Should I listen to, or watch, the debate tonight.

[Raven]

I am asking for a good reason...in 1960, John Kennedy won the debate among people who watched it and Nixon won it among people who listened to it on the radio. I know times have changed since 1960 and most people will watch the debate tonight but it might be an interesting experiment to listen to it...let me know what you think.

[KoKo]

1. For some of us....the DU thread is as far as we can go. That removes it

even farther from radio...but you make an interesting point. Maybe if I listen on radio I'll have a perspective I can deal with. I refuse to watch it on TV live...I can't deal with getting sucked into the debates afterward, even if I watch it on C-Span..I will be tempted...and I can't handle the manipulation and I'm too weak to not get sucked in. So, tube is out for me tonight.

DU Thread or Radio...interesting. :shrug:

[Raven]

4. I know exactly how you feel, strange isn't it!

I can't bear the television either. Listening offers another benefit...I can crawl under my nice warm quilt...it's COLD up here! :-)

[catzies]

6. For me, it'll be both of those options: DU and radio!

I've got my Bingo/drinking game cards printed and ready to go too. :mad: :beer: :mad: :beer: etc. etc.

[Nite Owl]

2. I thought of that too

but we are now a tv world. While I don't really want to see the smirker tonight I am going to watch just to see what it is that others are seeing and how the media is screwing up the aftermath. I just want to see it for myself. Going to be like pulling off a bandaid really slowly though. I don't think I am that objective right now to see the difference in watching or listening. Not like I'm an undecided.

[Nay]

8. I feel exactly the same way, Nite Owl. Pulling off a bandaid. Ow.

I am going to try to watch, but I can't guarantee I will make it all the way through. Heck, I scream at NPR on the way to work if they have Bushler speaking. I just can't stand to even hear him lie. The only reason to watch is to see how off all the RWers are about how well their boy did and how bad that preppy suntanned guy did. Even then, I'm just not sure I can take the aggravation.

[MADem]

3. You can always catch the video on CSPAN later

Hello--I'm new! This is my first post.

I'd recommend that you do whatever feels right. You can always listen first, then watch later. That irritating Don Imus plans to watch it with the sound turned down--I think his goal is to see if the body language gives anything away. I'll bet he turns up the volume, though.

I plan on watching, but I will flip through the channels to see if there is a difference in the camera angles, since the networks have told the Presidential Commission on Debates that they refuse to abide by that "no cut away" rule (that rule benefited Resident aWol, as he fidgets a great deal).

[Raven]

7. Welcome MADem!

Great to have you here and I'm honored that this is your first post on DU. Stay with us! Where are you from...I assume MA means my home state. :hi:

[MADem]

13. Massachusetts, INDEED

...and I am a Mad Dem as well! Well, maybe just annoyed!

[BeFree]

11. Welcome MADem, welcome to DU!

Tell ya'll what.... as soon as the debate is over, we all need to vote in the online polls, and, if ya feel up to it, begin composing letters to the editors.

Ya know, this debate is as American as it gets these days. And the chance for Kerry to put the hammer down on b**sh is gonna be to good to miss.

Not to sell b**sh short,(snicker) but he hardly stands a chance against a focused and relaxed John Kerry, eh?.

Come on John, show us what ya got!

[newyawker99]

15. Hi MADem!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[stellanoir]

5. well. . .

if you want to refute the spin, watch on PBS or CSPAN, then immediately switch off or switch to Comedy Central where you'll probably get the best analysis from Wes Clark, Rudi (ugh) Guliani, and the ever intrepid Jon Stewart. Should be a hoot. Two out of three ain't bad.

If you don't care about refuting the spin and want to focus on something as spurious as content, then just listen.

[Paulie]

9. I'm doing TV muted with AAR on

And I may try to swing the DU thread too. :)

Here's the info on AAR tonight:

The Majority Report - Tune in for a Special 4-hour "Majority Report."
--SNIP--
Plus, "The Presidential Debate Aired Live Here on AIR AMERICA RADIO, without interruption. Writer for The New York Times Magazine, as well as for Outside Magazine and the radio show, This American Life, Jack Hitt will also be here to help digest the debate.

The Mike Malloy Show

Tonight's the night, Truthseekers. The first head-to-head Q and A between Sen. John Kerry and President Bunnypants. We say "Q and A" because what we will watch and listen to tonight is as far removed from an actual debate as the Bush Administration is from rationality. The fun and frivolity begins at 9P EDT and ends ninety minutes later - at which point Mike, Janeane and Sam, and their guests, will review what was said and whether or not any of it made any difference. Then, Sam and Janeane depart and Mike will take your calls. Do join in and let us know how the first great presidential "debate" of the 2004 political season made you feel proud to be an American.

