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Procedural facts regarding the second Presidential Debate

Zyphlin

Zyphlin

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Take these numbers as you'd like. I am not going to include any commentary or statements regarding them, I will simply post the facts after a little bit of background as to what I did and how I did it...

After watching the first bit of the debate and being frustrated with how both were acting, I wanted to be able to factually count a few key things during this debate. As such, I rewound the DVR to the beginning and started again taking tallies of the following things; Who had the first segment of a question, who had the actual last segment on a question, how many times each person interrupted during a segment, and what the on-going time standings were after each round. Now, just to be clear, let me give an explanation of how I decided a few of those things.

In terms of who went last...this was based on who had the last clear, non-forced or largely talking over the moderator, full segment on the issue. So, for example, in segment two the fact that Romney attempted to get a last word in but the moderator was saying no and was moving the debate on would not make it a case where he went last.

In terms of who interrupted who...I based this on instances where a candidate is speaking during his turn and the other candidate interrupts by commenting toward the candidate, to the crowd, or to the moderator. Only the initial interruption during an instance was counted (So if, for Example, Obama is speaking and then Romney interrupts and then Obama interrupts the interrupt and then Romney cuts him off to interrupt again...that's one interruption for Romney). Interruptions needed to either cause a lengthy pause or needed to be multiple words long. So, for example, in segment 9 Obama's statement of "Candy" and attempts to get the Moderators attention that largely failed would not count as an interruption.

So, with that said....here's the tallies I came up with. If anyone has issues with them, I would welcome you to rewatch the debate and tell me specifically which segments I am incorrect about and why.

First and Last Speaker

Rnd 01: Romney First - - - Obama Last
Rnd 02: Obama First - - - Obama Last
Rnd 03: Romney First - - - Romney Last
Rnd 04: Obama First - - - Obama Last
Rnd 05: Romney First - - - Obama Last
Rnd 06: Obama First - - - Romney Last
Rnd 07: Romney First - - - Obama Last
Rnd 08: Obama First - - - Romney Last
Rnd 09: Obama First - - - Obama Last
Rnd 10: Romney First - - - Obama Last
Rnd 11: Romney First - - - Obama Last

Summary:
Number of times Romney was first: 6
Number of times Obama was first: 5

Number of times Romney was last: 3
Number of times Obama was last: 8

Number of times first and last were opposite: 7
Number of times Obama was first and last: 3
Number of times Romney was first and last: 1

Interruptions

Rnd 01: Romney 0 - - - Obama 0
Rnd 02: Romney 0 - - - Obama 2
Rnd 03: Romney 0 - - - Obama 0
Rnd 04: Romney 0 - - - Obama 0
Rnd 05: Romney 0 - - - Obama 1
Rnd 06: Romney 0 - - - Obama 0
Rnd 07: Romney 1 - - - Obama 2
Rnd 08: Romney 0 - - - Obama 1
Rnd 09: Romney 0 - - - Obama 0
Rnd 10: Romney 0 - - - Obama 1
Rnd 11: Romney 0 - - - Obama 0

Summary:
Total Romney Interruptions: 1
Total Obama interruptions: 7

Speaking Times

Rnd 01: 3:20 O - - - 3:42 R
Rnd 02: 9:32 O - - - 7:53 R
Rnd 03: 15:01 O - - - 14:18 R
Rnd 04: 19:44 O - - - 17:00 R
Rnd 05: 22:28 O - - - 19:33 R
Rnd 06: 25:08 O - - - 23:07 R
Rnd 07: 30:20 O - - - 27:59 R
Rnd 08: 34:07 O - - - 31:31 R
Rnd 09: 38:55 O - - - 34:31 R
Rnd 10: 41:57 O - - - 38:39 R
Rnd 11: 44:04 O - - - 40:50 R

Summary:
Final difference: Obama + 3:14
 
Thanks for this breakdown...it's quite interesting.

To be sure, while watching the debate I wasn't really focusing on such things so it's nice that you went through the trouble to compile this info.

