Reason Live Tweets the First Presidential Debate. Now!

Welcome to Reason's live tweet feed. Reason staffers will be walking you through the debate, offering analysis, links, and snark of a semi-relevant nature. We'll be here from 9 to 10:30 p.m.

Don't forget to check out the official Reason drinking game!

After, why not stay with us?: Kicking off 15 minutes after the debate ends (about 10:45 p.m.), Reason will be hosting a Google+ Hangout where we'll be joined by folks from Roll Call, Christian Science Monitor, and Think Progress to talk about the carnage we have just witnessed.

UPDATE: Here's the Hangout:

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Comments

[SIV]

Reason staffers will be walking you through the debate

We can walk on our own, thank you.

[Paleo-ConAvenger]

YOU DON'T SPEAK FOR ALL OF US!

/stumbles back under rock home

[Killazontherun]

Deep fisted!

[Fist of Etiquette]

Pass.

[Killazontherun]

You only got first place because of a browser stall out.

[HazelMeade]

Why has the host disabled reader comments?

[Corning]

Cuz on September 18th 2010 someone figured out how to hack images into comments.

Reason staff has not trusted us since.

[16th amendment]

So much for libertarians!

[darius404]

So much for property rights!

[SIV]

The Nation, using the same widget, welcomes reader comments in the staff discussion.

[Lost_In_Translation]

The lyIng begins...

[WWNGD?]

The lying started years ago.

[bomb everyone]

Lie
Lie
Lie

False Promise
False Promise
False Promise

Have a great night, thanks for watching.

[SugarFree]

HOLT SHIT! THE MODERATOR IS A ZOMBIE!

[Killazontherun]

Oh, I can't listen to this guy! Click.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Let's start off with something conpletely unrelated...

[Ken Shultz]

I can't stand seeing Obama's effing face.

[Hyperion]

his voice is worse than fingernails on a chalk board. And it doesn't help knowing that every word that comes out of his mouth is a bunch of bullshit lies.

[VG Zaytsev]

I thought they were going to make out there for a minute.

[Fist of Etiquette]

I have the sound down. Is he doing that accent?

[An0nB0t]

Cromit.

[VG Zaytsev]

Education

Green Eneergy

Nation Building at Home

So exactly the same thing he's done for 3-1/2 years.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Investing...yeah, with his mandatory funding..

[Brutus]

If we're investing now, I'd like a little better accounting put in place so we can see what our returns are. My bet: They ain't shit.

[bomb everyone]

You should just listen to the radio. It's almost bearable, so long as you can't see the contrived smiles.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Anecdote...drink!

[VG Zaytsev]

Romney's blowing it already.

He aught to say that if I get elected I'll send everyone that vores for me $1,000 for my own stash.

[bomb everyone]

CHINA! drink!

[Ken Shultz]

I had to turn it off.

Two minutes. That's all I could take.

I can't stand listening to politicians talk. Sitting there, watching them talk on the television like it matters what they say...

That's so 1982.

P.S. Obama's a jackass.

[SugarFree]

Michelle howling like a Wookie at her wedding reception is a horrible thing to think about. I wish I had gotten drunk.

[Xenocles]

A woman came up to Romney and touched his cloak, and because of her faith in him the economy was healed.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Trickle down government...zing...

[HazelMeade]

It makes absolutely no sense.

[Lost_In_Translation]

You'Re not thinking of it in the bill clinton sense...

[SugarFree]

If government is urine, it makes perfect sense.

[HazelMeade]

blagh ... boiler plate

[Paleo-ConAvenger]

EDUKATION! DRINK

[VG Zaytsev]

Education

Derp!

[Lost_In_Translation]

Community colleges...goddamn it Obama I deserve an ivy league degree

[An0nB0t]

Everyone has a right to an Ivy League education.

[An0nB0t]

I giggle, then Gary Johnson giggles.

[bomb everyone]

tax cuts "particularly for manufacturing"

Obama Translator 6000: "Tax cuts for unions"

[Rich]

Hire millions of math teachers ... from CHINA!

[Lost_In_Translation]

It's not a tax cut, it's tax relief...

[Bee Tagger]

We want more people doing harder work! More manufacturing!

[Jerry on the road]

I don't think Obama is planning on making eye-contact with Romney.

[Rich]

He only has eyes for Michelle.

[mr simple]

I'll just continue working on my 2L boot of Spaten Oktoberfest, if you don't mind. I get to keep the glass, so I figured it was a better use of my time then watching two guys argue that I'm not going to vote for.

[An0nB0t]

Six pack of Optimator here.

[bomb everyone]

Jim Beam, losers. Douches like this call for hard liquor.

[An0nB0t]

Do they sell Jim Beam outside of college towns?

[Rights-Minimalist Autocrat]

This. It was Knob Creek Rye for me.

[Hyperion]

Plain Jane night for me. Heineken and Stella. I can't risk the hangover I would have tomorrow if I drink beer with more color. I could really use a nice Heffy now or even an Octoberfest, or fuck it, a stout or porter.

[bomb everyone]

6 trillion in debt, and this guy doesn't get laughed off of stage for talking about deficit management?

[free2booze]

Wasn't the question about Romney's claim of trickle down government? Second question, Obama is already on the defensive.

[Rich]

Define "the middle class".

[Ken Shultz]

It's kinda hard when we live in country where the "poor" people are fat, isn't it.

[Rich]

Is it the middle class or the poor that are "working families"?

[Hyperion]

Or where the poor have cell phones, big screen TVs, and new Escalades with big shiny chrome wheels, that they waddle out of because they are so morbidly obese from their monthly budget of food that folks making 100k a year cannot afford? Yeah, we need more of this social justice shit.

[Bee Tagger]

Lehrer is like Jay Leno guiding a stand-up through his material under the guise of an interview.

[Fist of Etiquette]

I have to volume down and the debate sync'd up with Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side of the Moon" and it matches much worse than I thought. I'm going to try synchronizing it with Transformers: Dark of the Moon and see how that goes.

[sloopyinca]

You're really a sad human being, did you know that? Everybody knows Transformers: Dark Of The Moon matches up perfectly with Straight Outta Compton by N.W.A.

[Fist of Etiquette]

It can match up with two things.

[sloopyinca]

Balancing our budget is a cornerstone of Romney's plan? That's news to me.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Obama looks like he's taking a brief nap

[bomb everyone]

Good god this sucks already.

Mitt, you have the worst president in 220 years standing next to you. Show a little righteous indignation. All I hear is blah blah blah.

[Corning]

FDR was worse.

[Bill]

I don't think that news ever got out.

[Brutus]

Don't forget Wilson. What a complete prick.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Romney likes coal, in obamas stocking!

[HazelMeade]

Note that Romney isn't saying anything about free enterprise.
He's only mentioning deregulation tangentially. OMG the coal industry!

[Rich]

Buy a new *GM* car!!

[Lost_In_Translation]

Thanks Obama, I didn't know how the business cycle works.

[bomb everyone]

98% of his voting base doesn't. Can you blame him?

[sloopyinca]

In his defense, I don't think you're his target audience.

[Ken Shultz]

He really mentioned the business cycle?

If I'd known he was going to acknowledge the existence of the business cycle, I might have held on.

[Ken Shultz]

Shit, it's back on now.

I can barely stand it.

[sloopyinca]

Class Warfare rears it's ugly head already.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Not reducing the deficit, that was your plan Obama.

[Corning]

We'll also be streaming at our YouTube page.

LIES!!!

[Death Rock and Skull]

I'm not watching this. Anyone, other than journalists who intend to do further reporting on candidates' unfitness for office, who watches the game show should consider finding a more leisurely and more satisfying way to spend time tonight. I will be fixing a modest late supper and orderves/ors-dervs/snacks in anticipation of South Park being on.

[bomb everyone]

I was watching The Walking Dead before this. Wayyy better than this crap.

[Gannicus]

How can Obama pretend with a straight face to care about the deficit.

[Ken Shultz]

The same way he lies with a straight face about everything else.

[Rich]

Mitt: "Read my lips!"

[BoscoH]

He has no lips.

[Lost_In_Translation]

It's studies all te way down

[Ken Shultz]

Romney's talking Laffer Curve...

Good for him!

[Bee Tagger]

I'd like to think non-rich people hate when the rich pretend to hate other rich. I'd like to think that if I ever become rich, I'll have a bunch of new friends.

