debating and researching politics

Debating and Debating and Researching PoliticsResearching Politics

Hays Watson Hays Watson

Helpful Politics WebsitesHelpful Politics WebsitesGeneral political information General political information realclearpolitics.comrealclearpolitics.com The National Journal nationaljournal.comThe National Journal nationaljournal.com Politico politico.com Politico politico.com Drudge drudgereport.com (also entertainingly insane) Drudge drudgereport.com (also entertainingly insane)

Election information (presidential, House, and Senate races) Election information (presidential, House, and Senate races) fivethirtyeight.comfivethirtyeight.com pollster.com pollster.com Rothenberg Political Report rothenbergpoliticalreport.comRothenberg Political Report rothenbergpoliticalreport.com Cook Political Report cookpolitical.comCook Political Report cookpolitical.com Sabato's Crystal Ball www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalballSabato's Crystal Ball www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball

LiberalLiberal American Prospect (prospect.org)American Prospect (prospect.org) The New Republic (tnr.com) The New Republic (tnr.com)

ConservativeConservative National Review (nationalreview.com)National Review (nationalreview.com) Weekly Standard (weeklystandard.com)Weekly Standard (weeklystandard.com)

Politics 101Politics 101

What do we mean when we say What do we mean when we say “politics”? “politics”?

Why is contemporary debate so Why is contemporary debate so concerned with “politics”? concerned with “politics”?

Are there different types of “politics” Are there different types of “politics” arguments? If so, what are the arguments? If so, what are the types?types?

Politics 101 Politics 101 Terms you should now (a VERY non-exhaustive list): Terms you should now (a VERY non-exhaustive list): top of the agenda/docket = what issue or issues are first on the legislative top of the agenda/docket = what issue or issues are first on the legislative

calendar in Congress (it’s “first order of business”)calendar in Congress (it’s “first order of business”) political capital = simply put, a measurement of a politicians political capital = simply put, a measurement of a politicians

credibility/influence with other politicians (synonyms include political clout, credibility/influence with other politicians (synonyms include political clout, political chits, political muscle)political chits, political muscle)

presidential leadership = the president’s exertion of influence/pressure to presidential leadership = the president’s exertion of influence/pressure to prioritize a particular agenda item prioritize a particular agenda item

horse-trading/arm-twisting = negotiating in order to secure one’s priority horse-trading/arm-twisting = negotiating in order to secure one’s priority (typically with political opponents)(typically with political opponents)

concessions, olive branch, compromise = supporting particular policies concessions, olive branch, compromise = supporting particular policies with the hopes of gaining the support from other groups or individuals with the hopes of gaining the support from other groups or individuals (typically political opponents) (typically political opponents)

Approval rating/job approval = a statistical measure of the president’s Approval rating/job approval = a statistical measure of the president’s popular support (using polls) popular support (using polls)

Electoral votes/count = a projection of candidates political standing in the Electoral votes/count = a projection of candidates political standing in the presidential race (using statistical models) presidential race (using statistical models)

Battleground states = states that carry tremendous weight in elections Battleground states = states that carry tremendous weight in elections (lots of electoral votes, they project trends in other states, historically (lots of electoral votes, they project trends in other states, historically they’ve been crucial in deciding elections, etc.)they’ve been crucial in deciding elections, etc.)

Lobbies (interest groups) = groups of individuals (or voters) who have Lobbies (interest groups) = groups of individuals (or voters) who have strong legislative preferences and who also have significant political strong legislative preferences and who also have significant political influence influence

Politics 101 Politics 101

Agenda politicsAgenda politics Election politics (presidential Election politics (presidential

elections, congressional elections, elections, congressional elections, midterm elections) midterm elections)

Legislative riders (*not common*)Legislative riders (*not common*) Given the prominence of the politics Given the prominence of the politics

DA in contemporary debate, knowing DA in contemporary debate, knowing its variations, how to research it, and its variations, how to research it, and how to debate it (answer it) is vitalhow to debate it (answer it) is vital

Politics 101 Politics 101 Agenda politics = two general types, one based Agenda politics = two general types, one based

on an agenda item being “good.” For example, on an agenda item being “good.” For example, Obama wants to pass the Korean free trade Obama wants to pass the Korean free trade agreement and that trade agreement is good agreement and that trade agreement is good (Asian stability, global trade, US economy, etc.) (Asian stability, global trade, US economy, etc.) The other type says an agenda item that Obama The other type says an agenda item that Obama wants would be “bad.” For example, Obama wants would be “bad.” For example, Obama wants to raise taxes and those tax increases wants to raise taxes and those tax increases would be bad (hurt US economy). would be bad (hurt US economy).

