Yes, I Turned Off the VP Debate

Debate is a formal method of interactive and position representational argument. Debate is a broader form of argument than logical argument, which only examine the consistency from axiom, and factual argument, which only examine what is or isn't the case. Though logical consistency, factual accuracy as well as some emotional appeal to audience are important elements of the art of persuasion, in debating, one side often prevails over the other side by presenting superior "context" and/or framework of the issue.

I had to copy this definition of a debate from Wikipedia because obviously the two vice presidential candidates don’t understand what one is. This past Monday, I got all geared up to watch the one and only 2008 Vice Presidential Debate. Exactly 30 to 35 minutes after it started, I turned the television off. So while I may not be exactly equipped to give too much of an experts view of the debate, I feel the need to 1) vent and 2) explain my decision to cut off the program.
While I am not a huge fan of Sarah Palin, I have stated that she is admirable for a few reasons so I do try to stay away from criticizing her too much….but, she really lost a lot of respect with me during the debate. The fact that she based her statement on the economy off of Saturday morning soccer moms is preposterous to me. While presidential candidates should be able to openly express their individuality, I hardly think it is appropriate for you to wink at your opponent, or the crowd. Nor is it appropriate to send “shout-outs,” especially to third graders. However, it would not be fair to criticize one candidate and not the other. I really had set the bar high for Senator Joe Biden being that he is such a seasoned Senator. I was disappointed in the fact that he didn’t focus on what his experience could bring to the Obama campaign. Both candidates lacked the ferocity of what a debate should be. Instead they focused on what the two presidential candidates are planning on doing while in office, information that we have all heard repeatedly.

Many media outlets are calling the debate a tie. Once again, instead of getting a new perspective from sources that are supposed to be informational, American citizens are getting a pacified point of view. The media is failing to attack any candidates as they should when the fail to provide accurate information and characterizations. The media should have had a field day with Biden and especially Palin. Instead of judging the “winner” of the debate based on who presented the most useful and precise information, Palin received points just for showing up and surviving the debate.

Overall, I believe I was looking for a fresh and exciting contest with new information; instead I received the same blunders for both candidates. Therefore, my television got turned off and I went to sleep.