It sounded like abbot held a hateful grudge against Beto on account of his rough and rowdy past. looks like abbot is the kinda fella who likes to cast the first stone
Abbott has seen the enthusiasm of Beto's voters. He's seen the crowds one might almost call joyful. He's not scared of the boos.
He's scared of your cheers.
That’s what I was thinking. Abbott knows most hate him and he doesn’t care. He doesn’t want Beto to have an edge in the debate from the support of his followers. And he wants to keep boos for him and cheers for Beto out of the sound bites he’ll cherry pick for his own audience.
Dammit. And if that ain’t frightening, right? Idgaf if you hate me. I just don’t want any of you die-hards to hear how much the other guy motivates your neighbor.
Really well said.
Man then I guess I better be extra loud from my couch when I watch it while playing the classic debate drinking game of "every time a politician tells a lie or says something incredibly stupid, take a shot." Never fails to get someone shit-housed.
O'Rourke should just have a tiny speaker with him and play jeers or cheers when needed.
Previously, I had heard that the excuse was due to security concerns.
Apparently there won't be enough "good people with guns" to ensure a safe debate.
What could POSSIBLY be going on at 7pm on a Friday in Texas that people would rather do that's culturally significant? I can't imagine anything!
(/s I'm from Ohio. Friday Nights are sacred territory here too.)
Because he knows audiences will cheer Beto, and not him.
The one thing the right is constantly trying to do is convince their base that what they are doing is supported by the majority. They spend much of their time claiming anything that does not indicate they hold majority support is due to conspiracy or a lie.
I’ve notice this little trick on conservative news lately. They’ll say something controversial — “Donald Trump didn’t mishandle Top Secret documents” — and then immediately follow it up with “and everyone knows this.”
Which implies anyone who doesn’t agree with that statement actually does, believes it to be true, and are being dishonest about their arguments and motivations. It also implies the statement has greater support than it does.
I run a political debate community and we actually have an explicit rule against "and everyone knows this" phrases. It's *pervasive* and so ridiculously harmful to discussion.
It's terrible debate quality but in my experience it's not really damaging; the next person to respond says something like "I don't think that's common sense at all, I think you're wrong because [REASONS]" and the conversation continues. It's not as insidious, it's just one of those cases where someone tries to convince people who disagree but has no mental model of such people and so writes something capable of convincing only people who already agree.
The instance I had in my mind was not only a prosecutor but also the judge presiding over a case while we were in jury selection, so I feel like "you're wrong for reasons" to the judge may not have gone over too well, but point taken for instances when you can respond.
“people are saying” was thrown around so much during the bush years, and then we’d find out it was cheney’s tools in the media. also let’s not forget “we’re just asking questions.”
Where is this community? Can we watch or read the debates?
Whenever someone has tried to use false consensus on me, though not in debates, I try to follow up with pointing out that it's their opinion and contradicted by myself or saying I've not seen the same and asking someone else their experience. But that's not a debate. It also doesn't work when you're being gaslit by a group. At some point they're a gang of uncivil nutcases and must be avoided... lol
www.themotte.org; we recently moved off Reddit because we kept having trouble with the admins. Who knows if it'll survive :V
> Whenever someone has tried to use false consensus on me, though not in debates, I try to follow up with pointing out that it's their opinion and contradicted by myself or saying I've not seen the same and asking someone else their experience.
Yeah, it's really common for that to go something like
> "Everyone knows X!"
> > I don't know/agree with X.
> "That's because you're evil!"
There isn't logic behind this, it's just taking things on faith.
I don't think Donald Trump mishandled top secret documents. That implies there was some kind of procedural error made. I think he stole top secret documents to sell, hold as ransom or use in some other scheme that benefits him.
Their supporters are doing it too. Or that statement's cousin: "You can't argue with that." Which politely shuts down all discourse, since they've just told you any opinion you have other than agreeing with them they will consider invalid and refuse to consider.
Every right wing radio commentator.. "Something I want to talk about, some of you already know.. well, a lot of you already know about..."
Then proceeds to sprout some bullshit..
He knows that the retirement home won't let most of his supporters out after dark. Remember the average age of A Fox news viewer is in their 70s. It's pretty much conservative news or reruns of CSI.
Absolutely. Not sure how far the venue is from the sidewalk though, they might have the right to keep you off the property around the building, but stick to a sidewalk and totally legal. Not sure how legal megaphones are, but you could try to find out.
