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Debating the Politics DA. By Jason Russell University of Oklahoma. Why Politics?. It’s the real reason most things don’t get done The DA can (almost) always outweigh the case It’s a researcher’s DA; the evidence is always out there It’s a common CP net benefit (offense/defense).
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Debating the Politics DA By Jason Russell University of Oklahoma
Why Politics? • It’s the real reason most things don’t get done • The DA can (almost) always outweigh the case • It’s a researcher’s DA; the evidence is always out there • It’s a common CP net benefit (offense/defense)
Politics Glossary • Political Capital • Partisanship • The Docket • Horse-trading • Teflon/Lightning Rod • Bully Pulpit • Winners Win • Spin
The Components of the Politics DA • UQ, Link, Internal Link, Impact • Politics has pressure points – Know them, use them • Time investment is critical • Evidence, evidence, evidence
UQ • Issue specific UQ v. Link UQ • Issue specific is evidence on the impact scenario passing (Law of the Sea will pass) • Link uq is evidence on the general agenda (Obama’s political capital is high) • Thumpers/PLUQ (Predictive Link UQ) • Evidence that something will inevitably occur between the plan and the impact scenario that answers their link (So, the Energy Bill won’t be voted on until Sept; In August, the new budget will sap political capital)
Debating UQ • Controlling issue specific UQ (Walls of Ev) • What if it’s true – UQ outweighs the Link • Comparing warrants • Know your current politics • Know the timeline of the debate on your bill (making post-dating matter) • Compare qualifications (official pronouncements v. analysts) • Momentum (Direction of UQ) • Vote counts • Presidential Capital
UQ CP • WTF! • 2NC CP to fix a UQ problem w your DA • Not on the docket? Put it there. • Thumper hosed your UQ? Ban it! • DO NOT CP TO PASS THE BILL (Perm solves link) • Is it ok? Probably – Still competes w the aff and it’s a constructive. Aff doesn’t have a right to a particular politics answer AND if it’s ok in the 1N, it’s ok in the 2n. Can you read a new DA? Obvi.
Links • Lobbies • Influential politicians (President, VP, Sec of State, etc.) • House/Senate Leaders • Caucuses • Gov’t agents (Defense, State, etc.)
Debating the Link • Spin (Media, political) • What’s in a name? • Blame/Credit (Agencies? Courts?) • Theoretical issues (FIAT Solves) • Direction of the link (Always a link?) • Winners win • Key internal links • Diversify
Internal Links • “Political capital is key to x” • Often, the crappiest part of the politics DA • Often, also, the part w the greatest paucity of evidence • Obviously other internals, (x key to solve warming, oil dependence, etc. – an internal link is just a connector between link and impact)
Debating the Internal Link • Coming, but controversial • Typically, the only way to beat the internal link is if the issue is not on the docket • Sometimes, it’s not being pushed (i.e. the President or Congress is floating the idea, but not investing in it) • Bottom of the Docket • Intrinsicness
Impacts • The bill the plan stops would be good or the bill they cause would be bad. • Raucus debate on the issue could be bad (China-bashing example)
Debating Impacts • TF, Magnitude, Probability, Quality • Aim high – Bigger is better, the Block • DA turns the Case • “Every war is worse in a world w …” • “…magnifies oppression” • “Causes another conflict in…”
K’s of the Politics DA • Lincoln Credibility – Worst reason not to do something, maintains the SQ • Game Framing – Making politics look like a horse race makes people feel like they’re irrelevant, inducing apathy (Kathleen Hall Jamieson, Joseph Capella, Thomas Patterson)
Conclusion • Politics is sick • Thanks!