The official blog of the Hudson Valley Debate Union

Well, the debate went off, and it was lively, but potential Voting Guests were spooked by the upcoming Big Storm, which didn’t start until after midnight in these parts. So there were only about 20 persons in attendance, altogether.

I spent the bulk of today hunkering down from the snowstorm, assembling the videos of the event. (My old VHS-C camera was the only video camera there).

However, YouTube has been a beast uploading today, so I can’t tell you when I’ll have them up. In the meantime, I do have a few still photos from our first visit to Haverstraw Town Hall (thank you, Supervisor Phillips).

Late update:

The first YouTube video:

THE HUDSON VALLEY DEBATE UNION PRESENTS

THE CONFIDENCE IN THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION DEBATE

Classic motion of the Oxford debate genre

comes to the Hudson Valley

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Patrick McGrath 845-429-3206

STONY POINT, NY (31 January 2010) – The Hudson Valley Debate Union, which brings face-to-face “Oxford-style” debating to Rockland County, the Hudson Valley, and beyond, announces the Confidence in the Obama Adminstration Debate, between the prominent supporters and opponents of current Presidential Administration.

The debate will take place on Tuesday 9 February 2010, from 7 to 9 pm, in the Council Chambers of Haverstraw Town Hall, 1 Rosman Road, Garnerville, New York 10923. Haverstraw Town Hall is just off U.S. Route 202 in Garnerville in Rockland County, just to the west of the Garnerville Shop-Rite.

The motion for the debate will be, “This House has confidence in the current executive Administration in the White House.”

Scheduled to participate as Principal Speakers are:

In favor of the motion:

• Mr. Brian Cocolicchio, Clarkstown Democratic Committeeman and returning HVDU Principal Speaker
• Mr. Steve Pappas, representing the office of Ellen Jaffee, New York State Assembly (95th District)
• Mr. Cliff Weathers, progressive blogger at “Left of the Hudson” and “Rock-Prog.org”

Against the motion:

• Mr. Jim Coleman, returning HVDU Principal Speaker
• Mr. Matthew E. Neuringer, legislative director and campaign manager, Greg Ball for Assembly; candidate for Town Council, Town of Southeast (Putnam County)
• Ms. Doreen Alli Linder, writer and columnist at Examiner.com

HVDU Founder and Executive Director Patrick McGrath commented:

“For the first time, the HVDU presents one of the classics of the Oxford debate genre: the no-confidence debate. Every year, the ancient debate societies of the Oxford and Cambridge Unions in England argue the motion, “This House has no confidence in Her Majesty’s Government.” These events are modeled after the real “No Confidence” debates in Britain’s House of Commons that can, and have, brought down British Governments..

“I thought it was high time to bring that classic motion to the Hudson Valley Debate Union.

“To make things somewhat easier on everybody, I’ve ‘reversed the polarity’ of the motion—it just makes things easier to understand if you’re voting ‘Yes’ to a positive statement. However, that will not make this debate all sweetness and light. To the contrary, the contention brought about by the policies of the Obama Administration have been almost unprecedented in American history. From historic high poll ratings at the Inauguration in January 2009, to historic low poll ratings a mere twelve months later, is there still confidence that the current Administration can govern America? That’s what our six Principal Speakers will try to thrash out.

“They will only have an hour to do that, so they’re going to have to concentrate and get to the point. And they’ll need to think on their feet, because our Oxford-style format allows both Principal Speakers and Voting Guests from the public to confront their opponents directly. Both sides will have to respond coherently to opponents’ questions. I think that this will be the HVDU’s most exciting event to date.”

WHAT HAPPENS AT AN ‘OXFORD STYLE’ HUDSON VALLEY DEBATE UNION EVENT?

“Voting Guests in the HVDU audience participate along with the Principal Speakers,” McGrath explained. “The six Principal Speakers at the debates will each get ten minutes for their speeches. The first two minutes and the last two minutes are ‘protected’ — but the middle six minutes are subject to Points of Information. That’s where anyone in the the audience can stand up, raise his or her hand, and shout out, ‘Point of Information!’ Nothing between you and the Principal Speaker—you just stand up, right from your chair — and rip it. The Principal Speaker on the floor at the time has the right to refuse any and all Points of Information, but they are strongly urged to take at least one or two.

“When all of the Principal Speakers are finished, the question will be called, and the audience will vote on the motion. We’re doing this low-tech: we’ll pass around the ballot box, the Voting Guests will drop in the green and red poker chips we use as ballots, then we’ll count the chips, announce the vote total and find out if the motion has passed. Now that’s what I call participatory democracy,” McGrath said.

Further information about the Hudson Valley Debate Union can be found at the HVDU’s Web sites: www.hvdebateunion.org and www.hudsonvalleydebate.com. Both sites have links to YouTube videos of the HVDU’s recent Stony Point Debate. The HVDU’s YouTube channel is located at http://www.youtube.com/user/hvdebateunion

Yes, it’s been a while since you’ve seen any activity from the HVDU.