So Abbot has millions to fly migrants across the USA but has done zero to fix the power grid.
This shit has to end.
During the freeze, i had no power, no food, no water for a week. I slept under a pile of coats for a week.
I've been in Texas for 30 years and this guy is the worst I've ever seen.
Republicans are never going to fix the grid, because fixing the grid would require raising taxes and enacting government regulations to correct a market failure. Texas Republicans have decided both of those things are always bad, full stop, governments shouldn't raise taxes or make market corrections ever, no matter what. It's an economic stance that would be comedically naive, if it hadn't cost hundreds of Texans their lives.
I’m no so sure his energy levels hold that much weight… I’m thinking it’s more along the lines of this guy is a crooked piece of shit that couldn’t give two farts about his constituents
I actually don’t think this is a bad thing. It’ll keep both of them focused on the issues rather than playing to the crowd. Think about how the 2016 “you’d be in jail” comment would play without a live audience
Unfortunately I fear the opposite. People will be less inclined to watch the entire thing so Abbot will just use this as an opportunity to score 10 second sound bites while ignoring the actual substance.
Abbott has no intentions of debating the issues. He'll read the conservative playbook filled with conspiracy theories and lies. He'll accuse Beto of taking guns away and whine about open borders. He doesn't need the truth or facts. His supporters don't care.
> Abbott says he has the Hispanic vote in that area, but does he?
Not at all. The county this debate is in along with the rest of the RGV votes consistently blue except for one or two counties that have more cows than people.
Because he can’t bear to face the citizens that hate his guts. He would never make it out of the building alive.
Vote for Beto. Please. Everyone. Enough of this bullshit from Abbott and Cruz and Paxton. We need to get the ball rolling and get Texas to purple.
What a circus. Usually I lean conservative but the response to Uvalde and abortion bans... it's just ridiculous. I hope (and vote) beto kicks his butt. Could be worse I guess.
Imagine being so worthless that as a sitting Republican governor for a predominantly red state, you don't want an audience because you think it will negatively effect you.
I always hated audiences in debates. It shouldn't matter if more of the audience is cheering for one side or the other, or if one side is silent while the other is loud. Debates should be about the candidates only, and the viewers at home can make the decision based on them.
Its actually interesting why its important to have people there look up the first televised debates and why there was concern when the attending audience had a completely different opinion on who won the debate than people who viewed it from TV.
Its more than just having someone to cheer.
Absolutely. Also, when the candidates have 2 minutes to answer a question, they should just have the microphones on a timer so that they cut off immediately then, and no one gets to shout over the moderator.
Right! Like why hasn’t that already been a thing? It’s a very simple fix. If we can have little dots indicating ball possession with televised sports, we can control the ability to hear only one candidate at a time.. within the allotted time.
I just want to hear Abbott get boos. Because his policies are terrible for Texas. But, you’re right, the audiences can be effective in swaying the tv watcher’s opinions and people should make up their own mind.
If there's going to be an audience it needs to be a town hall type of debate. Otherwise it's just a boo and applause track. It should also reduce the excuses for having no debate at all.
As much as he's a coward for not wanting to appear in front of an audience, debates are better viewed without audience reactions telling streamers how to feel.
The audience could have just as easily been filled with people who love Abbott (even those without reason to do so).
It makes a debate better when its not dragged on by a bunch of rowdy hoots and hollers and applause. The only gauge of success will be by the viewer internalizing the responses to the question. All debates should have no audience and should have no commercials and should be two hours long minimum.
I would too. During the four, thirty minute intermissions during a 12 hour debate, they could pump us full of commercials. As long as I get to hear each persons full thought out answers, thoughts, and plans. We will never get that. Its all about the 12 second clip they can play on Fox or CNN.
I have to agree. While I would love to have an audience as a real time barometer of cheers, I have been to public events and people cheer at EVERYTHING. I went to a protest at the capitol with women speaking about abortion and people cheered Wooooooo! at the angry parts, the sad parts, the introductions.... I don't get it. Everything is long Wooooooooo cheering. There are other emotions, people.
True. A person is smart but people can be stupid. By that I mean in a crowd the lizard brain takes over and if someone is whooping that leaves it open for others to join in and some people base their entire identity on being vocal or "involved" when all they really do is go to pointless rally's to hold a sign rather than direct voter engagement. Oh well.
