BidenPalin LiveChat GaffeFest PartyThread!!!

[RepoMan]

Yes, here is where the fun will be. ...once the debate actually starts tonight, that is.

Lame to preemptively create? Maybe, but I am tired and thought of the thread title while driving addledly to work and had to do it, HAD TO DO IT.

[Hanzii]

Good - some of us are sleeping when this happens and at work unable to watch recordings tomorrow, so reading the punchlines in this thread will make up for it.

Entertain me!

[Skipper]

I'm all set. I just have to decide which station to watch this on, CBS, NBC, or a public channel.

[Wader]

I plan to watch on cspan, but I almost want to see if CNN will deploy "the worm" again, and watching the dive that took in the first debate when Mccain mentioned Vietnam was the best part of the evening for me.

[Skipper]

Will CNN air this one too?

[Rightbug]

I plan to watch on cspan, but I almost want to see if CNN will deploy "the worm" again, and watching the dive that took in the first debate when Mccain mentioned Vietnam was the best part of the evening for me.

The worm was great. I'll be watching CNN again.

[mono]

What's the "worm"?

[Angie Gallant]

After hearing about the worm, I am definitely watching this on CNN.

[Ben Sones]

The worm is awesome. I find myself entranced by its hypnotic undulations. "Raising the worm" needs to be inaugurated into common debate parlance, immediately.

[wisefool]

It's this rating thing where Republicans, Independents, and Democrats click on whether they like it or not.

Shows as three colored lines at bottom of screen. Didn't watch Obama/McCain debate, but I saw it on West Wing.

[Ben Sones]

Yeah, they actually get a little dial, which they can turn to the left to express displeasure, or to the right to express approval. Then the cumulative input of the entire audience is displayed as a crawling line graph--sort of like an audience-approval EKG--with three lines (as wisefool said, split by party affiliation).

I'm not a big fan of CNN, normally, but it is actually pretty interesting to see the audience reaction in realtime like that.

[Case]

Alas, I'll be the photographer a high school volleyball game during the debate.

Come to think of it, that's where I'd rather be.

But I'll come by this forum afterward and read the flame war ;-)

[Rightbug]

It gives familiar old meaning to the phrase "The worm is turning."

[nKoan]

Palin can count this debate as a "win" if she isn't completely and utterly destroyed.

[arctangent]

Palin can count this debate as a "win" if she doesn't pick and eat a booger in the middle of it. Expectations are at historic lows.

[Lum]

I like this quote from a New Republic writer that illustrates precisely how low expectations are:

Assuming Palin survives the entire 90 minutes...

So now the bar is set at actually managing to remain upright on stage for the entire length of the debate.

[Drastic]

I'm armed with decent scotch, and looking forward to it.

I know the conventional wisdom is that Biden will be trying to avoid being a big old meanie to the fragile flower, and expect that to be the case. But just how awesome would it be if he buried the needle in the opposite direction and did his best to mock her until she bursts into tears and flees the stage? Granted, then there'd be a major sympathy bump, but it'd almost be worth it.

[Lum]

Anyone else, never happen. But you know, Biden's crazy enough to DO IT.

"Would the esteemed Governor of Alaska like to share her thoughts on the Treaty of Nantes?"

[Tman]

Please post explicit instructions on how to get the worm that does not involve draining a 5th of tequila ;-)

[Podunk]

I think Wonkette (http://wonkette.com/403206/palin-biden-debate-drinking-game-begins-now#more-403206) has proposed the best VP debate drinking game so far.

LIGHTNING BONUS ROUND:

The following situations call for One (1) Shot of Liquor:

* PALIN doesn’t know what FDIC or SEC stand for.
* BIDEN admits to plagiarizing the Constitution.
* PALIN admits to dealing meth.
* BIDEN references Palin’s stump speech insult — where she claims she’s been hearing about Biden’s Senate speeches since she was in second grade — by saying there’s no evidence Sarah Palin ever made it to second grade.
* GWEN IFILL asks Sarah Palin about incestuous rape.
* PALIN insults Biden for having hair plugs.
* BIDEN calls her “another tanning booth whore, and I’ve known a few.”
* PALIN says “lipstick” in any context.