[Paleo-ConAvenger]

UGH, all the stupid on my facebook feed is overwhelming.

[Ted S.]

Having a facepants feed in the first place is your problem.

[Ken Shultz]

Obama badmouthing the Laffer Curve...

Screw him!

[Corning]

I am not watching.

did he say "failed polices of the past"?

[Ken Shultz]

Oh yeah. That was sentence one.

[Ted S.]

The politics of failure have failed. We need to make them work again.

[sloopyinca]

"I will not grow the deficit" is the best we can hope for out of either of these bozos? Our nation is fucked.

[Rich]

Well said.

[Romulus Augustus]

Teh evil Bush tax cuts? Oh, were they the ones Obama and his Democratic controlled Senate and House failed to act against from 2009 to 2011? Let's remember a "little history" here.

[John]

We don't have a memory hole for nothing Romulus.

[An0nB0t]

I won't cut taxes!

No, I won't cut taxes!

[Lost_In_Translation]

It's math!!! Taxes are math!!!!

[sloopyinca]

"Lowered taxes 18 times" needs to be verified.

[Ken Shultz]

Did I mention that Obama is a jackass?

Because he is.

He's a jackass.

[John]

I don't know how you guys watch this stuff. Watching it would just raise my blood pressure. And you know no matter what happens the media is going to tell us how dreamy Obama was and what a meany Romney is.

What is the over under before one of the talking heads says "I just can't see how that man (Romney) can win in November after this"?

[Ken Shultz]

I was trying not to, but Romney's making sense...

He's defending the Laffer Curve without actually saying "Laffer Curve".

[sloopyinca]

Aw, Jesus Christ, John. Are you gonna end your "Reason anti-Romney Conspiracy Theory" nutball claims any time soon? I mean, it's not as insane as your "We should have nuked Afghanistan post-9/11" schtick, but it's still in-fucking-sane.

[John]

Reason are part of the MSM and are talking heads? That will be news to them.

Can you at least try to read the posts before you start whining?

[sloopyinca]

Oh, you were talking about the media talking heads? I assumed you were talking about the talking heads liveblogging on here. After all, you've been stuck on accusing reason of anti-Romney bias for weeks now. I didn't realize you were off that rant for the time being.

[John]

Yeah that is who I was talking about. But don't let that stop you from whining.

[sloopyinca]

Oh I'm not whining. I'm laughing at your insanity.

[John]

Whatever you gets you through the night Sloopy.

[sloopyinca]

I suppose cutting the government never occurred to either of these shitheads, did it?

[Lost_In_Translation]

Lehrer is just going to let them blah at each other

[Ken Shultz]

We have to tax the rich--because the government has to spend money on science and research...?

Obama is a jackass.

[Paleo-ConAvenger]

BASIC RESEARCH! GUBMINT NEEDS BASIC RESEARCH! DERP DERP DERP

[bomb everyone]

Donald Trump is a small business?

Obamanomics FAIL.

Fuck this "president"

[Killazontherun]

Just turned it back on. That line. That delivery. 'Now I know Donald . . .' It's like having a sucky tune in your head.

It's the 'Steal My Sunshine' of rhetorical lines.

[AnthonyD]

The Gary Johnson thing just isnt working

[John]

Okay I turned it on. You know, this guy Obama has some good ideas. It is a shame he hasn't been President and a had a chance to enact any of them.

[Rich]

Remind me again why these "debates" have "rules".

[Lost_In_Translation]

So the moderator has something to say

[Rich]

😎

[Lyle]

Reason people hang out with Think Progress people? Lord Jesus.

[SIV]

Birds of a feather.

[John]

If Romney wins the Think Progress people can pretend to be friends with the Reason people again. They will probably all get together after the election at a gay wedding or something and renew old ties.

[SIV]

Cocaine party at Spencer Ackerman's place.

[bomb everyone]

I'm done, have a good night everyone.

God help this country.

[free2booze]

BUUUUUUSSSSH

[Lost_In_Translation]

We've tried both approaches...and we failed in both.

[Jerry on the road]

Didn't Clinton lower tax rates?

[John]

Yes

[SIV]

Must not have been my bracket at the time.
Bush lowered them across the board.

[John]

Clinton lowered capital gains taxes.

[SIV]

But not income tax rates.

[Killazontherun]

Exactly. It was not a bad trade off in terms of generating growth.

[Calidissident]

In fact, economic growth for the first few years after Clinton raised taxes wasn't very strong. It was after the capital gains tax cut (not saying that was the only factor at play) that the economy boomed. Which is unusual in that most business cycles see the strongest growth after a recession, which was the situation when Clinton first came to power. Had Clinton not raised taxes, we would have had stronger growth those first few years

[John]

Yes we would have. The economy was coming out the recession big time in the third quarter of 1992. Clinton inherited a boom and proceeded to make it a moderate recovery thanks to raising taxes and regulations. Only later, after 1994 Congress did the economy start really growing.

[Ken Shultz]

And it's not like we're about to invent the internet again anytime soon.

[John]

Yeah but we may invent something even cooler like nanotech or 3d printing.

[SIV]

No
"Targeted tax cuts for working families" is what I remember. As an individual I didn't qualify.

[Ken Shultz]

Obama keeps talking about what was happening in the Bill Clinton era.

As if the internet and all those associated businesses are about to spring into existence--because Obama raises taxes to where they were during the Clinton era?!

That's stupid. Doesn't add up.

Obama is a jackass.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Hurry Jim, say your piece before you die

[Ken Shultz]

Romney just hit Obama with consistently slowing growth and the increasing number of people on food stamps...

That was points scored.

Good for Romney!

P.S. Obama is a jackass.

[Calidissident]

Ugh I hate these things. Politicians promising contradictory things they could never follow through on, dishonestly spinning history (I'm looking at you Obama with the Clinton/Bush comparison. Not like you didn't leave a few relevant facts out)

[BigT]

Obama's voice signals desperation.

[AnthonyD]

Oh my. Another Republican claiming he's gonna cut things.

[Killazontherun]

Cut PBS?!?!?! SOMALIA!

[Lost_In_Translation]

Subsidy to PBS and Obamacare, that's it folks, those are the only two things Romney will cut.

[John]

That is two more things that the last two Presidents ever cut. So there is that.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Really John, cant you admit it's pathetic?

[John]

I was being sarcastic. Yes it is pathetic. I would like to kill PBS as much as anyone. But it is hardly a courageous cut.

[John]

Have I missed it or has Obama not mentioned a single thing about what he has done the last four years? He sounds like a candidate and Romney sounds like the incumbent. It is just bizarre.

[Rich]

Mitt: "I'll combine agencies!"

[Calidissident]

Haha Romney's full of shit on all these promised cuts.

Note to Hitandrunpublicans: This is not an endorsement of Obama

[Calidissident]

You don't pay for tax cuts you moron

[Anonymous Coward]

Liar! All your wealth R belong to the government! They print it! It's theirs by right! They just let you hold it! And the more you keep, the less they have to spend on contraceptives and green cards and phones and solar panels!

You MUST pay for tax cuts!

[Xenocles]

When I took office we had a trillion-dollar deficit. So the first thing I did was spend $700 billion on signs for highway projects.

[John]

+100. And bought a bunch of used cars and destroyed them.

[Calidissident]

Your anti-fraud programs have cost more than the actual fraud caught. $50 billion dollars? Holy shit this dude's lying through his teeth!

[Rich]

Mitt's getting aggressive.

[AnthonyD]

where's virgil goode?

[Corning]

Peter Suderman@petersuderman
Romney will stop the PBS subsidy, which will save us all several pennies.

Screw you suderman. We covered this there is actual money size of government and scope of government.

The scope of government should not be providing news and entertainment.

[Xenocles]

Yeah, if you cut a program that's not big you're not serious. Or something.

[Calidissident]

True, but if that's one of his top two priorities for spending cuts, we're fucked

[Killazontherun]

It's four years in, President. You can't hand power off to Bush to deal with the responsibilities you are avoiding. So, what is the point of blaming him other than to deflect from your suck?

[Lost_In_Translation]

Neither jackass will address Medicare, social security or defense speeding, you can both go to hell.