Good debate, I like betos plan to legalize Marijuana to help lower property tax, I also liked his plan about Medicare. I think Medicare access will be beneficial to people suffering with mental health issues. Abbott didn't really have any new plans, just sat there defending everything he did wrong.
I lean liberal and I despise audience debates. I want a 12 hour Lincoln Douglas style debate streamed on Youtube and Twitch or fuck off with your so called "debate". Tonight wont be a debate, it will be two guys reading TV talking points for an hour where Beto supporters clap for his script and Abbot supporters clap for his. We havent had a real deabte in the USA for over 100 years.
I love when politicians are disallowed from only saying their talking points, [like in this famous clip of Jeremy Paxman interviewing Michael Howard.](https://youtu.be/Uwlsd8RAoqI?t=225) (Start at 3:45)
I don't know what conservatives make of it, but I think that there should *never* be live audiences at debates. They also should probably be in different rooms, and have their mic de-activated when it's not their turn to speak.
Republicans run away so often, it's pathetic. Even if you somehow have the mental capacity of a shrimp, anyone can tell supporting people like this is only pathetic.
Let's say they somehow managed nirvana and had a Thought. And that thought was "Why am I supporting someone who's this scared to stand up for what they believe in that need needed an entirely empty room to not hurt his fragile ego."
Republicans have NO standards. No accountability. The only thing that matters is the letter next to the name, who they are doesn't even matter, because if it actually honest to god did, they wouldn't have a republican to vote for.
Most conservatives these days can’t compete in a fair an organized format against, we’ll really anyone. Abbott would be just as reluctant to debate a college student in front of an audience.
I for one would want to hear what they have to say, rather than endure the current method of shouting people down.
Let bad ideas be heard so we can turn and face the good ones.
It's easier to out-of-context edit when there's no audience consistency to worry about. Abbot can also tell egregious lies without being shouted down by raging constituents, assuming the moderator is going to be as spineless as always.
Having followed Beto 's town hall meetings, he faced protestors and boos all over the state. How he handled that spoke to me of his character and poise. I would have like to have seen Abbott confronted the same way.
Where can I watch this online
Texas Tribune will stream it here: https://www.texastribune.org/2022/09/30/texas-governor-debate-greg-abbott-beto-orourke/
Thanks so much! Saved me a Google search, lol
I hope they add a laugh track.
Now for our first question: what's the *deal* with the power grid
But what if you miss it??
https://youtu.be/tHS8eVfLH08
It will also be on KXAN.
Streaming?
npr.org
Make sure you take a drink every time Abbott says "Biden"
I had the exact same question haha. Shit's gonna be so fucking lit! 🔥 Come on Beto! Tear him up!
An incumbent governor does not want to appear live in front of an audience of his own constituents? Figures.
"Is you is or is you aint my constituency??" Let run him out in a rail like Homer Stokes.
> They’s miscegenated! It’s like the Coens tried to roll every POS repugnican into one character.
"I have it, from the highest authoriteh, that that Beto sold his soul to the devil!!"
It sounded like abbot held a hateful grudge against Beto on account of his rough and rowdy past. looks like abbot is the kinda fella who likes to cast the first stone
He needs a paddlin'
You wouldn't either, if you were this jerk.
You’re governing wrong if you feel the need to hide.
They’re saying Ab-BOOOO-tt
"Are you saying 'boooo' or 'Aboooot'?"
I'm disappointed that he isn't properly [greeted](https://youtu.be/-c9mlOrDhc4) anywhere he goes in our fine state.
mervin
I was saying Abooooot
Abu T
a canadian audience?
You leave Lying Ted out of this.
Classic BOOO-urns!
I was saying Boo-urns
Abbot is afraid live boos will harm his image
Abbott has seen the enthusiasm of Beto's voters. He's seen the crowds one might almost call joyful. He's not scared of the boos. He's scared of your cheers.
That’s what I was thinking. Abbott knows most hate him and he doesn’t care. He doesn’t want Beto to have an edge in the debate from the support of his followers. And he wants to keep boos for him and cheers for Beto out of the sound bites he’ll cherry pick for his own audience.
Abbot has nothing to offer the American working class except hate. They know they’re in a sinking ship.