Finally: Three shots and throw the glass at the teevee if:

* BIDEN calls her a “hockey pig.”
* PALIN pulls off her pantsuit to reveal a confederate-flag one-piece bathing suit, and she looks fat, and the audience boos.

[Bob Cherub]

Those are pretty good Podunk.

Here are some things I've learned about Biden so far that I will take into account in tonight's debate.

1. He thinks that Dunkin Donuts and 7-11s are filled with Indians.

2. He thinks that Hillary Clinton would be a better vice president than himself.

3. He thinks that television was invented before 1929.

4. He thinks that people bound to wheelchairs can get up.

5. He thinks that certain Obama campaign ads are tasteless.

6. He thinks that FDR was president at the beginning of the Great Depression.

7. He thinks that Obama doesn't have the experience to be president.

I'm going to run out and get some donuts and test that first one for myself.

[Lum]

Awesome comment from the Wonkette story:

By the way, Biden should really open with something along the lines of “So I was reading the New Yorker the other day… wait.. or was it Harpers’… at any rate… it was an article on the way U.S. Constitutional law changed in the aftermath of Griswold v. Connceticut, specifically in its recognition of the right to privacy… and I thought to myself… boy, things were different back before the Bush Doctrine granted the U.S. executive the power to run roughshod over international law. And I thought back on all the world leaders I have had the pleasure to work with in crafting international agreements and wondered whether that would ever be possible again? So I’m looking out my window, pondering these things, and for a second I think I glimpse the faintest outline of Ireland way in the distance, an ocean away, and thought: Man… I’ve actually been there… a dozen times or so, and not just to refuel.

[Midnight Son]

Don't forget: Biden is slicker than gooseshit.

[DavidKaye]

I'm armed with decent scotch, and looking forward to it.

A nice glass of Johnnie Walker Swing over here will do it, I think.

[LesJarvis]

I'm going straight for the cheap bourbon myself.

[Podunk]

Fuck, man, of all the weeks to have a recovering alcoholic as a house guest.

[Lum]

Rum and cokes, myself. I figure it will be boring, but by the end I won't care.

[Eric T Cheng]

3. He thinks that television was invented before 1929.

If Wikipedia entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television#History) for television is to be trusted, then Sen. Biden is correct.


Scottish inventor John Logie Baird demonstrated the transmission of moving silhouette images in London in 1925, and of moving, monochromatic images in 1926. Baird's scanning disk produced an image of 30 lines resolution, barely enough to discern a human face, from a double spiral of lenses.

By 1927, Russian inventor Léon Theremin developed a mirror drum-based television system which used interlacing to achieve an image resolution of 100 lines.

Also in 1927, Herbert E. Ives of Bell Labs transmitted moving images from a 50-aperture disk producing 16 frames per minute over a cable from Washington, DC to New York City, and via radio from Whippany, New Jersey. Ives used viewing screens as large as 24 by 30 inches (60 by 75 centimeter). His subjects included Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover.

In 1928, Philo Farnsworth made the world's first working television system with electronic scanning of both the pickup and display devices, which he first demonstrated to news media on 1928-09-01, televising a motion picture film.

[RepoMan]

Dark & Stormies over at our house. (Excellent ginger beer + rum from the freezer + fresh limes = TEH WIN.)

[Calistas]

Is The Worm a New Zealand invention after all? If so, please enjoy our gift of the destruction of democracy. You'll know it has happened when sentences are no longer than three words and designed entirely to make the worm go UP UP UP!

Repo - I highly recommend that drink with a spiced rum as a variant, as well as with some crushed up raw sugar. Very nice indeed!

[Hanzii]

Those are pretty good Podunk.

Here are some things I've learned about Biden so far that I will take into account in tonight's debate.

