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The Obama half hour special

post #1 of 351
10/27/08 at 8:48pm
Thread Starter 
Airs in 2 days but does anyone know any specifics as to the content? Will it be a documentary style program or will it be Obama himself laying out the specifics of his intentions and policies?

And what is the potential impact of this?
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post #2 of 351
10/27/08 at 8:51pm
I just know that it'll be... SOLID

SOLID AS BA-RACK.

In all seriousness, Obama probably will try to hearken back to FDR's fireside chats, which FDR used during the Great Depression to reassure Americans that everything would be alright.

Obama will have to manage the time carefully. I don't know if it will have a major effect on the polls. Lord knows the Republicans have tried to use his big rallies against him to paint him as a demagogue or just a Hollywood star with no substance. It's true though that Americans hate a sense of entitlement--look at Hillary. Obama will have to make sure that he sounds presidential without making his presidency seem inevitable. McCain is doing his best to make Obama's win seem inevitable enough as it is.

I've heard rumors of Oprah hosting it? If he can get Ellen DeGeneres on there, he'll have 100% of the woman vote. I hope they give out Cadillacs.
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post #3 of 351
10/27/08 at 9:14pm
As long as it doesn't resemble Alo Presidente, then it shouldn't bother me too much.
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post #4 of 351
10/27/08 at 9:30pm
I need to see him tap-dance with a CGI Paul Lynde or I can't vote for him.
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post #5 of 351
10/27/08 at 9:31pm
Like I said to Greg Clark when it was announced:

An Obama Family Halloween.
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post #6 of 351
10/27/08 at 9:41pm
Lasers. Lots of lasers.
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post #7 of 351
10/27/08 at 9:44pm
Is this the special that's delaying game 6 of the World Series? If so, I think it could backfire, since it only serves to try and sway uncommitted voters and such folks are probably far more emotionally invested in a punctual start to the Series than Obama jawin' about hope and change and all.
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post #8 of 351
10/27/08 at 9:45pm
Very simply, for all the talk from the GOP about "Who is the real Barack Obama", this thing will be kind of a waste unless he attempts to show the American people that.

He can start by stating in straight, simple language he is not a terrorist, Muslim, Socialist, or a Communist, and that accusing him of such doesn't accomplish jack shit.
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post #9 of 351
10/27/08 at 9:45pm
Academic if Philly wins tonight but honestly... it's a half hour.
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post #10 of 351
10/27/08 at 9:49pm
I am thoroughly cynical and pessimistic, and I think it's entirely realistic to believe some idiots would vote against Obama for the sole reason that he pissed them off by delaying a baseball game. Probably not enough to matter, but I think the election will be closer than many are expecting.
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post #11 of 351
10/27/08 at 9:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anderson View Post
I need to see him tap-dance with a CGI Paul Lynde or I can't vote for him.
Little green box. Here. It's yours. Take it.
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post #12 of 351
10/27/08 at 9:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by nekkerbee View Post
I am thoroughly cynical and pessimistic, and I think it's entirely realistic to believe some idiots would vote against Obama for the sole reason that he pissed them off by delaying a baseball game. Probably not enough to matter, but I think the election will be closer than many are expecting.
For a Philly-Tampa Bay series? No.
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post #13 of 351
10/27/08 at 9:53pm
LOL maybe you're right.
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post #14 of 351
10/27/08 at 9:56pm
Thread Starter 
Don't worry, he'll most certainly include an honest apology to the sports fans so they'll feel special.
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post #15 of 351
10/27/08 at 10:04pm
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post #16 of 351
10/27/08 at 10:19pm
He must ask--repeatedly--for Americans to vote for him.

Lay out his plan and his policies, but beg for the vote. If this comes off as some sort of "Pre Election/Pre Inaugural" address, it could turn a lot of voters off, and will give Palin/McCain fodder during the homestretch.

