Wednesday, October 3, 2012

First Presidential Debate Thread!!


Tonight's debate will be from the University of Denver, and will be hosted by Jim Lehrer of PBS's "NewsHour." Cookies and Obama Phones will be handed out to everyone in the audience. Questions will focus on domestic policy and what kind of tree each candidate wishes he was.

Hmm? Anyone have any idea what "domestic policy" means? Feel free to enlighten us in the comments. Or tell us what kind of tree you think each candidate should be?! :)


As an aside, here's the rest of the debate schedule:
Oct 11: Vice Presidential Debate, Foreign and domestic topics
Oct 16: Second Presidential Debate, Town Hall meeting format
Oct 22: Third Presidential Debate, Foreign policy

338 comments:

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DUQ said...

I am so not up for this today!

DUQ said...

Domestic policy apparently means cookie recipes.

Kit said...

Obama will mention Bain.

I expect the debate to be a draw. Neither will win but hopefully it will be enough to cause Romney to revamp himself a bit for Rounds 2 and 3. Like he did in the Primaries.

My fear: Romney will lose the debate on account of massive hype. Republicans will be expecting so total a victory that nothing will match so Conservatives will bash him for not going Reagan 2.0. The Dems will do it automatically.
This means "Draw=Crushing Defeat"

AndrewPrice said...

Kit, Just so he doesn't mention Batman. ;)

I think both side will largely play defense with Romney trying to be slightly more aggressive with the zingers. But we'll see. Romney is a solid debater, but not a warm personality. Obama is neither.

AndrewPrice said...

DUQ, Cookies are for closers! ;)

T-Rav said...

Hmmm. Hosted by PBS' Jim Lehrer, you say? Well, this should be completely impartial and objective, then!

"Domestic policy," as I understand it, means the economy or possibly free birth control.

AndrewPrice said...

T-Rav, Actually, I don't really have a problem with Jim Lehrer. He strikes me as mostly fair. I can't say the same about the rest though.

I would like to see Brit Hume do it actually.

T-Rav said...

Andrew, obviously I'm pre-spinning in case Romney blows it. Get with the program!

As previously mentioned, I will have a night class, so I definitely won't be here at the beginning of the debate. Depending on how fast things end, I should be back for the second half of it.

AndrewPrice said...

Uh... yes, Jim Lehrer clearly is a biased monster! ;)

Have fun with your class. We'll be here... whoever turns out. :)

Joel Farnham said...

Andrew,

I'll just be glad people who have never been debated shut up with the advice already. Half of them give advice that is useless, the other half act like Romney has no chance unless Romney follows the advice to the letter. Meh.

Lehrer is the best of the selected moderators, but he does allow Democrats more leeway than Republicans. It is the arena.

Individualist said...

T-Rav

Jim Lehrer's Fair and Open Debate Moderation

Here is the Big's take on Lehrer

Anthony said...

I don't think winning will matter unless the win is due to a catostrophic gaffe on the part of the loser.

The overwhelming majority of voters have made up their minds, and the small minority that haven't probably need a heck of a lot to push them off the fence.

I won't be able to watch all the debate tonight (youngest has a girl scout meeting) but if I am feeling machoistic I will try to catch the tail end of it.

I remember nothing about Obama's debates with McCain and the only thing I remember about Romney's debates is his opponent's curious tendency to concentrate their fire on the leading 'not-Romney' of the week so I'm not expecting Lincoln vs Douglas.

T-Rav said...

Well, I'm off soon. Everyone enjoy the festivities/torture!

AndrewPrice said...

Unless Romney comes out swinging, I expect this debate will come down to whoever loses more than whoever wins. But we'll see.

We haven't really seen Obama in a genuine debate so far. He basically let everyone else tear each other down in the Democratic primary in 2008 and then he only had to stand back and watch Elmer Fudd McCain implode in the general election. I don't think Romney will implode and he is capable of attacking, so we'll see.

BevfromNYC said...

Waah, I will try to partipate tonight, but I either have a cold or West Nile virus. In other words I feelin' a might poorly and hearing Obama's voice could make me worse...

AndrewPrice said...

Bev, West Nile? Really? Don't you mean West Hudson?

BevfromNYC said...

Andrew, it's just cold, but Obama's voice could turn it into the plague. I was in Dallas where there is a West Nile virus outbreak. So I' thinkin' cold, WNV, or Obama plague...

CrisD said...