[HazelMeade]

If I was Romney I would ask him what's in the deficit reduction plan on his website. Other than tax increases for the wealthy.

[HazelMeade]

Cause I don't think Obama actually knows what's in it.

[Rich]

He's a busy man, Hazel. He can't have details like that at his fingertips.

[Francisco d Anconia]

Skooolz!

[BigT]

Giant Douche wants taxes the same, Turd Sandwich wants to steal more of our money.

[wakeup]

Why the hell am I watching this?

[Anonymous Coward]

You enjoy pain but your domme was already booked for the evening?

[Gannicus]

I'm not a Mitt fan but I love seeing him give it to Obama.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Obama is a dissembling bastard bur he's good at baffling with bullshit.

[Almanian's Evil Twin]

The fucking Big Lebowski is on and you're here? Get with the program!

*back to The Dude*

[Archduke Pantsfan]

Forget it Donnie, you're out of your element!

[Francisco d Anconia]

almost over. on again at 9 mdt

[sloopyinca]

Romney is getting softballs and keeps fouling them off. He's just an awful candidate with no fresh ideas. Thanks, GOP. Ron Paul could have been on the stage right now beating Obama to death with actual policy proposals. Instead we end up with a retarded robot.

[John]

No Ron Paul would be up there scaring the shit out of the idiots who decide these elections. America's independent swing voters can't take actual substance. They have to be coddled and pandered too.

[Blueman]

Sad but true 🙁

[Xenocles]

John has a point. Remember that they're trying to appeal to people who are resolved to vote for one of them, but aren't sure which one yet.

[Lost_In_Translation]

For the love of god someone say something substantial

[SIV]

Obama's a Moor! From SPAIN!

[HazelMeade]

OMG! You're right! That was a racist code-phrase!

[SIV]

Dogs are howlin' to the whistle!

[SIV]

They can hear it even on the roofs of the Cadillacs

[Ted S.]

I'm sorry. The card says "Moops".

[PuffoPadrino]

My internet cut out for a minute. What are Simpson Balls?

[Hyperion]

We have to take a balanced approach. A balanced approach? WTF does that mean? Oh yeah, that's right, it means taxing us more and spending more. Fuck you Obama, you fucking douche bag.

[Calidissident]

I might be mistaken here, but aren't the "oil subsidies" nonrefundable deductions available to any other corporation?

[Rich]

Anecdote! DRINK!!

[Corning]

Bartel d'Arcy@barteldarcy
Who knew we'd get a long disquisition on the Laffer Curve? (Or that it would be so dull?) #debates

....

How old are you kid?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxPVyieptwA

[Jerry on the road]

You know who invests in Exxon Mobil, teacher pension funds!

[Calidissident]

MOAR MONEY FUR EDUCASHUN!

[Rich]

MOOR Money!

[John]

Just once I would love to hear someone ask a politician "what is the upper limit for education spending? 80% of GNP? 100%?"

[Rich]

There is no limit, John. You know that.

[BigT]

Obama is a bumbling moron without his 'prompter.

[SIV]

Matthew Feeney sez comparing US to a Euro country is a "cheap, dumb, lazy shot" by Mittens. Another Reason editor in the tank for TEAM BLUE.

[Killazontherun]

I saw that. What a what the fuck moment. He was comparing debt burdens. How is that a cheap, unfair shot?

[SIV]

Because Republicans are always worse than Democrats in reason-land. Especially when they draw blood.

[Killazontherun]

I don't know if I could make that general statement based on Feeney. I'm barely aware of his existence to make that call.

[Ken Shultz]

Obama is full of shit about the 30% cut on medicaid.

He's just making shit up.

[free2booze]

10 year old text books? The shame.

[Corning]

In 2005 they changed trig so the x axis is now called the z axis.

[Mickey Rat]

Great now all our buliding are sideways.

[BigT]

And a 100 yr old Constitution! Throw it out.

[Lost_In_Translation]

30% reduction in Medicaid, fuck yeah, guess I should vote for romney

[John]

If only Romney were the candidate the Dems are trying to convince us he is.

[Killazontherun]

Oh noes! Ten year old text books! This history of nineteenth century Europe is almost a hundred years old. I can feel the ignorance flowing through the outdated material without the happy kumbaya thrown in the modern text.

[Calidissident]

Autistic kids? Really? How low is this guy going to go?

[Hyperion]

If we get rid of revenue, that means we would have to get rid of a bunch of stuff. FUCK YES! Now there's an idea, let's get rid of a whole fucking bunch of worthess shit!

[sloopyinca]

Personally, I think Turd Sandwich is doing better than Giant Douche tonight.

[Archduke Pantsfan]

Which is which?

[sloopyinca]

Yes.

[BigT]

I'm in for the Douche!

[Lost_In_Translation]

Fucking nice shot Romney!

[Calidissident]

I hate Romney but Obama got pwned on the oil deductions

[Ken Shultz]

Obama is treating Romney like the incumbent.

Romney sitting there defending his policies like he's the incumbent with a record and Obama's the challenger.

[John]

It is strange isn't it?

[Paleo-ConAvenger]

Wow, Romney just handed Obama his own ass on the EVUL oil 'subsidies'

[BoscoH]

Actually, he handed him Obama Michelle's ass.

[Calidissident]

Oh so more money to Medicaid. What an awesome plan Romney!

[Lost_In_Translation]

Romney gets a nice rant in...golf clap

[Calidissident]

Unless they decide to legalize drugs, right Mittens?

[SIV]

I don't believe him but the Romney campaign claims marijuana is "only a state issue".

[Ken Shultz]

Who's picking the topics by the way?

These topics read like an indictment against Romney...

"Entitlements"

How can the subject of "entitlements" be a good topic for Romney in front of a general audience?

[Calidissident]

And this is supposed to mean what exactly?

[Ken Shultz]

Is it Lehrer?

Were the topic agreed on by the two campaigns?

Does someone in Romney's office need to get fired?

"Who's picking the topics?" means: Who's picking the topics?

[Calidissident]

I meant the last sentence

[Ken Shultz]

There isn't anything Republicans can say with the word "entitlements" in it that makes swing voters want to vote for them.

[Calidissident]

Only out of ignorance. Romney's not gonna do shit about entitlements

[Gannicus]

Anyone else think Jim Lehrer is useless here and sounds like a doddering old fool?

[Rich]

Who?

[Killazontherun]

Anecdote time! Making my mixer right now.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Government by anecdote

[Gannicus]

Glad we're talking about Obama's grandma as the country goes bankrupt.

[sloopyinca]

Wait, was that his black grandmother or his white grandmother?

[John]

The next section will be about Obama's children and how Romney screwed up his anniversary by demanding the debate be tonight.

[sloopyinca]

"Social Security is structurally sound."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. That's the funniest shit I've heard tonight.*

*Except for John's insanity, but that's funny in a sad way.

[John]

It is a good thing I don't get under your skin or anything Sloopy.

[Killazontherun]

You mean the American people had to absorb a burden you would not? Just bought ma a new roof, top that bitch!

[BelowTheRim]

"SS is structurally sound"
-Barry

Point Gun to head, commit self Jihad?

Thoughts?

[gaijin]

self jihad...I like it!

[HazelMeade]

The stupid tweets are really distracting. Just let us watch the fucking debate.

[HazelMeade]

Sorry I mean the tweets on the video stream.

[Corning]

Wwait where the fuck is this?

[HazelMeade]

http://www.youtube.com/politic.....-hp-ype-26

[Corning]

Thank you.

[Corning]

Why doesn't the reason staff just post their tweets in the comments?

[SIV]

Because they fear our superiority

[JeremyR]

Because blogs aren't hip any more, twitter is.

[Somalian Road Corporation]

As far as I know Twitter still has yet to figure out how to turn a profit, so I'm waiting with bated breath for their VC pile to run out.

[Calidissident]

We all know the best way to lower costs is to have more government control. And I'm being serious. Death panels here we come!

[Lost_In_Translation]

60 or older, no need to turn up your hearing aid

[Hyperion]

Romney is really fucking with Obama, I am a little impressed. Obama is keeping cool though, even though he is coming off as stupid for anyone that isn't a retarded partisan hack.

[John]

Obama is stupid. Romney is a slimy politician and will probably sell the country down the river, but I wouldn't call him stupid. Obama is dumb as a post. He really is just not that bright or agile on his feet.

