Jerry Springer's just announced he's debating Sean Hannity --

[quiet.american]

Oh, brother. Anyone else have a sinking feeling in their stomach. Jerry's a nice guy and all, but a much better matchup would be Malloy vs. Hannity -- this matchup is like putting Inspector Clousseau up against Hannibal Lecter....

Well, maybe Springer will surprise me.

[slor]

1. Springer will trounce him...

if he does not concede to hannazi's yelling.

[tjwash]

2. You would be surprised, Jerry is pretty smart, and Sean H. really...

...isn't much of a debater unless he is on his own show, with canned questions, and can cut the oppositions mike.

Wow. Kind of sounds like the shrub when I put it that way...

[unblock]

3. springer's a former mayor

and has a lot of practice coming off as authoritative and sensible amidst craziness.

he has the ability to make any opponent sound like a guest on his show.

[KittyWampus]

14. Very well said

'he has the ability to make any opponent sound like a guest on his show'

[JPZenger]

21. Really President of City Council

In Cincinnati, the City Manager really runs the City. Springer's position really amounted to being head of a City Council.

I think Hannity choose to debate the least convincing, least informed, least respected and least intelligent person among the Dem radio personalities. Of course, remember that Hannity has propped up squirrel-like Combs as his ideological opponent all these years.

[Nabia2004]

4. Springer will expose hannity as the fool he is...

but in a nice way

[Beelzebud]

5. Malloy would just stab Hannity in the face.

And while that would be the most amusing thing I've ever seen, I'm not sure how well the "debate" would go. :D

:)

[Tulum_Moon]

12. That would be something to see

This maybe the biggest knockdown drag out debate in a long time.:o

[Marie26]

6. I'll have to be sure to miss that.

Unless they start rumbling, of course.

[Pirate Smile]

7. When and where?

[quiet.american]

10. I actually don't remember, but his AAR website should have details.n/t

[no_hypocrisy]

8. Jerry might be as easy a target as his other opponents.

1. Not likely Sean or his staff will do real preparation like listen to Jerry's shows ON THE RADIO. Probably will assume Jerry's like his TV circus show.

2. Jerry will call him on low-handed debate tactics such as interrupting, begging the question, throwing in a red herring, appeal to the public, appeal to emotionalism, patriotism, changing the topic of debate, attack on Jerry personally, challenging the authority of Jerry's facts, etc.

3. I don't think Jerry will be phased by Sean's antics, like acting nonplussed like Alan Colmes. Jerry is his own person.

[quiet.american]

9. I'm glad to see "a lot of money" on Springer - :)

My doubts come from listening to him debate wingnuts on his show. Too often he starts his replies with, "you have a point there," "I'll conceded that," etc.

I hope he's tougher on Hannity.

[KittyWampus]

15. using the phrase "you have a point there," is a debate tactic

[quiet.american]

18. It may be, but one has to choose one's "weapons" wisely --

One size doesn't fit all. :)

[zippy890]

11. Hey now, I've got my $ on Springer

and I'd actually like to see that debate.

Springer's a lawyer, and I think he has good debating skills,
and wouldn't come off as the "Angry Liberal' the wingnuts are
trying to characterize the left as.

Go Jerry!

[budkin]

13. Springer is a terrible debater

At least on his show. He can't hold his own for 10 seconds before he starts conceding to the freeps, beginning all his statements with "You're absolutely right but..." Hannity is just going to scream over top of him. Surprise me Jerry and pwn Hannity for us all!

[tocqueville]

16. Clouseau wins alway in the end... nt

[quiet.american]

19. Ah -- there's a heartening thought! :)

[hlthe2b]

17. A massacre in the making....

Springer will apologize for every point he manages to get across--though he is unlikely to get in too many, as Hannity will interrupt and fillibuster the entire time. Springer wants to be liked so damned badly, this will likely be a bloody massacre at Hannity's hands.

[klook]

20. At least Springer is tough, and he does seem to dwell in reality

...at least some of the time. Hannity just makes stuff up. It's incredible to hear the easily disprovable lies he tells on his show. Springer's challenge is to be well informed enough to convincingly refute the constant firehose stream of lies that will issue forth from Sean Inhumanity.

Springer actually will debate callers rationally on his radio show (which is totally different from his TV show, for those who haven't heard it). Hannity's approach is to bully and shout down dissenters who call him. But based on this description of a Hannity appearance with Jeanene Garofalo, he may try to appear like a normal, rational human being.

I predict that, while this will probably be less idiotic than Steve Allen's proposed wrestling match with gossip columnist Virginia Graham in a giant bowl of salad would have been (unfortunately, I don't believe it ever took place), it will not be a significant contribution to the national discourse.

[second edition]

22. Well, I just hope Springer isn't representing us and only himself. n/t