Hi Andrew!
Now that I have to go to work everyday...it is a very serious decision to subject myself to these shenanigans and stay up late. Two important considerations!

I will think about whether watching the actual debates will help me with the news in the following few days...Will it make me laugh at Morning Joe clips? Will it make me groan at Fox and friends?

I ponder and say a little prayer for guidance.

AndrewPrice said...

Joel, I agree on both points. There is so much bad advice out there and let me tell you, as someone who has done extensive public arguing in courtrooms, none of the advice I hear is good. You just can't plan on doing something spontaneous and you can't assume that the other guy will do something specific.

I agree about Lehrer. He's not an ideal choice, but he's the best of the group and he comes across as mostly fair -- though he does tilt left.

AndrewPrice said...

Bev, The Obama Plague! LOL! I hope you feel better soon! :)

AndrewPrice said...

Cris, I have no idea, except that I think a lot of those shows have already written their story for tomorrow.

All in all, I think this is worth watching because it will tell us how the rest of the campaign goes. If someone implodes, then it's over. If they both just kind of meander through it, then nothing will change. I guess we'll see.

DUQ said...

The debate starts in an hour... tick tock.

tryanmax said...

"Domestic policy" means how is Romney going to be blamed for Obama policies already in place after they go into effect.

If Romney were a tree, he would be the right height.

Many already suspect Obama of actually being a tree, or a plant in any case. :D

AndrewPrice said...

Nice definition of domestic policy tryanmax!

AndrewPrice said...

If anybody has an internet feed for tonight, please post it for people without access to a television. Thanks!

Joel Farnham said...

http://www.cnn.com/

This one is CNN. I don't know if they are going to have play-by-play commentary.

Right now, they are running puff pieces on Obama.

AndrewPrice said...

Thanks Joel. It looks like it will be on every network and all the new channels (and probably CSPAN). So everyone should be able to find it.

We're watching it on Fox... man, I hate O'Reilly.

Kit said...

Side note: Congrats to the Obamas on 20 years of Marriage.

tryanmax said...

youtube.com/politics

AndrewPrice said...

Kit, I didn't know that. Thanks. :)


tryanmax, Cool. I guess youtube is expanding.

tryanmax said...

Dang it! I just thought of a great debate game, but now there's no time to prepare for it. Every time you hear one of these, eat one of these!

AndrewPrice said...

A debate eating game? That's original. LOL!

Individualist said...

Breitbart TV

The Bigs have it

Kit said...

The reporters are giving filler.

AndrewPrice said...

Kit, Is it just me or are they struggling to find something interesting to say?

Individualist said...

Jim Lehrer just gave a speech on how he is going to embarass anyone who speaks in the debate......

So I guess the whole cough into your hand and yell "liberal bias" under your breath animal house style every time he asks an un fair question is out....

Oh well

AndrewPrice said...

And we're off!

tryanmax said...

I already had to turn away from YouTube (simulcasting ABC) b/c of the twitter feed at the bottom of the screen. I expect enough inanity from the stage.

Kit said...

"Kit, Is it just me or are they struggling to find something interesting to say?"

Its not just you.

Doc Whoa said...

That's interesting because I heard that they gave the candidates the questions.

Joel Farnham said...

http://www.c-span.org/Debates/

tryanmax, I went to c-span.

tryanmax said...

Did anyone see The Campaign? I wonder what they said to eachother when they shook hands. lol

AndrewPrice said...

No... don't thank the University of Denver, they don't deserve it.

tryanmax said...

Joel, I just flipped through them all. PBS has a clean screen and no reverb.

Doc Whoa said...

tryanmax, Are you going to judge ties tonight?

Individualist said...

Five million jobs created and the housing industry comes raoring back .....

in China maybe WTF!

Individualist said...

I believe we need Green jobs (Solyndra)

tryanmax said...

Doc, Lehrer already lost/won the ugly tie contest. It's just not as fun without Ron Paul to kick around.

AndrewPrice said...

Normally, I hate when politicians do the "I met someone" thing, but this was a solid answer and well designed too.

Doc Whoa said...

trickle down government, I like that.

tryanmax said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
tryanmax said...

PSA Reminder: "Investments" means "Gov't Spending"

AndrewPrice said...

I'll give Obama this, this is the smartest he's ever sounded.

Individualist said...

He's the Obama that created five million jobs....

Six alternative universes down the road

Doc Whoa said...

Romney is really sharp tonight.

