cnn youtube debates

by D.O.

As I type this blog I’m sitting in my super-comfy La-z-boy watching the debates that share a name with the title of this entry. It’s brought about tons of thoughts, including “I could blog about this.” Ultimately I thought, “I’ll blog about it while I’m thinking about it.” So, here are some thoughts:

- This is one of the greatest ideas I’ve seen carried out in a while. Utilizing the immense popularity of youtube to facilitate an avenue for common (and internet savvy) Americans to ask politicians exactly what they want to know… brilliant. Also, well carried out.

- I love Anderson Cooper.

- Some of these questions are truly hilarious, which is great, because we get to see these politicians — who are rarely, if ever, authentic when in front of cameras — laugh. It catches them off guard. I like that.

- I’m pretty sick of debates, interviews, etc. with politicians who dance around the questions they’re asked with an eloquent rhetoric that says close to nothing, and doesn’t answer the question that prompted their professionally delivered monologue. They’ll be asked a very cut and dry, yes/no question, and they’ll say well over 100 words without answering it. So, I propose that we have a CNN/YouTube/D.O./Yes/No debate, where candidates can only be asked yes/no questions, and the only words they’re allowed to say are “yes” and “no.”

- None of the candidates have bad teeth.

- Typing this post makes me kind of miss, though not enough to resurrect, Jiffy News. (The link won’t work, I just did it for old time’s sake).

- John Edwards reminds me of the secretary guy on NBC’s 30 Rock, big time. Click the links, but if it’s way funnier if you hear them talk.

- Edwards and Clinton just answered a question with “yes” and “sure”, respectively. I loved it.

- It’s crazy how early we’re early the 2008 Election is starting.

- The last question was “Look at the person on your left and say one thing you like and one think you dislike about them.” Good question. Wasn’t exactly answered that well, kinda funny, not too serious, nevertheless, good question.

So there are some of the thoughts I had on the CNN/YouTube debates. The democrats were tonight, the republicans will be Monday, September 17th. I like it. You probably don’t care.