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:

  1. I am so not up for this today!

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  2. Domestic policy apparently means cookie recipes.

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  3. 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"

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  4. 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.

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  5. 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.

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  6. 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.

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  7. 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.

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

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

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  9. 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.

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  10. 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.

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

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  12. 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.

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  13. 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...

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

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  15. 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...

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  16. 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.

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  17. 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.

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

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  19. 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.

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

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  21. "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

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  22. Nice definition of domestic policy tryanmax!

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

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  24. 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.

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  25. 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.

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

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


    tryanmax, Cool. I guess youtube is expanding.

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  28. 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!

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

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  30. The reporters are giving filler.

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

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  32. 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

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  33. 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.

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

    Its not just you.

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

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

    tryanmax, I went to c-span.

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

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

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

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  40. tryanmax, Are you going to judge ties tonight?

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

    in China maybe WTF!

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  42. I believe we need Green jobs (Solyndra)

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

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

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  45. trickle down government, I like that.

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  46. This comment has been removed by the author.

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

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

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

    Six alternative universes down the road

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  50. Romney is really sharp tonight.

    And Obama looks pissed.

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  51. This is a heck of a speech by Romney.

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

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

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

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  55. 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.

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

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

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

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  58. Romney is really strong right now.

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  59. This is an incredibly weak counter from Obama.

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  60. Romney is REALLY prepared. Obama looks lost to me.

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  61. Romney just ridiculed the "studies." Nice!

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

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

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

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  65. Romney did come across as really strong.

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

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

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  68. I'm numb from all the platitudes just spoken.

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

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

    translation: HELP ME JIM!!!!

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  71. Save me, Jim. I'm drowning here!

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

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

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  74. Every time he gets in trouble, he mentions Clinton.

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

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  76. Did Obama just give a meek "ok"?

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  77. 2001 was the slowest job growth

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

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  78. 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.

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  79. 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.

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  80. No one can accuse Romney of dancing around these questions.

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

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  82. It's Bush's fault.

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

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

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  85. Obama,

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

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

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

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

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  89. "You raise taxes, you kill jobs."

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

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

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

    I KNOW!

    Who'da thought?

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  93. Obama is talking about a couple billion out of trillions.

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  94. 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.

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

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

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  97. 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

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  98. 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?

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

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

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

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  102. 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.

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  103. Again, ha! You just pick the losers.

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

    ZAP!!!!

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  105. 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

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

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

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

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  109. 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.

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  110. 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?!

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

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

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  113. 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.

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

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

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

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  117. ARP..... AARP.....

    yeah there not biased

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

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

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

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  121. Vouchers! Obama said Vouchers!

    Whoa!

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

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

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

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

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  126. Obama's Poor GrandmotherOctober 3, 2012 at 9:49 PM

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

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  127. means testing scares the shit out of liberals

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  128. Competition! WOOO!
    (wait, studies again?)

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  129. Nice answer.

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

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

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

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

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  133. 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

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

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  135. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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  141. T-Rav

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

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

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

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  144. Romney is sounding incredibly reasonable on all of this.

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

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  146. Romney really is shutting down Jim.

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  147. Mainly in the Clinton administration, Barry.

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

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

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

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  151. Living wills? What is this moron rambling on about?

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  152. 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

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

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

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  155. 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."

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  156. Hey, Mitt, that's my line.

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

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  158. Sure Barack we are clear on that as we can be

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

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  160. The Mainstream MediaOctober 3, 2012 at 9:58 PM

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

    You can say that again.

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

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  162. In other words, nothing has changed in four years!

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

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

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  165. how does the leftist legacy media try and spin this?

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

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

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

    Cause now that is the Gub'ments job

    Bwa Ha HA

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  169. Good-humored, or pompous jackass? You decide.

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  170. (But the answer is pompous jackass.)

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

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

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

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