LIVEBLOG: 2008 Vice President debate

Comment by cortex

Fri, 03 Oct 08 05:30:30 +0000

not McClellan

Yeah, I was wondering what the hell Scottie had to do with that.

Comment by ratslet

Fri, 03 Oct 08 05:02:11 +0000

Moosalini has spoken.

Comment by edgeways

Fri, 03 Oct 08 04:35:45 +0000

Post debate... I think Biden won. Palin was off topic too much and over an hour of winks and "folksy sounds" was just too damn much.

As to Lieberman: Man he must be sweating bullets, he hitched his wagon to the wrong campaign and is going to be low man on the totem pole come Jan.

Sarah can go back to AK and face the music without the $ and people of a prominent senator keeping her wolves at bay.

Comment by goodnewsfortheinsane

Fri, 03 Oct 08 04:02:22 +0000

I might be an outlier but on the surface I feel Palin won the debate. Poured on the folksy talk, very photogenic. Then again, the flash polls seem to disagree and I'm glad about that. Also, I tend to echo the sentiment that I hope and think this debate won't matter too much come November 4.

(So what were the ratings like?)

Thanks butterstick, Brandon, and everyone. Good night.

Comment by alvy

Fri, 03 Oct 08 03:55:45 +0000

I'm guessing you missed the beginning, Capt. Renault. They took pinned Harper's arms behind his back and stuck bugs in his mouth. And May acquitted herself quite well, IMO.

Comment by lysdexic

Fri, 03 Oct 08 03:51:53 +0000

From our freinds on the other side:

FReep this poll: Who did a better job in the vice presidential debate? (URGENT--she's in trouble!)

Comment by goodnewsfortheinsane

Fri, 03 Oct 08 03:42:57 +0000

Home Depot

Comment by brandonb

Fri, 03 Oct 08 03:28:21 +0000

Also, Palin will get accolades for her aggressive approach, but it was like a novice swinging a broadsword, desperate to hit something. Biden was a like a master swordsman, easily batting aside her immature thrusts. Those who like energy, will love Palin. Those who admire skill will love Biden.

Those aren't sure, but are looking for someone who knows what they're doing will spring for Obama/Biden.

Comment by butterstick

Fri, 03 Oct 08 03:16:27 +0000

brandon, you're probably right about the optics. We won't know till a few days out when the polls have absorbed this. I'm not good at measuring the "feel" of things, which is why I object to the media basing their analysis on it. Things like the CNN meter and post debate interviews with a selectively "balanced" audience really boil down to pseudo-statistics. They're trying to provide analysis of people's gut reactions when they should be analyzing CONTENT of answers to questions. I've been thinking that at least the Presidential Debate Commission could go through the trouble of providing official judges and a scoring system for these. Also: it really makes me sad every time I see a newborn baby up at these hours so he can be used as a prop.

Comment by brandonb

Fri, 03 Oct 08 03:14:19 +0000

The Washington Post does fact checking on both candidate's claims

Comment by brandonb

Fri, 03 Oct 08 03:10:02 +0000

Oh yeah, Palin got the name of the General in Afghanistan wrong. It's McKiernan, not McClellan.

Comment by alicesshoe

Fri, 03 Oct 08 03:05:19 +0000

Yep Cap'n, what Is May doing there¿ Crickey.
Paiken, always prepared and so smooth.

Comment by brandonb

Fri, 03 Oct 08 03:05:09 +0000

Thanks ya'll, pleasant dreams.

Comment by Capt. Renault

Fri, 03 Oct 08 03:04:25 +0000

Indeed. Thanks, Brandon, everyone.

G'night.

Comment by brandonb

Fri, 03 Oct 08 03:03:45 +0000

Clear win for Biden.

I think a lot of regular voters would have a hard time agreeing with that because there was no real knockout punch. However if you mention Biden choking up, espeically in reference to Palin's tone deaf comment that brought it about, they'd say Biden won.

She was a sewing machine stitching together nonsense from the fabric of talking points she had committed to memory.

Great comment.

Comment by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing

Fri, 03 Oct 08 03:01:02 +0000

Thanks again Brandon, this was fun.

Comment by butterstick

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:59:38 +0000

She was a sewing machine stitching together nonsense from the fabric of talking points she had committed to memory.

And more importantly, I'd like to shun any mention of "expectations". The debate has occurred. Expectations are now officially irrelevant. Whether she met them or not has no impact on the substance of her performance. That performance must be compared to her opponents, not to some imaginary expectation cast from a crystal ball.

Clear win for Biden.

Comment by Capt. Renault

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:59:20 +0000

Actually, the Canadian debate reveals that the one most suited to being Prime Minister is moderator Steve Paikin.

Comment by effwerd

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:59:08 +0000

Tina Fey '08

Comment by Capt. Renault

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:57:58 +0000

Half an hour of the Canadian debate reveals:

1. Dion is performing well, despite his English;
2. Duceppe is a fishwife;
3. Layton is a starry-eyed dogmatic;
4. Harper a condescending sonofabitch; and
5. May has no business being there.

