The Clash in Cleveland
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WHAT: @Ballot_ball will be live-tweeting the first Republican Presidential debate WHERE: The Oracle Arena; Cleveland, Ohio WHEN: 5 pm ET and 9 pm ET on August 8, 2015 |
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August 4, 2015 - On Thursday night, 17 Republican Presidential contenders are going to take the stage in Cleveland, 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 throwing flags and calling penalties in real time (based on Fox’s debate rules). So, tune in live on Thursday night, and check back with us next week to find out who was penalized the most, and (thanks to resources like FactCheck.org) who got caught deflating their balls.
Update: see debate results here.
Update: see debate results here.
The Undercard
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The Main Event
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* All candidates listed in alphabetical order.
The Rules
1. Each candidate is allowed 1 minute to answer a question.
2. If the moderators have a follow up, the candidate has 30 seconds for a rebuttal.
3. Moderators can allow additional time if any candidate is specifically called out by another candidate.
2. If the moderators have a follow up, the candidate has 30 seconds for a rebuttal.
3. Moderators can allow additional time if any candidate is specifically called out by another candidate.
The Penalties
Delay of Game – 5 yards
Candidate goes over their allotted time limit.
Illegal Substitution – 5 yards
Candidate changes the subject or does not answer the question.
Holding – 10 yards
Candidate refuses to change the subject no matter what the question is (the opposite of illegal substitution, also more annoying).
Illegal Formation – 10 yards
Declaring they will do something as President that is flat-out impossible (e.g., traveling through time, chocolate-flavored unicorns, cloning Ronald Reagan).
Roughing the Passer – 10 yards
Tackling the opponent’s quarterback after they have thrown the ball. Not likely to happen Thursday, but you never know.
Tripping – 15 yards
Candidate loses train of thought (e.g., forgets which government agency they would cut when President).
Unsportsmanlike Conduct – 15 yards
Referring to any candidate or third party as Adolf Hitler, the Nazis, the Gestapo, Dr. Mengele, or any other orchestrator of the holocaust. (Exception: If the moderator asks about events in Europe from 1933-45).
Candidate goes over their allotted time limit.
Illegal Substitution – 5 yards
Candidate changes the subject or does not answer the question.
Holding – 10 yards
Candidate refuses to change the subject no matter what the question is (the opposite of illegal substitution, also more annoying).
Illegal Formation – 10 yards
Declaring they will do something as President that is flat-out impossible (e.g., traveling through time, chocolate-flavored unicorns, cloning Ronald Reagan).
Roughing the Passer – 10 yards
Tackling the opponent’s quarterback after they have thrown the ball. Not likely to happen Thursday, but you never know.
Tripping – 15 yards
Candidate loses train of thought (e.g., forgets which government agency they would cut when President).
Unsportsmanlike Conduct – 15 yards
Referring to any candidate or third party as Adolf Hitler, the Nazis, the Gestapo, Dr. Mengele, or any other orchestrator of the holocaust. (Exception: If the moderator asks about events in Europe from 1933-45).
Upcoming Republican Debate Schedule
August 6, 2015 – The Clash in Cleveland
September 16, 2015 – The Pep Rally in Simi Valley
October 28, 2015 – The Bloodbath in Boulder
November 2015 – The Flauntin’ in Wisconsin
December 15, 2015 – The Greatness in Las Vegas
January 2016 – The Incursion into Iowa
February 6, 2016 – The Sequester in Manchester (or The Answer in New Hampshire)
February 13, 2016 – The South Carolina Debate
February 26, 2016 – The Texas Solar Plexus
September 16, 2015 – The Pep Rally in Simi Valley
October 28, 2015 – The Bloodbath in Boulder
November 2015 – The Flauntin’ in Wisconsin
December 15, 2015 – The Greatness in Las Vegas
January 2016 – The Incursion into Iowa
February 6, 2016 – The Sequester in Manchester (or The Answer in New Hampshire)
February 13, 2016 – The South Carolina Debate
February 26, 2016 – The Texas Solar Plexus