[QUOTE]1. He thinks that Dunkin Donuts and 7-11s are filled with Indians.
He's a Simpsons fan.

2. He thinks that Hillary Clinton would be a better vice president than himself.
He's modest.

3. He thinks that television was invented before 1929.
He's right.

4. He thinks that people bound to wheelchairs can get up.
He fucked up.
... but he was man enough to admit it.

5. He thinks that certain Obama campaign ads are tasteless.
And he knows who to blame for that.


6. He thinks that FDR was president at the beginning of the Great Depression.

He gets an F. But that's still better than Palin, because he knows the name of a former president,

7. He thinks that Obama doesn't have the experience to be president.
He changed his mind.
Real people can be flexible that way.

[Anti-Bunny]

Does anyone remember back when Comedy Central used to cover the VP debates? I mean pre-daily show days here..

[Gary Whitta]

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/POLITICS/10/02/vice.presidential.debate/t1land.palin.biden.gi.jpg

[tiohn]

I am prepared for the debate with a big bottle of absinthe.

[Karen]

Ben and I are ready to go with a bottle of this...
http://www.wine.com/V6/Bitch-Grenache-2007/wine/95246/detail.aspx

[DavidKaye]

What are the live online streaming options? Anything but CNN.com? I want as high def as possible.

[Post-It]

I've got some Knob Creek here with me and am ready for this thang to get started. This is the only time I've ever felt as though I was going rubbernecking at a political debate outside of high school. I've got my fingers crossed for some completely off the wall shit going down.

[Dean]

I've got food coming, but all this drinking makes me want to break out the scotch.

[JM]

I've got some Knob Creek

What the

[RepoMan]

Aah, crap, didn't realize that it starts at 6 pm Pacific time. That's smack in the middle of put-the-kids-to-bed territory, so rather than drinking & giggling & head-smacking, I'll be eating & playing & bathing & cuddling. Do a great job snarking it up for me in here and I'll catch up with you all around 8 pm Pacific!

[Omniscia]

Dark & Stormies over at our house. (Excellent ginger beer + rum from the freezer + fresh limes = TEH WIN.)

Not just any rum, though. Gotta be Gosling's Black Seal.

[Rob Beschizza]

I've got some Knob Creek
What the


It's a new genital aftershave.

[Post-It]

It makes your nether regions crazy delicious!

[jeffd]

'ere we go! Ten minutes!

[LesJarvis]

I'm anxious.

[Talisker]

I'm going with Wild Turkey Rye.

[Don Quixote]

This is gonna be good. I'm sitting at a bar in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood (the 'liberal' area of the city). Watching the debate about to begin- its like a party in here .

[JM]

Watching this on CNN live, they've tried three times to go to... somewhere... for a fluff piece where three people stare gormlessly at the camera and clearly don't have a clue what's going on. The CNN girl trying to keep this together is doing a good job of apologising for "Broadband... it's very new technology".

[Lh'owon]

I am prepared for the debate with a big bottle of absinthe.

And you have to take the shots straight.*



*Don't, you'll die.

[Athryn]

Hahaha, Chris Matthews got rickrolled on the lead in to the debate.

[DavidKaye]

What is up with the music on the live stream hold screen?

[Wader]

They modified the worm!

[Angie Gallant]

Oh god, a male/female worm. This is going to be bad.

[JM]

"Nice to meet you. Hey, can I call you Joe?"

Wonder how many times she practiced that.

[Angie Gallant]

Ladies love the silver fox!

[Lum]

Apparently three of CNN's analysts have scored Palin a point for successfully walking to the podium.

[Skorin]

I'm not getting the worm on the live feed. Is it only on the tv channel?

[Menzo]

first answer from Joe Biden: FAIL

Answer the question.

[Post-It]

Here we go!

[Karen]

Did the CNN analysts give Palin 2 points just for making it to the podium?

[JM]

I'm not getting the worm on the live feed. Is it only on the tv channel?

If you're using the CNN one, they have options on the right. The "Voters" one has the worm.

