Fight the lights...on the podiums!

[rndmprsn]

http://news.bostonherald.com/election/view.bg?articleid=46803

Kerry aide says debate shouldn't look like 'game show'
By Associated Press
Thursday, September 30, 2004

MIAMI - A top adviser to John Kerry says the Bush campaign wants to make tonight's debate look like a "game show" complete with blinking lights in front of the candidates.

The Kerry people are objecting to the positioning of warning lights on each of the lecterns -- which will signal when a candidate's time is up. Kerry's advisers say it's too distracting. They warned that if the debate organizers don't remove the lights -- they may do so themselves.

Debate officials say the lights will stay where they are.


Kerry spokesman Joe Lockhart tells the AP there's nothing in the lengthy list of rules and restrictions for tonight's debate that says there will be lights on the lecterns.

But he says of the flap, "We'll sort this out."

A Bush campaign official says the Democrats "don't want the American people to know that Senator Kerry can't follow the rules."

[flpoljunkie]

1. Photo of lights on the podium from behind squarely in middle of microphone

AP photo/Rick Wilking

[flpoljunkie]

2. View from the front of the "game show" lights

AP Photo/Rick Wilking

It looks as if the candidates will not be able to see the lights. Then why use them, one might ask.

[rndmprsn]

3. it all bullshit

and proves how scared they are of kerry...by taking advantage of thier position to force these stupid little things into the debate.

[Momzilla]

4. It looks to me...

...like there might be visible lights on both sides of the light boxes. I think that a light visible to the candidate is a good idea, but having it visible to the audience is kind of silly.

BTW, Hello! :-)

[flpoljunkie]

5. Welcome to DU, Momzilla!

We need all hands on deck to hold this administration accountable for their failed record.

[StopThief]

7. Welcome Momzilla. . . .

As I said below, the agreement states that the lights must also be viewable by both the live and television audiences.

Apparently the Bush team wants the world to know if Kerry exceeds the time limit.

[newyawker99]

14. Hi Momzilla!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Radio-Active]

21. I thought the podiums

were supposed to be transparent (so we could see Bush scratching his balls)

[StopThief]

6. Vernon Jordan was fleeced. . . .

The signed agreement clearly stated that the lights had to be in the line of sight of the candidates and viewable by both the live and television audiences. The only place they could possibly go is on the podiums.

Does James Baker have some freaky negotiation hypnosis power or what?

[Texas_Dem]

8. Will this "debate" have a moderator or a game show host?

This is ridiculous. What the hell is next? Spinning wheels and buying vowels?

[Clinton Crusader]

12. Is Monty Hall available??

:kick:

[Cronus Protagonist]

9. Podium = something you stand on

Lectern = something you put papers on while speaking.

It seems most people don't know the difference.

http://brainbuttons.com/home.asp?stashid=13

[StopThief]

10. According to dictionary.com. . .

po·di·um ( P ) Pronunciation Key (pd-m)
n. pl. po·di·a (-d-) or po·di·ums
1) An elevated platform, as for an orchestra conductor or public speaker.
2) A stand for holding the notes of a public speaker; a lectern.

I usually find that when I correct people it helps to have a clue what I'm talking about. Cheers.

[Cronus Protagonist]

11. I'll go with Encyclopedia Britannica, if you don't mind

And I find that when correcting someone, it's best to have the most authoritative source for your rebuttal, particularly if you're going to be smarmy about it.

It's also best not to cherry pick definitions. On your source there are lots of references to a podium and the root of the word which clearly support my contention,a nd you conveniently ignore them, having an ax to grind of your own.

Sure, in the usage of the thread poster here, they meant "a stand for holding the notes of a public speaker", and as your own source notes after the semi-colon, this is more correctly called a "lectern". I see your post supports my postion; it's a lectern, and this is also supported by Encyclopedia Britannica.

From Encyclopedia Britannica

Main Entry: po·di·um
Pronunciation: 'pO-dE-&m
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural podiums or po·dia /-dE-&/
Etymology: Latin -- more at PEW
Date: 1743
1 : a low wall serving as a foundation or terrace wall: as a : one around the arena of an ancient amphitheater serving as a base for the tiers of seats b : the masonry under the stylobate of a temple
2 a : a dais especially for an orchestral conductor b : LECTERN

Main Entry: lec·tern
Pronunciation: 'lek-t&rn
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English lettorne, from Middle French letrun, from Medieval Latin lectorinum, from Latin lector reader, from legere to read -- more at LEGEND
Date: 14th century
: a stand used to support a book in a convenient position for a standing reader; especially : one from which scripture lessons are read in a church service

[progdonkey]

19. WTF?

So, you're saying that, because only one of the definitions for "podium" is "a stand for holding the notes of a public speaker" it's therefore not a valid definition?

Do you know what a "synonym" is? You see, some words can be interchanged with other words in certain contexts. As you agreed in your post, the context in this thread is concerning "a place for a public speaker to hold his notes." Since both "lectern" and "podium" can mean "a place for a public speaker to hold his notes," either is correct in this context. A definition is a definition is a definition.

Talk about being smarmy! Your stance is like that of someone who indignantly claims another is wrong for calling a movie "funny" because the first person thinks "humorous" is a better word. They're synonyms, as are "podium" and "lectern" in this context.

Since when is the American Heritage Dictionary not an "authoritative" source?

[BootinUp]

13. That statement from the Bush campaign sent my mind reeling

Oh the hypocrisy!!!

The Bush cabal never met a rule that wasn't meant to be broken or changed to their liking.

[SoCalDemocrat]

15. Lights are embarrasing. How do we fight it?

They're meant to embarrass Kerry and cause viewers to focus on the obnoxious lights at the end instead of Kerry's conclusion to his speaking points.

How do we campaign to get them removed?

[Momzilla]

16. If the campaign agreed to them

I'd be willing to bet they've been working during their debate preps on staying within the time limits. It's an annoyance, but nothing to get worked up over.

[SoCalDemocrat]

24. Its worth getting worked up over

I can see it tomorrow, the headlines will all talk about the damn lights and how many more times Kerry'sl ight went off vs. the Bush light. It's going to be stupendous.

[cheshire]

17. The lights are timers. I heard on Keith Olberman. Putz is making a dig.

[Rageneau]

18. I hope Smirk has a couple-three drinks to relax himself.

You know, loosen up his toungue, bring out that old Bush wit, make himself look presidential and attractive to the girls, too.

G'head, Georgie. Have one on me.

[arenar]

20. Is it me...

or is one podium higher than the other??

[TrustingDog]

22. don't think so, the one on the right is closer to the foreground....

but they do remind of of crosses, again.

[WindRavenX]

23. They are further apart then they should be

Another Rove tactic to try to neutralize Kerry's substantial height advantage.

[MessiahRp]

25. Fat fuck Rush

was bitching about this on the radio today and calling Kerry's team whiners and such. I hate riding the bus to work. Stupid Republican sheep drive those buses. Even though if Republicans had their way there would be no taxpayer provided services and those jagoffs would be out of their jobs.

Rp