And Obama looks pissed.

AndrewPrice said...

This is a heck of a speech by Romney.

tryanmax said...

This is an incredible knowledge dump! Too bad the "true believers" will assume it to be all lies.

Individualist said...

There's the sideways head shake Andrew talked about.... LOL

Doc Whoa said...

Obama is now sputtering. He's upset, you can tell.

tryanmax said...

Doc, Obama does look pissed, and that look could really hurt him. Petulance doesn't sell well. Romney, on the other hand, looks very happy.

AndrewPrice said...

Hmm. Does it strike anyone that Obama is kind of winging it suddenly?

Kit said...

Was there a question in Romney's "question"?

Also, I'm following the NRO Tweet Tracker
http://www.nationalreview.com/tweet

AndrewPrice said...

Romney is really strong right now.

tryanmax said...

This is an incredibly weak counter from Obama.

tryanmax said...

Zinger! *nom*

AndrewPrice said...

Romney is REALLY prepared. Obama looks lost to me.

tryanmax said...

Romney just ridiculed the "studies." Nice!

Doc Whoa said...

What Obama said doesn't wash. It sounds like he's trying to hang onto a lie.

Jim Lehrer said...

Ah, ah, ah, Mr. Obama. Are you gonna let him walk all over you like that? Say something!

Tam said...

Yeah, Tryanmax, that was awesome. Studies that looked at the studies...throw those out. Look at the bottom line.

Kit said...

Romney did come across as really strong.

AndrewPrice said...

tryanmax, And he did it by pointing out Obama wants a bigger tax hike than he claims Romney will be seeking.

Tam said...

Back to Clinton...FORWARD!

AndrewPrice said...

Uh, the Bill Clinton crutch.

AndrewPrice said...

Tam, LOL!

Individualist said...

As a man with five boys I am used to someone repeating something over and over again until it is true

tryanmax said...

I'm numb from all the platitudes just spoken.

AndrewPrice said...

I'm amazed how well prepared Romney is. This is honestly impressive and so much better than anything in the primaries.

tryanmax said...

Bowles Simpson, woot!

AndrewPrice said...

"You may want to move on to another topic."

translation: HELP ME JIM!!!!

Barack Obama said...

Save me, Jim. I'm drowning here!

Doc Whoa said...

Obama is lost. He has no idea what he wants to say.

tryanmax said...

And the early 2000s were pretty good as I recall.

AndrewPrice said...

Every time he gets in trouble, he mentions Clinton.

tryanmax said...

Doc, I think he's trying really hard not to say "Uuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh"

Mitt Romney said...

You Lie!

Kit said...

Did Obama just give a meek "ok"?

AndrewPrice said...

Ass kicking in progress.

Individualist said...

2001 was the slowest job growth

uh uh did 2009 and 2010 happen... what time is it in this alternative universe?

tryanmax said...

Kit, I heard it, too. Awesome!

Joel Farnham said...

I notice that Obama looks down while Romney talks Romney looks over and listens to Obama when Obama talks.

Romney is smiling all along and Obama tries to smile but it comes out grim.

AndrewPrice said...

Kit, He did. He's got nothing to come back with. You can hear it in the lack of his ability to pull out facts -- it's just platitudes suddenly.

tryanmax said...

No one can accuse Romney of dancing around these questions.

tryanmax said...

...but I'm sure someone will.

Individualist said...

oh man .... did he just threaten Lehrer's job

Barack Obama said...

It's Bush's fault.

tryanmax said...

...and that someone will probably be on talk radio.

Barack Obama said...

Go look at the website, because I'm not as prepared as this guy.

Kit said...

Obama,

I thought it should be:
"Go look at the website, uh, because I'm not as, uh, prepared as this guy."

AndrewPrice said...

"You've been president 4 years." Zap.

Doc Whoa said...

Obama LOOKS PISSED!

Individualist said...

You've been President four years......

Barack Obama said...

My debate coach...told me...to try really hard...not to say "uh."

Kit said...

"You raise taxes, you kill jobs."

AndrewPrice said...

I will say again, Romney is really prepared and he's showing fundamental conservatism.

tryanmax said...

Romney is really using this as a teachable moment. My God, this is a real debate!

Individualist said...

P.I.G.S.

Portugal
Ireland
Greece
Spain

Kit said...

"Romney is really using this as a teachable moment. My God, this is a real debate!"

I KNOW!