[Post-It]

Palin immediately: "Aw shucks, I'm just a simple soccer mom!"

Also, she needs to take a breath, it looks like she is giving a memorized speech.

[Allagash]

These worms are fascinating. I think they're doing a mating dance.

Ooh, Biden's talkinga 'bout the middle class. Watch the worm go up.

Palin's flatlining! Nope, wait, chicks like school soccer games.

[Skorin]

If you're using the CNN one, they have options on the right. The "Voters" one has the worm.

Got it! Thank you :)

[Talisker]

Have we set the ground rules for the QT3 drinking game?

[extarbags]

Jesus Christ, her first sentence was already retarded.

[pogozorro]

Can she even answer a goddamn question?

[Angie Gallant]

She is shaking while talking.

[Andrew Mayer]

Jesus Christ, her first sentence was already retarded.

She's folksy!

And she's got talking points, gosh-darnit, you betcha!

[JM]

first answer from Joe Biden: FAIL

Answer the question.

Eh, wasn't it a pretty inane question that couldn't really be answered directly, or did I mishear it?

[Wader]

Her mentioning the campaign abandonment dropped both tracks...

[arctangent]

The worm is awesome.

[Talisker]

*wink!*

[Athryn]

She just got bitchy.

[extarbags]

SHE'S SO DUMB.

[Allagash]

Good point, "John McCain's not a bad guy, he's just out of touch."

Palin's not doing a bad job. "Maverick!" Is anyone playing Palin bingo?

[JM]

Rah! Rah! Greatest in the world! Rah!

Yeesh.

[Menzo]

Eh, wasn't it a pretty inane question that couldn't really be answered directly, or did I mishear it?

Maybe it was inane, but the question was basically wondering if we're seeing the best of Washington or the worst with the bailout votes.

Would have preferred him to suggest that there's probably a little bit of both going on right now.

[jeffd]

OK I've never seen the worm before... tha thing is fucking compelling. I'm just staring at it.

[extarbags]

"With all do respect I do respect..."

[Angie Gallant]

"Maverick" killed the worm.

[JM]

Maybe it was inane, but the question was basically wondering if we're seeing the best of Washington or the worst with the bailout votes.

Would have preferred him to suggest that there's probably a little bit of both going on right now.

Yeah, but that doesn't really tell you anything about anything.

She said Maverick again!

[extarbags]

"Darn right!"

[Lum]

Ed Rollins has already scored Palin 4 points. He likes the cut of her jib. Especially since she's not exactly speaking coherently.

[JD]

Hockey-mom! Joe Sixpack! Dingding!

[extarbags]

Joe Sixpack! Hockey moms across the nation UNITE!

[Karen]

Is it wise to criticize your opponent for voting along party lines 90+% of the time when your running mate has the same record?

[Angie Gallant]

Oh god, the worm has mutated!

[Allagash]

"Neither of you really answered the last question." Hah. She's onto them!

"Joe Sixpack". Palin's clearly seen my abs.

[Wader]

Did she just come out for strong regulations on the financial market?

[jeffd]

Pretty decent answer by her on this question about who's at fault in the mortgage crisis. It's pegging the Worm, too!

[Lh'owon]

It's times like these I wish forums were Flash or something, so new posts would appear without having to reload the page.

It's the only time I wish for that, mind.

[Lum]

I'm taking a drink every time she says "heck".

I'll let you know if I get too drunk to post.

[lesslucid]

Every word she says is memorised. Bad sign.

[Jason McCullough]

Is it just me or is using "Never again" over and over to refer to mortgage fraud, rather than, say, THE HOLOCAUST, a little odd?

Also: DARN RIGHT!

[Bahimiron]

God.

She's awful. She's terrible. She speaks a lot and says nothing.

I have absolutely no issue seeing why people might vote for her. She's just so folksy. She seems so friendly. She's just one of us. And hey, she just said that America's workforce is the best in the world. I'm a member of America's workforce. That means the vice president just said that I'm great! Biden isn't saying that I'm great. Screw that guy. He's old and ugly. This nice lady is just like me!