Keep it classy, keep it informative, and keep it humble. You know how America feels about confidence and self assurance. Two very nasty qualities, especially in a black dude.
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post #17 of 351
10/27/08 at 10:31pm
Honestly, you sound a little paranoid. Beg for the vote? Don't appear confident and self-assured? That's exactly what the average person likes about Obama. His presence is so much better than McCain's. I seriously doubt it's going to be played like the election is a foregone conclusion. If that was the case, why buy the spot (especially with the whole 'delaying the world series' story that has been played up for over a week) in the first place?
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post #18 of 351
10/27/08 at 10:40pm
He's got a decent lead at this point, so there's no need to beg for votes. He just needs to strongly reiterate and reinforce what his campaign has been about, and what he plans to do once he gets into office.
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post #19 of 351
10/27/08 at 10:42pm
I predict the McCain campaign is going to try and buy 2 minute spots directly after Obama's 30 minute show. Just to throw cold water on it.
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post #20 of 351
10/27/08 at 10:42pm
Has Bea Arthur been confirmed yet?
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post #21 of 351
10/27/08 at 10:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by soylentgreen View Post
Has Bea Arthur been confirmed yet?
As a stone cold fox? Many times.
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post #22 of 351
10/27/08 at 10:48pm
I have no idea what Obama plans to do with his very expensive half-hour of network TV, but I hope it works.
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post #23 of 351
10/27/08 at 10:48pm
I was going for a lot paranoid. I'm the hysterical pearl clutcher of Political Discourse.

I still think think he needs to humble it up a bit. The big talking point from the McCain camp this week is about Obama being "arrogant" and "measuring WH drapes", and they're trying to portray him as an over confident elitist who feels like he's "entitled" to the Presidency.

At least that was the impression I got from McCain, Pfotenhauer, and Tucker Bounds today.

I don't think he's cocky at all, nor do I think that's his intent, but we don't want McCain driving this point home as voters step into the voting booths.
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post #24 of 351
10/27/08 at 10:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pop Zeus View Post
I have no idea what Obama plans to do with his very expensive half-hour of network TV, but I hope it works.
This has never been done in my voting lifetime, but I hear that Perot did it back in '92. I think I'm going to try to hunt down a video of it, just so I can get an idea of what to expect.
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post #25 of 351
10/27/08 at 10:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CocoaSugarbaker View Post
I was going for a lot paranoid. I'm the hysterical pearl clutcher of Political Discourse.

I still think think he needs to humble it up a bit. The big talking point from the McCain camp this week is about Obama being "arrogant" and "measuring WH drapes", and they're trying to portray him as an over confident elitist who feels like he's "entitled" to the Presidency.
Those are just desperate attempts by McCain to gain some ground back, after the beat down the media has given him and Palin the past few weeks.
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post #26 of 351
10/27/08 at 10:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pop Zeus View Post
I have no idea what Obama plans to do with his very expensive half-hour of network TV, but I hope it works.
A half-an-hour can be a very long and difficult space to fill on television. Anyone forced to watch broadcast channel sitcoms with their spouse can attest to this.
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post #27 of 351
10/27/08 at 11:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CocoaSugarbaker View Post
This has never been done in my voting lifetime, but I hear that Perot did it back in '92. I think I'm going to try to hunt down a video of it, just so I can get an idea of what to expect.
My first election that I voted in was the '92 campaign and I remember the Perot infomercials very well. Basically, he blew his wad on the infomercials instead of the traditional 30 second spots. An interesting move and an effective one. Many people may not remember, but Perot quit the presidential race for two months before getting back in it. One wonders how he would have done had he not briefly dropped out.

ETA: David Duke went this route when he ran for governor of LA back in 91 or so. The fact that he got close is sobering.
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post #28 of 351
10/27/08 at 11:22pm
I'm guessing it's a closing argument and sort of a condensed and updated version of his acceptance speech.
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post #29 of 351
10/27/08 at 11:42pm
Network time..pssshh. He's had his own channel on Dish for like a month now. That's when you can tell your campaign has way too much money. "We're buying a 30 minute prime-time spot, and we've bought a channel on satellite television for a month. Is that enough, or should we have my image laser etched onto the surface of the moon?"
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post #30 of 351
10/28/08 at 1:04am
Quote:
Originally Posted by CocoaSugarbaker View Post
This has never been done in my voting lifetime, but I hear that Perot did it back in '92. I think I'm going to try to hunt down a video of it, just so I can get an idea of what to expect.
Well, what I can guess is that Obama will try to come off as more presidential than Perot. That really seemed to be the focus for him over the last few weeks. Didn't Perot use some charts and graphs for a presentation? I shudder to think that Barack will go to the PowerPoint. Hehe.

