Debate like a Jedi

[OrlandoGator]

Try it, it works. Don't get caught up in rhetoric and distortions. Just look people in the eye, and in the calmest (almost monotone) voice you can muster...just present facts. Clearly, without "uh"s or stutters. If it helps, imagine you're doing the Jedi mind trick on them.

Seriously, I used to be the type who would counter Kool-Aiders with stuff like, "are you some kind of fucking IDIOT?!?"...but now, I do it Obi-Wan style. I have a lot of success by presenting a calm, intelligent contrast to their regurgitated noise.

I think our guys on TV need to do this. Ditch the catchphrases, ditch the boring statistics. Just talk like an adult. Expose the neocons for the petulant children they are.

[tjwash]

1. It's called using the Socratic method...

...and it pisses of conservative bet-wetters to no end. ,

[ThoughtCriminal]

2. Sure it works

"This is not the leadership you were looking for..."

[villager]

3. "You don't want to sell out for death-lovers..."

"I don't want to sell out for death-lovers."

"You want to go home and rethink your life."

"I want to go home and rethink my life..."

[Tux]

4. I use this line

Obi-Wan said, "My allegiance is to the Republic, to democracy."

[Selatius]

5. Actually, remaining cool and calm can unnerve the opponent

If you maintain a steely-faced yet courteous, warm, and professional appearance throughout a one-on-one debate, especially over a contentious issue, it makes it harder for the opponent to guage your reactions. If the goal of the opponent is to make you look unstable and temper-mental (sort of like what happened with Howard Dean), he will more likely fail if you remain even and calm, and he will have to resort to his Plan B. If his back-up plan isn't as good as his original, you've got him on the ropes.

I would say that the strongest weapon in any debate is the facts though. You can fail at hiding your emotions, but you can make up for that by having a strong grasp of the reality of the situation.

"Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances."

Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826)

[OrlandoGator]

6. T.J. is my all-time favorite.

Best American ever.

[htuttle]

7. Calm and cool in response, sure

But when you talk about what you want to do, you need to find some fire somewhere and stoke it up.

The contrast with your calm responses makes them both stand out that much more.

[Selatius]

9. Oh yes, you need conviction. There is no doubt about it.

This is what the Democratic Party has been missing for decades.

There is no consistency with the message. Not only that, there doesn't seem to be any conviction behind it. To a lot of people, the Democrats seem to not stand for anything regardless if that is true or not.

People, for whatever reason, like to go for strong leaders. When faced with a guy who is right but weak, people would rather go for the guy who is wrong but strong. At least, that is what I've been told.

If you walk into a debate, keep your head, but don't look dead. You've got to have consistency and conviction behind the words, and it seems too many Democrats don't, and that's what's galling.

[Catchawave]

8. Like this:

"A disturbance in the world, George Bush I fear"

"Bleeding heart liberal I am, but at least I have a heart"

"There is good in all people, just bad decisions"

"I don't hate Republicans, I hate their politics"

"An administration built on fear, hate and lies, is not a democracy"

[Bellamia]

10. Great line........

"An administration built on fear, hate and lies, is not a democracy"

I will surely use it. Thanks.

[demgurl]

11. The force has much power.....

over the weak minded.

[leyton]

12. A miserable failure, George Bush is.

:D

Actually:

George Bush lied about the war, and now we're in a quagmire.

Bill Frist and Tom Delay want a one-party Congress.

Rick Santorum cares more about sex than making sure you can put your kid through college.

[sakabatou]

13. You support the troops, you want to bring them home

I want to bring the troops home...

You will vote Democrat for '06 and beyond

I will vote Democrat for '06 and beyond...

Your commander in cheif is not the Chosen One

George Bush is not the chosen one...

[OrlandoGator]

14. Morning kick.

:kick: