As a retired person, who previously had to get up at 4 a.m. Monday through Friday for work,

[MoonRiver]

I can tell you that watching anything, during the weekdays, past my 8 p.m. bedtime was not happening. Yes, that includes presidential debates, that go on until at least 10 p.m., especially if you want to watch all the commentary. As others in another thread mentioned, such programs were recorded. Even now, my husband, who has no intention of retiring (he's one of those rare birds who practically lives for his work), we rarely finish the debates before both of us doze off. Sucks to be old, lol!

The point of this is that for me, Saturday debates work(ed) fine. If we go out on Saturday, it's usually for dinner, and these old codgers start and end early, especially if there is a presidential debate to look forward to.

[Autumn]

1. To use your words, it's not the "old codgers" that democrats need to reach.

They are going to vote for the democrat anyway. It's the younger generation that doesn't have that pension and the undecideds we need to reach. But if we "old codgers" are the only votes needed the democrats will do just fine. The republicans will do better but hey we should just enjoy our early dinner since we have already decided who to vote for.

[MoonRiver]

2. Nothing you posted relates to my OP.

All I was stating was that for my husband and I, any day of the week works for a debate. Don't know about others, but I suspect many, old and young, feel the same.

[Autumn]

6. Yeah it does relate. We retired people can go out to dinner early, go home and watch the debate.

We like that stuff and we aren't struggling Your words

these old codgers start and end early, especially if there is a presidential debate to look forward to.

I know few young people who get to work Monday through Friday and have weekends off. That schedule is tailored to the ones who are going to vote for that magic d no matter which one it is. Young people won't.

[Hortensis]

22. Right. BTW, my schedule is still in the office working at 4 a.m.,

meaning the debates are mostly noise in the background as I doze while trying to listen, but guess what? We can record the debates and watch them later. I realize that's very unusual, that we're members of a small, privileged elite, but, hey, even elites get to vote. Right?

[MoonRiver]

24. Wow, you're working at 4 a.m.?

I meant I had to get up at 4 a.m. to be at my high school by 7.

[Hortensis]

25. My "commute" is to my office down the hall. In my sweats. :)

I had something more like your schedule when I had to get all made up and dressed, then cook and otherwise take care of a pair of kids, husband, house, etc., before even heading for my "second" job 50 minutes away.

[Darb]

9. Huh? It's not the old codgers? My experience says otherwise.

Old folks vote heavily Repugnant. My parents are fox news lemmings. A good dose of Bernie and Hillary and O'M would do them some good. We might even get a few converts.

Sorry it doesn't fit your "the Dem establishment is screwing Bernie" narrative.

[Autumn]

16. Funny, I don't know one older person who is a republican.

And any older person who is a "fox news lemmings" like your parents and votes republican isn't going to switch and vote for a democrat anyway. Young people? Those are the ones we can convert. Sorry but I don't fit your silly

"the Dem establishment is screwing Bernie" narrative.

My narrative is the democratic party leadership is screwing young people by not reaching out to them and showing them that any democrat will look out for their interests better than the fuck nuts in the clown car. But hey stick with that and good luck converting those

"Old folks that vote heavily Repugnant"

I'm sure they will jump right up and vote for a democrat.

[Hortensis]

27. Remember those people who supported all those progressive

New Deal, Fair Deal, Great Society programs through the 1960s, Darb? That group alone is anywhere from 60s on up now.

[brooklynite]

18. And the young generation is perfectly adept at time shifting...

...add to which, the Sanders folks talk about how willing they are to look things up on YouTube.

[Live and Learn]

3. Well, as long as it works for you no need to worry about the rest of the population.

Why is it that so many Hillary supporter posts espouse the benefits they alone receive?

[MoonRiver]

4. As I stated in a second post, I suspect many other workers feel the same.

But you've got your story line, and you're sticking to it. Got it.

[Live and Learn]

7. And I suspect you are wrong. It is called Prime Time for a reason. nt

[MoonRiver]

8. Maybe for an hour, not much more, imho. n/t

[ibegurpard]

13. Don't be silly

There's not actually any kind of data used to determine how much to charge for advertising...

[Doubledee]

5. LOL

I, too, used to arise at 4Am, start work at 5. Now retired I still have trouble sleeping past that hour, thus find myself posting here while the window shows the black of night!
The lack of viewers for the Democratic debates may have several reasons; one being apathy, another being that , with the election still a year away interest is not yet peaked. A third might be a sign that folks are fed up with a Democratic Party good at promises and very short on delivery.
The numbers for the Republican debates are better, if only for the entertainment value they provide. But, my wonderful wife, the Redhead, says we should begin to look at becoming expatriated after a few minutes of Trump, Carlson and crew.....

