Grab and Keel

What did you learn about the candidates’ platforms Thursday night?

McClatchy reported that the VPOTUS debate viewer pool was 70 million; 40% larger than the POTUS debate. That the previous debate between McCain and Obama was reportedly the least watched ever televised is astounding, considering the ferment this election cycle has created.

I found I had to agree with the comments made on the Bill Moyer Show last night. None of the POTUS or VPOTUS candidates have yet really addressed how the current economic crisis has affected their platforms. Perhaps, it really is too early, but it is disconcerting to recognize once again that the solons we choose sometimes have no better crystal ball than we.

Although called a stunt by Obama, last month McCain suggested formation of an Economic Commission. Whether you think the fingers should be pointed to the right or left, this is a global crisis. As such, the United Kingdom is moving forward with a similar commission. Their finger is pointing at us.

As hard as it is this year, with such great emphasis on personalities, Kathleen Hall Jamieson had good advice on how to watch a debate. Fact checking organizations that she has outlined are also useful. See HERE.

The League of Women Voters (LWV) has similar advice on Debate 101. See HERE.

There is so much information flung about today, it is ever more important to find the answers as close to the source as possible. For example, did you know that both Biden and Palin gave partial answers to the argument over what General McKiernan said about Afghanistan, and therefore both were partially correct?  Did you remember, that Obama’s health plan is not universal and is only for children?

Lynn Sweet provided a debate transcript and I always like to read them. I learn far more when I am not watching the theatrics. Combined with the LWV checklist, it’s much easier to see which candidate answered questions, or not.

Sarah Palin Joe Biden vice presidential debate. Transcript

By Lynn Sweet on October 2, 2008 11:25 PM |

Transcript courtesy Federal News Service

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/10/sarah_palin_joe_biden_vice_pre.html

Speaking of speaking, did you see the analysis of grade level of the speaking styles that the VPOTUS Candidates used?

 Vice Presidential Debate Linguistic Analysis: Palin at 10th Grade-level; Biden at 8th Grade-level

 Palin’s use of passive voice highest of the 2008 Debate

 Austin, Texas, USA.   October 3, 2008. The first and only vice presidential debate of the 2008 Campaign has resulted in Governor Sarah Palin, the republican nominee for vice president speaking at a 10th grade level, with Senator Joe Biden coming in at an 8th grade level.  Also noteworthy was the fact that Gov. Palin’s use of passive voice was the highest (at 8%) of the 2008 Presidential and Vice Presidential debates thus far.  The analysis was performed by The Global Language Monitor (www.LanguageMonitor.com), the Austin, Texas-based media analytics and analysis company.

Personally I’m not surprised,at the rating on passive voice.  Women more often have this acquired style. That it was only 8% surprised me! So I think some gender awareness is useful here. However, CNN pushed that point in their article, as inferred evidence of deception and as might be part of the preferred style of a politician. There is just no way this can be verified with the paucity of equivilent women candidates that might form a baseline for comparison. It’s very possible the opposite was true.