No charlatans in charleston
January 17, 2016 - On Sunday night, 3 Democratic Presidential contenders are going to take the stage in Charleston, and Ballotball.com is going to play referee. We aren't going to pick a winner--you, the voter, should decide that for yourself. What we WILL do is help keep the bout civil by calling penalties in real time. So, tune in live on Sunday night, and check back with us on Monday to find out who was penalized the most.
Update: see debate results here.
Update: see debate results here.
The Contenders (listed alphabetically)
The Penalties
With the NBA season heating up, we've instituted some new basketball rules for the debate.
Candidates can receive a foul for the following infractions:
Candidates can receive a foul for the following infractions:
- Failing to answer a question
- Failing to stay on topic
- Candidates can receive a technical foul by comparing their opponents to the Nazis.
- Nazi comparisons are lazy. If you'd like to compare Donald Trump's ban on Muslims entering the country to a historical precedent, why not try McCarthyism, or the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, or the Jim Crow south? Instead, people always grab the low-hanging fruit of the Nazis to make their point.
- Nazi comparisons ignore the fact that there are still Nazi parties alive and well in many countries. They have not receded to the dustbin of history and currently have at least one member sitting on the European Parliament.
- This is a debate. And nothing shuts down a debate faster than a Nazi comparison. It is our strong opinion that such comparisons send all parties to the barricades and prevent anyone from actually communicating. Disagree strongly, and make your case the best you can, but leave the Nazi metaphors at home, please.