Argument-Centered Ed

We are an education-services company, helping districts, networks, schools, and teachers bring argument into the center of regular classroom instruction.

[Argument-Centered Ed @ArgCenteredEd]

Very pleased and proud to share with my network here that the national PBS documentary on argument-centered instruction -- "Beyond Debate" -- begins airing around the country this week! The WTTW Chicago air times -- https://t.co/kDMXxzR5wd. The trailer -- https://t.co/tmUM2UQE5H.

[Argument-Centered Ed @ArgCenteredEd]

Rounds: Vance wins economy, immigration, health care; Walz wins abortion and democracy. As a debate, Vance wins a close one. Debate itself wins by the example of this debate. As a political event, this won't move the needle at all, & will be adjudged a tie by public & pundits.

[Argument-Centered Ed @ArgCenteredEd]

Walz wins the final round of this debate resoundingly -- the fate of democracy -- a resounding non-answer to say that Trump lost the 2020 election. Thoroughly and crushingly, despite Vance's superior debate polish. Style does not vanquish substance in debate.

[Argument-Centered Ed @ArgCenteredEd]

As people have been noting (at least in my feed), this is a substantive, civil electoral debate. A tribute, in some ways, to the demeanor of, and respect being shown to the process by, both candidates.

[Argument-Centered Ed @ArgCenteredEd]

@davidaxelrod Walz should have doubled down and connected the rejection of experts to (a) Trump's narcissism and belief that he alone can solve problems, and (b) MAGA's attack on facts and embrace of conspiracy theories and lies, like the lie that Haitians are eating cats and dogs.

[Argument-Centered Ed @ArgCenteredEd]

Second use of "weird" by JD Vance -- weird differences in gun violence rates between the US and European countries and "weird science" about CO2 emissions being the only cause of climate change. He's working to neutralize the cultural attack that MAGA is "weird."

[David Axelrod @davidaxelrod]

Here's the thing:
VPs don't make policy. Presidents do.
Who talks about the Pence years?!?

[Argument-Centered Ed @ArgCenteredEd]

Walz is responding to a portion of Vance's arguments on abortion -- but the wrong portion. He's defending himself far too much, instead of going back on offense on abortion. Vance, stylistically, has committed in the debate to moderation & deliberation. He's winning style points.

[Argument-Centered Ed @ArgCenteredEd]

A rather tepid and self-embarrassed retort from Walz on the aggressive questioning about his misrepresenting being in China during Tiananmen Square. He should've parried the charge and then pivoted to offense on truthfulness.

[Argument-Centered Ed @ArgCenteredEd]

Vance is definitely a more polished debater. We knew that he would be, going in. Walz is scoring points, though, when he is speaking from the heart, in a plainspoken, extemporaneous way. He's scoring points on the economy and on looking to expertise over (Trump's) ego. . . .

[Argument-Centered Ed @ArgCenteredEd]

There are reports that Tim Walz is nervous about his debate w/JD Vance. “As teachers, we are trained to answer the question, & we train our students to answer the questions. That’s not how this goes.” But students & teachers should be doing a lot more arguing from evidence.

[Argument-Centered Ed @ArgCenteredEd]

Second half of this debate was no better, & probably worse, for Biden than the first half. This was a very weak, unauthoritative debate performance by Biden. A relentlessly aggressive, though at times stylistically restrained, Trump. Trump won this debate, that can't be denied.

[Argument-Centered Ed @ArgCenteredEd]

Not the first Presidential debate in which the transcript will tell one story; TV broadcast tells a starkly different one. Biden's actual language -- if it were delivered authoritatively, w/o verbal tics & w/ a visual overhaul -- would be at least even & might be slightly ahead.

[Argument-Centered Ed @ArgCenteredEd]

The optics certainly are not good for Biden so far. Split screen comparisons are not doing him any favors. Turning to his right to gaze almost in awe of Trump's ferocity and animus. Unfortunately, when it's his turn to speak he doesn't credibly project authority, so far.

[Argument-Centered Ed @ArgCenteredEd]

Biden's best exchange so far was on the repeal of Roe v. Wade, on its diminution of women's rights. The mics for that exchange seemed open on both sides. Seems like there's more human judgement on mic mutes than previewed.

[Argument-Centered Ed @ArgCenteredEd]

@Political_Beats Here's a contextualizing playlist -- https://t.co/Xa8113bdNf. I'd even offer up my own "services" as "superfan" (of both the GBs and PBs), literate, articulate, music-obsessive. I don't write about politics, but I do write (and help implement) argument-based HS curriculum.

[Argument-Centered Ed @ArgCenteredEd]

@Political_Beats I have a show suggestion: The Go-Betweens. Angular but melodic 80s post-punk, with big song-writerly chops -- sometimes (a bit hype-)hailed as the Australian Lennon/McCartney -- a fascinating career arc, and an interesting couple of comeback albums c.2000 (2/3).

[Argument-Centered Ed @ArgCenteredEd]

@EsotericCD @Political_Beats @TPPF BTW here is a contextualizing mix I made, Matthew Sweet et al -- https://t.co/S2amY8itMA -- something I do with/to the greats.

[Argument-Centered Ed @ArgCenteredEd]

@EsotericCD @Political_Beats @TPPF Very much enjoyed the show. Your acuity wasn't diminished much from being new to the artist, and Scott was in especially good form. You guys did drop the ball, though, on the records after In Reverse -- there are a few diamonds in that rough.