Winner, Dion, but it's not much of a contest.

Comment by Hannah

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:55:06 +0000

Yeah, thanks Brandon! As the only liberal in my dorm here at Texas's most conservative public school, it is damn nice to have a forum to discuss these things at. Muchas gracias!

Comment by brandonb

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:48:31 +0000

CNN's Ohio independents didn't care for Palin's perky and folksy schtick.

Comment by alvy

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:46:26 +0000

Well, you guys are missing out on a pretty decent Canadian Leader's debate. Sort of.

Comment by andrew

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:45:19 +0000

We were festooned with mavericks. God bless us. Everyone.

Comment by brandonb

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:45:04 +0000

The independent voters on Fox think Palin won the debate. The refrain seems to be "She spoke to America."

Comment by Zaximus

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:44:31 +0000

Debate could have used more festooning.

Thanks, Brandon!

Comment by pronoiac

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:43:05 +0000

This was cool. Thanks, Brandon.

Comment by Slarty Bartfast

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:42:54 +0000

brandon, I love this little project of yours. Wish I could spend more time here on non-debate nights. Thanks.

Comment by alicesshoe

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:41:52 +0000

Thanks for this Brandon.

Comment by brandonb

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:41:29 +0000

Thinking more about it, if the best we can say about Palin is "Hey, she didn't screw up," then doesn't that say a lot?

Biden was pretty awesome at times, though, amazingly so.

Comment by pronoiac

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:40:00 +0000

Lieberman's on CBS. He first said he wouldn't say anything negative. He said Palin hit a homerun from the heartland.

I hate him sooo much.

Comment by yarrow

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:39:45 +0000

Yeah, thanks, Brandon. Having company was good!

Comment by delmoi

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:39:42 +0000

Rachel Maddow is on MSNBC.

Comment by brandonb

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:39:22 +0000

No problem, we can do it again for the President debates.

Comment by yarrow

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:39:01 +0000

The families milling around on stage thing is fun! Why didn't they do that for the Presidential debate?

Comment by scartol

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:38:16 +0000

Yeah, cheers Brandon.

Comment by brandonb

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:38:01 +0000

Ok, Mommy has to work now, someone else hold the baby.

Comment by cortex

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:37:48 +0000

This was a good time, indeed. Thanks again, BB.

Comment by sixo33

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:37:43 +0000

And after hugging his wife the first thing Biden does is walk over and shake the hand of Palin's father. Pretty classy, methinks.

Comment by headnsouth

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:37:09 +0000

thanks for doing this, brandonblatcher. I'm watching this alone here tonight & it would have been really scary without the comments giving it all perspective.

Comment by brandonb

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:37:06 +0000

Can you see me holding my baby? I'm just like YOU.

Comment by pronoiac

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:37:02 +0000

MY SECRET CHRISTMAS PLACE NOOOOO

Comment by delmoi

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:36:27 +0000

There's Bristol.

Comment by pronoiac

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:36:01 +0000

Capt. - the Canadian one?

Comment by lysdexic

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:35:39 +0000

You stay away from my happy Christmas place, Sarah Palin!

Comment by cortex

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:35:31 +0000

C'MON, TODD, THROW A PUNCH

Comment by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:35:27 +0000

People on CNN's live blog <3 Obama.

Comment by Zaximus

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:35:13 +0000

Where'ma kids?

Comment by brandonb

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:35:08 +0000

No knockout punches, but I think Biden comes out on time in terms of convincing independents. Palin captured her base, but that's about it.

Comment by cortex

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:35:02 +0000

So, Pres debate redux? Outside candidate came off a little stronger than expecatations, non-game-changer, bases will run with confirmation bias? I won't give Palin the same credit with independents, but all in all no huge movement.

Comment by Capt. Renault

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:34:41 +0000

Right -- now to the debate that I SHOULD have been watching...

Comment by shiu mai baby

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:34:24 +0000

Daaaad n' maaah, wanna come up 'erre so I can exploit ya fer a photo op?

Comment by birdherder

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:34:16 +0000

Thank god the kids are on the stage now.

Comment by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:33:28 +0000

God and War in the closer, way to go, Joe.

Comment by scartol

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:33:16 +0000

Lots of fun, people. Thank you all for making it more entertaining..

Comment by Capt. Renault

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:33:00 +0000

Aaaaaand Biden sticks the landing!

Comment by cortex

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:32:59 +0000

Pretty solid close.

Comment by Slarty Bartfast

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:32:37 +0000

Biden held his own and more. Obama's lead is solidified.

Comment by brandonb

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:32:32 +0000

ack, scratch that.

Comment by birdherder

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:32:26 +0000

America! FUCK YEAH!

Comment by cortex

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:32:17 +0000

Giggity giggity diggity respect.