The Obama “good” version of politics = The Obama “good” version of politics = predominant; 90-95% of all agenda politics DAs predominant; 90-95% of all agenda politics DAs are premised on the plan preventing Obama from are premised on the plan preventing Obama from passing his “good” agenda item (debt ceiling = passing his “good” agenda item (debt ceiling = example you’re familiar with from the camp). example you’re familiar with from the camp).

Politics 101 Politics 101 Elections = less common version, but will be more salient Elections = less common version, but will be more salient

and strategic as this year progresses (i.e. when we get and strategic as this year progresses (i.e. when we get closer to the election). Two common versions will be based closer to the election). Two common versions will be based on the presidential election: Obama’s reelection being on the presidential election: Obama’s reelection being “good” (which the plan undermines) or Obama’s reelection “good” (which the plan undermines) or Obama’s reelection being bad” (which the plan enables).being bad” (which the plan enables).

Agenda politics will still dominate over the course of the Agenda politics will still dominate over the course of the year due to two factors: people generally don’t think year due to two factors: people generally don’t think election-based politics arguments are as effective/strategic election-based politics arguments are as effective/strategic as agenda-based arguments AND the agenda-based links as agenda-based arguments AND the agenda-based links (plan controversial/popular with Congress) will be of much (plan controversial/popular with Congress) will be of much better quality than elections-based links (space policy likely better quality than elections-based links (space policy likely only affects voters in space-heavy areas of the nation, only affects voters in space-heavy areas of the nation, which isn’t many)which isn’t many)

Even though elections will be less common, it should still be Even though elections will be less common, it should still be researched before every tournament because other people researched before every tournament because other people will still run elections-based politics arguments (which you will still run elections-based politics arguments (which you need to answer) and there might be situations where the need to answer) and there might be situations where the elections DA is more strategic against an Aff than an elections DA is more strategic against an Aff than an agenda politics DA agenda politics DA

Researching PoliticsResearching Politics

Same tips for normal research apply Same tips for normal research apply to politics research: to politics research: planning/brainstorming, surveys of planning/brainstorming, surveys of the literature base, patience, etc. the literature base, patience, etc.

I use two research tools: Google I use two research tools: Google News and Lexis-Nexis (whichever News and Lexis-Nexis (whichever version you prefer) version you prefer)

You should use what works best for You should use what works best for you, obvi…you, obvi…


Google News = my preferred choice Google News = my preferred choice for doing politics workfor doing politics work

Advantages: a substantial amount of Advantages: a substantial amount of news/politics sources, it’s constantly news/politics sources, it’s constantly updated (by the minute), fairly easy updated (by the minute), fairly easy to use (same tricks as Google), etc. to use (same tricks as Google), etc.

Disadvantages: includes “sketchy” Disadvantages: includes “sketchy” sources, arguably too expansive, not sources, arguably too expansive, not as easy to search as Lexis-Nexisas easy to search as Lexis-Nexis

Researching Politics Researching Politics

Lexis-Nexis Lexis-Nexis Advantages: very easy to research and Advantages: very easy to research and

narrow your searches, contains most narrow your searches, contains most major news/politics publications, law major news/politics publications, law review access, debate “cred”review access, debate “cred”

Disadvantages: codes/subscriptions can be Disadvantages: codes/subscriptions can be difficult/expensive to acquire, excludes difficult/expensive to acquire, excludes some important periodicals, only updated some important periodicals, only updated dailydaily


Need to identify the most salient political Need to identify the most salient political issue(s) in order to find a truly good issue(s) in order to find a truly good agenda politics DAagenda politics DA

Need to be aware of electoral trends and Need to be aware of electoral trends and opinion to identify whether to run opinion to identify whether to run elections/which elections (Obama elections/which elections (Obama reelection good or bad) to run reelection good or bad) to run

Let the literature guide your choice of Let the literature guide your choice of politics scenario, NOT your personal politics scenario, NOT your personal preference (square peg/round hole) preference (square peg/round hole)

Researching PoliticsResearching Politics My standard procedure when researching politics: I start at My standard procedure when researching politics: I start at

least one week in advance, I check news/politics websites daily least one week in advance, I check news/politics websites daily to keep an eye on agenda/election trends, I prioritize having at to keep an eye on agenda/election trends, I prioritize having at least 2 politics scenarios (one agenda, one elections, one least 2 politics scenarios (one agenda, one elections, one Obama good, one Obama re-election bad, etc.)Obama good, one Obama re-election bad, etc.)