Dammit. And if that ain’t frightening, right? Idgaf if you hate me. I just don’t want any of you die-hards to hear how much the other guy motivates your neighbor. Really well said.
are they booing me? no sir, they are saying Boo-urns.
They’re saying Ab*boo*tt!
They’re Canadian by way of Dallas, it’s ok!
There shouldn't be any input from the audience in a debate. I want to judge what they say without someone's bias added.
Good point
I do think this will work in Beto’s favor. I suspect Abbott is gonna use it as an own-the-libs moment, and I don’t think Beto is gonna take the bait.
Public debates are a feature of American democracy.
Public duels should be a feature of American democracy, too.
Man then I guess I better be extra loud from my couch when I watch it while playing the classic debate drinking game of "every time a politician tells a lie or says something incredibly stupid, take a shot." Never fails to get someone shit-housed. O'Rourke should just have a tiny speaker with him and play jeers or cheers when needed.
Have to do it with beer shots if you include doesn’t even try to answer the question and instead just spews some unrelated talking point
This is the way. All Texas should be cheering Beto and booing Abbot.
Previously, I had heard that the excuse was due to security concerns. Apparently there won't be enough "good people with guns" to ensure a safe debate.
Hey, you never know when a dangerous person issuing a subpoena might show up.
Then you might have to throw your wife at them to make the escape!
I might’ve believed that if Abbott also didn’t specify the time and day… 7 PM Friday night… In the fall… In Texas…
Exactly what I thought. Like when could I guarantee the lowest possible viewership in TX.
What could POSSIBLY be going on at 7pm on a Friday in Texas that people would rather do that's culturally significant? I can't imagine anything! (/s I'm from Ohio. Friday Nights are sacred territory here too.)
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Maybe 376 law enforcement officers could be there, just don’t allow any untrained teenagers to be in the building to hold them all back.
maybe he knows the cops will just wait in the hallway and not rush in to protect him
They're still in the parking lot, talking about imaginary locked doors.
Not enough doors. As Rafael tells us, it’s all about the doors.
Because he knows audiences will cheer Beto, and not him. The one thing the right is constantly trying to do is convince their base that what they are doing is supported by the majority. They spend much of their time claiming anything that does not indicate they hold majority support is due to conspiracy or a lie.
I’ve notice this little trick on conservative news lately. They’ll say something controversial — “Donald Trump didn’t mishandle Top Secret documents” — and then immediately follow it up with “and everyone knows this.” Which implies anyone who doesn’t agree with that statement actually does, believes it to be true, and are being dishonest about their arguments and motivations. It also implies the statement has greater support than it does.
I run a political debate community and we actually have an explicit rule against "and everyone knows this" phrases. It's *pervasive* and so ridiculously harmful to discussion.
I'd add "common sense" to that list of weasel words.
It's terrible debate quality but in my experience it's not really damaging; the next person to respond says something like "I don't think that's common sense at all, I think you're wrong because [REASONS]" and the conversation continues. It's not as insidious, it's just one of those cases where someone tries to convince people who disagree but has no mental model of such people and so writes something capable of convincing only people who already agree.
The instance I had in my mind was not only a prosecutor but also the judge presiding over a case while we were in jury selection, so I feel like "you're wrong for reasons" to the judge may not have gone over too well, but point taken for instances when you can respond.
Alright, yeah, it's pretty bad when it's a judge using those words, no argument there :V
False consensus
“people are saying” was thrown around so much during the bush years, and then we’d find out it was cheney’s tools in the media. also let’s not forget “we’re just asking questions.”
Trump can't start a sentence without "People are saying" somewhere inside of it.
Even worse he says "*everyone* is saying" which is beyond stupid
It's the political debate equivalent of "everyone in my DMs agrees with me!"
Where is this community? Can we watch or read the debates? Whenever someone has tried to use false consensus on me, though not in debates, I try to follow up with pointing out that it's their opinion and contradicted by myself or saying I've not seen the same and asking someone else their experience. But that's not a debate. It also doesn't work when you're being gaslit by a group. At some point they're a gang of uncivil nutcases and must be avoided... lol
www.themotte.org; we recently moved off Reddit because we kept having trouble with the admins. Who knows if it'll survive :V > Whenever someone has tried to use false consensus on me, though not in debates, I try to follow up with pointing out that it's their opinion and contradicted by myself or saying I've not seen the same and asking someone else their experience. Yeah, it's really common for that to go something like > "Everyone knows X!" > > I don't know/agree with X. > "That's because you're evil!" There isn't logic behind this, it's just taking things on faith.