Fuck.

[JMR]

Is she reading off of a teleprompter?

[Lum]

Biden, checkin' in with Joey at the gas tank!

[Post-It]

Yeah, she's coming across very stilted. Also, Biden is slyly going about mention newspapers and magazines.

[Drastic]

Did she just come out for strong regulations on the financial market?
No no, she's for banding together and saying never again, not actually doing anything.

[arctangent]

Woah the difference between male and female worms is amazing.

[Allagash]

I'm already getting folksy overdose from Palin. "Darn right!" Time for another drink.

Biden is reigning in his attack dog style, which is smart.

[JD]

Ok, so Joe had his personal story. BUT WHAT ABOUT BRACELETS?!

[JM]

The worm seems to hate anecdotes.

[Lum]

Tax increases! The PEOPLE'S side! NINETY FOUR TIMES!

Also, she is flat out lying about Obama's tax plans, and Biden is calling her on it.

[Sharpe]

She's just so thouroughly vacuous and programmed I can barely stand it. Every single sentence (if you can call her rambling and incoherent statements sentences) contains buzzwords and slogans and almost nothing of substance. And what little substance she does have is basically BS. For example she just blamed the *entire* mortage crisis on predatory lending.

[Skorin]

Is it my imagination, or is the worm favoring Palin? What the fuck is wrong with people?

[lesslucid]

Ifill: Would you like to respond to what Biden said about McCain position on the deregulation of healthcare?

Palin: No, I don't have a speech memorised for that point, Gwen. But let me tell you what I do have a speech memorised for...

[Lum]

FUCK YEAH! Biden goes for the THROAT!

[Karen]

GO JOE!

[XPav]

DID NOT ANSWER THE QUESTION!

[JM]

The worm seems to like her more than Biden. You people are doomed. DOOMED.

[Athryn]

Man, this is turning into a knife fight.

[XPav]

FUCK THE QUESTIONS!

[Lum]

"I'm not going to answer your questions! The people demand it!"

[Andrew Mayer]

She's straight talkin'!

Straight to the talkin' points!

[Angie Gallant]

Palin: NO FUCK YOU I TALK ABOUT WHAT I WANT

[JM]

TAXES TAXES TAXES sowhatifmccainvotedforthesamethinggoddamnitimtalki ngtothePEOPLE

[Malcolm Tucker]

Guh my only TV has been commandeered to watch the Canadian leaders' debate! So curious!

[Skorin]

Moderator ain't takin' none of that shit.

[JM]

Guh my only TV has been commandeered to watch the Canadian leaders' debate! So curious!

http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/debates/ge/index.html

Find the CNN Live link.

[Post-It]

Fuck it. At this point I want Biden to go for the jugular and start calling her out and all her bullshit. No treating her with kid gloves to appease "joe sixpack," just expose her as the naif she is.

[Andrew Mayer]

Ladies love them the Biden.

[Allagash]

"The governor did not answer the question." Attack dog comes out.

Palin: "I'm not going to answer the question the way the moderator or my opponent [or common sense] would like"

I already know the verdict on this debate -- Palin does an OK job. By that I mean she's competent & not a complete deer in the headlights. If it's a draw, it goes to Palin since the expectations were so low.

[Bahimiron]

Wow. The independents seem to love Biden.

[XPav]

Redistribution of wealth = Biden is a communist.

[Angie Gallant]

So, men hate the government.

[JD]

She put on her "Miss-Something-Contest"-Smile (TM). It IS ON.

[Andrew Mayer]

Asking, paying, the middle class of America.

"Hey government! Whatcha doin? Let's go skin a moose!"

[extarbags]

"He's got a program that is detailed and I want to give you some details."

[arctangent]

Well, shit she hasn't picked her nose yet. I'm so disappointed.

[Wader]

I still dont get the "paying taxes isnt patriotic" idea.

