There is a presidential debate tomorrow

Last updated on: September 25, 2016 at 5:49 pm by Dave Griffey

There is a presidential debate tomorrow 2016-09-25T17:49:20-04:00 Dave Griffey

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

In case you didn’t know. Donald McClarey walks us through a couple notable cases where debates helped tip the scale. In both cases, the examples are from Jimmy Carter. There were other notable debates in recent years. The second 84 debate where Reagan turned on the charm and addressed the age issue. Not that the age issue went away. Contrary to popular belief, it didn’t. I was blessed with the best teacher I ever had during the 84 campaign. He was our 12th grade Govt. Teacher, Mr. Quinn. I learned more about from him than any other teacher. Ever. And he was wonderful at walking us through the election season. Even though I missed voting by a month, I was paying attention to politics by that time. As much as Reagan’s little quip has become the stuff of debate legend, it didn’t stop the criticisms or questions about his age and health. It was just that things were doing better than ever, he hadn’t nuked the world, and Mondale was an extraordinarily weak candidate.

The 88 VP debate also leaps to mind. At the time, Bentsen’s smack down of Quayle took our breath away. You couldn’t help but smile, since it seemed to affirm Quayle’s reputation as a lightweight who was outside the circle of power players. In later years, Bentsen’s dig, while still legendary, has been looked at by some as the rude and arrogant insult that it was. Being a VP debate, it obviously didn’t make a difference with the outcome.

Other debates can be noteworthy, but with moments that cancel out each other. The 2000 presidential debate, that led to SNL’s fabled skit and launched Will Ferrell’s career, was one of those cases. The inarticulate stumbling of George Bush only played into the stereotype of Conservatives being stupid, but was balanced by Gore’s robotic, dry and heartless delivery that would chill any warm blooded creature.

Sometimes the small moments, like GHW Bush looking at his watch, or the notable moments, like Nixon sweating, can nudge things in a certain way. Reagan’s famous question that Mr. McClarey references is an example of a debate done right for the right reasons. No snobbish insults, petty bickering, or trivial flubs. It was what a debate is about: Here is why I should be president, not him, succinct and to the point.

Tomorrow night, Clinton will win. The media will declare her the victor. Only once in all my years have I watched the media overwhelming name a Republican the winner of a debate. That was the first 2012 debate where Romney mopped the floor with a deer-in-the-headlights Obama. What could they say? It was more than obvious. What little credibility the media still possessed would have evaporated if they tried to insist Obama won. But in just about every other case that I can remember, the press leaned toward the Democrat. I’m sure tomorrow will be no exception.

Other Blogs

Politics

Previous Post

September 24, 2016

Can't argue much

Next Post

September 26, 2016 A guessing game

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Abortion Atheism Awesome things Bigotry for the hip American Blogging Books Catholic Catholic Teaching Catholics on the Internet Christian Persecution Christian Unity Christianity and America Christianity in the Post-Modern World Christianity in the world Culture of Death Culture of Life Current Events Decline and Fall of the Christian West Defending Liberty Fun Stuff Global Warming Good Causes Good News Gun Control Health Care History Holidays Homeschool Humor Important things Inspiring Stories Interesting Insights Interesting Stories Islam and the West Liberal "Tolerance" Liberal observations Life in a post-Christian world Memorial Movies Musings News Other Blogs Our Big Politically Correct Bother Politics Popular Culture Post Modern Values Prayers Pro Life Promoting LGBT Protecting Liberty Racism in the world today Scientism Social Observations Sports Strange Stories The Boys The Catholic Church and the Left The Decline and Fall of the American Dream The end of liberty The Faith and the Left The Faith and the Right The Family The Greatness of God The Internet The Leftist Juggernaut The LGBT Question The Media The Pope The post-liberal Left The Power of Propaganda Tributes Twilight of the American Experiment Uncategorized Uneducating Postmoderns When the Church is wrong Why learn from history when we can repeat it instead Wisdom in the Post Modern Age World Events

Select a Month August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which ancient city is famous for its towers and the confusion of languages?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Babel Sodom Babylon Nineveh