Debate Will Air Right During A Major Iowa Football Game, Some Think That decision Was On Purpose

[Purveyor]

Here's a successful recipe for getting no one to watch a political debate: Schedule it for late on a Saturday night. Not convinced you've killed off your entire viewership? Then be sure to put it smack dab in the middle of a really important football game.

Unfortunately for Democrats, that's the exact position that the second Democratic debate is in. Saturday evening's debate at the University of Des Moines will be held at 8 p.m. local time, notably creating a big conflict for any Iowa Hawkeyes fans, who will be an hour into watching their team's showdown against their top regional rivals, the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The winner of that game — which pits the undefeated Hawkeyes against Gophers hungry for a chance at redemption — will take home the coveted "Floyd of Rosedale," which is a trophy shaped like a bronze pig. So basically, it's the sort of game that no self-respecting Hawkeyes fan is going to want to miss.

"It's just gonna be you, and me, and the pundits, and a few other people watching," one Democratic political strategist, Bob Shrum, noted wryly to National Review. In fact, some conspiratorial Democrats think this is all rather convenient, and that the debate was intentionally set for game night in Iowa because of DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz's alleged bias toward Hillary Clinton. By airing the debate during an inconvenient time, underdogs Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley will have less of a chance to gain supporters.

more...

http://theweek.com/speedreads/588837/iowas-democratic-debate-air-right-middle-major-iowa-football-game--some-think-that-decision-purpose

[Thinkingabout]

1. Too many methods of recording the debates for this to be a big problem.

[tecelote]

29. OMG

Yes, why try? Right?

It would probably be too hard to get prime time and make an effort for as large an audience as possible. That would be too much to ask wouldn't it?

[Thinkingabout]

34. Since I work evenings and on Saturdays I guess I should contact the DNC and tell them they have not

Made their debate convenient for me and I will not be able to see my candidate so it is not fair to my candidate. I never thought of this before.

[tecelote]

35. Really?

You never thought the DNC should try to gain as many viewers as possible?

[Thinkingabout]

37. No, it was to show this is silly. Whatever move the DNC does is not acceptable. I am recording

the debate, I will view later.

[tecelote]

43. I'll ask a silly question.

Why would we not want maximum viewership for our debates?

[Thinkingabout]

44. I explained how to get maximum viewership for the debates, the DNC is also aware of recording

devices.

[procon]

2. Multitasking; try it and you'll like it. nt

[stevenleser]

3. So, in 48 states, there is no issue and in Minnesota and Iowa folks can record it.

What was the problem again?

Oh, right, there's gotta be a conspiracy to point to when Bernie loses.

[quickesst]

5. To heck with Minnesota and Iowa......

..... I'll be watching Louisiana and Arkansas. Me, my son, my grandson, good pizza, and 100 inch HD screen. WOO PIG!!! RAZORBACKS!!!

Of course I'll DVR the debate for Sunday. Gosh, that was easy to solve.

[stevenleser]

7. Lol, exactly. These folks have to get better with their conspiracy theories. This one wasn't

Remotely interesting or a challenge to completely poke holes in

[quickesst]

8. I know

Now, they might have had about half a leg to stand on........if it was pre-vcr.

[mcar]

9. Always a conspiracy

[tecelote]

30. Maybe it's just incompetence then., right?

Because why wouldn't we try to reach as many viewers as the Republicans? For some reason, we don't even get close.

Let's go with complete and ridiculous incompetence.

There. No conspiracy theory!

[stevenleser]

32. Nope. The entire premise has no merit. nt

[tecelote]

33. That's right - Saturday night is just perfect?

People can record it - right?

I wish the DNC worked for the Republicans. This election is too important for such incompetence.

[stevenleser]

41. What you try to ridicule is something folks do all the time. Sorry, your premise fails. nt

[tecelote]

42. You mean recording or incompetence?

It only fails if you refuse to stay on point. The main point is solid. You have no real argument I see.

Prime time would bring in more viewers.

Why is that bad?
Why would we not want maximum viewership?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. Seems like a humane decision to allow as few people as possible to watch Bernie lose another debate.

EOM

[Cali_Democrat]

6. LOL!

[TheBlackAdder]

11. You should embrace the debates. It gets the Progressive message out, since GOPers get more air time.

.


I keep reading these posts of people who profess to be progressive, yet fear the progressive message.

I don't get it! What's to be afraid of?



These debates help to energize the base and attract Independents and some swing Republicans.

Keeping the message hidden does noting but allow the Progressive message to be co-opted by the Corporate (mainly Republican-owned) media.

Fearing or wanting to suppress debate, rather seems anti-Democratic, aiding the Republicans.


.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

12. I am not opposed to debates.

EOM

[TheBlackAdder]

13. Who are you selling that to? Your posts present someone fearful and suppressive of open dialog.

.


It's not just you, there are a pile of others professing progressivism, yet wanting to hide the message.



Edit: I should get juried in a few minutes, because I, as a neutral Democrat Party-liner want the message sent far and wide, with as many debates, on as many networks.

.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

14. If you think I am fearful of anything there is nothing I can do to disabuse you of that notion.

EOM

[TheBlackAdder]

15. See, I'm a neutral and not polarized. My judgment is not clouded or biased! I support Progs.

.