It's pretty clear that Obama had certain advantages. It makes me wonder why he didn't do any better than a draw. (that's my assessment)
 
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Wow, well done man!!
 
Zyphlin said:
Take these numbers as you'd like. I am not going to include any commentary or statements regarding them, I will simply post the facts after a little bit of background as to what I did and how I did it...

After watching the first bit of the debate and being frustrated with how both were acting, I wanted to be able to factually count a few key things during this debate. As such, I rewound the DVR to the beginning and started again taking tallies of the following things; Who had the first segment of a question, who had the actual last segment on a question, how many times each person interrupted during a segment, and what the on-going time standings were after each round. Now, just to be clear, let me give an explanation of how I decided a few of those things.

In terms of who went last...this was based on who had the last clear, non-forced or largely talking over the moderator, full segment on the issue. So, for example, in segment two the fact that Romney attempted to get a last word in but the moderator was saying no and was moving the debate on would not make it a case where he went last.

In terms of who interrupted who...I based this on instances where a candidate is speaking during his turn and the other candidate interrupts by commenting toward the candidate, to the crowd, or to the moderator. Only the initial interruption during an instance was counted (So if, for Example, Obama is speaking and then Romney interrupts and then Obama interrupts the interrupt and then Romney cuts him off to interrupt again...that's one interruption for Romney). Interruptions needed to either cause a lengthy pause or needed to be multiple words long. So, for example, in segment 9 Obama's statement of "Candy" and attempts to get the Moderators attention that largely failed would not count as an interruption.

So, with that said....here's the tallies I came up with. If anyone has issues with them, I would welcome you to rewatch the debate and tell me specifically which segments I am incorrect about and why.

First and Last Speaker

Rnd 01: Romney First - - - Obama Last
Rnd 02: Obama First - - - Obama Last
Rnd 03: Romney First - - - Romney Last
Rnd 04: Obama First - - - Obama Last
Rnd 05: Romney First - - - Obama Last
Rnd 06: Obama First - - - Romney Last
Rnd 07: Romney First - - - Obama Last
Rnd 08: Obama First - - - Romney Last
Rnd 09: Obama First - - - Obama Last
Rnd 10: Romney First - - - Obama Last
Rnd 11: Romney First - - - Obama Last

Summary:
Number of times Romney was first: 6
Number of times Obama was first: 5

Number of times Romney was last: 3
Number of times Obama was last: 8

Number of times first and last were opposite: 7
Number of times Obama was first and last: 3
Number of times Romney was first and last: 1

Interruptions

Rnd 01: Romney 0 - - - Obama 0
Rnd 02: Romney 0 - - - Obama 2
Rnd 03: Romney 0 - - - Obama 0
Rnd 04: Romney 0 - - - Obama 0
Rnd 05: Romney 0 - - - Obama 1
Rnd 06: Romney 0 - - - Obama 0
Rnd 07: Romney 1 - - - Obama 2
Rnd 08: Romney 0 - - - Obama 1
Rnd 09: Romney 0 - - - Obama 0
Rnd 10: Romney 0 - - - Obama 1
Rnd 11: Romney 0 - - - Obama 0

Summary:
Total Romney Interruptions: 1
Total Obama interruptions: 7

Speaking Times

Rnd 01: 3:20 O - - - 3:42 R
Rnd 02: 9:32 O - - - 7:53 R
Rnd 03: 15:01 O - - - 14:18 R
Rnd 04: 19:44 O - - - 17:00 R
Rnd 05: 22:28 O - - - 19:33 R
Rnd 06: 25:08 O - - - 23:07 R
Rnd 07: 30:20 O - - - 27:59 R
Rnd 08: 34:07 O - - - 31:31 R
Rnd 09: 38:55 O - - - 34:31 R
Rnd 10: 41:57 O - - - 38:39 R
Rnd 11: 44:04 O - - - 40:50 R

Summary:
Final difference: Obama + 3:14
Click to expand...

I could sense that as it was going on... I don't think most people do though... I think most people just react off of what's occuring...

So, we've had 3 debates so far... each time the Democratic Party has benefited from the moderation... and next up Bob Schiffer... who is heavily in the Democrats pocket...


