It's About Style, Stupid!

Do you think there is too much focus on style, and not enough on substance, coming out of these debates? Or do you think the style issues highlighted are themselves substantive?

yes, and it has been this way since the advent of mass media. it has become somewhat more American Idolized, though, in recent elections.

Krhazy said:

Do you think there is too much focus on style, and not enough on substance, coming out of these debates? Or do you think the style issues highlighted are themselves substantive?

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Interesting. We probably focus on style so much because we have absolutely no idea whether either participant is telling the truth.

Krhazy said:

Do you think there is too much focus on style, and not enough on substance...

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It's not just the debates...

How do you think a greenhorn no-nothing like Obama got elected?
He was as genuine as those Greek columns.

To illustrate, here are some of the recent headlines:

Rude & Obnoxious Not a Winning Strategy
Ghosts of Al Gore to Haunt Smirking, Fibbing Biden
The Joke's on Joe Biden
Biden Right to Laugh at Sniveling Little Ryan
What About the Last 4 Years Is Funny?
Democrats' Split Screen Problem
Huckabee: Biden Was Like 'an Obnoxious Drunk' at Debate | Video ...
Joe Biden feisty or rude? Paul Ryan calm or overwhelmed ...
Local experts: Sneers didn't help Biden
Republican Politicians Call Biden 'Curmudgeon,' 'Unhinged,' and ...
Biden: 'Rude, arrogant'?
Joe Biden, Loud Guy at the Party
Biden burdens his boss
Biden Disgraced Himself
Biden's mom and dad taught him many things--but not manners

Krhazy said:

Do you think there is too much focus on style, and not enough on substance, coming out of these debates? Or do you think the style issues highlighted are themselves substantive?

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Style is nice, but substantive is the important thing. Unfortunately since the first televised debate between Nixon and Kennedy the more charismatic candidate has always won.

Cardinal said:

Style is nice, but substantive is the important thing. Unfortunately since the first televised debate between Nixon and Kennedy the more charismatic candidate has always won.

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That rule may be about to get its first exception.

So what else is new.

As I've said before somewhere; I'd be willing to bet that 4 of 10 US Citizens are too stupid and/or uninformed to make a rational decision in an election.

Obama was elected because he presented a "rock star" persona. He knows how to work a crowd. He was "ghetto" in the south. He was "Theo Huxtable" in the east. He was "down to earth" in the heartland. He zeroed in on the losers of society and promised to shower them with "free" entitlements. He promised alternative fuels for the hipsters. He promised free birth control for the kids who can't keep their legs closed, but are too immature to accept the consequences. He was that cool dude who drank beer and played basketball.

Everything about Obama is "style." He has no substance. Never had it. Never will.

Krhazy said:

To illustrate, here are some of the recent headlines:

Rude & Obnoxious Not a Winning Strategy
Ghosts of Al Gore to Haunt Smirking, Fibbing Biden
The Joke's on Joe Biden
Biden Right to Laugh at Sniveling Little Ryan
What About the Last 4 Years Is Funny?
Democrats' Split Screen Problem
Huckabee: Biden Was Like 'an Obnoxious Drunk' at Debate | Video ...
Joe Biden feisty or rude? Paul Ryan calm or overwhelmed ...
Local experts: Sneers didn't help Biden
Republican Politicians Call Biden 'Curmudgeon,' 'Unhinged,' and ...
Biden: 'Rude, arrogant'?
Joe Biden, Loud Guy at the Party
Biden burdens his boss
Biden Disgraced Himself
Biden's mom and dad taught him many things--but not manners

Click to expand...

Well... he was unhinged, and that reveals something about the man.
He laughed when speaking about Iran and nukes. You think it's funny?
That he couldn't recall voting for two wars also reveals something about the man too.

He was all style over substance... an overbearing boor who didn't want a debate.
His tactic was to be Ronald McDonald. It worked!!! Everyone noticed the guy was a clown.
Now, it wouldn't matter much if he were just one idiot among hundreds of people in Congress, except this guy is VP.
Give the man a dunce cap.