MetaFilter posts tagged with debate and obama

My friends, here's to HOPE!

blue_beetle — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:44:32 -0800

Town Meeting! Town Meeting!

shiu mai baby — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:10:25 -0800

Ah, the town-hall debate. Where Joe Sixpack and Jane Chardonnay can have their chance to ask a presidential candidate just about anything. Of course, such an open format can sometimes lead to uncomfortable moments for a candidate (although tonight might not have such fireworks). First proposed by then-Governor Clinton in the 1992 campaign, the town-hall format has since become a staple of the political season, and its observers witnessing some of the most memorable campaign moments. That second debate of the Clinton-Bush season featured an exasperated George Sr. checking his watch at one point, a throwaway action that was not well-received by the public. The 2000 Bush-Gore debate saw Dubyah trotting out his now-infamous “We need a uniter, not a divider” trope. On the surface, McCain would seem to have an edge this evening, having appeared at hundreds of town hall meetings on the trail. But given the recent economic meltdown and the conversational nature of the town-hall format, he’s going to have a tough time going negative against his opponent. More reading: “What to Watch for During Round 2.” If you’re in Tennessee, hoping to attend the debate at Belmont University, you’re probably out of luck; the audience will be made up of 150 self-proclaimed “undecided” voters, hand-selected by the Gallup Organization, and tickets have been unavailable for months. Is tonight’s debate likely to be a game-changer? Probably not. But we’ll be watching all the same.

Bottoms up

nitsuj — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:16:37 -0800

Now that the presidential debate is back on, it's time to prepare by selecting the most appropriate drinking game for tonight's debate.

Radar's Ale to the Chief
Comedy Central's Presidential Debate Drinking Game
It’s like they’re…mmmagic 2008 Presidential Debate Drinking Game
From the Archives, Wonkett's 2004 Presidential Debate Drinking Game -- and, of course, one for this year.
The Huffington Post's debate drinking game.
University of Florida's Presidential Debate Drinking Game.
The Seminal's Obama-McCain Debate Drinking Game.
A Brief Foray Into The World Of Contemporary Affairs
And my favorite Presidential Debate Drinking Game

Because there are more important things to do on Friday night

parmanparman — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:25:27 -0800

McCain calls time! John McCain has asked that the first presidential debate be postponed and he will suspend his campaign so he can focus on the economy. No response from Obama yet. But it may be due to his approval rating, The latest FOX News/Opinion Dynamics poll shows Obama has taken a 45-39 percent lead.

Oratory, Politics, and Video

dawson — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:41:33 -0800

If one can look past the Obama/Political filter, here is a fascinating series of debates between two masters of the ancient art of oratory. The setting: The 2004 Illinois senate race. The participants: Barak Obama and Alan Keyes, (who are about as different as politicians get in the US). The arguments: various subjects of national interest such as the war in Iraq, the 'axis of evil' and world diplomacy', gun control, legislative experience, and abortion, trade, poverty and globalism. Three debates, available in three formats, video, audio, or transcript. Many question addressed by Obama that he dosen't usually get to address at length, and he's not sharing the stage with a dozen other (lesser) hopefuls.