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Town Hall Style Debate - 10/7/2008 9:07:52 PM

TNstepsout

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So what did the rest of you think of the style of the debate? I found it pretty irritating. I much prefer the standard type standing behind the platform. I thought this style lent itself much more to devolving into a typical political campaign speech. I also found it annoying that they wandered around so much and thought it was difficult to look "presidential" trying to sit on a stool.

So what did you think?

Post #: 1

RE: Town Hall Style Debate - 10/7/2008 9:09:11 PM

rexrgisformidoni

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I think 12 rounds of boxing with questions between each round would be pretty cool. But yes, it is annoying.

(in reply to TNstepsout)

Post #: 2

RE: Town Hall Style Debate - 10/7/2008 9:12:21 PM

BitaTruble

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From: Texas
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My major problem with Town Hall style is the rebuttal factor. Rebuttals often bring up points that first answers don't and I miss them in Town Hall formats. That said, both candidates agreed to it so I guess they both thought the format would suit their styles. My preferred style would be 2 mins on a question, one minute response then one minute rebuttal but :;sighs:: no one is ever going to let me be a moderator. Ah well. Such is life.

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RE: Town Hall Style Debate - 10/7/2008 9:13:14 PM

MzMia

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quote:

ORIGINAL: TNstepsout

So what did the rest of you think of the style of the debate? I found it pretty irritating. I much prefer the standard type standing behind the platform. I thought this style lent itself much more to devolving into a typical political campaign speech. I also found it annoying that they wandered around so much and thought it was difficult to look "presidential" trying to sit on a stool.

So what did you think?

There are parts of the "town hall style" debate that I like,
and other parts that I dislike.
I agree that there was too much walking and wandering around.
On the other hand, I enjoyed having the audience ask the questions,
instead of a moderator asking the questions.
Can't there be a "town hall style" with the candidates both standing
behind their podiums?

< Message edited by MzMia -- 10/7/2008 9:15:05 PM >

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(in reply to TNstepsout)

Post #: 4

RE: Town Hall Style Debate - 10/7/2008 9:18:01 PM

Hippiekinkster

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From: Liechtenstein
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McSame's presentation really devolved into a stump speech.
"I know how to win this war. I know how to fix this economy. I know how to create jobe for Amurkins. I know how to save the bankers golden parachutes. I know how to vote with Bush 90% of the time and still pretend to be a "maverick"."

I'm watching the "debate" again. McSlime mentioned how much money Obama got from Phony mae and Fraudie mac. What he didn't mention, and what the neoCONjobbers conveniently leave out, is that this money came from the EMPLOYEES, not the top brass, unlike that hypocritical fuckwad McScum. We can go down the line and list all of the McLies but it's really pointless. Racists will vote for McCain end of story. Rich white people will vote for McSlime end of story.

McScum is a fucking snake.

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(in reply to TNstepsout)

Post #: 5

RE: Town Hall Style Debate - 10/7/2008 9:36:08 PM

juliaoceania

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There is one aspect of this debate that I liked, it was that ordinary people could ask the questions. What I found appealing about this was they seemed to ask questions on issues which have been obfuscated by campaigning, spin, or media pundits. Seems they wanted clarification

Edited to add, if this is McCain's preferred debate style he has no hope

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Post #: 6

RE: Town Hall Style Debate - 10/7/2008 10:10:16 PM

TheHeretic

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From: California, USA
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In a less tightly regulated format, I like the Town Hall style. There is always some local nutcase who gets up with an incoherent rambling question involving black helicopters. I would have liked to see more direct interaction between the candidates, but facial expression, and body language can speak clearly too.

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Post #: 7

RE: Town Hall Style Debate - 10/7/2008 10:15:14 PM

subrob1967

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I really wish that Brokaw didn't have final say on the questions, and think there were probably much more interesting questions asked of both that were not chosen by Brokaw.

I'd like to hear answers to questions other than the same economy, foreign affairs & war on terror questions.

