Chess Clock Debate
The McCain and Obama campaigns are debating the types and number of debates they have. I have a suggestion for the Obama campaign. Insist on having some of the events be completely unmoderated. Just put the candidates on stage with a chess clock. Put an hour on the clock for each cndidate and flip a coin to see who speaks first. When ever one candidate has made his point he just hits the clock and his oponents time starts for rebutal or to make a new point. Obama has said that he wants Lincoln, Douglas style debates and this is as close as you could get with modern attention spans.
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I like it! Not only will it test debate skills, but time management as well.
June 13, 2008 3:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
In McCain's case, that would be a checkers clock.
June 13, 2008 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
And not one of those new-fangled digital contraptions that only a kid can figure out!
June 13, 2008 10:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just make sure that the microphone of the person NOT "on the clock" is automatically turned off, and this might work. Otherwise it'll just be a cacophonic mess.
June 13, 2008 6:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Great point, Mr. Ed!!
Wow, what a high stakes debate idea. I definitely like it. It's very intriguing... They'll never do it, but I love it.
I don't mean to count out John McCain (we can't get complacent), but I do think Obama needs to be wary not to look like he's beating up on "the old guy." These town hall's could really be onehell of a contrast, that may make him look mean at a certain point if he's not careful.
June 14, 2008 12:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is pretty much how the French did it when I was there during the election last year. They only had that ONE debate, too. The candidates sat across each other on a table, and there was a timer. They both had, I think, 60 or 90 minutes to speak. They could speak whenever they wanted, about whatever they wanted. When they spoke, their clocks would count up. There was a moderator there, just to interject, keep things on track, and move into subject 'areas', such as The Economy. But the two candidates just duked it out. It was truly intense.
June 13, 2008 10:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I believe that this format would play to Sen Obamas strengths. It would do so even more if they did it where you had to stand while speaking. They could have a chair behind a lectern - sit and listen, then stand and hold forth.
June 14, 2008 7:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is a great suggestion.
June 14, 2008 9:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'd prefer a Jenga debate, where the candidates play Jenga.
June 14, 2008 10:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
On second thought, the young American television viewer probably couldn't sit through an entire game of Jenga. We should have a McCain/Obama txt msg dbt. McCain would ttly p3n teh n00b. Soc sec sux!!!!1!
June 14, 2008 10:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
NO U!
June 19, 2008 12:58 AM | Reply | Permalink