Anywhere, anytime (new window)


lol


/debate junkie, let's do it already!

I don't understand this. Obama would mop the floor with McCain. Why is he bobbing and weaving so much?

Man On Pink Corner:I don't understand this. Obama would mop the floor with McCain. Why is he bobbing and weaving so much?

He is taking advice from folks who are totally freaked out by the losses of Gore and Kerry. They are playing not to lose. I think he is fully capable of winning, but not with this game plan.

FTA:

While we unfortunately had a previously scheduled commitment on the date proposed, Senator Obama looks forward to continuing the dialogue he's been having throughout the country with veterans on how we can better serve our men and women in uniform as they serve us."


headline is full of fail

To be fair, I'd never go to Fort Hood unless you ordered me to.

/He really needs to do this one. It would be huge.

Isn't Obama supposed to be going on a world tour in July and August?

I doubt that he would reschedule meetings with world leaders just to play along with McCain's contrived "town hall" meetings with a pre-selected audience.

gimmedaloot:/debate junkie, let's do it already!

That was in regards to foreign policy and talking to Bush and McCain about foreign policy issues.

Obama makes that statement about foreign policy.
McCain tells him he should agree to 10 town hall meetings.
Obama declines on doing just town halls and proposes 3 debates, 1 town hall about economics, and 1 in-depth debate about foreign policy.
McCain/Rove/The Right rails on Obama for saying anytime anywhere in regards to McCain's townhall debates and then flip-flopping.

The logic is undeniable.
------------------------

I'm surprised that people aren't railing on McCain for backing out on Obama's plan for a series of different debates in several formats on several topics.

I'm shocked really.

And awed.

GAT_00:"we unfortunately had a previously scheduled commitment"

What is the previously scheduled commitment?

Oh, and:

Carissa Picard, managing director of the Fort Hood Presidential Town Hall Consortium, said she had suggested Aug. 11 and asked the campaign to suggest other dates if that was not convenient, but after several conversations she had not been able to work anything out.

bulldg4life:I'm shocked really.

And awed.

really? Seriously? So he has 'commitments'. Shouldn't debating with the other candidate be one of those?

Why shouldn't he debate here? He's at his best in front of a crowd- he should play up his advantages.

gimmedaloot:really? Seriously? So he has 'commitments'. Shouldn't debating with the other candidate be one of those?

I'm sure it isn't as high up on the list as "campaigning and raising money" and "getting foreign policy and leadership credentials in place".

And, I would assume his unwillingness to go in to a town hall meeting is the same as McCain's unwillingness to have a formalized debate with moderators and stuff.

It's easier for McCain to stand in front of a group of people and talk about a single issue instead of having moderators and Obama rail on him for a change in his many positions.

bulldg4life:I'm sure it isn't as high up on the list as "campaigning and raising money" and "getting foreign policy and leadership credentials in place".

And, I would assume his unwillingness to go in to a town hall meeting is the same as McCain's unwillingness to have a formalized debate with moderators and stuff.

It's easier for McCain to stand in front of a group of people and talk about a single issue instead of having moderators and Obama rail on him for a change in his many positions.

I'm sure it is. Whatever. I just want to see some debates start to happen. F*ck arguing over the format, because they NEVER ask the good questions anyways

/you shouldn't say anywhere, anytime if you don't mean it.

gimmedaloot:/you shouldn't say anywhere, anytime if you don't mean it.

*sigh*

The current debate format sucks. They ask a question that to answer fully could take 30 minutes or more and they are expected to answer it in 30 seconds. This is not a format that encourages discussion of the important topics; it simply encourages attacks against the opponent rather than a discussion of what is really important.

Who the hell is McCain to dictate where and when they are going to meet?

Candidates who are confident always want fewer debates...candidates who are not want more.

Obama will mop up McCain when they debate, so Obama will choose when, where and how many - for maximum effect.

People who think Obama is cowering are total fkn idiots.

crypticsatellite:What is the previously scheduled commitment?