[Hyperion]

It's not so much that he's dumb John, it's that he has bought into the failed ideaology of progressivism and he can't let go of it even though he really no longer cares because he is wealthy now and it doesn't affect him at all.

[John]

Defending the indefensible has a way of making you look stupid.

[Hyperion]

It is having that effect right before our very eyes now.

[gaijin]

for anyone that isn't a retarded partisan hack.

So, for 47% of the population then? 😉

[Rich]

Romney needs to goose it *way* up.

[Lost_In_Translation]

The key is to just roll with the words even if they make no sense.

[Gannicus]

So 98% of the country thinks he's not coming off stupid?

[Lost_In_Translation]

Young people, your fucked...love Romney

[Skip]

Half the Daily Kos morons are saying Obama is off tonight and the other half are blaming the moderator. When even Obama's loyalest idiots are saying Romney is winning, its hard to deny.

[John]

If reality is so persuasive it has infiltrated the KOS hive, this must be going very badly for Obama.

[Paleo-ConAvenger]

My facebook feed has gone full, fucking retarded.

[Ted S.]

As I said above, this is what you get for having a facepants feed in the first place.

[Corning]

Bush lost, terribly, the first debate against Kerry

Tied or lost by a small margin the second debate.

And won by a small margin the 3rd debate.

I am no sure these things matter. I guess we will see.

[John]

The national journal poll has Romney and Obama tied nationally with a +9 Dem sample. The current politco poll has Romney up 4 in the swing states with a more reasonable +4 Dem sample.

Romney has been slowly and consistently closing the gap in even the overly weighted Dem polls for about a month. These might actually matter this year.

[Skip]

Even better, Andrew Sullivan is in full depressed mode.

[Lost_In_Translation]

How the fuck do you blame te moderator? He's said 5 words.

[John]

He has not asked Romney why he drinks the blood of children.

[Hyperion]

Romney is kicking his nuts, but have no doubt, it will all be explained away tomorrow by our always honest media.

[BigT]

Obama's a lazy shit. Lost without his security 'prompter.

[Paleo-ConAvenger]

Obama's best response: Uh.

[free2booze]

Well, if AARP says it's good for seniors, it must be true. Why would they lie?

[Calidissident]

OH MY GOD PAYING FOR DOCTORS VISITS! AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

[Killazontherun]

If it is so damn great, why wouldn't you want that to be the name for which it is known? I'll give him a little credit. Some of his partisans are batshit on the program's nick.

[free2booze]

If Obama keeps this bumbling up, his future pay day on the ex-president speaking tour is going down the drain.

[Rich]

Nah. He'll just resurrect "the accent".

[AnthonyD]

lol

[free2booze]

Where's yo dolla?

[Killazontherun]

Matt, are you paging shriek with that remark?

Matt Welch@mleewelch
RT @JimPethokoukis Obama Intrade contract dropping like a 2000 Internet stock after a "sell" by Mary Meeker

[free2booze]

Romney name dropping Bill Clinton's former chief of staff.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Medicare Has lower administrative costs because it pays vast amounts of fraud automatically.

[HazelMeade]

Yeah, Medicare is so efficient because there's no profit motive involved! That makes so much sense!

[Calidissident]

Why is it that in every other sector the profit motive encourages competition and more efficiency, lowering costs? What makes health care fundamentally different?

[Rich]

Because it's a *right*, duh.

[Jerry on the road]

Private insurers don't need to make a profit, they can be contributor owned.

[Hyperion]

Obama is stumbling and bumbling. This is the great orator that we constantly have to be reminded of? A solid debator that would pull no punches would destroy this guy like he was a 3rd grader in special ed.

[Calidissident]

A clear choice? Hahahahaha

[Killazontherun]

You needs the regulation, Cali.

[Killazontherun]

Without regulations babies spontaneously combust.

[neoteny]

+2^2^14-1

[Archduke Pantsfan]

Howard Stern should moderate a debate.
Or Tom Green.

[Rich]

Or hologram George Carlin.

[sticks]

I support Gilbert Godfrey as debate moderator.

[SIV]

Osama bin Laaaaaden!

[HazelMeade]

That would be interesting.

[Hyperion]

Adam Corolla as moderator has my vote.

[gaijin]

damn, guess my idea of opening a bank in my garage will have to be rethought under a romney admin.

[Calidissident]

Wow what a strong defense of the free-market there Romney

[Lost_In_Translation]

Romney is doing better than any other time I've ever seen him (yes, very low bar)

[Corning]

It is probably only because of the guy he is standing next to.

Obama has not been challenged on his record his entire life let alone by the media in the past 4 years.

He is not ready for this.

Goldwater's corpse would look good next to Obama in a debate.

[AuH2O]

I resemble that remark!

[free2booze]

Romney knows where Obama is going to try to hit him, and preferences his comments before Obama can get a word in.

[Francisco d Anconia]

Regulashun!

[16th amendment]

Romney is wrong. If you want to open a bank in your garage, you should be able to do it. Most customers will walk away, but that's an example of unnecessary regulation.

[Francisco d Anconia]

IOW

R=D

[16th amendment]

They're not identical. I agree with Romney's points on the big banks, and other examples of unnecessary regulation. Just not the bank in your garage.

[Calidissident]

Repeal and replace? Romney's favorite phrase. I really wish he would stop after the first word. But I guess that can't be expected from a general election candidate of one of the two main parties

[Fist of Etiquette]

Did Ron Paul delegates try to take over the debate yet?

[Killazontherun]

There is suppose to be a little fat kid who jumps on the stage and faithhills.

[Brian D]

Obama admitted that some people got home loans who shouldn't have?

RACIST!

[MWG]

Te HR comments are bad enough. I can't image watching the damn thing LIVE.

[Rich]

HEY!!

[MWG]

It's like watching people describe the taste of a shit sandwich. At first it's interesting but after 10 mins or so it just becomes tedious.

I can't image what it must be like to actually consume the shit sandwich.

[Rich]

Well ... OK.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Battery dying on iPhone, god speed reason commenters

[Calidissident]

But remember everyone, Romney's a raging free-market advocate who's going to lift the chains of regulation off of businesses

[John]

It is funny isn't it? Romney might take the federal government's foot slightly off the economy's throat (for a short time in measures that will be sunseted so that the economy always knows the boot can get tighter)and he is some kind of a free market crazy.

The sad fact is that the country is so hard working and generally productive even that would probably cause a boom. Our politicians don't deserve the country the get to rule over.

[VG Zaytsev]

Here's the thing though.

Lift the boot a few inches and the economy will do a lot better. And then someone else comes along and says "hey lifting the boot 3" did X, let's try lifting it another 3". We need to get into a virtuous spiral and the hardest part of any journey is the first step. At leas Romney is talking about taking the first step.

[Calidissident]

Except there will be more regulations at the end of a Mitt Romney presidency than there will be at the beginning. Guaranfuckingteed

[BigT]

Red tie= Team Red!

[HazelMeade]

gah, pandering to seniors on medicare.

[Hyperion]

Obama is now explaining why we are in this crisis. This is interesting. FTW? It was your party Odumbo that got us into the housing bubble that you are blaming? He also just lied about what Romney said 2 minutes ago. He is really fucking up here, lol. This is a fucking disaster for the Dems and the retarded electorate will still elect this guy!

[HazelMeade]

this isn't going to be Romney's best segment. He can't give a coherent argument about what's wrong with ObamaCare.

[Ken Shultz]

He can say it should be handled by the states.

[Hyperion]

Actually, the bipartisan point was pretty good, no matter how bad Romney care sucks as well. Obama can't defend that they passed the shit without any support from half of the country.

[Gannicus]

I can't imagine anyone ever liking this man.

[Hyperion]

Which one? I work with people who think that Obama is the Christ.

[Killazontherun]

So Romney's alternative to Obamacare is Romneycare, or as I like to call it, Obamacare.

Obomneycare, Jesse.

[BobFromGilroy]

Someone pass me a butter knife.

[Rich]

"Go get the butter."

[HazelMeade]

Oh yeah, the rebates. Obama : Hey I got you that check, mofo's, vote for me!

[Killazontherun]

ewwww -- told that senior off. Cost points in the AARP crowd.

[Calidissident]

Is not raising taxes for a program that costs a lot of money really supposed to be an accomplishment?