Next time, I not only would like Anderson Cooper running a debate, where he belongs... but I want at least 1 conservative leaning media representative to even it out slightly...


I also want to see the candidates in separate rooms, maybe satelitte fed in, with the split screen, and the ability to shut the microphone off once they go over time... like they do on most news stations these days...


Still, again... with about 4 more minutes to speak on yet another occasion... Obama failed to really make the case that he deserves re-election...
 
I would literally contribute money to the ability to have a debate where at the 2 minute mark the microphone automatically cuts off for the current speaker.

If they went into the debate knowing full well that at 2 minutes they would be cut off and that they would have no ability to interrupt the other one in a substantive way, I think it would force them to be a bit more concise, to the point, and on the issues rather than the long winded rambling, constant personal stories, or repeating of the same thing over and over and over again.
 
The idea that Romney only interrupted three times is mindboggling. He did it twice in the last round.

"Government doesn't create jobs!"
 
Compiling that information would have been very difficult - thanks for taking the time to do that. I noticed the interruptions but had no idea how frequent they were on Obama's side. Yikes.

Very interesting data.
 
Einzige said:
The idea that Romney only interrupted three times is mindboggling. He did it twice in the last round.

"Government doesn't create jobs!"
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I noticed he got up a lot, but he didn't interupt as much as Obama.



And, government does'nt create jobs. However, government can aid in creating an invironment were job creation is easier.
 
azgreg said:
I noticed he got up a lot, but he didn't interupt as much as Obama.
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He sure as **** interrupted more than three times.
 
Einzige said:
The idea that Romney only interrupted three times is mindboggling. He did it twice in the last round.

"Government doesn't create jobs!"
Click to expand...

I'll go back and rewatch tomorrow, but I don't recall hearing Romney speak at all during Obama's final statement. I'll go listen specifically for what you're speaking about. Admittedly, by the end I was going a bit bleary eyed and had to rewind the coverage to get back to that last bit of questions because my DVR had stopped halfway through part 10. I will update my initial post if I find that I missed some and will make a note of it in a post as well.
 
Zyphlin said:
I'll go back and rewatch tomorrow, but I don't recall hearing Romney speak at all during Obama's final statement. I'll go listen specifically for what you're speaking about. Admittedly, by the end I was going a bit bleary eyed and had to rewind the coverage to get back to that last bit of questions because my DVR had stopped halfway through part 10. I will update my initial post if I find that I missed some and will make a note of it in a post as well.
Click to expand...

Not the final statement, but the segue to it. Romney repeated "government doesn't create jobs" twice.

You're way off-base. He also reiterated that his tax plan "won't lower taxes for those who pay over 60%" twice in round five while Obama was speaking.
 
Einzige said:
He sure as **** interrupted more than three times.
Click to expand...

As I said...give me the specific sections you believe the interruptions occurred and any information concerning them that you can remember (as you did with your suggestion of his interruption in round 11) and I'll be happy to check my work and post an updated record if my initial count was incorrect.
 
Einzige said:
Not the final statement, but the segue to it. Romney repeated "government doesn't create jobs" twice.
Click to expand...

Please go look at my statement in post one and this would've already been clearly explained to you and you wouldn't be having this confusion.

Interruptions were when a candidate spoke over the candidate whose turn it was by speaking either to the candidate, the crowd, or the moderator.

In the instance you're speaking of, Obama had clearly finished his speaking section and Romney added comments. This was not an interruption and when either of them did this kind of thing it was not counted. Interruptions were ONLY counted when a candidate interrupted the other candidate out of turn.

You're way off-base. He also reiterated that his tax plan "won't lower taxes for those who pay over 60%" twice in round five while Obama was speaking.
Click to expand...

I'll give that one a check as well.
 
Just went back to round five (This was the question regarding the former Obama voter asking what did he do to earn his vote this time).

