - let's analyze

[Lakerstan]

Here is the information on each debate. Let's take into consideration the location, the topic, the moderator and the format. Which work for us? Which work against us? Would we have prefered to have the economic debate now, while it's fresh in everyone's minds based on this week's events, or does it work to our advantage that the economy will be the last word?

1. First Presidential Debate:

- Date: September 26
- Site: University of Mississippi
- Topic: Foreign Policy & National Security
- Moderator: Jim Lehrer
- Staging: Podium debate
- Answer Format: The debate will be broken into nine, 9-minute segments. The moderator will introduce a topic and allow each candidate 2 minutes to comment. After these initial answers, the moderator will facilitate an open discussion of the topic for the remaining 5 minutes, ensuring that both candidates receive an equal amount of time to comment

2. Vice Presidential Debate

- Date: October 2nd
- Site: Washington University (St. Louis)
- Moderator: Gwen Ifill
- Staging/Answer Format: To be resolved after both parties' Vice Presidential nominees are selected.

3. Second Presidential Debate

- Date: October 7
- Site: Belmont University
- Moderator: Tom Brokaw
- Staging: Town Hall debate
- Format: The moderator will call on members of the audience (and draw questions from the internet). Each candidate will have 2 minutes to respond to each question. Following those initial answers, the moderator will invite the candidates to respond to the previous answers, for a total of 1 minute, ensuring that both candidates receive an equal amount of time to comment. In the spirit of the Town Hall, all questions will come from the audience (or internet), and not the moderator.

4. Third Presidential Debate

- Date: October 15
- Site: Hofstra University
- Topic: Domestic and Economic policy
- Moderator: Bob Schieffer
- Staging: Candidates will be seated at a table
- Answer Format: Same as First Presidential Debate
- Closing Statements: At the end of this debate (only) each candidate shall have the opportunity for a 90 second closing statement.

All four debates will begin at 9pm ET, and last for 90 minutes.

[Motown_Johnny]

1. Kicking.. just because this is what the rest of the race is all about

[nini]

2. Only 1 VP debate?

darn!!

[Lakerstan]

3. Yeah, but they may still have one where McCain debates himself :-)

Thank you, I'm here all week - try the veal...

[nini]

5. LOL

:D

[melody]

4. Let's face it, Sarah will probably spontaneously combust after the first one

Poof. :nuke:

[nini]

8. The moderators won't go after her

but Biden will most likely steer the conversation to nail her on her lack of knowledge.

Should be fun.

[melody]

9. They won't have to

Her obvious ignorance in the face of Biden's intellect will be enough to make her go poof.

[vanderBeth]

6. Uggh...When you read Tom Brokaw's name, did anybody else hear his droning voice pop in you head.

Now it's stuck and I can hear a droning from the deep corners of my mind. I don't think I'll be able to watch that debate.

[Lakerstan]

7. Luckily it's a town hall format, so other voices will be heard...

Whose voices they allow to ask the questions are what concerns me...

[vanderBeth]

10. Good.

Though I do hope that the people they put on are sane. This worries me, especially if it is live. How will they know they won't get some Freeper who suddenly shouts out something totally idiotic.

[AndyTiedye]

12. We Could Get an Audience Bused In From Some Megachurch For the "Town Hall"

In the "town hall" debate, audience selection is everything and the MSM/RNC probably controls that.
Debate #2 could easily turn into a complete ambush.

It is good that there is only one "town hall" debate.

[JimGinPA]

11. Tom Brokaw & Bob Schieffer Are Both RW Shills...

That will go out of their way to make Obama look bad I'm afraid.

[Imagevision]

13. Moderators: Jim Lehrer, Gwen Ifill, Bob Schieffer can't get any better then that

and Bob Schieffer is anything but a 'Schill' - Mccain is pretty fucked, definitely not an accomplished debater.

[Lakerstan]

14. We can't take McCain lightly in these debates

Expectations are that Obama is the better communicator. We have he truth on our side.

But McCain, like Bush, speaks in absolutes - and unfortunately many people respond to his direct style.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjPotBYZ6q8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W8Vb6ZqffI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPc8118kVnw&feature=related