For the first time in history, major presidential candidates will participate in a (unofficial) debate entirely via the Internet–particularly, the social media site Twitter. The event is hosted by the Republican Liberty Caucus and a Tea Party PAC called “Stop This Insanity, Inc.”, and will take place July 20th, from 3:00 to 4:30 PM Eastern time. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and Herman Cain have already accepted invitations, and more are expected to join. Very interesting, to say the least. Both the transitions to radio broadcasted presidential debates, and then televised presidential debates, monumentally transformed presidential politics–some might say for the worse. Could the introduction of real-time debates conducted merely via text (with no audio or video) have an enriching effect upon the dialogue, or will Twitter’s 140 character limit spur even less thoughtful debate?
June 28th, 2011 at 12:24 pm
This is a ridiculous idea. I’d expect this kind of gimic from the DNC.
June 28th, 2011 at 12:24 pm
That sounds like a terrible idea. I imagine Romney won’t be participating, and he shouldn’t.
June 28th, 2011 at 12:24 pm
I can only hope this doesn’t catch on.
June 28th, 2011 at 12:27 pm
The last thing we need is shorter responses.
June 28th, 2011 at 12:33 pm
This is dumb. Did they ever debate via telegraph? Just because there is a new technology doesn’t mean that it works for debates. Television is a much better forum.
June 28th, 2011 at 12:33 pm
I think it’s a dumb idea.
June 28th, 2011 at 12:35 pm
stupid.
June 28th, 2011 at 12:52 pm
I expect Palin to win this one, hands down
June 28th, 2011 at 12:53 pm
I agree. This along with candidates going on the Letterman show diminish the office.
June 28th, 2011 at 1:00 pm
Sounds like a flash mob.
June 28th, 2011 at 1:01 pm
It’s a stupid idea. The 140 character limit is obviously a huge weakness. But consider the fact that this debate will only reach the people who have already been following the nomination race (how many people follow political twitter feeds but don’t follow the race?), and you have a complete waste of time for any candidate involved.
So this serves one purpose for me: it will show me who is desperate for some positive press. I expect Pawlenty to be all over this. Gingrich and Cain probably. Bachmann might sit it out, we’ll see. Palin will be in, of course.
June 28th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
11. bachmann already excepted an inviation according to the post.
June 28th, 2011 at 1:40 pm
Oh, goody. Let’s dumb down our answers even further.
June 28th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
Could the introduction of real-time debates conducted merely via text (with no audio or video) have an enriching effect upon the dialogue
No.
….or will Twitter’s 140 character limit spur even less thoughtful debate?
Yes.
Soon after rollerskates were invented, some bonehead was inspired to write an opera about…… rollerskating nuns. A reviewer at the time wrily noted that the gimmick was “an effect, without cause.”
June 28th, 2011 at 1:54 pm
This is a big improvement from the past, the format for the Lincoln Douglas Debate was: one candidate spoke for 60 minutes, then the other candidate spoke for 90 minutes, and then the first candidate was allowed a 30-minute “rejoinder.” The candidates alternated speaking first. 140 char limit matches most people’s attention span
June 28th, 2011 at 2:01 pm
barnes,
Maybe that’s why we’ll never have another Lincoln.
June 28th, 2011 at 2:16 pm
Didn’t Lincoln and Douglas once participate in the famous Morse and Semaphore debates?
June 28th, 2011 at 2:22 pm
Marque,
No, Illinois was near the frontier at that time, so they used smoke signals, until someone in the audience yelled out, “Why the hell don’t you just talk, we’re right here!” Embarrassed, Lincoln and Douglas put out their respective fires, and debated audibly for the duration.
June 28th, 2011 at 2:26 pm
Maybe for the next live debate, the moderators and candidates can each be given a smart phone (courtesy of the sponser- Blackberry). They could all stand around, eyes downcast on their phones, texting each other for the whole debate. The texts could simply be displayed on the screen below each candidate as they furiously thumb away on their phones.
That would be soooooo rad, it would be sure to have all the youngsters caring about this country again!
June 28th, 2011 at 2:42 pm
19
Lol. “rad”
June 28th, 2011 at 2:45 pm
OMG LOL. Totally sharing on FB
TTYL
June 28th, 2011 at 6:32 pm
“For the first time in history, major presidential candidates will participate in a (unofficial) debate …”
I’m not sure who decides what counts as an “official” debate vs. an “unofficial” one.
June 29th, 2011 at 6:32 pm
One question – will the youtube snowman host the debate?
June 30th, 2011 at 11:20 am
@SarahPalinUSA FAMOUSLY has others handling her Twitter & Facebook accounts; how could anyone be absolutely, positively, 100% SURE it is the candidate sending the tweets – and not a faithful “helper”?
June 30th, 2011 at 12:58 pm
Finally! A debate Sarah Palin could agree to participate in! But she’ll have to have the questions in advance–that’s in her contract.