University of Texas @ Austin

Years Judging: 7

Region: South Central

No. Rds. this topic: 50+

I'm David Breshears. You may remember me from such decisions as "DADA vs. Dartmouth: F**k Modernity!" and "You said WHAT in the 1AR?: the Wes Lotz Story".

Several important disclaimers:

* I've taken a hiatus from research this year (as any of our debaters will be happy to tell you - repeatedly), so I'm not as familiar with the topic literature as years past.

* I tend to give Perkinsian signals of angst/pleasure during the debate - look for them.

* I'm getting crotchety in my old age.

* I have no idea what Jairus and Kirk will be running against you in the next round, so don't bother asking.

Things you don't see enough of these days:

* Theory debates that consist of less than a dozen arguments but more than 36 words.

* Evidence comparison in the last rebuttals (Why ISN'T the BBC Summary of World Broadcasts card better than your evidence from the Cato Handbook? And who cares if your uniqueness evidence from the Sacramento Bee post-dates their St. Louis Post-Dispatch card by 12 hours?).

* New affirmative(s) in the 2AC in response to conditional counterplans.

* Political process disads (Hasn't ANYONE thought about how changes in our sanctions policies might effect, say, the President's reservoir of political capital? Come on, people!)

* 2NR's willing to stick their necks out and go for topicality against teams that ONLY lift sanctions.

Other random musings:

* Generic kritik answers are still generic kritik answers, even if they're carded.

* Putting the plan under erasure is probably not a good idea.

* There's no such thing as "infinite prep," since the topic's only been out since August and even affirmative's have to eat, sleep, get drunk, defecate, fornicate, and occasionally go to class.

* George W. Bush is, to borrow from Sparky, a clown.

One last note:

Anything goes, and I do mean just about ANYTHING. If you can defend it, and they can't/don't answer it, I'll probably vote for. Just try not to be too repugnant, or be prepared for me to exercise the "F**k-this-repugnant-argument-and-your-speaker-points" clause. What's repugnant? Much like pornography, I know it when I see it. You'll know, too, as my jaw will be dangling inches above the floor as you deliver or attempt to extend the argument. Like I said, look for obvious signals.

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