Why does that matter? He had a previous commitment. What, do you think he should have just dropped everything because old McCain asked? How about the fact that the McCain camp could have easily picked a date intentionally in conflict with his schedule to force a refusal? Does that factor in at all?

bulldg4life:gimmedaloot:/you shouldn't say anywhere, anytime if you don't mean it.

*sigh*

I understand your sigh, but what was Obama thinking when he said that? He would debate McCain anytime/anywhere about one single, isolated topic? WTF? Seriously, that's just dumb. It is a failure on Obama's part because he put himself into a damned if he does/damned if he doesn't position. He should welcome a debate regardless of format because his ideas and plans are better, right?

Any "debate" format that focuses on debate technique rather than ideas is flawed, in my opinion.

GAT_00:crypticsatellite:What is the previously scheduled commitment?

Why does that matter? He had a previous commitment. What, do you think he should have just dropped everything because old McCain asked? How about the fact that the McCain camp could have easily picked a date intentionally in conflict with his schedule to force a refusal? Does that factor in at all?

According to the article, McCain didn't ask:

"Carissa Picard, managing director of the Fort Hood Presidential Town Hall Consortium, said she had suggested Aug. 11 and asked the campaign to suggest other dates if that was not convenient, but after several conversations she had not been able to work anything out."

Oh please. It's just something to harp on for McCainites.

Well if McCain chickens out on 10, I guess it's ok for Barak to dis 'im one

other countries opinions matter so much

country's

crypticsatellite:It is a failure on Obama's part because he put himself into a damned if he does/damned if he doesn't position. He should welcome a debate regardless of format because his ideas and plans are better, right?

It was a comment in a speech about the failed foreign policies of Bush and the ones that McCain will be continuing.

It has been spun in to Obama proclaiming debate time and then backing away.

It's very easy (and quite silly) for McCain to zone in on that one comment and proclaim something wholly ridiculous (10 town hall meetings and nothing else)...then he gets to wave his hands and point that Obama is a chicken because he won't agree to something ridiculous.

Meanwhile, McCain refuses to a reasonable debate schedule...and everybody keeps repeating "anywhere anytime" in their head.

IronTom:other countries opinions matter so much

In today's world, yes, they do. Sorry to break it you like that. I know it must come as quite a blow to your obviously outdated view of America. Again, my apologies.

We do want to be friends with other countries. Of course, ah, I'm going to bed.

IronTom:We do want to be friends with other countries. Of course, ah, I'm going to bed.

Me too. Night.

"He hasn't been to Iraq!"

"I'm going to Iraq, and a whole bunch of other countries this summer."

IronTom:other countries opinions matter so much

crypticsatellite:bulldg4life:gimmedaloot:/you shouldn't say anywhere, anytime if you don't mean it.

*sigh*

I understand your sigh, but what was Obama thinking when he said that? He would debate McCain anytime/anywhere about one single, isolated topic? WTF? Seriously, that's just dumb. It is a failure on Obama's part because he put himself into a damned if he does/damned if he doesn't position. He should welcome a debate regardless of format because his ideas and plans are better, right?

Remember the last Clinton-Obama debate and what an abortion that was? That's what he's trying to avoid.

Let's face it, Obama would lose a Town Hall Style debate which is why he's trying to avoid them. McCain will lose a moderated debate and that's why he's trying to avoid them. Obama is very charismatic when working from a teleprompter and provided speeches, sux off the cuff. McCain is the opposite, he comes accross very well in the Town Hall Style but can't use a teleprompter to save his life. (I know, insert "he's old and it's technology" joke here)

These two want to lead the country, learn to Farking Comprimise. 10 debates 5 town hall 5 moderated, what's the big problem?

imho Barack isn't doing himself any favors ducking these.

CanisNoir:imho Barack isn't doing himself any favors ducking these.

Thanks for your concern

RevMercutio:Remember the last Clinton-Obama debate and what an abortion that was? That's what he's trying to avoid.

exactly

bulldg4life:Meanwhile, McCain refuses to a reasonable debate schedule...and everybody keeps repeating "anywhere anytime" in their head.