Comment by lysdexic

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:32:03 +0000

Hah! McCain didn't suspend his campaign, he was...

waiting on cement (WOC) adj: pertaining to the time when drilling or completion operations are suspended so that the cement in a well can harden sufficiently.

Powder puff answer from Palin. Loved Biden's answer on how he would change the tone.

Her closing statement is disjointed. Quoting Regan? Your children's children? I saw that blink, lady.

Eh, not bad, Biden.

All of these oil drilling terms brought to you by:

Petex and the University of Texas at Austin

Comment by delmoi

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:31:50 +0000

What the hell is she talking about. A vote for Obama is a vote for TYRANY. We'll be telling our kids about the time that America was not a totalitarian socialist quasicave!

Comment by andrew

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:31:47 +0000

Obama/Biden: putting the FUN back in FUNdamental change

Comment by pronoiac

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:31:36 +0000

She namedrops McCain.

He namedrops a surprising number of legislators.

Comment by brandonb

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:31:21 +0000

Comment pagination is turned on, to make the page load easier

Comment by cortex

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:31:17 +0000

Wait, so there's going to be a future part in American history when we'll have to talk about back when men and women were free?

Comment by Capt. Renault

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:31:06 +0000

Fight for your freedoms, because the Government isn't gonna give them to you.

Comment by Slarty Bartfast

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:31:02 +0000

Freedom isn't free!

Buck o'five.

Comment by scartol

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:30:58 +0000

"Back in the day".. aw yeah, shout out to Long Beach!

Comment by goHermGO

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:30:36 +0000

Shot at the MSM... when the entire country is watching through the MSM.. enjoy

Comment by Gravy

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:30:35 +0000

The Merikan People. I just love the average every day people like me who are worth $1 million!

Comment by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:30:35 +0000

What filter is she talking about? Direct quotes are not filters, lady.

Comment by graventy

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:30:33 +0000

Hey, did you guys somehow get this debate without the filter of the mainstream media? Because I didn't.

Comment by butterstick

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:30:18 +0000

You're currently speaking through 6 broadcast channels of the "mainstream media".

Jerk.

Comment by Slarty Bartfast

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:30:01 +0000

Mainstream media! Drink!

Comment by pronoiac

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:30:01 +0000

Oh, yeah, diss the mainstream media. I'm sure they'll just adore that.

Comment by cortex

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:30:00 +0000

"I like being able to answer these tough questions. I look forward to doing so at some point."

Comment by scartol

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:30:00 +0000

Oh yeah because her ability to speak to the American people is so limited.. BLEAUGHH

Comment by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:29:58 +0000

Awesome, Biden's gonna have the last word.

Comment by Capt. Renault

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:29:54 +0000

*braincramp*

Comment by Zaximus

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:29:49 +0000

I hope for her sake she clarifies which one is supposed to be McCain's policies

Comment by delmoi

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:29:46 +0000

Palin: "10: RANDOM WORD; 20 GOTO 10;"

Comment by graventy

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:29:26 +0000

Hahaha. Her 'diverse' family. Whoo!

Comment by Gravy

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:29:20 +0000

I get along with members of my own family. Really! Even if they don't always agree with me. I still talk to them!

Comment by yarrow

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:29:17 +0000

We will track Bin Laden to his quasi-cave.

Comment by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:29:08 +0000

I like how she talks about appointing people regardless of political agenda, but leaving out the part about them being her friends from high school.

Comment by scartol

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:28:51 +0000

No one cares about your supposedly diverse family, lady!

Comment by Capt. Renault

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:28:42 +0000

RESPECT JESSE HELMS

Comment by cortex

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:28:34 +0000

You appoint people regardless of party affiliation. High school affiliation is another matter.

Comment by cortex

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:27:56 +0000

A MOTHERLESS CALF: the John McCain story

Comment by scartol

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:27:40 +0000

Yay schyler Senor Cardgage for VP! "I want you to gemblefund my shining keys, Kettlepot."

Comment by Gravy

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:27:12 +0000

Up in Alaska we are all so perfect. I want to bring the very Alaskaness to Washington DC

Comment by graventy

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:27:03 +0000

Is that her excuse for the rape kits? "I had to pass that budget to progress"

Comment by delmoi

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:26:42 +0000

Palin: I've only qusicaved, up there in Alaska.

Comment by birdherder

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:26:39 +0000

Maverick
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A maverick is an unbranded range animal, especially a motherless calf.

Comment by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:26:15 +0000

Oh, God, NO Biden, don't say "intellectual".

Comment by cortex

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:26:12 +0000

"Something I quasi-caved in, if you will."

Comment by lysdexic

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:26:04 +0000

Palin: I'm not always right, but I'm never wrong.

valve n: a device used to control the rate of flow in a line to open or shut off a line completely, or to serve as an automatic or semiautomatic safety device. Those used extensively include the check valve, gate valve, globe valve, needle valve, plug valve, and pressure relief valve.

Comment by schyler523

Fri, 03 Oct 08 02:26:01 +0000

Senor Cardgage i am mentally favoriting you so hard right now...