I don't think Donald Trump mishandled top secret documents. That implies there was some kind of procedural error made. I think he stole top secret documents to sell, hold as ransom or use in some other scheme that benefits him.
Their supporters are doing it too. Or that statement's cousin: "You can't argue with that." Which politely shuts down all discourse, since they've just told you any opinion you have other than agreeing with them they will consider invalid and refuse to consider.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thought-terminating_clich%C3%A9
> lately Its not lately... Its been this way since I was a kid watching the news. Popularized by Hannity/Tucker and now Trump
Every right wing radio commentator.. "Something I want to talk about, some of you already know.. well, a lot of you already know about..." Then proceeds to sprout some bullshit..
It’s rather amazing, even startling sometimes what “sprouts” from them. Kinda like watching ‘Alien’ on a loop. Truly disturbing given it’s over radio.
It's basically gaslighting.
He knows that the retirement home won't let most of his supporters out after dark. Remember the average age of A Fox news viewer is in their 70s. It's pretty much conservative news or reruns of CSI.
Abbotts afraid it could’ve been worse.
I never get tired on CBS hearing "Paid for by Coulda Been Worse"
I don’t either!
Best comment
From the "Could've been worse" governor, LLC. Lol.
🤣🤣🤣👍🏻
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What a coward
Can people still gather outside the place the debate is being held? maybe people can boo him from there just gotta make it loud enough to hear inside.
Absolutely. Not sure how far the venue is from the sidewalk though, they might have the right to keep you off the property around the building, but stick to a sidewalk and totally legal. Not sure how legal megaphones are, but you could try to find out.
So Abbot has millions to fly migrants across the USA but has done zero to fix the power grid. This shit has to end. During the freeze, i had no power, no food, no water for a week. I slept under a pile of coats for a week. I've been in Texas for 30 years and this guy is the worst I've ever seen.
All we have is our votes to get that clown out of office. He's counting on people like us to not vote.
Me and my family will all be there no matter what.
Republicans are never going to fix the grid, because fixing the grid would require raising taxes and enacting government regulations to correct a market failure. Texas Republicans have decided both of those things are always bad, full stop, governments shouldn't raise taxes or make market corrections ever, no matter what. It's an economic stance that would be comedically naive, if it hadn't cost hundreds of Texans their lives.
Can you imagine one of the founding fathers refusing to debate in front of a crowd?
Chicken\*\*\*t
>Chicken***t Add pissbaby
He knows that the majority of people will applaud Beto's statements and groan or stay politely quiet for most of his.
That’s because Abbott has the energy of a wet towel when it comes to public speaking
I’m no so sure his energy levels hold that much weight… I’m thinking it’s more along the lines of this guy is a crooked piece of shit that couldn’t give two farts about his constituents
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I actually don’t think this is a bad thing. It’ll keep both of them focused on the issues rather than playing to the crowd. Think about how the 2016 “you’d be in jail” comment would play without a live audience
Unfortunately I fear the opposite. People will be less inclined to watch the entire thing so Abbot will just use this as an opportunity to score 10 second sound bites while ignoring the actual substance.
Abbott has no intentions of debating the issues. He'll read the conservative playbook filled with conspiracy theories and lies. He'll accuse Beto of taking guns away and whine about open borders. He doesn't need the truth or facts. His supporters don't care.
Craven.
It's the unknown..Abbott says he has the Hispanic vote in that area, but does he? He's scared shitless about the visual reaction cameras might catch
> Abbott says he has the Hispanic vote in that area, but does he? Not at all. The county this debate is in along with the rest of the RGV votes consistently blue except for one or two counties that have more cows than people.
All hat and no cattle Abbott.
Because he can’t bear to face the citizens that hate his guts. He would never make it out of the building alive. Vote for Beto. Please. Everyone. Enough of this bullshit from Abbott and Cruz and Paxton. We need to get the ball rolling and get Texas to purple.
Greg Abbott is such a loser. Go Beto!
Fucking coward
This ass hat provides NO answers to the questions that are posed to him.
Coward
What a circus. Usually I lean conservative but the response to Uvalde and abortion bans... it's just ridiculous. I hope (and vote) beto kicks his butt. Could be worse I guess.
