The Alan Shepard prayer is great debate advice
The Alan Shepard prayer is great debate advice
PLUS: Spend debate night with me in a Live Chat at 8:45 pm ET
The moments before a presidential debate are always quiet and tense. Each candidate will be standing back stage with one final person before they walk out for the show. The build-up will have been excruciating. The last several hours will have passed slowly, and the final pieces of unsolicited advice will have been offered.
Many people have a hard time with silence, and most people about to walk out in front of a television audience of tens of millions look forward to some quiet and space in the moments before they do. It is always interesting to discover who the campaign lurkers and talkers are. They expose themselves during the quiet moments before the big event.
Since both candidates are octogenarians, the last bathroom break is an important one. Most people don’t think about presidential candidates being handled like little kids before a long road trip, but they are.
Mostly, the candidates like to limit the number of people who are around, and the number drops precipitously during the final hours. John McCain used to love to laugh and liked having people around who were both funny and quiet. He loved watching this video of John Edwards, which never got old for him, Lindsey Graham and Joe Lieberman (make sure to watch it until the very end):
Sometime before the event, the candidate will sit for makeup. The banter will be light, and on the surface the feeling relaxed, but it is not. Everyone knows how much is on the line.
In the end, the candidate will walk out alone, but before they do, there is the advisor who will deliver the last words of counsel.
I’ve been that person many times. Here is my favorite piece of advice:
I ask the candidate whether they know about the Alan Shepard prayer. There has never been a candidate with whom I’ve worked who has.
Shortly before blasting off into space as the first American to leave the Earth’s atmosphere, Alan Shepard said the following words over a hot mic:
Dear Lord, please don’t let me f@#* this up.
With those words, I have seen many a candidate walk out under the hot lights.
This is an enormous moment for President Biden, decency, America, the future and the Democratic Party. The Alan Shepard prayer seems most appropriate. It’s also great advice.
Let us pray.
Join our debate night Live Chat tomorrow at 8:45 pm ET
On Thursday night, the first presidential debate will take place between President Joe Biden and Donald Trump from 9 - 10:30 pm ET. I hope you’ll join me for a debate “watch party” exclusively for paid subscribers. If you aren’t already a paid subscriber, I hope you’ll consider upgrading your subscription to participate:
Once you’ve joined (and for those who are already paid subscribers), upload the Substack app so you don’t miss it:
For some reason my first thought after seeing the Edward’s video was about Gary Hart, and his political career ending over an affair, or alleged affair. How times have changed…:)
That's a hoot. John Edwards was notoriously vain. I'm back. I just needed some time away. I've been through some things the last few months. I'd love to watch the debate with y'all. About that prayer Steve, it's perfect. We can't let Biden fuck this up. I will be praying the same thing!!!
I've been thinking about some of the points made the other day. Yes, Biden is old, so is Trump. But we can't fix it, so we just have to make the best of it. I also let my anger get the best of me. I don't know what else we can do. Short of replacing him and I think it's too late for that. I wish we could have sooner. Anyway, hope to see you all there. Glad to be back just needed some Mental health time. Go Joe!!! Love you all!!!
❤️🇺🇸💙