Who'da thought?

AndrewPrice said...

Obama is talking about a couple billion out of trillions.

tryanmax said...

And it's right to class warfare. The corporate jet thing shows that Obama doesn't understand business. The deduction he's criticizing is commonly known as depreciation.

AndrewPrice said...

And now he wants to spend the savings....

AndrewPrice said...

You know what? Even the left now says that more spending is not the answer on education.

Individualist said...


Right now you can take a deduction for moving a business overseas...

And it you are Immelt and GE you get Obama bucks in stimilus money to do it

tryanmax said...

Obama's right, that's not how America was built. Why, America was built without any Department of Education at all. How did that happen?

tryanmax said...

DON"T YOU DRAG MY KID INTO IT, OBAMA!!!!!! DON"T YOU %&#*(()%U& DARE!!!!!!!

Doc Whoa said...

Obama continues to sputter stream of consciousness and it's awesome Romney just pointed that out!

Tam said...

Ha ha ha...lot's of topics there...in other words, what the hell did he just say?

Tennessee Jed said...

just taking a quick break from watching. I think Romney looks presidential and has been strong. The reality is, with dueling numbers Democrats will tend to believe Obama's and vice versa. On the other hand, if there really are intelligent undecided's out there, they should like what Romney is saying. He is passing the "I look presidential" test making it o.k. to fire the other guy.

Tam said...

Again, ha! You just pick the losers.

AndrewPrice said...

"You don't just pick the winners and losers, you just pick the losers."

ZAP!!!!

AndrewPrice said...

Obama looks SO angry right now.

Individualist said...

You need to get an Accountant .... man this is brutal... Obama forgot as a CEO Romney lives this stuff all his life....

I guess in the arena of community organizing Romney will be the stupid one

Doc Whoa said...

She's the racist right?

Barack Obama said...

Let's not talk about the problems with Social Security. Let's just talk about how it makes us feeeeeeel.

Kit said...

"You don't just pick the winners and losers, you pick the losers." -Mitt Romney

Tam said...

Doc, yes...the "typical white person."

Joel Farnham said...

Lehrer just stopped Romney from beating down Obama to the point of explosion. If Jim hadn't done that, Obama might have started to cry.

AndrewPrice said...

Obama's answers ramble.

Notawonk said...

mitt is killing it.

barry is talking like he's the challenger and not the incumbent. why hasn't he implemented the stuff he's offering?!

tryanmax said...

Patti, well said. And I've noticed that the media has been treating the race the same way.

tryanmax said...

YES! Romney just called out the Big Medicare Lie! Woot!

Doc Whoa said...

ZAP!!!! The truth hurts.

AndrewPrice said...

That was an awesome answer.

Notawonk said...

i'm scanning facebook and am SHOCKED at how many folks are surprised that mitt is hammering barry into dust. the msm is still a might machine.

Notawonk said...

also, i'm going to hear barry's halting and WHERE THE HECK IS MY TELEPROMPTER responses in my nightmares tonight.

AndrewPrice said...

"this is not only my opinion, but people who support me agree with me."

Tennessee Jed said...

This is a great segment. Mitt is kicking his ass.

Individualist said...

ARP..... AARP.....

yeah there not biased

T-Rav said...

And we're back! A friend of mine says Romney did great early on. Is that true?

Tam said...

Yes, and all those kids who try out for American Idol have been told by their mothers that they sing well too.

AndrewPrice said...

Patti, Mitt is crushing him. He's prepared, on point, firm and polite. Obama is lost.

Joel Farnham said...

Vouchers! Obama said Vouchers!

Whoa!

AndrewPrice said...

T-Rav, Romney is kicking ass.

T-Rav said...

Sounds like the Stuttering Clusterf*ck of a Miserable Failure is stuttering and failing already.

tryanmax said...

See, I don't think vouchers sound as scary to the public as the Democrats think they do.

Tam said...

T-Rav, Romney is effectively kicking ass. I do hope there are independents or fence sitters who see it.

T-Rav said...

Awesome. I've only been watching for 90 seconds, but Mitt sounds very polished.

Obama's Poor Grandmother said...

Vote for my grandson! Seniors' lives depend on it!!!!!!!

Tennessee Jed said...

means testing scares the shit out of liberals

Tam said...

Competition! WOOO!
(wait, studies again?)

AndrewPrice said...

Nice answer.

And Obama returns to "there's a study somewhere."

T-Rav said...

