Obama's State of the Union Inspiration: Ronald Reagan

I've written a short piece over at the Huffington Post analyzing last night's State of the Union. I argue that Obama's central rhetorical inspiration was Ronald Reagan.

Texas Gubernatorial Debates

There is a very interesting campaign going on in Texas: Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (KBH) is facing off against two-term incumbent governor Rick Perry. Perry is currently the longest-serving governor in Texas; it is doubtful that anyone short of the Senator could give him a serious challenge. KBH shook up Texas politics with her candidacy; she may open a senate seat and cause movement among other elected offices.

The Texas Gubernatorial Debates are underway. Last Thursday, the three Republican candidates squared off against each other. Video is here: http://texasdebates.org/video.php. A Hutchison-Perry debate takes place on Jan. 29 and will be broadcast live on the web. More info here: http://www.kvue.com/news/KVUE-to-co-host-GOP-debate-Perry-Hutchison-face-off-Jan-29-81268267.html.

I'm listening to the first debate now.

The upside of a Texas debate: A candidate (Hutchison) was just asked whether she carries her handgun everywhere in violation of the law (Hutchison has previously told folks that she keeps a gun in her car, which is legal even without a permit). She answered no (the question was a waste of time), but at least it was amusing.

That question came from the same moderator who mispronounced tyranny "tie-ranny". But lest I further the stereotypes, that was unrepresentative: the overall quality has been good.

Now the candidates are getting to ask each other questions. Perry is hammering KBH for voting for the bailouts, especially the auto bailout. Perry has already given a sketchy answer on unemployment (which Medina called him on), so I expect KBH is about to hit him with an unemployment question, or a tax question. But first, Medina gets her question, and she's hammering the governor for broken promises (and switching to the Republican party years ago).

For the rest, you'll have to listen to the debates yourself; I will report back later.

Mike McCurry Replaces Paul Kirk on the Commission on Presidential Debate

Mike McCurry, former secretary for Bill Clinton, is replacing Paul Kirk (currently senator from Massachusetts) as the Democratic Representative on the Commission for Presidential Debates.

McCurry is particularly focused on using the internet for future debates. He wants to "encourage people to actually participate, give us ideas and talk about how could the web make the presidential debates in 2012 more accessible to you."

Botswana Presidential Debate

Ian Khama, the President of Botswana has announced that he will not participate in tonight's presidential debate. Instead, his Vice-President will represent the governing party. Khama is notoriously adverse to impromptu speaking. Unlike his predecessors, he has never participated in a public debate, and has avoided free-wheeling press conferences.

New York's Mayoral Debate Tonight

New York's Mayoral candidates will debate tonight. As the New York Times notes, Hizzoner has some Gore-ish debating problems, "Sighing audibly, which he does when he is attacked. Gazing toward the heavens, which he does when annoyed by a question. Reciting endless statistical information, which he does almost reflexively."

However, the challenger, City Comptroller William C. Thompson, is no rhetorical steamroller either: "[Thompson] can sound sarcastic, especially when rebutting a point. He wags his finger and rolls his eyes. And, oddly, he answers questions by issuing his own long-winded self-referential questions."

The debate will be at 7pm, live on NY1 and WNYC.

Britain's Prime Minister Debate

Gordon Brown expressed support today for televised debates between party leaders ahead of the upcoming elections in Great Britain, which must take place before June 2010. There have long been discussions of such debates across the pond, but they've never occurred for a variety of reasons.

Chile's Presidential Debate

Chile will hold its first presidential debate of this election cycle on Wednesday, September 22nd. All five candidates will participate in the event, which will be televised live on Television Nacional de Chile (TVN).