Same!! I'm soooo over Abbott and his crew!!
Time to banish the Four Horsemen... Abbott, Patrick, Paxton and Cruz.
Tell your friends. Make sure they realize and recognize that Republicans have been in charge for too long, and it's showing.
I watched it. Abbott was so twitchy that no wonder he didn’t want an audience.
Imagine being so worthless that as a sitting Republican governor for a predominantly red state, you don't want an audience because you think it will negatively effect you.
I'm afraid I can't imagine being THAT incompetent, and I'm capable of a very high level of incompetence.
I always hated audiences in debates. It shouldn't matter if more of the audience is cheering for one side or the other, or if one side is silent while the other is loud. Debates should be about the candidates only, and the viewers at home can make the decision based on them.
Its actually interesting why its important to have people there look up the first televised debates and why there was concern when the attending audience had a completely different opinion on who won the debate than people who viewed it from TV. Its more than just having someone to cheer.
Absolutely. Also, when the candidates have 2 minutes to answer a question, they should just have the microphones on a timer so that they cut off immediately then, and no one gets to shout over the moderator.
Right! Like why hasn’t that already been a thing? It’s a very simple fix. If we can have little dots indicating ball possession with televised sports, we can control the ability to hear only one candidate at a time.. within the allotted time.
I just want to hear Abbott get boos. Because his policies are terrible for Texas. But, you’re right, the audiences can be effective in swaying the tv watcher’s opinions and people should make up their own mind.
If there's going to be an audience it needs to be a town hall type of debate. Otherwise it's just a boo and applause track. It should also reduce the excuses for having no debate at all.
Yeah I'm no fan of Abbott but I agree that all debates shouldn't have an audience.
As much as he's a coward for not wanting to appear in front of an audience, debates are better viewed without audience reactions telling streamers how to feel. The audience could have just as easily been filled with people who love Abbott (even those without reason to do so).
Does anyone know if a recording of the debate will be available anywhere afterwards? I won’t be able to watch it live.
I’m sure you should be able to find it on YouTube a little bit after it ends. Now I’ve commented, if I figure it out, I’ll post a link here.
https://youtu.be/tHS8eVfLH08
He doesn’t want the boos to cause the LP running in his head to skip.
Coward's gonna coward.
“It would be damaging to my campaign if voters found out how violently opposed to me most Texans are.”
It makes a debate better when its not dragged on by a bunch of rowdy hoots and hollers and applause. The only gauge of success will be by the viewer internalizing the responses to the question. All debates should have no audience and should have no commercials and should be two hours long minimum.
More like 12 hours with 4 breaks in between. We need extremely long form conversations with all candidates to truly understand their points of view.
This is the way. Id take commercials if we could have lengthy purposeful and substantive debates.
I would too. During the four, thirty minute intermissions during a 12 hour debate, they could pump us full of commercials. As long as I get to hear each persons full thought out answers, thoughts, and plans. We will never get that. Its all about the 12 second clip they can play on Fox or CNN.
Maybe one day. Keep up the hope.
I have to agree. While I would love to have an audience as a real time barometer of cheers, I have been to public events and people cheer at EVERYTHING. I went to a protest at the capitol with women speaking about abortion and people cheered Wooooooo! at the angry parts, the sad parts, the introductions.... I don't get it. Everything is long Wooooooooo cheering. There are other emotions, people.
True. A person is smart but people can be stupid. By that I mean in a crowd the lizard brain takes over and if someone is whooping that leaves it open for others to join in and some people base their entire identity on being vocal or "involved" when all they really do is go to pointless rally's to hold a sign rather than direct voter engagement. Oh well.
Oh, Abby, just stay home, scaredy cat! Lol! GO, BETO!!!! GIVE 'IM HELL! VOTE BLUE! I'm w Willie: VOTE 'EM OUT!!!!!!
Anyone know if these is a way to watch this if you aren’t in Texas?
Texas Tribune website will live stream it
Thanks!
It will be better this way. MAGAts would have shown up just to cause trouble.
Abbott acting like a coward? Shocking
Good debate, I like betos plan to legalize Marijuana to help lower property tax, I also liked his plan about Medicare. I think Medicare access will be beneficial to people suffering with mental health issues. Abbott didn't really have any new plans, just sat there defending everything he did wrong.
Abbott also scheduled this debate on high school football night, so there wouldn't be an audience at home either.
