Topic: 1988 Election

4 chapters across the catalog

Contempt Kabuki
Episode 1137 37:57 - 42:45

1137: Contempt Kabuki

Joe Biden Campaign, Plagiarism Scandals and Same-Sex Marriage

A media montage reviews Joe Biden's long political history, including his failed 1988 presidential bid and his 2008 primary performance. The hosts recall how Biden's "bumbling" interview style forced the Obama administration's hand on same-sex marriage policy in 2012. They debate whether Biden's public persona is genuine or a calculated political tactic.

Tippie-Top
Episode 1101 46:15 - 51:50

1101: Tippie-Top

Al Gore's 1988 Environmental Predictions and Rainforest Claims

Archival clips from Al Gore’s 1988 presidential campaign show him warning about the ozone layer and the destruction of rainforests. Gore claimed that by the year 2010, the world's rainforests would be entirely gone, a prediction the hosts note did not come to pass.

Spatchcock
Episode 839 1:13:21 - 1:17:31

839: Spatchcock

Michael Dukakis, 1988 Convention Speech, George Costanza Comparison

John Dvorak compares 1988 Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis to the Seinfeld character George Costanza, noting similarities in their smirks and mannerisms. They play a clip of Dukakis's convention speech where he suggests neighbors should teach each other to read, which the hosts find absurd.

Going Purple
Episode 454 52:38 - 59:26

454: Going Purple

League of Women Voters, Presidential Debate Commission History

In 1988, the League of Women Voters withdrew its sponsorship of presidential debates, accusing the Democratic and Republican campaigns of "hoodwinking the American public." The League refused to be an accessory to a "charade" where the two major parties dictated every detail of the format, including moderator comments and audience composition. This led to the dominance of the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), which critics argue excludes third-party candidates like Gary Johnson.