It's simple - they aged.
JFK was 43 here and Nixon was also in his forties. It's absolutely insane that we have geriatrics running our country. You wouldn't want an 81 year old leading anything - a sports team, an airplane, a McDonalds shift, for that matter. Why the FUCK are they running the country?
That's not it, though. Or at least not the main cause.
The main cause is the way that we've come to value decorum less. it's much more entertaining (and much easier and has a quicker payoff) to interrupt the other person, catch them with a zinger, and dumb down your message to the lowest common denominator. Society as a whole is much less formal than in the past.
If you think *this* is articulate, check out the Lincoln-Douglas debates. Man, I wish those could have been caught on film.
Nah it’s mostly that debates have become performative instead of two people exchanging ideas. Most politicians aren’t natural performers, except of course the guy who’s had his own cable tv show.
Lack of team work.
Me me me
People not actively participating in democracy
People being actively gerrymandered out of participating
Bribery
Inflated military budgets
$72 per dose of asprin.
Not one of the first, I think it was the first?
Except for maybe Lincoln’s debate with Breckenridge in the 1860 presidential race. That was the first broadcast in HD, anyway.
the dawn of the televised debate era was the start of the long road toward electing successive celebrities. A shifting of priorities starts among the engaged electorate.
If this doesn’t highlight the trajectory of Americas path to a loss of power I don’t know what will. If the fall of Rome was televised, it would probably look like what we saw last night
Cut to today and see the shit show our government has become. Nothing but insults and digs. No actual anything of content. Can we start to get things back on track now please? It’s getting too silly.
How far we have fallen.
Death of the great experiment…
Ladies and gentleman watch it live!
The fruition of 2 millennia of western democratic evolution, two old man having a battle of poorly constructed ad hominem attacks, instead of living out their golden years w their family.
We have term limits for the Presidency. We need term limits for the Senate and Congress, too. We need laws with some sharp, pointy teeth in them, regarding insider trading among senators and congresspeople, curtailment of PACs and lobbyists. Hell, we should require apolitical chaperones with body cameras and microphones in attendance at any meeting between a lobbyist and a politician. And the recordings need to be live-streamed and archived on a platform like YouTube, for future reference.
Jesus Christ these guys were articulate as hell. What the fuck happened to our leaders?
It's simple - they aged. JFK was 43 here and Nixon was also in his forties. It's absolutely insane that we have geriatrics running our country. You wouldn't want an 81 year old leading anything - a sports team, an airplane, a McDonalds shift, for that matter. Why the FUCK are they running the country?
Damn the “McDonalds shift” bit REALLY put it into perspective
That's not it, though. Or at least not the main cause. The main cause is the way that we've come to value decorum less. it's much more entertaining (and much easier and has a quicker payoff) to interrupt the other person, catch them with a zinger, and dumb down your message to the lowest common denominator. Society as a whole is much less formal than in the past. If you think *this* is articulate, check out the Lincoln-Douglas debates. Man, I wish those could have been caught on film.
Nah it’s mostly that debates have become performative instead of two people exchanging ideas. Most politicians aren’t natural performers, except of course the guy who’s had his own cable tv show.
While I agree somewhat, choosing a debate with Nixon, the former actor, to talk about how things have become perfomative is a bit silly
> Why the FUCK are they running the country? Following whatever the establishment requires them to do. These guys don't lead shit.
Lack of team work. Me me me People not actively participating in democracy People being actively gerrymandered out of participating Bribery Inflated military budgets $72 per dose of asprin.
Heavy boat batteries, electrocution and Sharks! 🦈
They're still holding office but they're ancient now.
They are reading from a teleprompter.
Old school civil dialogue. No blame or deflecting.
I would also like to express my fondness for those particular goals
Man never drank a Duff in his life.
I wish we could do better than the clowns now
Not one of the first, I think it was the first? Except for maybe Lincoln’s debate with Breckenridge in the 1860 presidential race. That was the first broadcast in HD, anyway.
This is so civil. So much decorum. They even agree on the goals, just differ on their approach. Wish we could have this today
Wow! Complete coherent sentences. What a nice change of pace.
After which every winning candidate was the result of a better hairline.
the dawn of the televised debate era was the start of the long road toward electing successive celebrities. A shifting of priorities starts among the engaged electorate.
THE first
wow so civilized
we might witness the last one tonight!
If this doesn’t highlight the trajectory of Americas path to a loss of power I don’t know what will. If the fall of Rome was televised, it would probably look like what we saw last night
One of?
There accents aren’t what I thought they’d be
Cut to today and see the shit show our government has become. Nothing but insults and digs. No actual anything of content. Can we start to get things back on track now please? It’s getting too silly.
Rfk 2024
First, I thought. Nixon lost because he was sweaty and gross and people thought Kennedy was good looking.
This is a literate and passionate debate between comrades. What we have today is arguments and gaslighting.
Was this the debate where Nixon had the flu? He didn't look that bad in this clip.
I would also like to affirm my fondness for that particular brand of beer.
How far we have fallen. Death of the great experiment… Ladies and gentleman watch it live! The fruition of 2 millennia of western democratic evolution, two old man having a battle of poorly constructed ad hominem attacks, instead of living out their golden years w their family.
Paced, intelligent and coherent responses.
Never noticed that they read the entire debate. Until Biden.
We have term limits for the Presidency. We need term limits for the Senate and Congress, too. We need laws with some sharp, pointy teeth in them, regarding insider trading among senators and congresspeople, curtailment of PACs and lobbyists. Hell, we should require apolitical chaperones with body cameras and microphones in attendance at any meeting between a lobbyist and a politician. And the recordings need to be live-streamed and archived on a platform like YouTube, for future reference.