That does not mean I agree with the gatekeepers who control the democratic process.

I think independently. Perhaps it's because I'm a continuing education Poli-Sci student.


These quaint little videos to denigrate and humiliate are just another means to suppress open discussion.


.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

16. The video was an adequate depiction of what occurred in their first debate...

The video was an adequate depiction of what occurred in their first debate...I deleted it out of respect to Manny Pacquiao, lol.

I think independently. Perhaps it's because I'm a continuing education Poli-Sci student.

That's nice that you want to appropriate the mantle of independence all to yourself, really...

[TheBlackAdder]

17. Nice, you edit your post, remove the video, and the comment about my guy. [#Failblog]

.


That's deceptive.


.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

18. The video

I have nothing to hide.

You accuse me of being pusillanimous:

"Who are you selling that to? Your posts present someone fearful..."

-TheBlackAdder

What did you expect? A hug?

[TheBlackAdder]

20. Restore the entire post to its original state. You post deceptively.

.


The partial quote snippet won't work to distort the entire statement above.

You're partial comment implies something which is out of context of my intent, and you know it!



.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

21. So now I am a pusillanimous prevaricator?

"You post deceptively..."

-The Black Adder

"Who are you selling that to? "Your posts present someone fearful ..."

-The Black Adder

I restored the video...It is a metaphor for the first debate.

I think you thought I would be a pushover and I would be cowed by your rhetoric. You thought wrong.

[JoePhilly]

40. OK, that was funny.

[TheBlackAdder]

10. Not sure... With 5 mins. of ads per min. of play, there are a boatload of captive TV viewers. NT

[Blue_Adept]

19. The REALLY big clue is the December 19th debate

I mean, a week before Christmas? Who's paying attention?

Even worse? That's opening weekend for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which is going to dominate the mass media in a huge way.

It's like they picked these days on purpose!

[Godhumor]

22. I heard there is a riveting debate scene in the movie

On past with the trade negotiations featured so largely in the first prequel.

[Sheepshank]

23. A majority of the people who would watch a debate will now miss it

Because
1. Priorities...everything is more important than watching the debate.
2. Inability to watch the inevitable reruns
3. Inability to figure out how to hit the "record" button
4. Inability to use the remote to toggle between two channels.

The arguments are pretty weak. Those who want to watch will, and everyone else won't.

[cascadiance]

24. Not just a potential record setting football game but also a record setting wrestling match...

... on the same field in Iowa City earlier in the day, when #1 Oklahoma State and #4 Iowa face each other in the first ever football field wrestling match that is likely to bring in a record crowd of 35,000 to that event earlier before the football game in the evening, where Iowa could set a record in starting a season 10-0 for the first time.

http://www.ncaa.com/news/wrestling/article/2015-11-10/ncaa-wrestling-iowa-oklahoma-state-expect-35k-outdoor-meet

Those watching the debate will likely be only those that are dedicated Democrats. Is that what these are supposed to be? Only appealing to those already vested and strong Democratic Party voters? Or those that if on another night might be drawn in to a debate, if it were the significant event of that day without other distractions? Which would offer the better strategy of getting newer voters to vote for the Democratic Party nominee in the General Election? HUH?

Those in Iowa are questioning the intelligence of this decision and RIGHTLY SO!!!

http://jamiedupree.blog.ajc.com/2015/11/12/football-and-debate-clash-in-iowa/

[coyote]

25. Of course it was on purpose....

Along with the Dec 19th debate. Just compare the viewership of the Republican debates next to the Democrats.

[riversedge]

26. "some think" ha ha.

[left on green only]

27. Aww Com'on. Debbie The Wuss Is A Big Football Fan.

She would never do that to herself intentionally.

[Vinca]

28. The DNC has had a finger on the scale this entire election.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz couldn't appear more biased if she tried.

[Skidmore]

31. Hey, y'all. Here in Ioway we all have

new timey stuff like ee-lektrisity and them there fancy magic picture light boxes thingies. Hell, some people even connect them things to other gadgets that let them watch the magic pictures any time they want ferever. Fancy that. One of these days we might get them fancy iron horses that go under the ground. I finally got to go on one of those aeroplanes. Scared the bejesus outta me. 'Scuse me while I go put my flat iron on the coals so I can press my long johns.

[ismnotwasm]

45. Heh!

[MineralMan]

36. Some think that choosing a President is a lot more important

than a college football game. They'll be watching the debate. Not everyone gives a damn about Iowa football, even in Iowa. They're playing Minnesota. I live in Minnesota. I do not care in any way who wins that game, but I care a great deal about the presidential primaries. So, what do you think I'll be watching?

Feh!

[Evergreen Emerald]

38. why would "they" not want people to watch the debate?

1. who are "they"
2. if they are democrats, why not want people to watch?
3. if they are in the tank for Hillary, they would want people to watch, based on the ass-kicking she gave last time
4. take off the tinfoil hat.

[George II]

39. If it was on Tuesday you'd find a way to complain about it. No matter WHEN it is scheduled......

....you'd find a way to complain about it.

People who WANT to watch it will watch it, people who don't won't. It's as simple as that, no matter when it's scheduled.