[free2booze]

Obama looks PISSED

[MWG]

The democrats on my Facebook news feed have gone silent. Obama must be doing pretty bad.

[Francisco d Anconia]

Goddamn! Is Obama going to cry? He really is getting his ass handed to him.

[BoscoH]

Actually, that's Michelle's ass being handed to him. On his 20th anniversary.

[Caleb Turberville]

Ross Perot, we need you!

[Calidissident]

False dichotomy much?

[Ken Shultz]

Romney's got a problem talking about ObamaCare, but Obama's gotta problem, too.

[Lisa]

I wish Romney would just say "ok, my bad on Romneycare. Obamacare still sucks"

[John]

IF he did that, I think he would be up by 10 points.

[VG Zaytsev]

Yep, he should say "I thought it was a good idea but I was wrong. And Mr President, I learn from my mistakes.

BTW, that last sentence is game changer in the league of Their you go again.

[Killazontherun]

Ed Krayewski@edkrayewski
Jim Lehrer needs to yell out "BORED NOW" and ask a new question

[Jerry on the road]

Run around with 10 tests, what does that even mean?

[OldMexican]

I'm watching Cajun Pawn Stars, by the way.

[SIV]

Shit, that show isn't even from Cajun country.

[Calidissident]

Damn Obama's looking bad right now

[Ken Shultz]

Somebody want to factcheck what Obama's saying about the Cleveland Clinic?

There was a staff post here at H and R way back--that said the Cleveland Clinic gave ObamaCare a thumbs down!

[HazelMeade]

The Cleveland Clinic is a private organization.

[Ken Shultz]

That's right!

And they said ObamaCare was a mistake!

And if Obama's saying that the Cleveland Clinic is offering the same care for less?

Then maybe we should get rid of ObamaCare and privatize the whole mess!

[Ken Shultz]

Obama just shot himself in the foot!

And Romney is calling him on it.

Romney's right.

[HazelMeade]

I'd like to see Romney pivot to the entitlement society at this point.
Start talking about free birth control pills and zero-co-pays.

[16th amendment]

Yep, Romney is on fire. But he missed one other big difference between Romneycare and Obamacare. Waivers. More: a special deal for the state of Nebraska (the Cornhusker kickback), special deals for drug makers.

[BigT]

I know Cleveland Clinic. Cheaper??? Hahahaha

[Ken Shultz]

They are!

And that's an indictment of ObamaCare!

If a non-government entity can do it for cheaper, then why are we are getting the government involved?

[Ken Shultz]

And there ain't nobody complaining about the quality of care at the Cleveland Clinic.

[Rich]

Again with the rebates.

[HazelMeade]

That's right, mofo, I scratch your back, you scratch mine. Pay the fuck up.

[Rich]

Again with the rebates.

[Killazontherun]

That sounded like a hostage situation more than a plan to govern.

[John]

Doesn't "hostage situation" kind of describe a second Obama term?

[Killazontherun]

Pretty much. Repeal Obamacare, death in the streets.

[John]

Then there is the debt ceiling. Wait until he ignores that. "America, I can borrow as much as I want in your name and there is nothing you can do about it". He thought about doing it before. In a second term I bet he would tell Congress to fuck off and tell Geitner to keep borrowing and Bernake to keep printing.

[Calidissident]

Repealing a program that hasn't even gone into effect is going to result in 50 million people losing insurance?

[Hyperion]

You apparently have not been reading any posts on HuffPo for the last year. 40 million people died in the streets last year for lack of health care insurance. 90% of them were women and childins.

[Archduke Pantsfan]

This knife I was cutting myself isn't rusty enough
Can I have another?

[BobFromGilroy]

And to think, this debate almost pulled me away from Wednesday night degenerate last-few-games-of-the-year that-are-mostly-meaningless-MLB-gambling

[Archduke Pantsfan]

Soldering irons in my ears, Fish forks in my eyes.
Make it stop.

[Francisco d Anconia]

UGHHH! Pre-existing cundishuns!

[Killazontherun]

Oh my gawd! Largest expansion of fascism.

[Calidissident]

The government has a very different definition of "private" than you and I

[Killazontherun]

I've noticed. The insurance companies don't even have to beg for my money now if I don't want to go on the shitty public dole.

[Caleb Turberville]

Anyone looking forward to the Veep debates?

[Calidissident]

I look forward to any time Joe Biden talks in public

[Francisco d Anconia]

You think this is an ass-kicking? That will be comedic.

[John]

Oh my God. That is going to be beyond parody.

[Archduke Pantsfan]

Very much so!

[Corning]

No.

I kind of like what Biden has become.

Watching Ryan tear him several new assholes is just a bit too sadistic for me.

[Beefkins]

The VP debate should just be Joe Biden talking to himself.

[ant1sthenes]

Is there a mercy rule in political debates?

[Ken Shultz]

Obama's admitting that ObamaCare sucks--he's just saying that whatever Romney wants sucks worse?

Not impressed.

[hamilton]

Holy shit I made it over an hour. What do I win? God I hate these guys... but loooove Berkshire Mountain gin. Will use as my debate med of choice for the next 3.

[Jerry on the road]

Man, Michelle better give some to Omama tonight or this is going to be one hell of a night for him.

[Killazontherun]

Why would you wish physical contact with Mooch on anybody?

[Draco]

Mitt gives a shout out to free people and free markets finding solutions (in the context of health care)... and the Reason editors studiously ignore it, because it doesn't fit the narrative that they are both big government bums.

[Calidissident]

Or because his past actions (and many of his other words) contradict those words?

[darius404]

Maybe because rhetoric about freedom doesn't change that he's a big government bum? Do you pay any actual attention to his policy proposals?

[Ken Shultz]

Tell him how to be president, Romney!

Tell him how to work with Tip O'Neal!

That was awesome.

Tell Obama how to be president. Tell him about principles.

Total score!

[John]

That is brutal.

[Archduke Pantsfan]

REAGAN

[Brian D]

Romney cites the 10th Amendment? Then what's all this 'repeal and replace' bullshit re: Obamacare, Willard?

[ant1sthenes]

Isn't he proposing to basically let the states handle it?

[BobFromGilroy]

Rick Perry is not impressed with this debate

[Killazontherun]

But how does Mckayla feel about it?

[BobFromGilroy]

She is balls deep with Jay Cutler

[Rich]

Government is on a roll!

[Ken Shultz]

The first, most important job of the federal government is to protect our rights.

If Romney says that?

[HazelMeade]

Liberty vs. Security, right there.

[HazelMeade]

If Romney quoted Washinton on that right now, it would kill.

[free2booze]

"The first role of the federal government is to keep people safe"

Ambassador Stevens must not have been an American

[Draco]

Ouch!!!

[HazelMeade]

Lol, they turned the tweets off on the livestream.

[Corning]

wht?!?!

I would love to know why.

Were the Obama fluffers yelling at the moderator?

[HazelMeade]

Maaybe they were getting a lot of negative comments.

[Rich]

"First, get a hundred thousand math and science teachers."

[Calidissident]

MOAR TEACHURS!

[Archduke Pantsfan]

MATT DAMON!!!

[Brian D]

So Romney stated how necessary government regulations are, and Obama gave a shout out to the genius of the free enterprise system. Did they both forget which team they're on?

[Archduke Pantsfan]

The same team?

[goneGalt]

We.Are.Doomed!

[HazelMeade]

Fuck, yeah. ... except for the stuff about the military..

[Hyperion]

Yeah, if Romney could have kept his mouth shut about the military and the middle east and stopped acting like such a whiney bipartisan pussy later on, it would have been a totally owned Obama arse performance.

[John]

I have got to hand it to Obama. I don't think anyone has ever thought of spending more money on education or hiring more teachers before now.

[Mensan]

Romney: The right to pursue happiness = welfare.

[HazelMeade]

yeah, really ... he started off good and then he started blathering

[Calidissident]

Of course we can't cut one dollar from the military Willard. Not a single dollar or the terrorists will get us.

[John]

We need to elect someone who has actually been in the military. Not a general. But someone who has at least been a part of the organization and understands how bloated it is and how the generals will never think they have enough money.

[Calidissident]

Gee if only there was someone who was in the military running this year (and I'm not talking about Rick Perry)

[Mensan]

Sorry, I'm not 35 yet.

