I’m off to Rochester to attend the first debate between Al Franken, Norm Coleman and Dean Barkley. I’m not going to “live blog” because if you have access to a computer or a radio, you can listen or even watch the debate yourself without needing a blog to tell you what’s going on! Although, I may post extraordinary things from the debate on my personal Twitter account.
Minnesota Public Radio’s News and Information Service and WCCO Radio will have audio and The UpTake will have streaming video. Tune in. It’ll be fun. If you’re in the Rochester area, show up:
7:00 P.M. - RCTC Sports Center, 851 30th Ave SE
Attend if you can. If not, tune in!
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See you there!
These debates are big deals to me. More than other races, it is impossible to sort through the BS from the campaigns to find anything informative. Debates are going to be the only way to accurately contrast these candidates.
I just hope that the debates, like the campaigns, don’t become one big pissing match.
I agree the debates are without question the most important things for voters to watch.
Ads can be misleading. Debates are the only time when you see the unvarnished candidate.
I wish I had realized this early enough to really consider making the trip.
Listening now.
Why are we limited by Norm’s myopia? “You can’t do it if Normy can’t do it…” seems like what he’s saying.
I’ve heard this kind of justification before. Its usually a kid that is redirecting blame.
Al nails it.
A negative ad - is it “negative” when you are telling the truth about the incumbent?
If the incumbent screws up - what do you do, complement him on his haircut?
Barkley can’t afford to run ads, so he has the luxury of not responding.
Normy calls out the others as “angry.” But he STARTED the debate saying he was angry TOO!!!!
What the hell? That was so, so - fifteen minutes ago!!!
Al did really well. He didn’t sound like a Washington insider. Barkley seemed all over the place. Norm…well he was Norm. I thought Al had the strongest closing by far!!
Al did very well. I was there. Al hit on key points regarding the War in Iraq that had Norm sweating bullets.
Al’s closing statement drew audience aplause that was obvious to Norm. It was quite obvious that it was a 2 against 1 this evening.
Ugh. Franken is a terrible debater. He repeats himself and cannot get a train of thought going. He actually sort of talks like he’s drunk. He slows down the momentum of the debate to the point of boredom. There are four more debates?!
Barkley does well because he has nothing to lose. His words will not be parsed to the letter because everyone knows he doesn’t have a chance. Maybe he should.
BTW, I’m a Franken supporter.