Election heats up
Close Encounters
Surprisingly, or maybe not surprisingly, not many people seem to realize that the first debate will be on Tuesday Night. Of course, if you're reading this, it's probably Tuesday already, so what are you waiting for? This is the big moment for Bush and Gore, where they can finally square off against each other after so long. Of course, maybe you think this doesn't appeal to you. Why watch debates? It's just two politicians debating, big deal. Well, it's usually in debates that you can really pinpoint a candidate's position on certain issues. You can compare and contrast them both in real-time right before your eyes.
The truth is, debates aren't all about issues. In fact, issues and arguments take a backseat to image. That's right, debates are actually used by the candidates to present a more appealing image of themselves. Usually, this results in a highly amusing contest between the candidates on who can tell the best tax jokes. Let there be no doubt: debates are meant to be entertaining by those who participate in them. Ever since the advent of mass media i.e. the telegraph, radio and most importantly, the television, candidates have been judged more on how they present themselves rather than on their positions like Social Security, for example.
For this, we can look back to the Kennedy-Nixon election. It was during this election that the first televised debate was broadcast across the nation. Kennedy, a handsome, tanned and composed individual, managed to make a great impression in the debates. Nixon, on the other hand, had sweat dripping down his face, reflecting the stage lights in a most unattractive manner. He wouldn't look at the camera and quite simply didn't look believable on television. Because of this, Kennedy trumped Nixon and carried the election (barely).
This election also promises to be extremely close. Chances are, it will be decided on the debating floor. Gore, who has participated in 45 debates in the past, stands poised for victory, while Bush is concluding his extensive four-month rehearsal for the upcoming event. Perhaps if Bush tells enough of his amusing jokes he might surpass Gore and win the necessary votes, who knows?
Bush Is Among Us
Bush has regained his lead on Gore once more! His most recent spike in the polls puts him a few meager points ahead of Gore. The upsurge occurred soon after he made appearances on the Oprah Winfrey Show and the Regis Philbin Show last week. The hosts, Oprah and Regis, were exceptionally pleased to have Bush as a guest on their show, which in turn pleased the audience. On the shows, Bush presented himself very well.
Now onto the amusing parts. At the start of the Oprah show, Bush gave the host (Oprah) a big fat smooch which has come to be known as "the second kiss." On the show Bush appeared light-hearted and comfortable, which came across positively for the audience. On the Regis Show, Bush came on wearing the exact same shirt that Regis was wearing, which made it look all the more interesting. On Regis' show, Bush projected himself very well. It seems that this was a good move on his part. The question is, can he maintain the lead after the debates? We shall see...
R U Ready for RU-486?
Last week the FDA finally approved RU-486 for commercial and medical use. RU-486 is known as the "morning-after" pill. It basically has the effect of canceling a pregnancy by forcing a miscarriage. To be more specific, if taken soon after conception, it loosens up the uterus' walls, allowing the forming embryo to travel down until it reaches the "end point" or some such nonsense. Regardless of the technical rubbish, the end result is that the embryo is "dropped" from the woman, plain and simple. Charming, isn't it? Supporters of the pill claim that this will reduce the number of later-term abortions. While this may be true, it may also encourage more unprotected sex, which may lead to some other unpleasant side effects, such as increased STD transmittal. Even so, the process of dropping the embryo can be quite unpleasant to a woman if she takes it more than two weeks after conception. The effects include internal hemorrhaging and bloating.
Of course, the candidates haven't wasted any time in sticking their opinion to the public. Here is what they each have to say on this issue:
Bush: "I think the FDA's decision to approve the abortion pill RU- 486 is wrong," the Texas governor said in a statement. "People on both sides of the abortion issue can agree that we should do everything we can to reduce the number of abortions, and I fear that making this abortion pill widespread will make abortions more and more common, rather than more and more rare. As president, I will work to build a culture that respects life."
Gore: "I think it's up to the woman," Gore said in an appearance on "Larry King Live" on CNN. "I support the FDA's approval, assuming it's safe for the woman, and that's what they decided today."
This is their position. If you want your own opinion to be known, write a letter to the editor at technews@wpi.edu and make yourself heard! Make sure to watch the debates!