[Caleb Turberville]

Nobody - in any organization whatsoever, but especially governmental agencies - thinks they have enough money.

[John]

True. And no one ever got promoted in government by cutting costs.

[Ted S.]

Some repuslive piece of shit named McCain who was in the military ran four years ago.

[John]

And defense spending would have been one of the few things he did right.

[16th amendment]

The constitution says to promote the general welfare, not provide for it. Romney is a mix of promote and provide.

[John]

It is provide for the common defense and promote the general welfare.

[Mensan]

Federal school voucher?

[Draco]

Mitt just said that people should have the freedom to care for each other, but not that they should be forced to by government. How can we argue with that?

[VG Zaytsev]

Team Orange will find a way!

[16th amendment]

Nah, federal government needs to get totally out of education. Where are you Gary Johnson?

[free2booze]

At least Romney's running mate put out a budget

[Rich]

"Take *my* budget. Please!"

[Calidissident]

I feel so bad for the people who grew up before the 1980's. It must have been hell growing up in an America with no federal Department of Education. It's a wonder anyone from that time can even read or write

[John]

America had no middle class and only the super rich who had private tutors could read. Didn't you know that?

[Hyperion]

It was the only taste of freedom that I have ever known. There is still freedom in other countires, despite the rah rah Team America myth, but not here. We live under a totalitarian regime.

[Hyperion]

Good God, Obama the great orator has been reduced to a merely blabbering moron on national TV. WTF O? You admitting that the government has a limited role? You admitting that free enterprise is the best solution? WTF dude, defend your progressivism, you fucking pussy!

Oh God, hire more teachers, vomit. We don't need more teachers, we need more people who are willing to learn and pull their own weight in life instead of depending on government.

[Archduke Pantsfan]

He's saving it for next time

[HazelMeade]

He's saying "scratch my back, teachers unions, scratch my back".

[db]

So how's it going, guys? Just takin' a bathroom break while watching Archer, season 1.

[Draco]

Of course, to be fair, Barry also said that the genius of America is her free enterprise system. He was right, but he was also saying something he clearly doesn't really believe.

[Hyperion]

Exactly

[Ken Shultz]

Obama can't imagine how jobs could be created without the federal government.

Get businesses involved in community colleges?

Yeah, right, that's how jobs are created--government assistance to community colleges?

Because the businesses wouldn't know who to hire if the government didn't tell them to go recruit from community colleges?

Obama is an oaf. He's an oaf, and he's a jackass.

[Hyperion]

He's also fucking up this debate beyond the wildest dreams of red team hacks.

[Ken Shultz]

I think so, too.

I think it was a poor showing for Obama.

He came across as confused and convoluted and stale.

[Draco]

Did you notice how many times he nodded his head with regret that Mitt was speaking the truth?

[Killazontherun]

nickgillespie@nickgillespie
Obama has gotta be rethinking the decision to go to this rather than Applebees on his anniversary. #debates

[Caleb Turberville]

Let me guess the general gist of Obama and Romney's points: Obama doesn't think Americans can run their own lives, and Romney didn't make a convincing argument that he believes much differently.

[Calidissident]

That's actually spot on. Can't sum it up better myself

[Ken Shultz]

I think Romney is giving Obama an ass kicking.

He could still blow it, but I think he's scoring some points here.

He's not libertarian good, but he's kicking Obama's ass.

[HazelMeade]

True. He's winning the stupid bullshit pandering contest, but I can't say he's done a good job defending liberty.

[Ken Shultz]

Right

If they're playing for undecideds, I think Romney won.

[HazelMeade]

Yeah, that's pretty accurate.

[Killazontherun]

Fuck green energy; I want real horsepower worthy of a modern economy, and not just the Amish.

[Killazontherun]

Wattage, horsepower, whatevs, I'm wasted.

[Whahappan?]

Actually, watts and horsepower are both units of power, one horsepower = 746 watts, iirc, so you're right either way.
/pedant

[Killazontherun]

's alright, we're good.

[Jesus H. Christ]

Just got here.

Did I miss anything??

[db]

Just watched the 2nd half of Archer Season 1. Too bad you missed that.

[Archduke Pantsfan]

awww shit I just watched that last week

[Calidissident]

Partisan gridlock is not the problem. Decades of bipartisan fuckery is the problem

[Francisco d Anconia]

Fuck. Shaking his head? Looking down. He looks like a whipped puppy.

[Killazontherun]

Katherine Mangu-Ward@kmanguward
FACTCHECK: Lehrer did NOT do a great job. #liar

[Corning]

I am confused about that. Is she saying people blaming Lehrer for Obama's poor debate performance are lying?

Or is she saying something else?

This is why I hate twitter.

[Killazontherun]

She's just saying that Lehrer had no control over either candidate in going off the format trail.

[darius404]

She's riffing off of the "factchecks" of opinions at the RNC convention.

[HazelMeade]

Obama's giving Romney a dirty look .

[Archduke Pantsfan]

The lefties on my tweetbox have Obama winning, and the rightdroids have Romney winning.
That means everyone loses.

[Hyperion]

I don't give a fuck about Romney or Obama, they both suck.

That being said, anyone who thinks Obama won that debate are beyond help.

[Archduke Pantsfan]

Michael Moore is apoplectic that Obama lost. He's freaking out.
It's hilarious

[darius404]

Was the result ever in doubt?

[HazelMeade]

Ok, Obama got a laugh from me.

[Killazontherun]

That was bitchy. Democrats you sit down with wont be pleased!

[Rich]

"We won."

[Brian D]

"But pay no attention to the 2010 election results."

[HazelMeade]

I thought it was funny.

[free2booze]

Obama translation: "I'll take ideas from anyone as long as they are in lock step with my ideology".

[Jerry on the road]

Obama and his ladders to nowhere. *sigh*

[BigT]

Obama owned!

[Killazontherun]

In the heart of kittens and puppies everywhere.

[Calidissident]

I love how Obama defines his disputes with Republicans. So objective about what the debate was about

[John]

He wanted to save the country. He had big plans.

[John]

Wow Facebook is eerily quiet. The liberals are not saying a word.

[Auric Demonocles]

Someone I know said "Romney, shut the front door." Because apparently debates shouldn't involve one of the two guys in it talking.

[John]

Not if it is hate speech

[Killazontherun]

One of my fellow Carolinians went back to school for her daughter! What a great reason to vote Obama.

[free2booze]

Why didn't Obama defend his record on green energy?

[Jesus H. Christ]

Why doesn't Jerry Sandusky defend his record on child care?

[Corning]

Matt Welch@mleewelch
RT @MMFlint This is what happens when u pick John Kerry as your debate coach.

yeah that must be why every left winger on the planet said Kerry won all three debates

Mike Moore is an idiot.

[Draco]

One last chance for Mitt to mention "didn't build that" in his closing remarks... wait for it...

[Mensan]

Right now Obama is looking and sounding like a beaten man. Did Romney actually do well, and I somehow missed it? Or did Barry just suddenly realize how much he sucks?

[Hyperion]

Mittens done well at times, but sucked balls at other times. But Obama just got teabagged period.

[Francisco d Anconia]

The latter.

[Killazontherun]

He was smooth in his performance through out, but often his arguments did not connect, at least with me. They are likely poll tested out the yang yang so I'm likely not the target audience of undecided voters.

[John]

How stupid do you have to be to not have an opinion about these two guys by now?

[Killazontherun]

Personally, I can safely vote for Johnson without any worry that I will tip the scales for Obama. North Carolina is not in play, so no reason to stress out on one cycle pragmatism versus long term principle.

But if Obama is reelected that is the end of the Dhimmis. Their mooch ethic is much too blatant now, and only will get worse over the coming years if they have any chance of keeping the remainder of their voters. Why else would you offer something as bizarre as free birth control as an entitlement if you are not desperate?

[free2booze]

I'd fight every single day for the middle class, as long as it doesn't interfere with my golf game

[Hyperion]

Now the big O is talking about the middle class again. This fucking liar hates the middle class and wants nothing more than for them to go away. Middle class does not exist under progressivism. Socialism cannot exist with a middle class. Middle class is purely a creation of free markets.

[Rich]

"I'll fight every single day."

Nice plan.

[ChrisO]

"I'll fight every single day...between golf games."