[Mountainman]

10. I've spent for a couple of years waiting for Kerry to debate *

But I don't think this will be a debate, more of an opportunity for the media to find something to end Kerry's campaign. I thought Gore won all debates with * but what they said didn't matter as much as what Gore looked like or didn't look like.

I may not pay attention at all to it.

[Catfight]

12. Listen to it, it'll be an exercise in fairness on here tomorrow. n/t

[luaneryder]

14. I'll try watching CSPAN

I stayed an extra day at my daughter's just in case I thought I could bear watching it. If I can't take it I'll just DU.

[WilliamPitt]

16. Get off the phone

so I can call you back. :)

[dlviper]

17. Probably TV if you can handle it...

I'm am so freakin' nervous about it. He'll probably do well, but the media will pick on some nit and make the entire post debate discussion about that instead of the issues. God, I hopes he hits it so far out of the park that adverse spin is for naught.

[cmf]

18. Well, considering FOX is controlling the cameras

radio is your best bet.

[demokatgurrl]

19. If you're going to suffer through it

may as well watch- you'll get to see Kerry and you can look away when Bush speaks and/or hit the mute button. Just have a few drinks before, and during, if you're a drinking person. Watch on C-span to avoid inane commentary. And turn it off right away and go vote in an poll or write a letter or have another drink!

And just be prepared that unless Bush drools or falls over, he will be declared the "winner".

[grace0418]

20. Praying for a meltdown...

praying for a meltdown...

chant it with me...praying for a meltdown... praying for a meltdown...

But seriously, I feel your pain, I have such a hard time looking at Dumbya's face that I fear I might vomit whilst watching. But I feel compelled. I don't know what to do!

praying for a meltdown... praying for a meltdown... praying for a meltdown... praying for a meltdown... praying for a meltdown...

[KoKo]

31. A kick for the "undecided." (n/t)

[Raven]

21. Well, here is my decision...

I'm going to watch the intro on TV so I can see that little pea brain for myself...then, I'm going to crawl into my bed with my quilt and listen... and hope and pray for a slam dunk from Kerry! But I will check in later on DU with what it is like to listen instead of watch.

[KoKo]

22. If you watch the "intro on TV" you will be suckered in...believe me on

this...and you will be "Raving Raven" by 12:00 p.m. tonight...but do what you want to...:D You will have been "sucked in."

[Catfight]

23. I hope Kerry ask Bush to led the debate with a prayer!!!!!!!!!!!

[KoKo]

24. Didn't Skinner already post a 24 hr. prayer group for tonight? Praying,

holding sweaty hands together, gritting teeth, and making gnashing teeth decisions over DU Threads, NPR Radio, C-Span, or the multiple Cable and Network options?

ARGHHHHH.... just pick one...and in the end maybe we come up with a "FAIR" consensus? :shrugh:

[stevedeshazer]

25. I'm watching, and here's why:

This is the way most voters, especially undecideds, fence-sitters and people who can still be swayed, will perceive the proceedings. Visually. Right or wrong.

I can't stand not seeing it, and in real time.

But I get your point, and hope you will post your audio impressions when it's over, should you decide to take that route. :)

[KoKo]

26. Anyone under 40 years old should definitely watch IT ALL! Good

Stuff..

But...there are others of us..trying to make decisions...because we ALREADY KNOW about SPIN...so we are in a different mode. :shrug:

[stevedeshazer]

27. Well, I ain't under 40 by a damn sight

But my goal is to know the spin and be prepared to counter it.

I'm very interested to read what radio listeners think versus TV watchers, Raven is right to point this out. ;)

[KoKo]

28. Yes she was....we forget radio is pretty much unfiltered...and if we all

compare notes after we might get to the "truth" of the debates rather than the "SPIN."

I shudder thinking of Tweety going at it tonight. Or, switching over to Greenfield and Gergen and Fund and whomever they all bring on board to digest, dissect and hash and masch over what was "supposed to be debate" but was really an "overorchestrated match of tennis partners" all sanctioned by the "Election Commission" and both parties.

YUCK!

[KoKo]

29. NPR feed and DU thread posts...I think that's my final decision...so far.

hanging in there because it's so stressful for all of us...:crazy:

[MoonRiver]

30. I'm gonna watch it, cause I know smirk won't hold a candle to Kerry

during the "debates". What I can't tolerate is the righwingnut pundits spewing forth afterwards. I'll let the braver DU'ers fill me in on that caca.