February 14, 2008
Texas Dems Giving Away Debate Tickets to Lucky Few
If you've been holding out hope to attend next week's historic Presidential Debate at UT Austin, you're in luck!
Make that a tiny bit of luck.
A very limited number of seats will be raffled off to the public by the Texas Democratic Party. Details are still scarce at the moment, but they've promised to distribute exactly 100 tickets—the expected capacity of the debate hall is anywhere from 1,000 to 3,000, depending on the final configuration. Most spots will be reserved for invitation-only guests, among them party officials and folks affiliated with UT, both campaigns, and CNN and Univision.
We'll keep you posted when the public drawing details are announced; in the meantime, if you're clamoring for some heavy political action, the Texas Democrats would love to see you at their $50-a-person "Debate Watch Party" at the Hyatt Regency.
Related:
Statesman Blog
KXAN
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Only those in the know or with a lot of money can come. Sounds like the new ‘upscale and exclusive’ Austin to me!
I wish I could say I can't believe people are complaining on the Statesman blog, but it only took what? A dozen or so people before the inevitable comment about Austin being only for rich people.
People in this city are absolutely fucking absurd with their love of 1964.. or 1973.. or whenever it was that Austin was actually utopia.
It'll probably be easier to get into the debate than to get a SXSW wristband....
Yes we can!
...the Texas Democrats would love to see you at their $50-a-person "Debate Watch Party" at the Hyatt Regency.
So the Dems intentionally hold the debate at a rec center where only 1,000 well-connected politicos can attend. Then they graciously invite the proles to their $50/plate "watch party." No thanks, you money-grubbing, corporation-hugging "party of the working people."
What kenneth1 said.
Why does anyone think hosting a DEBATE in a large(r) venue (Austin Music Hall? Erwin Center? The Football Stadium?) is a good idea? This isn't a concert or a football game. You really think sitting in the backrow on the Erwin Center is somehow preferable to watching the debate on CNN?
People can't shut the fuck up during a movie (or Al Gore's speech at UT months ago), you think they'll shut up during a nationally televised debate? You think you won't have some dipshits hooting and hollering? Or some assclown who loves McCain/Huckabee/Bush/whomever screaming some Rush Limbaugh talking points about socialism? Or, just as likely, some Bush hater screaming about how the Democrats kick ass?
Not to mention, these people are running for President -- the security is going to be intense. It's hard to scan 1000 people effectively, you want them to do it for 5000? 10000?
Where do you draw the line such that you don't just have them sitting in the middle of a big field in West Texas with 4 million people in folding chairs?
Um, yes to all of what cram said.
There'll probably be a rally for both candidates in the time leading up to the primary. I think people are wanting the debate to be that rally, but that's not the purpose of a debate.
I would pay $50 to go to a viewing party if my money only went to Obama, but it doesn't, so I won't.
I'll just donate $50 to him instead.
I don't think anyone is stupid enough to confuse a debate and a rally.
cram the people I've talked with about this are pissed about the invitation situation (which you are COMPLETELY AVOIDING) and not the limited seating.
Where do you draw the line such that you don't just have them sitting in the middle of a big field in West Texas with 4 million people in folding chairs?
Hey, nice straw man, Cram. Yeah, that's what we commoners have been clamoring for: a debate-cum-rally at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater (not).
No, there are any number of venues where the Dems, if they really were interested in letting working folks in on the democratic process, could've held this debate: Hogg Auditorium, the new Long Center (opening tonight) & Bates Recital Hall to name a few. I've seen other debates in similar venues.
But no, that wouldn't do because then the Democratic Party's well-healed corporate donors would be forced to rub elbows with people who actually work for a living.
Oh come on, if there were 4000 available seats for commoners, people would STILL bitch.
There is no number of available spots that make Austinites not whine. The never ending complaints about SXSW wristbands, ACL Fest tickets, traffic on Mopac, parking spots downtown, and invitations to Factory People parties proves this.
Additionally, how is being allowed to potentially be a SPECTATOR at a debate part of the democratic process? These debates don't allow audience participation, so don't delude yourself into thinking that you're participating in democracy if you get to attend the debate vs being shut out of the process if you have to watch on TV. It's the same exact spectator sport, except you can rewind your Tivo at home and really digest the words.
Hi stupid. Not all of us have cable. If the debate is only airing on CNN and Univision and the $50 old farts fest how the fuck am I supposed to watch it?
Ride your bus that you talk about all the time and watch it at one of the 9 million bars in Austin. Austinist only listed a half dozen or so for the last debate that had entry costs of $0.
Or go knock on your neighbors' door. Bring a 6 pack and buddy up.
If your beef is that you can't watch it on cable, then my original suggestion of West Texas with 4 million folding chairs so ANYONE can attend is far from a straw man, eh? Because even if they put it in the Erwin Center, I'm pretty sure that not everyone who wants to attend could attend.
LoudMouth, if you can't afford the basic cable package with CNN, then you need to spend less time insulting people in blog comments and more time working your way out of that minimum wage job.
Yeah, like I'm going to take advice from a fucktard like you.
Maybe I work nights. Ever thought about that, Circumsizedtinypenisboy?
At this point I don't really care to go anymore. Nothing new will be said and nothing revolutionary will happen(thus ensuring it will). But why the Rec Center? Really? It seems so odd. I would like to see exactly how it will be lined out. They should have put it in the stadium. Texas Style!!!
At this point I don't really care to go anymore. Nothing new will be said and nothing revolutionary will happen(thus ensuring it will). But why the Rec Center? Really? It seems so odd. I would like to see exactly how it will be lined out. They should have put it in the stadium. Texas Style!!!
At this point I don't really care to go anymore. Nothing new will be said and nothing revolutionary will happen(thus ensuring it will). But why the Rec Center? Really? It seems so odd. I would like to see exactly how it will be lined out. They should have put it in the stadium. Texas Style!!!
LoudMouth, if you work nights, then you can neither attend nor watch the debate, so stop whining, bitch.
LoudMouth is nothing more than a troll. Don't feed the trolls please.
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"...how is being allowed to potentially be a SPECTATOR at a debate part of the democratic process..."
It ain't, but it save them the trouble of actually thinking of something legitimate to whine and bitch about.
Fuck you, YoYoMa. I only act bite when I've been bitten. You want to see a troll, look at the two twats that took it to a personal level with me.
CircumsizedLittleBoy, get back in the trunk where I left you for dead.
Ah, the natural order. Much better.
from straw man to ad homen. the debates begin...