I dunno if that means BO will go for a fireside chat, State of the Union-style speech, or something else. I do wonder if there's a danger in reaffirming the whole "he's already measuring the drapes!" meme that McCain seems happy to push.
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post #31 of 351
10/28/08 at 1:32am
The most important point of the half hour special will be that it will pretty much eat up two news cycles. Wednesday speculating on what it will be and Thursday discussing it. McCain doesn't have many news cycles left.
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post #32 of 351
10/28/08 at 1:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pop Zeus View Post
I dunno if that means BO will go for a fireside chat, State of the Union-style speech, or something else. I do wonder if there's a danger in reaffirming the whole "he's already measuring the drapes!" meme that McCain seems happy to push.
He's already calling the broadcast to task on just those grounds. Saying Obama is giving his first address before he even gets elected. I gotta say, for some reason this makes me nervous. This feels like the kind of thing you just don't do when you've got such a strong lead. I hope hope hope I'm proven wrong but I just have a bad feeling about this.
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post #33 of 351
10/28/08 at 1:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by JGButler View Post
He's already calling the broadcast to task on just those grounds. Saying Obama is giving his first address before he even gets elected. I gotta say, for some reason this makes me nervous. This feels like the kind of thing you just don't do when you've got such a strong lead. I hope hope hope I'm proven wrong but I just have a bad feeling about this.
Quick: How many times has Obama fucked up in a major way these last few months?

My theory is that Obama will explain he bought that much air time to give the American people a very detailed picture of what an Obama presidency would be like. Americans want substance this cycle and 30 minutes is alot of time for going in depth. He's not going to fuck this up. Stop being such a Democrat.
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post #34 of 351
10/28/08 at 2:06am
I agree that Obama has to be specific and presidential. He needs to be alternately boring and wonky to give people confidence, and rhetorically inspiring to get out the vote.

I'm not sure if any of McCain's punches are landing, so I'm not sure to what extent he needs to hit back. The polls don't show the kind of tightening that should worry the Obama camp. (National polls are closing but the state by state polls are not and BO's support is solidifying.)
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post #35 of 351
10/28/08 at 2:09am
Obama should not go the least bit negative except dropping the occasional "McCain-Bush" and maybe calling McCain a Republican.
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post #36 of 351
10/28/08 at 2:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dynamotv View Post
Quick: How many times has Obama fucked up in a major way these last few months?

My theory is that Obama will explain he bought that much air time to give the American people a very detailed picture of what an Obama presidency would be like. Americans want substance this cycle and 30 minutes is alot of time for going in depth. He's not going to fuck this up. Stop being such a Democrat.
Well, this isn't really a case of the dreaded "Democratic Pessimism," and I'm not saying it's a major fuck up, but I guess I'm curious about the motive. It doesn't FEEL like a move someone who's got such a strong lead would make. It FEELS like a gimmick and I just wonder what it's all about. Obviously this is all pre-game analysis and I'll be there watching just like the rest of you, but at the same time it just seems odd.
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post #37 of 351
10/28/08 at 2:56am
It sounded like a good idea a few weeks ago when they announced it. In fact, it seemed brilliant in strategy.

Now it just seems a little self congratulatory and over killish.

Quote:
Originally Posted by dynamotv View Post
Quick: How many times has Obama fucked up in a major way these last few months?

