Disclaimer: I'm not advocating irresponsible use of alcohol, I'm just providing what I feel to be an entertaining potential addition to the debates. Know your own limits, and use alcohol responsibly.
Okay, so I've played the fantastic SOTU address drinking game for two years now, and can tell you that it has made listening to Bush much more bearable and entertaining. While we do get to have our guy up there in this event, I thought that it'd likely be fun to drink some while watching regardless. So, I've come up with rules for doing just that. These rules are specifically tailored for the topic of tonight's debate (terrorism and foreign relations).
Standard "watch-stuff" drinking game: certain phrases or events mandate a certain number of drinks (and by drinks I mean sips from a beverage of your choice). Since the debate is likely to last for awhile, this game might be a little much to keep up the whole time if you're hoping to stay cogent enough to really analyze the debate. So, there's no need to play through the whole thing if you don't want to, though if you're planning on going out after the debates it might serve as a good way to "pre-game."
Without further adieu...
Drink 1 when...
- Bush claims to be a "strong leader"
- Osama is mentioned by Kerry
- Saddam is mentioned by either candidate
- Kerry mentions his Vietnam service
- Bush says "we are at war" or claims to be a "war president" or something similar
- September 11th is mentioned
- Kerry makes any statement regarding allies (we need to get them, he would be better in that sense, etc.)
- Bush says "evildoers"
- Either candidate mentions any member of Bush's administration/cabinet
- Bush argues that Iraq is better today than it was before
- There is any reference to the UN
- Oil is mentioned in any way (including references to gas prices)
- Afghanistan is mentioned
Drink 2 when...
- "Enemies of freedom" is said
- Bush says any word with five or more syllables
- Bush says any "Bushism" (e.g. made up word, including "nukular")
- Bush compliments Kerry's service, but you can tell he doesn't really mean it
- Either candidate tries to tell a joke
- Either candidate is visibly sweating
- "Weapons of Mass Destruction" are mentioned by either candidate
- Either candidate mentions a specific "ordinary" American (e.g. to use as an example, including servicemen/women)
- Bush makes reference to a specific Democrat (other than Kerry)
Drink 3 when...
- Osama is mentioned by Bush
- The candidates agree on something
- "They hate our freedom" or a similar phrase is said
- The "war on drugs" and the "war on terror" are mentioned together
- Bush mentions his Vietnam "service"
- You actually find one of the jokes they tell funny
Finish your drink when...
- "Don't mess with Texas" is said
- The Skulls and Bones are mentioned
- Any use of the phrase "lock box"
- The candidates start physically fighting
Possible additional rules (use at your discretion)
- Whenever either candidate dodges a question
- Whenever either candidate looks bored
- Whenever an actually difficult question is asked
- Whenever either candidate makes vague and likely impossible promises
Kamikaze mode - Drink one whenever "terror" or "terrorist(s)" is said
Anyway, that's that. I hope you find it amusing and perhaps even useful, and feel free to suggest additions/changes. Recommend it if you think it's entertaining...