Oh wait, NOW it's okay for private businesses to make a profit?! Retard.

Notawonk said...

i'm declaring mitt an honorary ass-kickin' texan tonight.

AndrewPrice said...

T-Rav, I'll recap in the morning, so you can see what happened earlier.

Individualist said...

Did he just state Medicare has lower administrative costs.....

Exactly what is the name of the alternative universe....

Man the obvious Orwellian falsehoods are just hard to digest

Tennessee Jed said...

private sector does not have higher admin costs. Government hides most of the overhead in the general fund. Liar, liar, pants on fire

tryanmax said...

I hope Romney comes back with a plan to reform the insurance system. B/c attacking ins. co.s is the only attack Barry has left.

T-Rav said...

Bet I can find a study showing that unicorns will reduce global warming.

Tam said...

Oh yes...take control Mitt!

T-Rav said...

Also, I love how Romney is not taking crap from Obama or the moderator on this stuff, especially the health care issue.

tryanmax said...

Wow, two very different Medicare approaches. Again, this is a real debate!

tryanmax said...

T-Rav, I'd Lehrer is starting to look just as flustered as Obama.

Notawonk said...

tmax: i had my doubts this would be a real debate, but I agree, IT IS!

Individualist said...

T-Rav

that is only when the Unicorns are progressive and eat a Vegan diet.... otherwise...

Tennessee Jed said...

Dood Frank- kick him the groin, Mitt!!!

Barney Frank said...

Bwanks aw evwil.....also girls.....

AndrewPrice said...

Romney is sounding incredibly reasonable on all of this.

Jim Lehrer said...

Shut up, Mitt! You're making my boy look bad.

Joel Farnham said...

Romney really is shutting down Jim.

T-Rav said...

Mainly in the Clinton administration, Barry.

AndrewPrice said...

Uh... I have no answer... so um, you should hate the banks. Forget that they are my friends.

Barack Obama said...

Let me be clear: Making lots of money is evil and hurts people.

AndrewPrice said...

None of that is true. The financial regs were a HUGE sop to the big banks.

T-Rav said...

Living wills? What is this moron rambling on about?

Individualist said...

Credit Agencies that were stamping these A1 investments when the are'nt

uh ... was that because Fannae Mae said the Gub'ment was insuring them I think so .....

and the bad loans was that cause Barney Frank said they have to ... Bing Bing Bing another winner

T-Rav said...

You heard it here first, Facts: You should vote for Governor Romney.

Notawonk said...

I'm stunned all over again that people voted for this inept man. to be our president

Mitt Romney said...

Hey girl....

AndrewPrice said...

Right now, Romney's level of knowledge is around 99%. Obama's level is around 45%. Romney is showing himself to be much more prepared for the job.

I'll bet Obama misses McCain right now... "earmarks."

Paul Ryan said...

Hey, Mitt, that's my line.

T-Rav said...

Small businesses, shortly to be thrown under the bus. Brought to you by Obama and Co.

Mud! said...

Sure Barack we are clear on that as we can be

tryanmax said...

Patti, not just that, but that so many will vote for him again. AFTER this debate.

The Mainstream Media said...

"I'll bet Obama misses McCain right now...'earmarks.'"

You can say that again.

Tennessee Jed said...

Mitt has never been better. He is wiping the floor with him.

tryanmax said...

In other words, nothing has changed in four years!

T-Rav said...

Uh oh....I bet this reply will be completely irrelevant and meaningless.

T-Rav said...

And I was right.

Pinocchio said...

Mr. President, this approach doesn't work out well. Trust me.

Tam said...

26 is NOT A KID!!!

Tennessee Jed said...

how does the leftist legacy media try and spin this?

Notawonk said...

tmax: well, they do get a phone....

tryanmax said...

He's citing all the popular parts that Romney said he'd keep anyway.

Individualist said...

It does say that insurance companies can't impose arbitrary limits....

Cause now that is the Gub'ments job

Bwa Ha HA

T-Rav said...

Good-humored, or pompous jackass? You decide.

T-Rav said...

(But the answer is pompous jackass.)

AndrewPrice said...

This is a mistake. He just told moderates not to fear Romney on healthcare. He basically said Romney knows what he's doing.

Tam said...

Shut up now, you've used your 5 seconds.

ObamaPhone Lady said...

Keep Obama in president, you know? He gave us a phone!

T-Rav said...

That's going to leave a mark.

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