The Recitation 2 comments


Yes, the recitation. This is a much better than ‘debate’ as a descriptor of tonight’s marketing fluff piece involving bush and kerry. Thanks to Will Baude for pointing out Professor Leiter’s post that led me to this term:

Which means, as these letter writers put it, that, “Instead of a debate, we will be watching two men reciting the lines they have committed to memory to prepare for this occasion” and that “the presidential debate is more like a joint news conference.”
Really, this event won’t even rise to the level of a news conference.
And, what’s the deal with the TV folks being allowed to only show the one speaking? Are these guys not able to look presidential for more then 90 seconds at a time? Are they going to read crib notes while off camera? Pick their noses?
I had hoped the series of debates between kerry and bush might be substantive events but it appears that this will not be the case. Sadly, it seems the media is, so far, going along with the joke. The losers, of course, the American people.


2 thoughts on “The Recitation

  • Sal.t

    Just remarking – looking back on the debate, the answer to your question as to whether these guys can look presidential for more than 90 seconds is a resounding NO! I had a professor that loves looking back over old tapes of presidential debates, and goofs are quite common

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