(in reply to TheHeretic)

Post #: 8

RE: Town Hall Style Debate - 10/8/2008 5:43:18 AM

TNstepsout

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quote:

ORIGINAL: subrob1967

I really wish that Brokaw didn't have final say on the questions, and think there were probably much more interesting questions asked of both that were not chosen by Brokaw.

I'd like to hear answers to questions other than the same economy, foreign affairs & war on terror questions.

Oh, that reminds me. Did anyone think Brokaw was a bit of a jerk?

(in reply to subrob1967)

Post #: 9

RE: Town Hall Style Debate - 10/8/2008 5:43:51 AM

bipolarber

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Beats me why McCain thinks he does better in the town hall format. If anything, his walking around trying to talk to people emphasized his physical limitations. (I kept thinking of Tim Conway shuffling around, doing his "world's oldest man" character.) The constant repetition of "my friends" began to grate against the ears, and the creepy smile just made me want to tune out. That, and the fact that we didn't hear anything new except for a home mortage bailout... and where the hell is he going to get the money for THAT?

(I've watched the repeat, and it STILL bugs me that he called everyone in the audiance by name, and talked to each of them directly, except for the black woman who asked about green job creation. Her, he ignored and began speaking to the hall without even so much as saying the trite "thanks for the question." That just bothers me to no end.)

By contrast, Obama seemed cool, collected, confident. In a word, presidential. He has his priorities, he has a plan.

McCain should be happy that Obama DIDN'T take him up on his demand for a series of town halls. McCain would have had his ass handed to him.

(in reply to subrob1967)

Post #: 10

RE: Town Hall Style Debate - 10/8/2008 6:07:50 AM

xXLithiumXx

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From: Hell, Kentucky
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quote:

ORIGINAL: BitaTruble

My major problem with Town Hall style is the rebuttal factor. Rebuttals often bring up points that first answers don't and I miss them in Town Hall formats. That said, both candidates agreed to it so I guess they both thought the format would suit their styles. My preferred style would be 2 mins on a question, one minute response then one minute rebuttal but :;sighs:: no one is ever going to let me be a moderator. Ah well. Such is life.

I agree with this, but I think it should go down in 30 second incriments...2 minute reply, 1 1/2 minute on the response and rebuttal one minute...they do seem to open up new topics every time one of them speak.

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Post #: 11

RE: Town Hall Style Debate - 10/8/2008 6:11:56 AM

xXLithiumXx

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From: Hell, Kentucky
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quote:

ORIGINAL: TNstepsout

quote:

ORIGINAL: subrob1967

I really wish that Brokaw didn't have final say on the questions, and think there were probably much more interesting questions asked of both that were not chosen by Brokaw.

I'd like to hear answers to questions other than the same economy, foreign affairs & war on terror questions.

Oh, that reminds me. Did anyone think Brokaw was a bit of a jerk?

I dont think it was that he was a jerk. I think he knew it was going to be kind of hinky the way that the debate went off. And I think he got tired of having them walk all over the time constraints that the campagins (sp...for some reason that word doesnt look right no matter how I spell it this morning.) set in place...but Brokaw isnt really the most likeable guy to most people.

I agree that you can get alot out of body language....McCain seemed tense...he was carrying his shoulders high as if he was pissed or...defensive....Obama walked smoothly, smiled alot....

I didnt care for the way that they spoke to the people from the audience as if they were best of friends, calling them by name and what have you...that seemed too....fake. Like they were forcing a kind of relationship with strangers.

_____________________________

If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?

Ideas don't stay in some minds very long because they don't like solitary confinement

You have to believe in yourself. -Tsun Tzu-

Resident Malkavian.

(in reply to TNstepsout)

Post #: 12

RE: Town Hall Style Debate - 10/8/2008 6:17:56 AM

rulemylife

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Joined: 8/23/2004
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: TNstepsout

So what did the rest of you think of the style of the debate? I found it pretty irritating. I much prefer the standard type standing behind the platform. I thought this style lent itself much more to devolving into a typical political campaign speech. I also found it annoying that they wandered around so much and thought it was difficult to look "presidential" trying to sit on a stool.

So what did you think?

This is admittedly a petty complaint, but it really irritated me that Brokaw and both candidates referred to questioners by their first name. It just seemed to show a lack of basic respect.

