These Are the Rules of the CNN Presidential Debate

Admiral Patrick@dubvee.org to politics @lemmy.world – 162 points – These Are the Rules of the CNN Presidential Debate
time.com

The article is short, so worth the read, but here's the TL;DR:

  1. Commercial Breaks
  2. No Opening Statements
  3. Muted microphones, no notes
  4. No Live Audience
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I'm kinda shocked that the Trump campaign would agree to this. These rules seem directly in response to his debate style.

For all Biden's many faults, having to share a stage with him in a civilized manner is almost certain to work against Trump. Especially when his campaign is consistently trying to paint Biden as mentally unwell and out of touch.

I'm glad it's happening, just shocked that it's happening under these conditions. I fully expected the Trump campaign to find a reason to back out leading up to this, and any of those rules would likely be a justification for that that his base would be fine with.

The mic mute is not a perfect solution. Trump is going to be shouting over Bidens turn. We won't hear it (much), but it's going to make Biden lose his train of thought and stutter while the viewer can't really tell Trump is screeching 20ft away

I won't believe until I see it. They can still pull out at the last moment. There's just no way Trump comes out looking good.

I don't believe for one second tRump will show. No way in hell.

He'll show, say how the liberal media is against him, and walk out.

His base will consider it a win because he "owned the libs" and "he's too smart to play their games!"

Reality is a poorly written sitcom and I hate it.

He won't get to say that though. His mic will be muted until it's his time to speak. If he tries that and walks out, he looks weak and looking weak is about the only thing that will turn his cult of republikkklowns against him. He can't show up, if he shows up, he'll look weak. He'll blame the liberal media before hand and not show.

He'll only look weak to people who live in reality. If Obama would have been accused of a felony, Trump's base would have been up in arms about him running for president. Trump has been convicted of multiple felonies and it's a rally cry for his campaign.

Bizzarro world is here.

The lack of notes will probably hurt Biden mostly. Trump will go off on crazy tangents, which he does anyway and probably doesn't read notes someone wrote for him ever, it doesn't take more than 3 brain cells to spout off racist shit and get angry people angry. But Biden will say 3 words and forget where he is, that's what they are probably counting on.

Edit: WOW it's fucking crazy how right I was. Keep downvoting.

Commercial Breaks

What the fuck?

Broadcasters are using public spectrum. They don’t need to make money off of this.

Broadcasters are using public spectrum. They don’t need to make money off of this.

They sure don't, but it definitely represents the current state of the union where everything and everyone has to be monetized 🤷‍♂️

It's on CNN, cable is not the public spectrum.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cable_television_in_the_United_States

Are cable lines entirely running through private land? Is CNN carried on a satellite television provider?

Public spectrum is over the air broadcast frequencies. Cable is, by definiton, not on that.

Yes cable television doesn’t use broadband spectrum, but it still relies on other public resources.

And satellite broadcasts do use spectrum allotted by the government, and CNN is carried on satellite.

Additionally, why are we allowing CNN to incorporate if it does not benefit society? The government shouldn’t be letting companies incorporate that only serve entirely their own interests.

The government has defined "public spectrum" and that's not their definition.

The public benefit aspect of incorporation also hasn't been a thing in, what? Decades? Shit, now I need to google that...

Okay, I’m convinced. They must run commercials. Edit: You’ve proven me wrong.

They didn't say that and you know they didn't say it even imply it. You're just being shitty.

Edit: You’re right. There, I’ve edited it for you.

I’m not sure of the point they’re trying to make.

CNN is carried on spectrum allotted to satellite television. The public could have our governments allot that for any use. There’s no reason it should only benefit media companies. Unless those companies are benefiting the public.

Even CNN sent through wires often travels through public land.

Given both of these, I see no reason CNN would need to air commercials during the presidential debate. Thats the point I’m trying to make.

If they are disagreeing with my main point, I give up and concede defeat. I see no point in trying to convince them anymore.

If they’re nitpicking that I said spectrum before knowing it was CNN, then perhaps they’re the one being shitty. But I honestly don’t know what their point is. Maybe it is to argue that CNN is a private company and requires advertising to stay profitable.

Quick someone pay for a Trump Slander ad in one of the time slots.

They have been making money for the last decade off of Trumps presidential shenanigans, they aren't going to stop milking that cow now. They can still get another decade out if him, even if he died today.

Commercial breaks are also breaks in the debate where the candidate can stop and think/get fed his next talking point/line

From the article:

However, campaign staff will be prohibited from interacting with their respective candidates during these intermissions, denying them the opportunity for strategic consultations or to touch up the candidates’ appearance.

And that's what I get for not reading the article all the way

But are they allowed to roll out some recliners for a quick grandpa nap?

They are both obviously old, so a couple sitting down breaks in the debate seems legitimately reasonable.

I'm in my 40s, and while I could stand and talk for 90 minutes, it would be pretty uncomfortable and my back would be aching a bit by the end. I don't think I could do it at 80.

lol that would be hilarious actually, I can picture it in my head. As the commercial break ends the camera fades to black then the stage slowly fades in. Both candidates are passed out in their chairs drooling all over. An infomercial for dentures blares from an unseen TV. As the TV is turned off both of them jolt awake and hobble slowly back to their podiums.

Teams need to come out like pit crews. They wheel the recliners in super fast, make sure they're both dressed in their Grandpa Joe PJs (Willy Wonka, no relation).

If only Clinton could have had muted mics against Captain Gibberish.

At least the 2020 debate got us "Will you shut up, man?" .

I am (unronically) convinced that this sentence did more to secure Biden's presidency than the entire rest of the debate.

That's why I think trump will go down in the polls as we get closer to the election. The American public genuinely did want trump to shut up when Biden said that. I hope Biden tells him to shut up again at this debate with the muted mics. It would make him go nuts.

Literally just say "I whooped your ass and I'll do it again." Trump would lose his mind. He never encounters people who say that to him. Everyone around him is a sycophant.

Well at least 2016 got us "Pokemon Go.. to the polls!" Eeesh

I'm sure trump will be strong on opinion and bluster, yet nonexistent on facts or strategies.

He'll probably call foul on the rules that remove his strongest advantage - a whipped-up mob.

I put “collapses in a demonic fit and begins chewing on biden’s pant legs” on my bingo card.

Just in case.

"Gentlemen, good evening. I will in a moment give you each five unrelated words. In 90 minutes I will ask you to recall those five words. I look forward to a spirited debate. Good luck."

Wonder how much those 2 ad slots are going for lol

More expensive than a Super Bowl commercial?

Good question. Now I wonder who's advertising in those slots (not that I'll watch the ads lol).

You over estimate the US public. Viewer numbers will probably by abysmal, and the vast majority of voters will only be seeing bias confirming short clips.

  1. there will be 2 commercial breaks.

A) Is this is so the old folks can have a potty break? B) How capitalist have we become that we commercialize the presidential debate openly? I wonder if these will be SuperBowl-level ads.

I expect the main event to be painful for all involved ( the audience, the studio, 45/46 egos ). They better put some effort into the comercials...

You know how you have to prepare your house when someone is bringing their kids over (especially if you don't have kids of your own) ? That what this is. Things have got so bad that they have to bring in a bunch of new rules just so one adult can finish speaking without a other "adult" talking over them the whole time. Holy shit, this is what it has come to.

Hey! They didn’t say anything about sabers!

Excellent. Excellent.

Question 1 what do you think of this cloud?

Two old senile fucks arguing. This gon be good