My Debate Experience
I don't have much time, I have an Environmental Science midterm, but I will do well if I admit that being a global warming skeptic is "equivalent to thinking the earth is flat".
I had a chance to meet the candidates and their families, most of whom were very nice, polite, and seemed genuinely interested in what I as a student was up to.
Mittens acted very presidential, spoke with clarity, and didn't do anything to make people think he wasn't the frontrunner. During commercial breaks he was talking with the crowd and the moderators and seemed very confident.
Herman Cain I thought did a good job. All 16 students in the focus group came out with favorable views and are riding the Cain Train. The economy is his specialty and he had a good showing. I was able to talk with him for a while on The Green after his appearance on Greta.
Perry needed to have a huge night, and as much I was pulling for him to be the second coming of Reagan, he let me down again. He was really into energy independence, even when he was asked about health care. He said him not having a jobs plan is excusable because he hasn't been running for as long as Mitt?? When he entered this race he was a force to be reckoned with, and he has quite a few bruises now because the fall from the top is a long way down. I would love to see him make a comeback and articulate conservatism with passion and in an intelligent manner, but that isn't looking likely.
Gingrich is brilliant, he had a smile on his face the entire night. He loves politics and debating and seemed excited to be a part of the process. He has about as good of chance as winning as Joe Biden at this point though.
Michelle Bachmann spoke with clarity and intelligently, but will do little to help her cause.
Funny Observations:
- Chris Christie's wife fell asleep.
- The insane heckler was being escorted out and yelled "Don't f****** tase me b****!"
- Michelle Bachmann was wearing high heels, had a lift on her chair, and a booster for her feet to look the same size as the other candidates.
- Anytime Newt is off camera and moderators are talking he shakes his head and says "That's not true, that's just not true."
It was a great day for the Big Green community and I was honored and humbled to be a part of the process.
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Comments:
Nov '10
Re: My Debate Experience
Thanks for the recap, Joshua. If you care to share....which candidate(s) was not nice, polite, or interested in what you were up to? I especially like your anecdotal observations.
Don’t tase me, Bro! lol
Re: My Debate Experience
Awesome! Your comments on Newt make me like him more.
By the way, is Big Green your school's nickname or a new Breitbart site? [/joke]
Re: My Debate Experience
I had no idea you were that tall.
Dec '10
Re: My Debate Experience
Now we need a picture of you with Bachmann. The contrast will be stunning.
Newt showing signs of life is proof positive that this thing is set in jello rather than stone.
Dec '10
Re: My Debate Experience
9-9-9 just doesn't work in a general election, people.
Aug '10
Re: My Debate Experience
Did you dunk on Herman?
May '10
Re: My Debate Experience
I'm assuming "Mittens" is what your computer automatically substituted for "Mitt." Please don't edit it, though. It's hilarious.
Dec '10
Re: My Debate Experience
Her presence only stood above the rest when she broke out her cackle in the background after Huntsmann insulted Cain with his unfunny prepared joke about the 9-9-9 price of a pizza.
When one hears a woman claim she “has raised” 20-odd kids (one score and eight)—not all of them “biological” (obviously)—while at the same time was a tax lawyer “all her professional life”; is now in her second term representing a congressional district in Washington and concurrently running for the office of POTUS, would the first idea about her that comes to mind be “a good mother”?
To a cynical mind, “opportunities for nepotism” is at the top of the list. Or to someone who has grandchildren: “was her staff legal?” and “did she pay the social security taxes on them?”
Her rote repetition about her motherly dexterity, biological or otherwise, in each debate now can only confirm that her polling consultants have told her that more people see her as an accomplished mother than as a deadbeat mom—but can those holding the latter opinion be inconsiderable?
Jul '10
Re: My Debate Experience
Why does Newt not have a chance again? I mean against Obama.
Dec '10
Re: My Debate Experience
Great post, Joshua. Good luck on the test. Is Environmental Science a core class at Dartmouth? Really?
What about Herman Cain's family? I've only heard him speak generically about wanting a better future for his children and grandchildren. Did you meet any of them? I think I like that he doesn't parade his family around, but they aren't phantoms -- right? There's a real wife and kids and grandkids out there somewhere?
Mar '11
Re: My Debate Experience
No kidding.
Mar '11
Re: My Debate Experience
When one hears a woman claim she “has raised” 20-odd kids (one score and eight)—not all of them “biological” (obviously)—while at the same time was a tax lawyer “all her professional life”; is now in her second term representing a congressional district in Washington and concurrently running for the office of POTUS, would the first idea about her that comes to mind be “a good mother”?
To a cynical mind, “opportunities for nepotism” is at the top of the list. Or to someone who has grandchildren: “was her staff legal?” and “did she pay the social security taxes on them?”
Her rote repetition about her motherly dexterity, biological or otherwise, in each debate now can only confirm that her polling consultants have told her that more people see her as an accomplished mother than as a deadbeat mom—but can those holding the latter opinion be inconsiderable? · Oct 12 at 4:10pm
Dec '10
Re: My Debate Experience
Maureen Rice
Oct 12 at 9:29pm
To the point about Bachmann, it’s like the acquaintance who always mentions in the conversation the price of insurance on his Ferrari. The remark is off topic, he’s not against insurance, and the Ferrari almost never leaves the garage.
Bachmann uses the non sequitur in an attempt at contrived saintliness in a private matter where her halo should be seen and speak for itself, not talked about as if she were a contestant at a beauty pageant saying she loves working with children.
Even as a political matter, she would be the first to declare they’re off limits and accuse a Andrew Sullivan for muckraking in her backyard where he doesn’t belong were one of the score of her adoptions attract tabloid attention in a never ending cycle of headline-grabbing titillations and denials.
The basic point is these game show-like contests are designed to make our conservative candidates look like clowns, glib liberals the winners, and us fools in presenting it as an honest vetting process.
So far, the tribal media has set the terms of the debate.
Edited on October 13, 2011 at 5:27pm