Debates

The first presidential debate is Friday night, and I got this email from Mom today which I found pretty interesting. So, I share it with you all:

"Last night I went to a lecture by Dr. Michael Nelson, Fulmer Professor of political science at Rhodes College and “an expert on the American presidency.” His topic was “The Presidential and Vice Presidential Debates: A Viewer’s Guide.”

Dr. Nelson was most interesting. He gave a history of the debates, telling how they developed, explaining the years when there were none, describing the various formats that have been used and why, and telling why debates are now a part of the political campaign every 4 years. He heartily supports the debates and gave tips on viewing the debates.

1. Ignore the “morning line” about how well each candidate is expected to do.
2. This was the most helpful thing he said all evening: Primarily, he says the American people are capable of coming to their own conclusions, and that the only TV station to view the debates is C-Span. The major networks offer commentary beforehand and afterward, which we should not hear. He said that we should turn on C-Span a half hour before the debates are to start to observe what is happening in the hall and leave it on 30 minutes afterward to seeing how the candidates respond and what they do afterward.
3. Is what you see and hear during the debate consistent with what you see and hear in each candidate’s commercials? If not, disregard them.
4. Trust your ability to size up each candidate.
5. Evaluate what you see — body language and facial expressions — as well as what you hear. Demeanor of the candidate. We should observe all that they do and listen to what they say and come to our own conclusions.
6. How well do candidates handle the unexpected?
7. When it is over, ignore the pundits and polls and make up your own mind. Trust you own experience.
8. Watch as many of the debates as you can.
9. Don’t miss the VP debate. He said these are candidates who are promoting the presidential candidate, not running against each other, but expounding on who will be the boss. They can say things about the candidate that the candidate cannot say about himself.
10. Don’t rely entirely on the debates. Go to records, speeches, papers, etc.

I learned that:
1) 3rd party candidates are not included unless they have 15% of the voters in their camp.
2) Reagan, even though he was leading in the polls and was a sitting president, did not have to debate Mondale in 1984, but because he did anyway, set the precedent that there would always be debates for the presidency.
3) That led to the creation of the Commission on Presidential Debates which sets the guidelines and rules, makes the plans, chooses the locations, etc.

It was a fascinating evening. He gave no hint how he would vote. Gave some statements that previous presidents have made or told what they did to sway people’s opinions.

Conclusion: I will never run for president or vice president." (DC: Well, clearly you're not qualified. That's because you were a soccer and basketball mom and not a hockey mom!)