[Calidissident]

So Obama didn't talk about anything he did in the last four years, beyond vague generalities? So surprising

[HazelMeade]

Motherfuckers, the cut off the livestream before Romney gave his closing remarks

[Lisa]

I would vote for Romney simply because he doesn't have a pseudo-just-folks voice.

[Archduke Pantsfan]

It's OVER!

[Killazontherun]

Did Romney just say 'each state crap their own program'? Could have sworn I heard 'crap.'

[ChrisO]

I was wondering just where all those awesome programs came from.

[Caleb Turberville]

Wolf Blizter, hipster glasses?

[Fluffy]

You guys are almost making me wish I didn't watch Apollo 13 for the 50th time.

The funny thing here is Mitt got destroyed in every GOP debate, but appears to be beating Obama like Rodney King out there tonight.

[John]

Moving into a lighter weight class will do that.

[HazelMeade]

You're on a right-leaning blog, I suspect the people on DailyKos thoguht Obama killed.

[Fluffy]

No, I've been trolling around the web in general.

[John]

Yeah. Even the Dems are acting disappointed. Obama looked terrible. He looked confused and Romney looked sharp.

[HazelMeade]

I can't say I disagree. But I'm trying to avoid confirmation bias.

[John]

When MSNBC is saying obama had a bad night, he had a bad night.

[Ken Shultz]

Both of the guys on PBS are more or less saying that Romney won.

David Brooks, the guy that's supposed to be from the right says Romney won. The guy that's from the left (Mark Shields) says that Obama didn't do as well as he'd hoped.

LOL

[Corning]

There is something to be said about not beating up on your own party...

He did win the party nomination by not beating Republicans up.

[Lucy Steigerwald]

Oh my God, "Apollo 13" is like the best movie ever. POLITICS IS NOTHING COMPARED TO THAT, NOTHING.

[Brian D]

Gary Johnson may have won the debate without even being there.

[Hyperion]

Yeah, there was this talk about smaller limited government and free enterprise, even though there wasn't one non-statist fucktard on the stage. This is the beginning of us winning folks, because socialism doesn't work, and the interwebs, and fried chicken.

[Killazontherun]

I don't do handshakes unless circumstances force it. In that situation I would have wiggled my middle finger into my opponents palm to make his butthole tingle.

Diane Sawyer did the drinking game with us.

[Montani Semper Liberi]

I'll be voting for Johnson if I can pull myself away from Assassin's Creed 3 long enough on election day, but Obama got owned tonight.

[Hyperion]

Is it that good? I am gaming up on my puter cause wifey is away for 3 weeks and I can't get bored lest I drank and whore myself to death.

[Francisco d Anconia]

Okay, just switched over to MSNBC. This should be good.

[Archduke Pantsfan]

Sadist

[Francisco d Anconia]

Wow. Ed Schultz just dissed Obama.

[SIV]

Ed Krayewski too.

[Killazontherun]

Wa?a?!?

[goneGalt]

Shultz: "The President was diasappointing tonight."

[goneGalt]

Not at all. We will either get yummy tears or a reality distortion field.

[goneGalt]

Yup, Tweety is ragging on Obama now!

[Francisco d Anconia]

Fucking Matthews is fucking ranting. This is truly entertaining.

[Archduke Pantsfan]

I can't bring myself to find out what channel MSNBC is on my cable box

[Caleb Turberville]

Wow. Let me guess: re-election jitters?

[Archduke Pantsfan]

It was Lehrer's fault.

[Caleb Turberville]

Lehrer probably agrees. He'll call Obama in a few minutes to apologize for being so tough on him.

[HazelMeade]

Lehrer was trying to help him out.

Thing is that Romney took control of the debate. They ended up not talking about anything *except* economics, the whole 1.5 hours, because Romney wouldn't shut up about it.

[HazelMeade]

Incidentally, dear Gary Johnson, you could take some lesson from him. Never let the moderator stop you. Keep talking until he cuts your mic off.

[Brian D]

Chrissy Matthews is about to cry. 😀

[Rich]

That tingle went somewhere else.

[Francisco d Anconia]

Yummy tears!

[Hyperion]

Yes, yummy delicious proglodyte tears and fried chicken, and beer. It doesn't get any better than this.

[HazelMeade]

So did Romney talk about anything except un-cutting Medicare and un-cutting defense in his last 2 minutes?

[HazelMeade]

Now all that's left is to wait for the ultra-instant-polls from the focus groups.

[Fluffy]

That debate asskicking - you didn't build that.

[SIV]

My liberal friends are all depressed and pining for Clinton.
Mittens beat him like a rented mule

[Kaptious Kristen]

Who the hell let the Detroit Tigers in here?

[Fluffy]

Obama is probably thinking, "Aw, man, now I gotta go home and have the Cloverfield monster yell at me for fucking up again."

Sorry, man.

[John]

And when she is done with him, Valerie Jerret is on the calendar. I really do feel sorry for the bastard some days.

[SIV]

He can retire to some fine choom and surfing soon. Wait, he is from Hawaii and doesn't surf?

[John]

You really have to be a nut to be President. If you were him and you could not run for re-election and live your life on the North Shore of Oahu smoking choom and watching the tide come in, how nuts would you have to be to put yourself through this?

[Killazontherun]

There was a moment when I thought I saw the old Choom Gang in his eyes.

[Francisco d Anconia]

Him and Charlie.

[Cytotoxic]

You know how to make me laugh!

[Calidissident]

Absolute gold from the Huffington Post comments:

"I keep hearing pundits talk about all the specifics Romney gave tonight and after watching the entire debate I didn't see any. All I heard was everything has to be privatized...and my questions is, when you privatize something, don't you have the problem of a business trying to maximize their profits and screw over the people?"

[Cytotoxic]

You and I have a different definition of 'gold'. I used to laugh at that now it makes me afraid and angry.

[Calidissident]

I guess I'm still in the laugh phase

[Francisco d Anconia]

And there you have it.

[db]

Screwing the people who pay for your top line = maximizing profits?

Not for very long.

[SIV]

HuffPo comments make youtube comments look insightful.

[Archduke Pantsfan]

HuffPo comments make youtube 4chancomments look insightful.

[HazelMeade]

Yeah, things are always so much more efficient when you eliminate the profit motive.

[Calidissident]

As I was reading this comment my thought train went like this: "Well that's bullshit, Romney's not gonna privatize shit and he didn't even promise much ... WHAT ... THE ... FUCK?" This is one of the stupidest comments I've ever read on a political blog. And that's saying something

[Hyperion]

Yes, and also the fact that government would never consider screwing over the people, and in fact that has never, ever happened in all of history, or the fact that they have force to insure the screwing over, that doesn't concern me at all.

[ant1sthenes]

See, profits are a special kind of income that make people act greedy, unlike normal income like all the overpaid fucks in government make.

[Archduke Pantsfan]

Fans of Sesame Street think Obama won

[goneGalt]

Maddow and O'Donnell are deep inside the Obama reality distortion field.

[Calidissident]

Anyone who played the drinking game has to be dead by now

[Hyperion]

I was too busy relishing in Obamas misery that I didn't drink enough to enduce death.

[ChrisO]

Romney is a slippery SOB who is a master of taking all sides of an issue, and he destroyed Obama tonight. Obama often sounded like he didn't know what he was talking about, and he seemed tired and listless by comparison.

Ultimately, Teams Red and Blue will see what they want to see, but Romney certainly made a much better presentation. It would have been helpful to have Gary Johnson there, if just to call both these guys on their bullshit.

[FD]

Instead of watching these clowns, I watched the other clowns who usually reside at Fenway Park.
Anyway, although right leaning, you folks usually don't pull punches, so I assume Romney did better than the White House occupier. All I care about is making Matthews and Maddow squirm a bit while they insist that their man won.
Was this just mano-a-mano with Lehrer questioning and no audience, or were the left and right contigent of sycophants in chairs, cheering at every jab?

[ChrisO]

Not much audience response. Lehrer had a hard time getting a word in edgewise, and he generally let them go at each other and didn't try to get in the way. Romney seemed more able to take command of the debate flow.

[FD]

Thanks.

[John]

My God. I just flipped by MSNBC. Chris Mathews needs a hug.

[goneGalt]

Matthews is near tears, Shultz wants to punch somebody, Maddow is looking for the pony in the dung pile.