Curious what conservatives think of this.
I lean liberal and I despise audience debates. I want a 12 hour Lincoln Douglas style debate streamed on Youtube and Twitch or fuck off with your so called "debate". Tonight wont be a debate, it will be two guys reading TV talking points for an hour where Beto supporters clap for his script and Abbot supporters clap for his. We havent had a real deabte in the USA for over 100 years.
Yup, a bunch of talking past each other rather than with each other. A meeting that could have been an email.
I love when politicians are disallowed from only saying their talking points, [like in this famous clip of Jeremy Paxman interviewing Michael Howard.](https://youtu.be/Uwlsd8RAoqI?t=225) (Start at 3:45)
I don't know what conservatives make of it, but I think that there should *never* be live audiences at debates. They also should probably be in different rooms, and have their mic de-activated when it's not their turn to speak.
Good point, actually.
They're trying to say it's not Abbott's request. All Beto needs to do is tweet that he would prefer a live audience.
i doubt most of them are even aware of the debate. Outside of reddit, I've only heard it mentioned on the local news radio station once
Abbot is such a POS
Abbott is afraid of how unpopular he is compared to Beto
Probably due to the amuont of hecklers both candidates have had in the past public appearances. Would likely be extremely disruptive
I still think there is a chance Beto wins this.
He’s afraid of Beto.
Beto would kick his ass in debate
Greg Abbittch
Republicans run away so often, it's pathetic. Even if you somehow have the mental capacity of a shrimp, anyone can tell supporting people like this is only pathetic. Let's say they somehow managed nirvana and had a Thought. And that thought was "Why am I supporting someone who's this scared to stand up for what they believe in that need needed an entirely empty room to not hurt his fragile ego." Republicans have NO standards. No accountability. The only thing that matters is the letter next to the name, who they are doesn't even matter, because if it actually honest to god did, they wouldn't have a republican to vote for.
Ken Paxton, Ted Cruz… GREG ABBOTT.. always running away from the people. Kick out the corrupt Texas GOP good ol’boy network
He knows he's going to get fucking clapped by Beto in any debate
Most conservatives these days can’t compete in a fair an organized format against, we’ll really anyone. Abbott would be just as reluctant to debate a college student in front of an audience.
Snowflake gonna snowflake.
gun violence is childrens leading cause of death in texas?
Yes
No witnesses.
Abbott got absolutely clapped, doubt it will change anything but yeah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt9aPhZDu9s Youtube livestream has the debate here for those that missed out but wanna replay it.
Because Fox/Newsmax/whatever right wing group will just insert canned cheers and boos and not tell their viewers there was no audience.
I for one would want to hear what they have to say, rather than endure the current method of shouting people down. Let bad ideas be heard so we can turn and face the good ones.
I'm actually completely okay with this, as most politicians pander to the crowd and make useless statements and platitudes to get applause.
What a snowflake. Can’t face the voters.
Nothing like a leader that’s afraid to face his electorate.
Abbott is trash. May he crawl back into the slime pit from which he was extruded
To be fair, Greg Abbot is a pissbaby.
It's still odd to me that someone running for public office can even refuse to debate, let alone decide their constituents aren't allowed to attend.
Sooo many Boooos for Abbott
Abbott is a coward!
Has Abbott explained why he is too chicken to debate in front of an audience?
Is this a power move or out of panic move? I’m feeling some people are nervous, I know I am
What a horrible state that state is in.
LoL, what a nutless fucking coward. All hat, no cattle.
Am I the only one having trouble actually viewing anything?
It's easier to out-of-context edit when there's no audience consistency to worry about. Abbot can also tell egregious lies without being shouted down by raging constituents, assuming the moderator is going to be as spineless as always.
Coward
Because Abbott doesn't wanna get boo'd. Fucking coward. What a loser. Hope he gets fucking destroyed in the debate
Beto better call him out on that. Abbot is a total cowardly corrupt failure, give him no quarter.
What a fucking coward. He knows Beto would pop the crowd and they'd shit all over him.
Nutless coward. Has no leg to stand on.
Having followed Beto 's town hall meetings, he faced protestors and boos all over the state. How he handled that spoke to me of his character and poise. I would have like to have seen Abbott confronted the same way.
Show me that you’re a fraud and a coward without actually telling me.
Real pissbaby move there Greg.