However, please be alerted: There will be an announcement of the next event very soon. And it will be a biggie. So keep your eyes open.

That is all.

We present the Official Anteyka Anthem …

TO: Friends, Colleagues, and Contacts of the HVDU
FROM: Patrick McGrath, HVDU Executive Director
SUBJECT: Cancellation of Health Care Debate for 10 November

Dear Friends:

I had been planning for some weeks to hold a HVDU Debate on the Health Care Bill now presently being considered in Washington. It was going to be held on Tuesday 10 November, at Haverstraw Town Hall in Garnerville NY.

This is to let all of you know that, as of 1 pm today, 6 November 2009, that event has been cancelled.

Had the event gone forward, the Motion would have been, “This House supports HR 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act.”

The reason that I have been compelled to cancel the event is that not enough Principal Speakers from the pro-HR 3962 side were willing to participate in the event. I had nearly a full slate of anti-HR 3962 Principal Speakers — including one who was willing to come out from well out-of-state — but not enough from the pro-HR 3962 side to have a credible debate. I am grateful to Melissa and Moira at OFA who did their best, but the response from their contacts just wasn’t enough. (I also had one who was willing, but had a scheduling conflict — thank you, Jon — and another who called in just after I had to cancel, but otherwise, there was silence.)

I am also grateful to Supervisor Howard Phillips of the Town of Haverstraw for his graciousness in letting HVDU use Town Hall for this.

And I am grateful to everyone else who said Yes to this, but I am still disappointed. The Health Care Bill, a huge piece of legislation, needed the treatment of a full, Oxford-style debate. This would have been the one place where pro-Obamacare people and pro-TeaParty people could look each other in the eye and get the full measure of each other, put Points of Information to each other, then have the whole question put to a decision of the Voting Guests.

The HVDU will continue, but it will have to find other subjects to debate. But those are not difficult to find. If you know of one, and if it has a Decision Point with it, please drop me a line.

PATRICK McGRATH
Executive Director

Good news, ladies and gentlemen!

After a day and a half of concentrated work, I have just posted the videos of the Stony Point Debate onto YouTube! Yay!

Because of YouTube’s 10 minute limitation, and because it’s just plain more convenient, I’ve split up the footage into conveniently managable chunks. I think this makes sense.

Again, a shout-out to George Potanovic who manned the videocam.

Here they are …

Opening Ceremonies

Peter Muller

William Sherwood

Geoff Finn

Jerry Rogers

Luanne Konopko

Steve Fischer

Conclusion

It was a pleasant success. People were generally pleased with the outcome, and when there was disagreement, no one was the least bit disagreeable.

The HVDU’s first foray into election debates, rather than issue debates, kept us close to home, as we held the first debate among the Democratic and Republican candidates for the Stony Point Town Council.

Appearing for the Democrats were town supervisor candidate Peter Muller and town council candidates Luanne Konopko and incumbent Geoff Finn. Appearing for the Republicans were town supervisor candidate Hon. William Sherwood (a former State Supreme Court judge) and town council candidates Jerry Rogers and Stephen Fischer.

An audience of nearly 100 Stony Pointers assembled in the Senior Club hall of the Rho Building of Letchworth Village to hear out the six Principal Speakers. Most of the Stony Point Voting Guests had never been to an Oxford-style debate before, so there was some hesitation in calling out Points of Information, but a few brave souls made the attempt and were answered by the Principal Speakers.

When the question was called, the House split almost evenly — 45 votes (red chips) to the Republicans, 41 votes (green chips) to the Democrats.

The HVDU would like to thank Noreen Smith of Stony Point Parks and Recreation, and current Town Supervisor Phil Marino in arranging the use of the hall, and George Potanovic of Potanovic Photography and the Stony Point Action Committee for the Environment for videotaping the event. We will be posting clips of the debate at this space once we have them edited down and uploaded to YouTube; in the meantime, the following stills from the event will give an idea of the atmosphere that evening.

Well, HVDU fans, it’s taken a long time and a lot of hard work, but I can now officially announce:

We have a Fall 2009 season!

And it’s a home debate, because our opener is: THE STONY POINT DEBATE!

Here’s the text of the news release that’s going out today:

The Hudson Valley Debate Union Presents
The Stony Point Debate
with the Democratic and Republican
Town Supervisor and Town Council Candidates

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Patrick McGrath 845-429-3206

STONY POINT, NY (22 September 2009) – The Hudson Valley Debate Union, which brings face-to-face “Oxford-style” debating to Rockland County, the Hudson Valley, and beyond, announces the Stony Point Debate, between the Democratic and Republican candidates for Supervisor and Town Council.

The event will take place in the Senior Citizens Club Room of the Rho Building, Letchworth Village, Willow Grove Road, Stony Point, just off Exit 14 of the Palisades Interstate Parkway, on Tuesday, 29 September 2009, from 7 to 9 pm.