[HazelMeade]

The pony is his line about how he's going to have a hard time sitting down with Democrats on "Day One" if he's also repealing ObamaCare that day.

That made ME laugh.

[goneGalt]

True Dat. Was his best line of the night.

[Archduke Pantsfan]

Schadenfreude ist die schoenste Freude

[ant1sthenes]

Damn, right now I wish I had cable.

[Bruce Majors for Congress (DC)]

Wear a rubber apron

[Ice Nine]

MSNBC is so much fun right now.

Also, Sharpton's head is way too big. Literally.

[Francisco d Anconia]

He lost about 100 lbs. I saw him in an airport about 5 years ago and he was the size of a small moon. AIDS?

[Caleb Turberville]

Question that will unfortunately never be asked: "What is your position on Kirk vs. Picard?" Would tell you a lot about the candidate.

[Francisco d Anconia]

Picard never fucked a green chick.

Questions?

[Tulpa Doom]

Yeah, well Kirk never penetrated a subordinate in the Jefferies Tube.

[Ken Shultz]

Two words: mandatory. miniskirts.

In your heart, you know he was right.

[Hyperion]

FTW? Are you serious? Kirk would kick that bald headed manginas arse all over the galactisphere.

[Mensan]

Neither of them could make the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs.

[Tulpa Doom]

Wow, 500 comments! Was dunphy here?

[Hyperion]

No dunphy sightings as far as I am aware. He was too busy beating up some pot smokers and shooting puppies.

[Cytotoxic]

Dunphy is not like other cops.

[Mensan]

He shoots the pot smokers and beats up the puppies.

[HazelMeade]

WHere are the insta-polls? I have to know what the insta-polls say before I go ot bed!!!

[HazelMeade]

It's been a whole 25 minutes!!!

[shamalam]

I have been hearing from the political experts on teevee that Romney is losing and this debate is his last chance to trun things around.

I think Romney did better than Obama; that could be because I am predisposed to the professed principles of economic conservatism, which is not to be confused with conservatives' actual practices. I don't think Romney "knocked it out of the park", though. I see this as a close victory for Romney, hence if the political expert are correct then Obama is still winning in November.

[ChrisO]

I disagree. I think Romney turned around the narrative with this debate.

I mean, obviously the shiftless SOB doesn't mean a word he says, but just in terms of the presidential horse race Romney probably got a huge benefit from this debate.

[Ken Shultz]

I think a lot of swing voters aren't necessarily the smartest people in the world, they tend to root for whomever they think is going to win the Superbowl if you know what I mean. Sometimes, they might even switch the team they're rooting for--right in the middle of the Superbowl, just 'cause the want to have been rooting for the winner...

Romney just made a lot of headway with those folks. A lot of people just don't want to vote for the loser, and they're gonna hear tomorrow a lot about how Romney didn't lose the 3rd Quarter.

[FD]

Do these damn things even make a difference? I'm serious. You mean that there really are folks that believe these dances indicate governing capability, and they haven't decided, prior to tonight, who the hell to vote for yet? You gotta be kidding.

[Auric Demonocles]

There are people still polling as undecided the day before the election.

[Tybus]

I would be one of those. I'm undecided whether to drag my ass out of bed and vote gj or not if I'm in town.

[Killazontherun]

They are lying to you. Obama was dog shit awful.

[Ken Shultz]

You know what it is?

Obama's great when he's staring straight into a TV camera, and there isn't anyone there to call him on his bullshit.

When he has to actually answer questions and make sense--with someone else that's going to challenge him on the facts of his presidency and policies?

He's not so good at that.

[Tulpa Doom]

Certainly we have the technology to build a teleprompter that gives backtalk by now.

[Ken Shultz]

I heard he's been using Kerry as his debate coach.

Kerry was faulted for not being aggressive enough in the debates, which may have left Obama with not much in the way of an aggressive backtalk gizmo.

He needs to dial it up to eleven.

[Tulpa Doom]

He used the last Democrat to lose a presidential election as his coach? What a talent evaluator.

[Hyperion]

Obama is a progessive. In a progressive utopia you don't have to defend your positions. This is exactly what progressives are trying to implement.

I have a story to tell you about Obamacare. And I will spare you that for now. If you are doing well, it will fuck you over. If you aren't, it rewards you. I can back this up with detailed real world facts if anyone is interested. Like all progressive doctrine, Obamacare punishes success and rewards apathy or failure. If you are sufficiently wealthy like Obama, it will not affect you at all, but may insure you power and elitism.

[Tulpa Doom]

Looks like the MSM spin doctor editors are going to have a late night making this look like an Obama victory.

[HazelMeade]

I wouldn't be surprised if they did.

[Paleo-ConAvenger]

The Facebook clan has been at it since 7:30...

[HazelMeade]

So, WTF, doesn't CNN usually have a focus group full of swing voters watching the debate ready to comment on who they thought "won" ?

[HazelMeade]

Funny thing is that the media's desire for a horserace is fighting their desire for an Obama victory.

It's more dramatic if Romney "comes from behind". It's boring if the election is over already. So they're actually pumping a Romney "come back".

[Ken Shultz]

LOL

[Auric Demonocles]

Thank god Santorum didn't get the nomination.

[Tulpa Doom]

Santorum always comes from behind.

[HazelMeade]

Dear God, I'm watching CNN. When did James Carville go senile? Is he wearing dentures? Did he forget to put them in?

[Killazontherun]

My first real schadenfreude of the evening.

Cutter takes swipe at Lehrer...

http://www.politico.com/blogs/.....37444.html

[Randian]

MSNBC is trying really hard to rehab this by saying that the President " lost" because Romney lies so much and Obama was too noble to call him on it.

This was, simply put, a shellacking.

[Francisco d Anconia]

Who is this Plouffe? WOW! Talk about spin.

[Bruce Majors for Congress (DC)]

He's Carville's little gay cousin

[Calidissident]

Only Romney lied. Obama really did cut $50 billion in Medicare fraud

[wingnutx]

Intrade has gone berserk.

[Virtually.Angry]

There's the poll results on CNN. 67% for Romney and 25% for Obama among registered voters.

[Hyperion]

25% of peeps think that Obama won this debate? Good Gawd, I against my strongest sense of self mental preservation listened to the entire thing. Obama got fucking owned by a lame ass GOP candidate. There is no pretending on this one, Obama totally blew this.

[Auric Demonocles]

Yeah, but Obama was both black and liberal while debating.

[Cytotoxic]

LOL. Cops will arrest people for 'walking while black'. Pundits will laud you for 'debating while black. And Liberal.'

[Randian]

I need to go start making more bets. I knew this was going to be closer than the CW said it would.

[Auric Demonocles]

Is there a spread for political bets?

[Randian]

I have two outstanding bets, one here on HyR, that Obama won't crack 300 EVs.

[Randian]

I have two outstanding bets, one here on HyR, that Obama won't crack 300 EVs.

[Cytotoxic]

Ah. The sound of quiet FB. I can almost hear the Liberal tears.

[Hyperion]

In the end you are going to have to sell your brand. You cannot keep contradicting yourself. Obama cannot defend the progressive brand. Therefore he is a failure. He will still win a 2nd term, but progessivism has taken a severe and fatal blow in the long term. I am happy tonight.

[Cytotoxic]

I hope you're right. At least about the fatal blow to progressivism. There are seemingly no left-liberals remaining; only progressives.

[Hyperion]

Wow, look at the links on Drudge. Even the progessive media are admitting that Obama lost this big time. I guess us Libertarians are not so biased for team red afterall.

[Beefkins]

That's what makes this debate so hysterical. Mittens is probably the worst GOP presidential candidate chosen in my lifetime, and he made Obama look bad. That's gotta hurt.

[Tulpa Doom]

Are you 3 years old?

[heller]

Looking for a playmate?

[ant1sthenes]

He's shitty from a GOP voter perspective (and worse from a libertarian perspective), but it's that precise quality that makes him more appealing to the center. It's not as shocking as you make it out to be -- he wasn't the most politically incompetent GOP candidate, just the least inspiring to the base.

[Bruce Majors for Congress (DC)]

It's mourning in America, or at least at NBC

[Bruce Majors for Congress (DC)]

Obama got smacked in his lady parts