Why does Bernie Sanders get to go first in the town hall? How is this fair?

[ProudToBeLiberal]

Oh well, I hope people stay and watch the Town Hall till the end.

[Gregorian]

1. I was wondering too until just now. Jeff Weaver confirms this is Bernie's venue.

So town halls are his strong point.

I think this is going to be to his advantage.

[cherokeeprogressive]

2. I certainly don't plan to watch til the end. But that's just me.

There's a rerun of Chopped on the Food Channel I wanna see.

[thereismore]

4. You

[cherokeeprogressive]

7. But they have to use bull testes in the appetizer round!

Must See TV!

[Health Wagon]

15. DVR it or watch it on Demand later

[cherokeeprogressive]

18. Oh but I AM DVR'ing it. I'll be turning it on after Martin O'Malley leaves the stage.

[dinkytron]

3. It doesnt matter. Its almost better for Bernie. Should

have been O'Malley.

[morningfog]

5. Glad he's first. Most will tune out before Hillary.

Hope she's in a cone of silence.

[Gregorian]

8. I'll bet you're right!

cone of silence. There's a metaphor you don't hear very often.

[nolabear]

32. Hate to disabuse you. Many of us want to hear both sides.

And I can't imagine not.

[morningfog]

40. You mean all three sides?

Many of you/us may want to hear from each candidate. With the abrupt last minute scheduling, many will also tune it expecting a debate, see some of Sanders and change the channel.

[nolabear]

43. Yes, all three. And I know people often just want to hear their candidate echo points.

I want to hear it all. O'Malley has some fine points. He's just got too few of them.

[WillyT]

6. Well That's A New One... Usually People Want The Last Word... Which I Am Told Is Hillary's...

[Mike Nelson]

9. They may explain...

...could be Bernie won a fair flip and opted to go first. Or random... or someone had a schedule concern. I plan to watch all three!

[mike_c]

10. I think the organizers believe that the first presenter is at a disadvantage....

First, they can only anticipate what their opponents are going to say, so all they can really count on is their stump speech, which is already well known to most of the audience. Second, those going later can respond to points made by the previous candidates. Not the other way around. Finally, viewers tend to remember the last presenter and respond to their arguments more positively-- they provide the take-home message. I believe the schedule is intended to highlight Senator Clinton and marginalize Senator Sanders.

However, as you suggest, I'll be tuning out after Martin O'Mally finishes. Senator Clinton has nothing to say that interests me.

[ProudToBeLiberal]

11. please stay and listen to all three. it's only fair. nt

[morningfog]

12. The latter candidates should be sequestered.

It would be unfair for them to follow prior to participating. Not that Hillary and her ilk care about fairness. If she did, she wouldn't be acting in violation of campaign finance law by employin Brock's sleazy hit PAC.

[SusanCalvin]

34. Thinking last is best may be wrong.

I can't find a link, but I read an article where in an interview putting positive first and negative last when answering an interview question was actually the best thing to do. I would have thought the opposite.

[Health Wagon]

13. Advantage: Bernie.

The rest of us can turn off after Martin.

Clinton's on her own.

[femmocrat]

14. "Are you up to the job" -- stupid question.

Ageism. gack.

[AgingAmerican]

16. Dont worry, when she loses the debate and starts losing states

More debates will magically be added to the schedule!

[SusanCalvin]

35. Yeah, the appearance of this town hall was interesting. nt

[ProudToBeLiberal]

17. Anyone feel like Bernie is a bit tentative and nervous? He's usually confident and shouting. nt

[elias49]

19. I'd say he's warming up right now!

Hope he keeps a lid on a little bit.

[TCJ70]

22. He doesn't always get loud...

...and in this one to one format it isn't really warranted.

[SusanCalvin]

31. No. I think he's knocking it out of the park.

He is confident and *not* shouting. A winning combination.

[redstateblues]

44. Hope he doesn't blow a gasket

He always looks like he's getting ready to pop a vein

[Babel_17]

20. Thank you Alexis

How very cordial, and honest, of her to compliment Sanders on addressing her concerns in a way to make her think twice about her vote.

[bigwillq]

21. He lost the jello shot contest.

It's no big deal. At least he's there for those interested in hearing what he has to say.

[ronnykmarshall]

23. Oh jesus!

[dlwickham]

33. It's Bernie

Not Jesus but I can see where you get the two confused

[ucrdem]

24. Early bedtime?

if it were up to me I wouldn't have agreed to it either. Who's going to still be watching after O'Malley gets finsihed?

[Autumn]

25. Look on the bright side, Hillary gets to go last. She can borrow some good ideas from Bernie.

[cwydro]

26. Who cares who goes first?

Silly.

Stay and listen.

[SusanCalvin]

29. There will be dropoff, this is a fact. nt

[SusanCalvin]

27. It isn't fair at all.

Since apparently they are each getting a large block of time, there's no way it could be fair.

That said, I feel he is knocking it out of the park.

[fredamae]

28. It's no secret one wants to be last

The last word/person is what people remember. To be last you can hear everyone else speak...adjust/tailor your own responses etc. Work your next attacks on your opponent.....
Being last here is the best. An old politician told me that

[SusanCalvin]

30. In a way, if you can take advantage of it.

And if you don't lose too many viewers.

Wonder who is next and who is last?

Sheesh, I said I was going to stay off the tablet...

[fredamae]

38. That could also work to

hold viewers/attendees. But really...it's about "the last word" ... It took me awhile to wrap my head around that.
lol-I'm usually off everything by now I understand.

[MoonRiver]

36. I can't stay awake after about 10, which means I will miss Hillary.

Oh well, I'm already in the bag, but shoot, I would like to hear her.

[Purveyor]

37. Even better yet Hillary goes last.

Considering everytime she goes before the cameras her polls goes down, it might be a blessing for her.

[ucrdem]

39. She got back in the game with the first Iowa debate. Remember that?

Bride-of-comeback-kid has already recovered once from political near death.

[SusanCalvin]

42. I'd love to stay up for her, but it ain't going to happen.

No cable in bedroom.

[quickesst]

41. I'm not even turning it on...

... Until Hillary Clinton takes the stage. What the other two have to say is of little interest to me. I've already heard enough to solidify my conviction that Hillary is the most qualified of the three . Yep.