My theory is that Obama will explain he bought that much air time to give the American people a very detailed picture of what an Obama presidency would be like. Americans want substance this cycle and 30 minutes is alot of time for going in depth. He's not going to fuck this up. Stop being such a Democrat.
Properly shamed.
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post #38 of 351
10/28/08 at 4:27am
I hope it opens with Obama thoughtfully strumming a guitar while muttering sutff like "G flat, F major" under his breath, and then he suddenly looks up at the camera and smiles and says "Oh, I didn't notice you come in!" and then he puts down the guitar.
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post #39 of 351
10/28/08 at 4:50am
Thread Starter 
He should let the last 10 minutes be a condensed version of that 'behind the scenes' video from the convention that someone linked to in another thread. That would be a brilliant way to show his human side and it would get people to "know" him a little better.
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post #40 of 351
10/28/08 at 8:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by CocoaSugarbaker View Post
Now it just seems a little self congratulatory and over killish.
He hasn't won yet. People assuming he's got this sewn up is probably the biggest threat to his chances. I imagine a good part of this time will be used to remind people of that.

Then he'll sing "Little Drummer Boy" with David Bowie.
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post #41 of 351
10/28/08 at 9:57am
According to what I heard on Good Morning America, the 30-minute spot won't just be Obama staring into the camera and giving an address. It will feature people other than just Obama. I don't know anything more than that, though.
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post #42 of 351
10/28/08 at 10:22am
I hope Obama comes on and then says, "Because of my belief in science over superstition, and because of my quite large campaign fund purse, I was able to do something that was considered scientifically impossible. This is John Lennon, and this is George Harrison. Paul and Ringo are here as well. May I present... The Beatles!" Then they perform a 20 minute set.

Election over.
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post #43 of 351
10/28/08 at 10:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan "Nordling" Cerny View Post
I hope Obama comes on and then says, "Because of my belief in science over superstition, and because of my quite large campaign fund purse, I was able to do something that was considered scientifically impossible. This is John Lennon, and this is George Harrison. Paul and Ringo are here as well. May I present... The Beatles!" Then they perform a 20 minute set.

Election over.
And then John would find out what they did with his "Free as a Bird" tape and shoot Paul and Ringo.

Election over. Point: McCain.
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post #44 of 351
10/28/08 at 10:43am
Well, we'll clone them too just in case.
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post #45 of 351
10/28/08 at 10:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Dickson View Post
He hasn't won yet. People assuming he's got this sewn up is probably the biggest threat to his chances. I imagine a good part of this time will be used to remind people of that.

Then he'll sing "Little Drummer Boy" with David Bowie.
If he does I'm sending in another donation.
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post #46 of 351
10/28/08 at 11:24am
Maybe Obama should have just used his money to buy us people in 'battleground' states a few hours of television without political ads. If Obama really loved us he'd let us watch lame television without interruption by any menacing black and white attack ads.
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post #47 of 351
10/28/08 at 11:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul McCartney View Post
I hope it opens with Obama thoughtfully strumming a guitar while muttering sutff like "G flat, F major" under his breath, and then he suddenly looks up at the camera and smiles and says "Oh, I didn't notice you come in!" and then he puts down the guitar.
Winner.

Ah..... one week.
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post #48 of 351
10/28/08 at 11:34am
Be cool if James Lipton interviewed him and asked the standard Inside the Actor's Studio questions.
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post #49 of 351
10/28/08 at 11:38am
Fade in.

We are in front of what appears to be a military hangar. On the doors is printed AREA 51. Military guards stand in front of the door. Then enters SENATOR BARACK OBAMA. He is dressed in a nice suit with a blue tie. He is sharp, dignified, presidential.

OBAMA
You know, I've always wondered what's inside Area 51. Aliens? Secret technology? Elvis? If you elect me your president, on November 5th, with my good friend Geraldo Rivera... we will reveal to the world just what is behind those doors. Tune in November 5th... AREA 51: INSIDE THE HANGAR.
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post #50 of 351
10/28/08 at 11:38am
It's too bad that Sarah Palin doesn't have her own special...Mocking Tina Fey's blah 30 Rock, her film Baby Mama, or even just Fey in general. That is a special I would watch.

On the fact all the networks have a half an hour special on Barak Hussain Obama...it should be yanked.
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