Monday, December 12, 2011
How Debates Are Helping the GOP
This article is talking about how all of these debates during the Republican Primary is helping to strengthen the GOP candidate. The author's point is that this high pressure race is giving voters a look at what these candidates can do under pressure (I believe this was a quiz question). Further more the Republican Candidate is getting prepared for the sure to be heated general election coming up. I agree with this article. I think that intense primary elections are very important for the future of our country and hopefully this will catch on. #bigred
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An excellent analysis by Prof. Zelizer-- although it would be equally true of any primary contest-- same could have been written about the Obama/Clinton competition of three years ago, that was also very helpful for both the candidates and the voting public.
ReplyDeleteWhen I have time on my hands(which is a lot) I thoroughly enjoy browsing youtube for amusing debate videos. It's always interesting. These debates truly reveal not only their standpoints but their personalities. I don't think I want to be friends with Rick Perry. All these debates are providing more and more information for us to guide our future decision on election day. Despite Romney not having spiking numbers, I'm sure people are taking note of his calmness.
ReplyDeleteI think it does give the people a good idea of how the candidates handle themselves under pressure and under the microscope of America. The pressure might make some of the front runners crack, but if they can not handle the pressure of a debate then they will not be able to handle the immeasurable pressures of being a president. It also lets the voters see what ideas and changes the candidate will be bringing to the table.
ReplyDeleteI'm all for debates if the candidates are being tested on the depth of their knowledge of issues and how well they are able to defend these stances, but not if all that they're proving is that they candle pressure. That should just be a given, like being able to read. As Zelizer said, these debates are utterly devoid of substance, and I think all they are is a chance to improve likability. Frankly I'm surprised one of the candidates hasn't put together a reality show where cameras follow them about the campaign trail. As long as they edited it themselves, it would provide voters with the same amount of information debates do, only with more intimacy (which I think voters would like) and more content control. I honestly think we're one election away from this happening.
ReplyDeleteI think that these debates are getting so much attention because as every candidate makes more and more mistakes, they get noticed and people begin to talk about these mistakes. I believe that this primary is getting so much attention because of the slips Perry has made, and because of the wild card that Herman Caine seemed to be while he was running. The republicans that are running were so unheard of that it just created talk.
ReplyDeleteDebates are obstacle courses with words and these debates are aimed at making the GOP candidates more attractive than Obama. Debates are just artificial spotlights that last for a few hours that are used in order to simulate the spot light that is shined on the president 24/7---one slip up and your campaign is over. I like debates because they are tests, but I do not like debates because the candidates are fed what to say by advisers.
ReplyDeleteThe earlier the campaigning starts, the more time candidates have to mess up and show their weaknesses. For the candidates, this is a risk and can sometimes be a bad thing. For the rest of America, this is the chance we get to see who really has the potential to be the next presidential candidate. Although the fact that Donald Trump is hosting a debate is a little disconcerting, the president has to deal with outrageous people like him all the time. If these potential candidates can't handle the debates and events thrown at them during the campaigning season, they shouldn't be running for president. I don't necessarily thing that the debates are generally helping or generally hurting the candidates. The GOP is gambling with their positive publicity with every early debate and debacle.
ReplyDeleteThe Debates are becoming to get a little ridiculous; i mean, unless like you like hearing the same thing over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over. It's the same thing every week: Huntsman just tries to prove himself (fails), Perry tries to recover from his slip up, Newt proves he's a genius, Cain would yell 9-9-9 in to the TV, Bachman dresses up like Princess Laiya from Star Wars, Santorum never gets a word in and smiles at you, and Romney just repeats the phrase "I worked in the Private Sector". It's pointless. The more debates, the more opportunity for slips of the tongue, which can really ruin the Republicans image.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it really is an accomplishment for any candidate who doesnt mess up during any debates. It shows how strong they are. If you don't mess up, such as Romney hasnt, it kind of proves your worth.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that these debates are important for the candidates image and getting their ideas out, but, after 100 debates im good. Garrett is right, its ridiculous how often these people debate... It's almost as if they like doing this as a hobbie... These candidates have experience but the more they debate the more at risk they put themselves at screwing up. And Garrett Newt #sucks he is no genius.
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