How is a "town hall meeting" bad for the expression of good ideas? Why does it have to be in a strict debate format? In a debate format, it is more like a sport with very strict rules rather than a discussion of ideas. Are international relations done on a 30 second per side timeframe? Or are they worked out in a more "town hall" type, free-form format?

And the only way I would defend McCain or Obama in regards to an official debate format is by what I said before: the issues facing all of us are too complicated to boil down to 30 second sound bites.

Oh please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please can we use the military as the backdrop of a political event! That's what they're for, right?

dumb question time.....do the candidates have teleprompters in moderated debates?

CanisNoir:imho Barack isn't doing himself any favors ducking these.

So if Obama counter-proposes say 4 or 5 moderated debates and McCain refuses, you will be equally critical?

It's simple: Obama holds the cards, he decides...to cave in and say OK McCain, you decide when, where, how many, the format, etc...would be a dumbass move.

McCain is desperate to make an issue of this...when the time comes, Obama will plaster McCain. He is smart to hold back and wait for the best possible time. McCain is desperate to make an issue of it, and it shows.

CanisNoir:These two want to lead the country, learn to Farking Comprimise. 10 debates 5 town hall 5 moderated, what's the big problem?

Without a rehaul of the whole "debating" process, I would agree with this. Put them both in uncomfortable situations and see how they do.

CanisNoir:These two want to lead the country, learn to Farking Comprimise. 10 debates 5 town hall 5 moderated, what's the big problem?

imho Barack isn't doing himself any favors ducking these.

Obama already proposed a compromise that was composed of town hall meetings and moderated debates.

McCain turned it down and continues to rail on Obama for not doing 1500 town hall meetings.

log_jammin:dumb question time.....do the candidates have teleprompters in moderated debates?

They're not supposed to know the questions beforehand so I would imagine not.

Maybe for opening statements, though???

log_jammin:dumb question time.....do the candidates have teleprompters in moderated debates?

No. Or else there wouldn't have been a controversy in '04 over Bush possibly wearing a device.

Lionel Mandrake:They're not supposed to know the questions beforehand so I would imagine not.

thats what I'm thinking.

and if thats true....then the whole "Obama can't speak off the cuff" meme has another nail in its coffin.

bulldg4life:Obama already proposed a compromise that was composed of town hall meetings and moderated debates.

I'm not trying to be an asshole, but do you have a link handy? I ask only because I've not heard this. If you don't, no problem, I can Google, too.

CanisNoir:Let's face it, Obama would lose a Town Hall Style debate which is why he's trying to avoid them. McCain will lose a moderated debate and that's why he's trying to avoid them. Obama is very charismatic when working from a teleprompter and provided speeches, sux off the cuff. McCain is the opposite, he comes accross very well in the Town Hall Style but can't use a teleprompter to save his life. (I know, insert "he's old and it's technology" joke here)

These two want to lead the country, learn to Farking Comprimise. 10 debates 5 town hall 5 moderated, what's the big problem?

imho Barack isn't doing himself any favors ducking these.

A, thanks for your concern.

B, Most of McCain's gaffes - bomb Iran, 100 years, etc. - have happened in town halls. He's NOT some unbeatable force at town halls.

Lionel Mandrake:They're not supposed to know the questions beforehand so I would imagine not.

Maybe if Obama had watched Hannity and Snuffleupagus, then he would've known at least one question beforehand.

Considering how Clinton demolished Obama in debates and he ducked debates with her near the end, perhaps Obama is going to refuse to debate McCain at all

Number41:controversy in '04 over Bush possibly wearing a device.

I forgot about tha

Considering how Clinton demolished Obama in debates

HAHAHAHAHA!!!

McCainDemocrat:Considering how Clinton demolished Obama in debates and he ducked debates with her near the end, perhaps Obama is going to refuse to debate McCain at all

danlpoon, that prediction's almost as laughable as "$45M for McCain in June, mark my words!"