Here's How Tonight's Big Obama-McCain Showdown Will Unfold
With Barack Obama and John McCain finally meeting face to face tonight for their first debate, here's a quick explanation of the debate rules.
Moderator Jim Lehrer will initially ask one of the candidates a question, then give two minutes to respond. The other candidate then gets to give his own (pre-packaged) response -- then the fun part begins.
This debate will feature an open-ended discussion period of five minutes for each question, in which the candidates will argue back and forth. While the candidates have obviously rehearsed heavily for this aspect, there are simply too many variables of how the other man might respond to fully predict. As such, this experiment could give us some opportunities for real spontaneity -- and gaffes, too.
The debate's predetermined subject is foreign policy, but Lehrer is expected to shift on to the economy from time to time. "I am not restrained from asking questions about the financial crisis," Lehrer said in an e-mail to the New York Times. "Stay tuned!" Meanwhile, Obama's lawyer says that economic questions are likely to be asked in the context of foreign policy.
We'll be blogging the debate right here at Election Central.
The possibilities are endless.
September 26, 2008 8:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Poor Hugh Hewitt. He's resorting to having the readers on his website count the "Ahs" "Uhms" and "You knows" coming from Obama.
That's all he's got?
The conservative wing is that desperate.
September 26, 2008 8:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fuck "poor" Hugh Hewitt. It couldn't happen to a less decent human.
;)
September 26, 2008 8:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good to see you have your game face on Tena.
September 26, 2008 8:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Haha, seconded.
September 26, 2008 8:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Awesome. Can we count "my friends" and "POWs"?
September 26, 2008 8:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know I'll be counting "my friends". =)
September 26, 2008 8:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Drinking game: take a drink every time McCain says "my friends". Take a shot every time he mentions something about him being a POW.
September 26, 2008 8:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry. Didn't see your post before I replied above! :)
September 26, 2008 8:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
don't forget what's on the line. we, all of us, have every right to be angry as hell.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=mQYHKILXD4k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2p2hvQzIPY
September 26, 2008 8:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain Camp insiders say " Palin is Clueless" They are in a panic.
They tried mock news conference, and mock debate, and she was a disaster.
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/09/mccain-camp-insiders-say-palin.php
September 26, 2008 8:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I read that earlier and it's just awesome. It's exactly what I figured, since they've steadily gotten more nervous about her.
September 26, 2008 8:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
I admit I'm a little nervous. McLame is not feather-weight, so I'm looking for a close Obama win tonight. Esp, with economic questions Obama can stay ahead from the start and force McLame to play catch up.
I'm positive O' will be composed and calm. I'm interested to see, fingers crossed, which McCain will show up tonight. The creepy Zombie one? The clueless senile one? The angry confused one? Or the cunning and calculated one? I expect a bit of all of them at different points.
September 26, 2008 8:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Angry one! Please let it be angry one! Ahaha!
September 26, 2008 8:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm betting on the creepy one, but the angry one is the holy grail. Thank god for TiVo, DVD recorder and the VCR. I couldn't find my old Betamax, damn!
September 26, 2008 8:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
And will both his eyes be functioning properly?
(TiVo mode here, so I'll be behind things a bit.)
September 26, 2008 9:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Barack-
May the Force be with you.
September 26, 2008 8:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Word.
I confess I'm nervous too.
September 26, 2008 8:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you're not nervous you're overconfident. We should all be nervous, I think.
September 26, 2008 8:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know that I am. This things, no matter how prepared and rehearsed, are always left to chance and randomness.
I'm optimistic, still.
September 26, 2008 8:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe Michelle needs to cut off Barack's tie right before the debate.
September 26, 2008 8:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah!
September 26, 2008 9:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm nervous as hell. But I keep thinking about how calm Barack always is. I find it very reassuring.
Especially compared to Captain Timebomb.
September 26, 2008 8:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tick... Tick... Tick... BOOM!
September 26, 2008 8:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's my biggest hope right there - Capt. Timebomb finally goes off for real.
September 26, 2008 8:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I actually made a $20 bet woth a friend McLame will call BO either nigga or a traitor before the end of the debate. I know I place too much trust to McLame.
September 26, 2008 8:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
P.S. Where is Lalo? Is he depressed? Stop taking shots at Palin! Do so at your peril!!!
September 26, 2008 8:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Except then I think about Lil Wayne:
Bitch, I'm the bomb
like tick tick...
some of the greatest lines in rap.
September 26, 2008 8:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
God there's a countdown clock on C-Span - Debate in: O:05:47, 46...
it's making me crazy.
September 26, 2008 8:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is this the live blogging spot?
September 26, 2008 8:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
get your foot outa my stall.
September 26, 2008 9:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
I got a live feed on CBS on-line
September 26, 2008 9:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
God I'm nervous!
September 26, 2008 9:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
D'oh! My stomach is in knots!!!
September 26, 2008 9:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
MINE TOO! Oh god.
September 26, 2008 9:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Me three
September 26, 2008 9:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's get it on!!!
September 26, 2008 9:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Let's get ready to fummmmmblllleee!" - John McSame
September 26, 2008 9:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
HAHA! Nice one.
September 26, 2008 9:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Glad they asked the economy question right off the bat. Address the elephant in the room.
September 26, 2008 9:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ach!
I need a drink!
September 26, 2008 9:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Alright - he's starting strong - 8 years of failed policy. Yes!
September 26, 2008 9:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Very nice start.
September 26, 2008 9:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed.
September 26, 2008 9:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bleah, cheap ploy by McSame (about the Kennedy mention)
September 26, 2008 9:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain's tie is making me dizzy!
September 26, 2008 9:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
What a liar!
September 26, 2008 9:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
McLame you liar - work together my ass - you obstructed this -
sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeit - asshole.
McLame is nervous. His voice shakes.
September 26, 2008 9:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
What the hell is McLame talking about???
September 26, 2008 9:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
He seemed a little rambling. I think he's been spending too much time around Palin.
September 26, 2008 9:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
McLame is blathering. He's just blathering.
September 26, 2008 9:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Somehow the word blithering seems to go better with the word idiot.
September 26, 2008 9:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hes' got that wierd "sssss" thing going on. Is it the audio?
September 26, 2008 9:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I actually like the CNN audience reaction. Obama got very strong positive reactions in his opening remarks. McCain is getting mostly average remarks.
September 26, 2008 9:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
New threads up guys.
September 26, 2008 9:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
shades of palin/Couric
September 26, 2008 9:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
CNN has a focus group chart at the bottom of the chart tracking responses to what they are saying. Obama did well, McCain barely got any movement.
September 26, 2008 9:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain: platitude, platitude, platitude. *look very serious*
Internal monologue: aw hell. Why am I here.
September 26, 2008 9:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
McLame stumbling...
September 26, 2008 9:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Another war anecdote from WWII.
*sigh*
September 26, 2008 9:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Off on a tangent
September 26, 2008 9:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
He's just fucking not there tonight.
September 26, 2008 9:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope Obama shows more (appropriate) humor.
McCain is just spouting rhetoric, no base facts.
September 26, 2008 9:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah. The helping professions. You tell 'em Obama!
September 26, 2008 9:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain is giving his stump speech!
September 26, 2008 9:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hit McCain with palin's earmarks
September 26, 2008 9:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Minimum wage
September 26, 2008 9:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Minimum wage
September 26, 2008 9:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why isn't Obama nailing him on Palin's earmarks??
September 26, 2008 9:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Worried about Bidens votes
September 26, 2008 9:28 PM | Reply | Permalink