I would have loved to see someone stand up and say "Thank you Tom, this is a question for both Barry and Johnny".

< Message edited by rulemylife -- 10/8/2008 6:19:00 AM >

(in reply to TNstepsout)

Post #: 13

RE: Town Hall Style Debate - 10/8/2008 6:28:02 AM

meatcleaver

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It wasn't really a debate. This format is chosen for safety, not to expose the weaknesses in each other's arguments.

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Post #: 14

RE: Town Hall Style Debate - 10/8/2008 7:07:57 AM

kdsub

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I don't believe the "ordinary people asking questions" bit. I'd like to know how people were chosen and whether they had to submit their questions in advance. Did you notice how they were reading their questions from notes. And the flow was too fake... It was the same questions a moderator would ask. The people reading the questions were just like talking heads. And shouldn't the people asking the questions have a followup not the person answering?

Butch

(in reply to meatcleaver)

Post #: 15

RE: Town Hall Style Debate - 10/8/2008 7:29:40 AM

Owner59

Posts: 17033
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From: Dirty Jersey
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They were real folks and I believe the questions were their`s.

But they were pre-cleared and set up.Not really town-hally or spontaneous.

Not sure what all the hub-bub is about with town-halls or why McCain is obsessed with them.I think he got his ass kicked.The venue and format had little to do with that.

Lastly, I think Mr Obama won a lot of undecideds last night.Not with fancy words and tricks as the cons have charged,but with plain old logic and horse sense.

Seeing John McCain play deceptive word games about using force in Pakistan and then hearing Obama saying he would just kill bin-laden without permission,was moving.

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Post #: 16

RE: Town Hall Style Debate - 10/8/2008 8:43:25 AM

MistresseLotus

Posts: 443
Joined: 9/19/2008
From: (aka LotusSong)
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quote:

ORIGINAL: MzMia

quote:

ORIGINAL: TNstepsout

So what did the rest of you think of the style of the debate? I found it pretty irritating. I much prefer the standard type standing behind the platform. I thought this style lent itself much more to devolving into a typical political campaign speech. I also found it annoying that they wandered around so much and thought it was difficult to look "presidential" trying to sit on a stool.

So what did you think?

There are parts of the "town hall style" debate that I like,
and other parts that I dislike.
I agree that there was too much walking and wandering around.
On the other hand, I enjoyed having the audience ask the questions,
instead of a moderator asking the questions.
Can't there be a "town hall style" with the candidates both standing
behind their podiums?

I dunno.. I kinda liked it.. every so often I could see Barack's cute, firm butt

_____________________________

I leave it to the 20-somethings to do the "open-minded, total unconditional acceptance thing" for it's how THEY learn that all the things others older than they have deemed BS, are in fact BS. What a waste of a decade.

(in reply to MzMia)

Post #: 17

RE: Town Hall Style Debate - 10/8/2008 10:18:50 AM

DomKen

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From: Chicago, IL
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Gallup polled the Nashville area for undecided voters and then chose the 80 to attend at random from that larger group. The questions were their own but were submitted to Brokaw who did decide which questions got asked.

(in reply to MistresseLotus)

Post #: 18

RE: Town Hall Style Debate - 10/8/2008 10:27:06 AM

kdsub

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Joined: 8/16/2007
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I just think there could be a more interesting format. Say I was chosen to ask a question. I think a much better idea would be to allow each candidate to respond but let me ask a follow up question to one or both. That way it would be difficult for the candidate to ignore my question or twist it as was done many times last night.

Butch

(in reply to DomKen)

Post #: 19

RE: Town Hall Style Debate - 10/8/2008 2:15:46 PM

pahunkboy

Posts: 33061
Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
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that was no debate.

it was an infomercial.

no different then a ronco slice and dicer. or a thigh master. or a ginzo knife. or a how to make a million $ seminar. or an Amway meeting. or a high school pep rally, sit down style.

it is like being starved for a hamburger, and finding an auto parts store, a dry cleaner, and a rentacenter. but no food place.

(in reply to kdsub)

Post #: 20

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