Past debate videos

[ludwigb]

Here's a fun resource--streaming video of the debates from 1976-1988. Very interesting stuff. Make sure to see the 1988 Dem NH primary debate where Gore and Gephardt get into a spat..... "Are you sorry?", Gore asks, refering to a personal attack. "Yes Al, your my friend," Gephardt responds offended. There's also a crazy guy screaming about abortion and AIDS, and lots of great spit-spats.

http://www.lwv.org/elibrary/video/debates.html

[jsw_81]

1. I love these old debates

The one where the guy gets up and starts yelling at Dukakis about abortion and gay rights is classic. I also enjoyed the 1980 debate between Reagan and Bush. They hated each other but became a team only a few months later. And the one from 1984 when we had around ten or so candidates on the stage (with a young Charles Schumer moderating) was also interesting. It's funny to see how so many predictions never came true.

[ludwigb]

4. Is Reagan good or what?

There is a lot to be learned from his brief and witty responses. In the end, the audience appreciates him for expressingly himself so concisely and making them laugh, so they remember him favorably. In the debate I watched, he slaughtered the other Repub. canidates, including the excellent John Anderson.

On the other hand, much of what Reagan says seems so damn mistaken it makes you wonder how our country survived 8 years of his leadership...

[jsw_81]

5. Yeah

No matter what you think about his politics, you have to admit he was good in the debates. He faltered in his '84 debate with Mondale when he seemed tired and confused, but he came roaring back in the second debate and won the election with a single joke. And he did this when he was 73 years-old!

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

2. this is really educational - I'm watching Ford vs. Carter 76 right now

Some things are really different, but some things are exactly the same. I barely remember Carter as President, so this is really quite fascinating. Thanks for the link!

They are talking about a strip mining bill, coal as a resource to keep us independent of Arab oil, and labor unions and environmental groups on opposite sides. Really interesting.

[jsw_81]

3. Ford vs. Carter

Don't miss the moment Ford makes his huge gaffe about Eastern Europe. That's the precise moment that his surging campaign started to collapse. And the grin on Carter's face is hilarious. I think that's when he knew that he would be president.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

10. Carter vs. Reagan in 1980 - Reagan talks about "secret plans" for hostages

i.e. Iran Contra - keep the hostages captured long enough to get Reagan elected, then give Iran weapons.

Carter wasn't good, but Reagan looked clueless - even worse in the 84 debates, when he kept wandering off. How the hell did this man win elections? I don't understand it.

[Kathleen04]

6. Thanks..

for posting this. :)

[ludwigb]

7. Barbara Walters...

Man, I can't believe she was moderating debates back in 1976..... I find her SO annoying and I really dislike her attitude when speaking to Jessie Jackson in 1984. Sometimes it's quite innocent, but I'm often appalled by patronizing way some of the moderaters and candidates speak to Jackson. It seems we've made some progress on race in the last 20 years.

[Jonte_1979]

8. Thanks

Very interesting. Thanks!

Oh, and Barbara Walters was a real fox back in '76!

[babzilla]

9. thank you ludwigb, a fun resource indeed.

weekend kick

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

11. '88 Dem primaries - Gore and Gephardt personally attacking each other

wow, it got ugly - evidentally Gephardt is not new to low blows in a campaign, and neither were the others it seems.

Jesse Jackson - "If we affirm morality, we will not be trading drugs for arms" - oh why couldn't he be presdient?