I'm not hearing Romney interrupting with that line once, let alone twice. Perhaps I'm just deaf to what you're talking about? Could you perhaps tell me a specific part of the transcript of Obama's talking to listen for that would pin point when you think Romney speaks...or a specific time point in terms of total talk time that would give me an indication of where to go? Because I'm simply not hearing what you're suggesting where you're suggesting it.
 
Zyphlin said:
Just went back to round five (This was the question regarding the former Obama voter asking what did he do to earn his vote this time).

I'm not hearing Romney interrupting with that line once, let alone twice. Perhaps I'm just deaf to what you're talking about? Could you perhaps tell me a specific part of the transcript of Obama's talking to listen for that would pin point when you think Romney speaks...or a specific time point in terms of total talk time that would give me an indication of where to go? Because I'm simply not hearing what you're suggesting where you're suggesting it.
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You are more than diligent. I think one of these campaigns can use your talent.
 
Zyphlin said:
I would literally contribute money to the ability to have a debate where at the 2 minute mark the microphone automatically cuts off for the current speaker.

If they went into the debate knowing full well that at 2 minutes they would be cut off and that they would have no ability to interrupt the other one in a substantive way, I think it would force them to be a bit more concise, to the point, and on the issues rather than the long winded rambling, constant personal stories, or repeating of the same thing over and over and over again.
Click to expand...

I would watch an ESPN Around The Horn format debate.

I find debates in general to be nothing more than silly ego stroking of the two candidates. I usually don't even watch.
 
Donahue said:
I would watch an ESPN Around The Horn format debate.

I find debates in general to be nothing more than silly ego stroking of the two candidates. I usually don't even watch.
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Ha! Tony Reali for moderator
 
Apparently according to the rules agreed upon by both parties before the debate, no candidate was suppose to ask the other a direct question. Romney ignored this and did what he wanted anyhow.

I'm sorry but I disagree with your interruption tallies. I just saw it the other way round for the part of the debate I saw.
 
wolfman24 said:
Apparently according to the rules agreed upon by both parties before the debate, no candidate was suppose to ask the other a direct question. Romney ignored this and did what he wanted anyhow.

I'm sorry but I disagree with your interruption tallies. I just saw it the other way round for the part of the debate I saw.
Click to expand...

I'm not saying you're wrong, mate, but why not cite specific instances that he missed?
 
wolfman24 said:
I'm sorry but I disagree with your interruption tallies. I just saw it the other way round for the part of the debate I saw.
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Please provide me detailed information on how you disagree with them and I'd be glad to talk about it. If you're speaking your disagreement based on actual checkable facts, that's great. If you're basing it off how you "feel" or what you believe you "saw" without any actual reference or facts surrounding it...then my apologies, but I don't particularly give much care to your dismissal of the actual numbers I've documented, not just state I "saw".

If you can site specific examples in specific segments I will happily go back, check my work, and see which things you're speaking of and update any mistakes I've made.
 
Zyphlin said:
Rnd 01: Romney First - - - Obama Last
Rnd 02: Obama First - - - Obama Last
Rnd 03: Romney First - - - Romney Last
Rnd 04: Obama First - - - Obama Last
Rnd 05: Romney First - - - Obama Last
Rnd 06: Obama First - - - Romney Last
Rnd 07: Romney First - - - Obama Last
Rnd 08: Obama First - - - Romney Last
Rnd 09: Obama First - - - Obama Last
Rnd 10: Romney First - - - Obama Last
Rnd 11: Romney First - - - Obama Last
Click to expand...
Do these rounds take into consideration the points when Candy herself asked follow-up or related questions? Because a few times she changed the topic of discussion in between audience questions, and so I think those should count effectively as additional "rounds."
 
Krhazy said:
Do these rounds take into consideration the points when Candy herself asked follow-up or related questions? Because a few times she changed the topic of discussion in between audience questions, and so I think those should count effectively as additional "rounds."
Click to expand...

A round began when a participant asked a question. That round continued until such a point that the next participants question was asked. The majority of Candy's follow up discussions were directly, if not at least tangentially, tied to the question that was asked by the crowd member.
 
The presidential debate is too important to just cut microphones off. Never going to happen. We're going to have to live with it the way it is.
 
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