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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM
Thanks guys. This is extremely helpful. I'll do the research, and force my team to do some as well.
@glenn: I know some of most of these guys personally; they are really immature. Remember, this is high school in an environment that looks down on education and being informed. Honestly, I'm worried they aren't going to be ready for the Debate. Their club president certainly seems kind of wary of it.
General debate tip: bring notes. Don't read off them but you don't want to screw your facts or forget something core to your message.
Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
That.
Come up with a list of things you think they'll talk about and make a note card for each one that says why the argument is wrong and what respected sources like the CBO or TPC say on the matter. Try not to stick to them too closely but it will be nice to have a way of checking your info just to make sure.
@Sports and Politics comparison:
You'd be surprised just how many things can compare to Sports... Politics, Religion, Geek Fandoms... We all have our teams that we support and disapproval for teams that compete against them. The point is to never let support or disapproval of anything get to the point where it can be seen as condescending to others. At least, that's how I see it.
Wizard Needs Food BadlyUsing business card size is a good move, too. Less bulky than index cards, and also less obvious to the crowd if you don't have a lectern. Plus, they fit into a hand and/or pockets nicely and you can find sleeves and containers for them which can hold a surprising number, should you need that, too.
The small size also means you'll stick to facts and memos, not a script.
edited 12th Oct '12 5:15:32 PM by Euodiachloris
Another reason some countries feel more positively towards Obama is that his views are closer to the average political views in their countries, e.g. in terms of socialised healthcare. The US has a big influence on the world stage, so it's terrifying to think of her sliding further and further to the right and dragging the rest of the world with her as well. Quite literally in the case of military aggression - there was a lot of opposition to the Iraq War in Australia because we felt as if Howard was dragging us into a pointless and unfair war simply to please the US.
"Doctor Who means never having to say you're kidding." - BocajI wish people were more confident in their own ability to reason. A lot of people seem to think they have to take politicians at their word because the issues are too complex. That's why Romney can get away with claiming he'll fix everything wrong with the economy and foreign policy, even though his actual plans are shoddy or never released to the public at all. Listening to him and his campaign, they really promise the moon, when in actuality all they can deliver is a wheel of fetid cheese. People let them get away with it because they conflate having a rainbow-filled goal with having a plan to reach that goal. Even a basic understanding of their proposals, combined with historical knowledge of what those proposals have caused when they were tried in the past, makes it clear what a sham Romney is.
A brief commentary about the similiarities of sports and politics, after a quick Google search.
^ Some people simply refuse to engage their brain, stopping at step one and making up their mind. I admit that I am no less prone to doing that, and I've spent long sleepless nights attempting to reconcile my faith and a wide number of issues.
edited 12th Oct '12 5:39:30 PM by pvtnum11
Happiness is zero-gee with a sinus cold.President Obama to appear on 'The Daily Show' on Thursday
This will be his 6th time on the show.
Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016Shot fired at Obama campaign headquarters in Denver
.
Nobody was injured, thank goodness.
"I don't know how I do it. I'm like the Mr. Bean of sex." -DrunkscriblerianOh god, so many political advertisements, so little time. (We get Washington channels up here. A bunch of gubernatorial and congressional stuff.) Economy this, jobs that, debt this, taxes that, small business this, private sector that. One (R) candidate who's apparently "tough on criminals", while his (D) opponent has "never prosecuted a criminal case in his life" and fought to help "a convicted cop killer". There is an admittedly clever one, opposing Tea Party politics and ending with "let's give Congress Heck
."
Matt Taibbi nails Ryan over his lack of details last night.
We're getting one here in Texas about how ... Oh, I forget her name, but one of the ads accuses her of having experience in the Senate, while the guy running against here is a licensed physician. Also, she's a Democrat. We're apparently supposed to be appalled that she has experience in working in the kind of job she's running to get elected for, and go for the doctor instead. I mean, seriously, it's just stupid.
Why? Because he's speaking in Spanish when our official language is English?
Oh wait, it's not. This country has no official language and it's an accident of history that most of us speak it. What's wrong with him having an ad out in Spanish, if a significant number of people in the state speak it? Seems smart to reach out to people in their preferred language. Or to at least try.
So, my 9-year-old sister was asking us at dinner tonight "who won the election?"
We explained that no, last night was just a debate, and not the last either. And that there would be more political ads in the next few weeks, not less.
She got very dejected. Poor girl already has to sit through enough ads while watching My Little Pony on You Tube. Think of the children!
edited 12th Oct '12 9:22:48 PM by Tangent128
Do you highlight everything looking for secret messages?

Also, say things in a friendly way. If you act antagonistic, then they'll just reenforce their own beliefs no matter what the facts are. Present your info in a way that makes them want to agree with liberal views.
edited 12th Oct '12 4:22:54 PM by RTaco