[LiberalArkie]

14. I think the Democratic debate viewers may reflect how may are interested right now and probably

the same number for the Republican party except that the Republican's debate also had a lot of people watch for entertainment value. People that Democratic debate would be boring and filled with facts and stuff. On the Republican side I think viewers were hoping maybe for fist fights and calling each other names and other childish behavior.

I did now watch either, I prefer reading about it later, but tell me how many here watched the Republican debates just for the entertainment value?

Fess up now.

As far as the time. 5AM wake up time for 20 years, now retired and still keep the same schedule.

[Doubledee]

20. OK, you got me!

I tuned in for the entertainment but could only stomach these wildly accusatory and factless positions for about a half hour.

[RiverLover]

15. Saturday nights are TV rerun nights for a reason, too. Worst viewing time of the week.

People do have plans to go out on Saturday pms, you know. Or have dinner parties. Or birthday parties. Dates. Plays. Concerts. Art shows. Sporting events.....

Anyone who justifies a debate scheduled on a Saturday pm is either in on it or kidding themselves.

[Juicy_Bellows]

21. Yep - pretty obvious. I like your post.

'Well for me, the debates on the weekends are wonderful.' Ok? and catching a rerun of Three's Company works great for the guy that works until 3am - doesn't mean it's the best time to air a political debate if you want the most eyes on set.

Jesus, it's so simple and yet some can't help but be a big ol' shit about everything.

[1StrongBlackMan]

10. And some of us work past 5:00p.m., ...

so 7:00p.m. starts means missing some of the debate.

[Darb]

11. Don't expect much agreement.......

from the Berners. They are incessantly victimized, as far as they are concerned. At least some of them. Not all of course.

[MoonRiver]

12. Yes, I know. Just trying to make a very simple point

Guess it flew over the heads of some. Oh, well.

[quickesst]

17. On the debate discussion

First, I was not surprised at the numbers who watched the second debate. I think the majority who watched the first debate did not change their minds, and those whose minds were changed did not need a second one to fortify their choice. That's everyday people, and not the political hounds like most DU members, most of who watch to reaffirm that they made the right choice. That's pretty easy to see given the discussion here has not changed except that the rhetoric has been amped up even further. Second, I am pretty sure the majority who are interested have some kind of recording ability. I get the impression that some people think that if the debates were held on a weeknight that more people would watch because they " don't have anything else to do", or "there's nothing else on worth watching". If that's the only motivation for watching, I don't understand people's disappointment, or anger at the number of viewers who tuned in. How did I form my opinion? Because although I try to stay abreast of the political, I am not in any sense as invested in it as the great majority of DU members, and their involved, and astute brethren. I am one of those "everyday people", just slightly more aware than most.
As for the clown car debates, when you factor in the curious, and the number of people on the left who watched just to see an entertaining train wreck where no one gets hurt or killed, I don't think anyone should be surprised at the high numbers these fiascos generate. Again, just an opinion based upon personal observation.

[Spazito]

19. Families with children involved in after school, early evening activities...

are also often busy ferrying their children to and from their activities, working to get dinner for them before or after the activity, helping with homework if needed. I know when my children were involved in activities, my time to watch television ie debates, etc, between 4pm and 9pm was severely limited during the week.. It's a very busy time, imo.

[restorefreedom]

23. i wonder about people who are on the margins

of society, who might not have cable or a dvr to record it for later. no day is good for them. and the eons of people who are working their butts off just to make it might want to kick back on a saturday and not watch politics.

these channels own the the rights to these debates, yes? can't they just plan a rebroadcast in full for a weeknight following a saturday debate or a saturday following a weeknight debate?

sure it might preempt something but it will increase access.

[Travis_0004]

26. Just DVR it.

Just DVR it.

or if you are old record it on the VCR, then watch what you want.

[merrily]

28. Are you excusing the most undemocratic and corrupt actions of a DNC head I know of?

Please don't put try to put lipstick in that porker.

[MoonRiver]

30. Not excusing anything or anyone. Just relating my experiences with t.v. watching & the debates.

[merrily]

31. That's a relief, because that debate schedule was corrupt and inexcusable.

[MoonRiver]

32. Was it hell on earth too?

The Devil's proclamation of control over we peons?

[merrily]

33. My post said what I (and Dem political writers) thought it was. What's your point?

[MoonRiver]

34. I think it' a little over the top to obsess so much about the debate schedule.

That is all. Over and out.

[merrily]

35. Yes, most Hillary supporters make posts like that since it was the schedule she requested.

[Agnosticsherbet]

29. Imagine the complaint if a debate were shceduled during the Series.

Now that would be a world class eff-up.