The news is fantastic. On August 13, Terry Goodin, the nominee of Indiana’s Democratic Party for Lt Gov, will debate his opponent [ ], the nominee of this iteration of the GOP. [FN1] Mr Goodin, no doubt, has experience in debate from prior campaigns for office. 1/8

My points are applicable generally [FN2] & are specific to Mr Gooden’s opponent:
1) Your opponent will talk beyond any time limits. There are few “cardinal” rules in debate, but limits on each person’s time are basic. Each side has a right to speak & be heard. 2/8

Sen Goldwater warned that preachers taking control of the GOP would be a terrible problem since “politics and governing demand compromise” & since the preachers believe they are acting in the “name of God,” they won’t compromise. Think of time limits in that context. 3/8

2) Your opponent will interrupt you & try to be the only voice heard. This links to point #1. There are ways to address this. a) In advance of the debate, make sure that the moderator will enforce the time limits. b) If that breaks down, you can say to your opponent “shut up.” 4/8

3) Your opponent will lie. A team that falsifies evidence gets tossed & not simply from one round or one tournament. otoh, no similar penalty exists in elections. Ah! But you can have a whole passel of people ready to fact-check your opponent. 5/8

Fortunately, your opponent quotes a supreme deity (that, if it exists, resides only in his mind) as the need arises. I say “fortunately” because he has used this gimmick so many times it is a running joke. Your opponent has so many weaknesses, to call him “stupid” seems cruel. 6/8

Then again, he thinks overturning Roe v Wade was spiffy, so I don’t feel sorry for him. We only can hope this campaign is his last foray toward public office. He very much deserves his title, Merde de Poulet. 7/8

Footnotes:
FN1. Tuesday, August 13, at 3 pm at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, in the Purdue Extension Building.
FN2. I have to say that my experience in high sch (1969-73) and college (1973-78, DePauw, as a debater and 1990-94, IUPUI, as coach) and in moot court (ABA National team member 1988, coach 1989) were as helpful as two years standup in Chicago. 8/8