I prioritize Aff answers, making sure I have both generic I prioritize Aff answers, making sure I have both generic evidence (political capital low, fights coming now) and specific evidence (political capital low, fights coming now) and specific scenario answers (Korea FTA, etc.). This should also include scenario answers (Korea FTA, etc.). This should also include elections answers (uniqueness both ways, impact takeouts to elections answers (uniqueness both ways, impact takeouts to popular scenarios, among others)popular scenarios, among others)

I wait until the Thursday before a tournament (sometimes I wait until the Thursday before a tournament (sometimes Friday morning) to do the vast majority of my research (so that Friday morning) to do the vast majority of my research (so that it’s as up-to-date as possible) it’s as up-to-date as possible)

I do updates during each tournament (nights/early mornings) I do updates during each tournament (nights/early mornings) to make sure each scenario remains viable/strategic to make sure each scenario remains viable/strategic

I talk to other people (friends, coaches, competitors) in order to I talk to other people (friends, coaches, competitors) in order to identify the scenarios/versions being run at each tournament identify the scenarios/versions being run at each tournament (to be sure we are prepared to debate any possible variation)(to be sure we are prepared to debate any possible variation)

Debating Politics - NegDebating Politics - Neg Read evidence…and lots of it; politics arguments Read evidence…and lots of it; politics arguments

are one of the most evidence intensive of any are one of the most evidence intensive of any positionposition

Know as much as you can about your preferred Know as much as you can about your preferred scenarios; helps you explain away “good” Aff scenarios; helps you explain away “good” Aff answersanswers

Choose strategic scenarios: ones with strongest Choose strategic scenarios: ones with strongest uniqueness, the most logical internal link story, uniqueness, the most logical internal link story, the biggest impacts/best impact diversity, etc. the biggest impacts/best impact diversity, etc.

Have theory blocks/know how to answer the Have theory blocks/know how to answer the resurgent Aff politics theory args (fiat solves the resurgent Aff politics theory args (fiat solves the link, bottom of the docket, “vote no”, link, bottom of the docket, “vote no”, intrinsicness) so that you don’t waste prep time intrinsicness) so that you don’t waste prep time and so that you can eliminate them as threatsand so that you can eliminate them as threats

Debating Politics - AffDebating Politics - Aff Read evidence…and lots of it (echoing Neg) Read evidence…and lots of it (echoing Neg) YOU MUST HAVE OFFENSE: link turns are generally YOU MUST HAVE OFFENSE: link turns are generally

preferred (because you’re more likely to have specific link preferred (because you’re more likely to have specific link turns than the Neg has specific links), but read impact turns turns than the Neg has specific links), but read impact turns if strategic (if you’re on the right side of the literature, if link if strategic (if you’re on the right side of the literature, if link turns aren’t viable, etc.) turns aren’t viable, etc.)

Interrogate (via evidence or analytical arguments) the Interrogate (via evidence or analytical arguments) the internal link(s), almost always the weakest link in any internal link(s), almost always the weakest link in any politics argument (cross-examination is a VITAL tool)politics argument (cross-examination is a VITAL tool)

Attack each and every aspect of the scenario—link and Attack each and every aspect of the scenario—link and impact and scenario (issue) uniqueness, internal link, impact and scenario (issue) uniqueness, internal link, impactimpact

Utilize theory…but know your stuff (read up on Utilize theory…but know your stuff (read up on intrinsicness, have blocks defending fiat takes out the link, intrinsicness, have blocks defending fiat takes out the link, know how/when to use it to gain time tradeoffs, etc.) know how/when to use it to gain time tradeoffs, etc.)

DEFEND THE AFF: it’s the most effective way to defeat the DEFEND THE AFF: it’s the most effective way to defeat the politics DA (and any DA for that matter) politics DA (and any DA for that matter)

debating and researching politics

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