The Rules of Tonight's Presidential Debate Romney Vs. Obama

• BobYoMeowMeow wrote on 2012-10-03 22:46

  Millions of Americans will – presumably – tune in for tonight's debate, the first between President Obama and GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
  
  They're hoping for some political theater, hopefully some new insight into the candidates' views and policies and character, and perhaps a gaffe or game-changing moment.
  
  But – while there may be some freewheeling conversation between Messrs. Obama and Romney – the debate itself is tightly scripted, with fairly strict rules
  
  How many questions will there be, and who chooses them?
  
  In this first, 1-1/2-hour debate, there will be just six questions, all focused on domestic issues.
  
  Moderator Jim Lehrer, of PBS Newshour, has already outlined what their basic thrust will be: three questions on the economy, one on health care, one on governing, and one on the role of government. Mr. Lehrer chooses the questions.
  
  This is a change from past years, in which debates have typically had more questions and shorter discussion times. Lehrer, in part, advocated for the new format, and pushed to reduce the number of questions from nine to six, in the hopes that it would encourage more of a television talk-show approach, in which the candidates engage in discussion rather than just deliver talking points.
  
  What are the rules of the debate?
  
  Each question will have a 15-minute period devoted to it. After Lehrer asks the question, each candidate will get two minutes to respond. After that initial response, Lehrer can ask follow-up questions to provoke discussion between the two. The candidates will also have two minutes for closing statements.
  
  The candidates cannot ask each other questions.
  
  What about the rest of the debates?
  
  The final presidential debate, on Oct. 22, will be the same as the first – but with foreign policy as the focus rather than domestic policy. CBS correspondent Bob Schieffer will moderate.
  
  In between, the debate commission will shake things up with a town-hall style debate on Oct. 16. In that debate, undecided voters selected by Gallup will ask the questions. Candidates will each get two minutes to respond, along with an additional minute for the moderator (CNN correspondent Candy Crowley) to facilitate a discussion.
  
  The vice presidential debate on Oct. 11 will be more similar to the first and last debates, but with nine 10-minute segments that focus on both domestic and foreign policy. ABC correspondent Martha Raddatz is moderating.
  
  How have the candidates been preparing?
  
  Romney has been practicing in Massachusetts with Ohio Sen. Rob Portman as the Obama stand-in. Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, meanwhile, has been acting as Romney in Obama's debate-prep sessions in Nevada.

  
  
  http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder/Decoder-Wire/2012/1003/Presidential-debate-what-you-need-to-know-about-Jim-Lehrer-s-rules
  
  the debate is tonight at 6PM PST
• Ithiliel wrote on 2012-10-03 23:22
  My sister and I are hoping to watch it, but we'll see how our time goes~
• Cynic wrote on 2012-10-03 23:32
  Going to be watching it tonight with my Mom. We're popping popcorn already as we predict a lot of hilarity and bullshit from Romney's side.
• Osayidan wrote on 2012-10-03 23:32
  Is this the one that's supposed to be live on youtube?
  
  *googled it*
  
  Yes it is.
  
  http://www.youtube.com/politics
• BobYoMeowMeow wrote on 2012-10-04 00:25
  Starting about 35 minutes
  Politifact will be fact checking tonight
• Yoorah wrote on 2012-10-04 00:52
  I guess I'll watch it, too. Obama's probably gonna come out on top, as he's an excellent speaker. However, Romney has more to gain from it, being the underdog. I'm rather curious to see how this'll go. :P
• Yoorah wrote on 2012-10-04 01:11
  lol, Obama dodged Romney's trickle-down government comment. xd
• Ithiliel wrote on 2012-10-04 01:11
  Watching it currently, I'm always impressed by Obama's eloquence when it comes to speaking.
• Cannibal wrote on 2012-10-04 01:13
  Yessss, Obama's such a nice speaker.
  
  Romney's being funny already. I should record it so I can watch it again tomorrow.
• Ithiliel wrote on 2012-10-04 01:14
  It's funny how the things Romney is saying he's negated himself with some of his previous comments.
• Yoorah wrote on 2012-10-04 01:33
  Obama's negating himself plenty, too. xd
• Ithiliel wrote on 2012-10-04 01:38

  Quote from Yoorah;959046:

  Obama's negating himself plenty, too. xd

  
  
  Yes, but Romney approach to it is coming off badly. He's making himself seem like a cocky bastard with that smirk. I mean...I get he's trying to appear friendly...but a smirk? Makes him look like an asshole.
  
  Edit: That and he's just preaching to Obama and repeating things that he's going to do without actually explaining how he's going to change it. Like seriously? Stop preaching to Obama and telling him he's wrong and explain how you're going to change things.
• Cynic wrote on 2012-10-04 01:46
  Romney just refuses to admit when he's wrong because he thinks he can't be wrong, hence why he isn't bothering to justify or properly explain his beliefs to America. He's just a generic cocky asshole who thinks like a single-minded machine and wants to make sure similar-minded people are taken care of while the rest are forced to deal with whatever havoc he may reek.
  
  All in all, he's just a fucking joke.
• Yoorah wrote on 2012-10-04 01:46
  Obama does the same thing. And Romney looks more nervous than anything atm. xP
• Osayidan wrote on 2012-10-04 01:47
  They're both being politicians, saying what people want to hear. Watched up until now but I think I'll quit.