If you have a kid in college, chances are she’ll be all ears while watching the second presidential debate on October 16. She may be listening particularly closely to key words and phrases, such as “Obamacare” and “Al Qaeda.” Her focus, however, will not be intended for note taking or reporting back to her Poli Sci professor about diverging opinions on healthcare and homeland security. Rather, she’ll be listening for her cue to down a vodka shot or swig from a gin and tonic.
When I heard about the latest round of debate drinking games, my first thought was how my seventh grader likely came away from the first presidential showdown with more knowledge than my college sophomore. She just probably woke up with a hangover. And my second thought–I probably would’ve been doing the exact same thing back in 1980-something. Or maybe I did and just don’t remember.
In any event, there’s more debate drinking to be done with both the upcoming Vice Presidential debate and the next Obama v. Romney face-off at Hofstra University.
The College Humor site had a long list of potential drinking cues, and even a couple that involve abstaining. Here are some highlights:
• Take a sip every time Obama starts a sentence with “Look…”
• Take a sip every time Mitt Romney awkwardly chuckles.
• Take a sip every time a candidate refers to his wife.
• Politely refrain from drinking every time Mormonism is mentioned.
• Get your infrared goggles and chug in the dark every time the killing of Osama bin Laden is mentioned.
• Take two sips every time Romney mispronounces a black or Hispanic person’s name.
• Take a shot and then two more any time Mitt Romney makes a genuinely funny joke.
• If you agree with everything a particular candidate says, finish your Kool-Aid.
You get the picture. All I know is that come October 16th, I’ll likely be counting the number of times the candidates mention their wives or the term Mormonism, hoping my daughter is safely studying in the library rather than “watching” the debate.