The Principal Speakers will be:

For the Democratic Party:

• Mr. Peter Muller, Candidate for Town Supervisor
• Ms. Luanne Konopko, Candidate for Town Council
• Hon. Geoff Finn, Incumbent and Candidate for Town Council

For the Republican Party:

• Hon. William Sherwood, Candidate for Town Supervisor
• Mr. Jerry Rogers, Candidate for Town Council
• Mr. Steven Fischer, Candidate for Town Council

The debate is being produced with the assistance of the Stony Point Action Committee on the Environment.

HVDU Founder and Executive Director Patrick McGrath commented:

“Following our successful Fall 2008 and Spring 2009 events, we’re taking a leaf from the Emeril Lagasse cookbook and kicking things up a notch.

“First, this will be the HVDU’s first venture beyond our first home at the Haverstraw King’s Daughters Public Library. So we’re expanding our circle of friends.

“Second, this will be our first-ever candidates debate, rather than an issue debate. I expect this event will be a significant improvement over the typical ‘parallel press conference’ types of debates that we’re used to seeing during election time. Oxford-style debating allows the sides to confront their opponents directly, rather than through intermediaries. It will compel both sides to think on their feet and respond coherently to their opponents’ questions.”

WHAT HAPPENS AT AN ‘OXFORD STYLE’ HUDSON VALLEY DEBATE UNION EVENT?

“Our debates are participatory debates, and the Voting Guests in the audience participate along with the Principal Speakers,” McGrath explained. “We use a modified version of the format used at the famous Debate Unions of Oxford and Cambridge Universities in England, and at many other debate societies.

“’It’s more like an intellectual boxing match—or like tag-team wrestling—than the dog-and-pony shows that have passed for ‘debate’ in this country. What’s even better—unlike a World Wrestling event, the audience can participate directly in the contest.

“Here’s what happens: The six Principal Speakers at the debates will each get ten minutes for their speeches. The first two minutes and the last two minutes are ‘protected’–but the middle six minutes are subject to Points of Information.

“During a Point of Information, anyone in the the audience can stand up, raise his or her hand, and shout out, ‘Point of Information!’ Nothing between you and the Principal Speaker—you just stand up, right from your chair—and rip it. Now, the Principal Speaker on the floor at the time has the right to refuse any and all Points of Information, but they are strongly urged to take at least one or two.

“And, when all of the Principal Speakers are finished, and the question is called, the audience will vote on the motion. We’re doing this low-tech: we’ll pass around the ballot box, the Voting Guests will drop in the green and red poker chips we use as ballots, then we’ll count the votes, announce the vote total and find out which side has won. Now that’s what I call participatory democracy,” McGrath said.

Further information about the Hudson Valley Debate Union can be found at the HVDU’s Web site: www.hvdebateunion.org.

[END NEWS RELEASE]

And, everybody, it took a lot of work to put that together.

I am working on other events for the Fall season. There have been a boatload of frustrations and setbacks in putting the Fall season together, but I am determined to press ahead. The target in my sights for the next event is a debate on a national issue. However, not all the ‘i’s have been dotted nor all of the ‘t’s crossed. Still a lot of work to be done. But you will be the first to know about it!

If I hadn’t decided, on a whim, to call an old friend of mine on Monday, I would never have heard about this.

“Did you have a look at the town hall meeting on health care that President Obama had over the weekend in Colorado?” he asked me.

“No, I hadn’t seen that,” I said. “No cable here. Or sat-dish. So what happened?”

“Well, this young college kid got up got up and asked Obama, directly, to have an Oxford-style debate on health care.”

“Really.”

“Yes.”

“Did he, now.”

“He did.”

“Well, I’m going to have to track down this young, brave fellow.” And so I did. No cable or sat-dish here, yes, but we now have YouTube capability at HVDU HQ, and — well, there it was.

The young fellow’s name is Zach Lahn. I thought it was spelled “Lane,” which is how it is pronounced. There were no “Zach Lane”s in the U of Colorado student directory, so that put me off the scent for a while.

Then this article came to my attention, and I was back on the scent again.

The young fellow studying at Boulder just put Oxford debating on the map, and he went right to the top of the pay grade in the middle of the Rocky Mountains:

The young man knows how to put a question. I’ll bet he’s fairly handy at a Point of Information too.

Zach is also a dab hand at handling CNN megastars:

And he was a bit more relaxed on Fox News:

And then Contessa Brewer of MSNBC almost goes postal on Zach at the end:

And the young fellow from Grand Junction (and from Sioux City, Iowa) also got noticed by ABC News White House correspondent Jake Tapper.

Zach says that he’s “still waiting for an Oxford-style health care debate.” As of right now, the most likely place in these United States for him to have such an event is — your very own Hudson Valley Debate Union.

I think I’m going to have to work on that. Hmmmmmmmm.

Little “Opie” in this video is a “red” or tan Miniature Pinscher, sometimes called a Rehpinscher, rather than the black and tan coloring my BFF Anteyka is. But they both have superb intelligence levels, as you can see with Opie here:

Oh, and Anteyka LOVES carrots too! Especially slices of the baby carrots. We sometimes have a few together — another example of man-dog solidarity.