Why no televised debates in Armenia?
Strangely, there were no televised debates on TV this time around in Armenia. The last televised debate was between Karen Demirchian and Robert Kocharian in 2003. Even though Karen Demirchian is not the most articulate public speaker, he dwarfed Kocharian. We have all accustomed to Kocharian's vulgar speeches where he mumbles and then says something about someone's balls or breaking someone's head. His mildest vulgarity has been the threat to pull the ears of those who would dare to protest against rigged elections.
This time around if they had debates, we would have a great intellectual divide between Levon Ter-Petrosian and Vazgen Manukian and the rest of the pack. These two are a couple of levels above in class than the rest. At the bottom would be Karapetian (only in Armenia an ex pickpocket would dare to run for presidency) who would mumble about how ungrateful people are who did not vote for him even though he gives away TV sets. A little above him would be Serj Sargsian who would mumble about giving people a car in two years.
No wonder there are no TV debates this time. The intellectual midgets have learned their lesson.
This time around if they had debates, we would have a great intellectual divide between Levon Ter-Petrosian and Vazgen Manukian and the rest of the pack. These two are a couple of levels above in class than the rest. At the bottom would be Karapetian (only in Armenia an ex pickpocket would dare to run for presidency) who would mumble about how ungrateful people are who did not vote for him even though he gives away TV sets. A little above him would be Serj Sargsian who would mumble about giving people a car in two years.
No wonder there are no TV debates this time. The intellectual midgets have learned their lesson.
2 comments:
My understanding is that both Sargsyan and Ter-Petrossian refused unless the debates were to the formats they wanted.
Anyway, the 2003 debate between STEPAN Demirchian and Kocharian was only conducted after the first round.
My understanding is that the same will happen if this election goes to two rounds. In 2003 I also don't think Demirchian came out well.
Sure, Kocharian was very arrogant and looked very cynical, but Demirchian looked and sounded like a jerk.
Onnik, in an earlier comment you said that one cannot expect the undecided voters top come to rallies and learn about the candidates. That is true.
The easiest way to reach the undecided/independent voters is through broadcast media and such events as debates, pundit interviews and commentaries, etc.
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