[XPav]

Hey, we can cross state lines now! Hooray!

[Hugin]

As far as I can tell, she's got a speech memorized, and she's delivering it in segments when she's cued that it's her turn. Any relationship the current segment of the speech has to the question being asked is coincidental.

[Drastic]

About time, too. I get really tried of the border checkpoints when I visit family and friends in other states.

[Lum]

BRIDGE TO NOWHERE!

[Allagash]

Oooh, they're getting into facts. Biden's going in for the kill. Palin needs to stay to the folksy anecdotes that don't say anything.

[Athryn]

Bridge to nowhere!

[Ezdaar]

OH SNAP!

"I call that the ultimate bridge to nowhere!"

[Andrew Mayer]

As far as I can tell, she's got a speech memorized, and she's delivering it in segments when she's cued that it's her turn. Any relationship the current segment of the speech has to the question being asked is coincidental.

Pure GOPAC training in action.

[Menzo]

Oh shit, it's on.

[Wader]

The "numbers" didnt seem to spike the work at all. I had some trouble following Biden through that...

[LesJarvis]

As far as I can tell, she's got a speech memorized, and she's delivering it in segments when she's cued that it's her turn. Any relationship the current segment of the speech has to the question being asked is coincidental.

Yeah, she sounds like a campaign stop appearance.

[Lum]

Also, Rollins and Castellanos sure loves them some Palin. Are they watching the same debate?

[Post-It]

I hope the Biden's whole, I have clear facts and figures and a rational approach style doesn't mess it up with "rah rah, joe six pack hockey mom"-Palin's style. But I'm afraid it's going to. :(

[XPav]

The dude on the worm loves Exxon Mobil apparently.

[JM]

The worm is a strange beast. It peaks on stuff that I don't expect it to.

[Allagash]

Good, quick answer by Biden "We'll slow down foreign aid." I didn't think he'd answer the question. America says screw the foreigners!

[Bahimiron]

Are there any Democrats being polled? The blue line doesn't seem to be moving at all. No matter what anyone is saying. At all.

[JM]

Biden needs to stop confusing McCain and Obama, though. That's.... not good.

[Lum]

McCain: not telling lies!

[XPav]

YOU ARE NOT ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS.

[Andrew Mayer]

I hope the Biden's whole, I have clear facts and figures and a rational approach style doesn't mess it up with "rah rah, joe six pack hockey mom"-Palin's style. But I'm afraid it's going to. :(

She's got the higher bar to clear here, proving that she would be an okay caretaker for the Presidency.

Bless her heart...

[JD]

Palin: I'll continue by not answering your question.

[XPav]

Would someone tell Sarah Palin that Alaska is a basket case of a state that survives only due to it sucking money from the Federal Teat?

[JM]

Bless their hearts!

[jeffd]

My thoughts so far: Biden is coming across as competent and well versed in the issues, Palin isn't. However she's being quite charming and pleasant.

[Sharpe]

So she's now bashing multinational oild companies. Does *anyone* find this credible coming from her?

[Karen]

Biden didn't really answer the question, either, but at least he acknowledged it.

[extarbags]

"How long have I been at this? Five weeks?"

Seriously, did she actually just say that?

[Drastic]

I can't go back on any promises because I don't promise anything!

[JM]

"I've only been doing this for 5 weeks and there hasnt been a lot I've promised" and THE WORM GOES UP?!

[Bahimiron]

I love it when Biden smiles. It's not a smirk like Edwards kept doing. It's not the serious half-smile that Barack gives. It's not the terrifying grimace that McCain gives us. He looks like he wants to hand out ice cream cones to everyone.

[Jason McCullough]

I never thought I'd hear the phrase "bless their hearts" in reference to oil companies.

Yes! "Rear that head of abuse!"

[Andrew Mayer]

My thoughts so far: Biden is coming across as competent and well versed in the issues, Palin isn't. However she's being quite charming and pleasant.

She's certainly skilled at winking and nodding.

[Sharpe]

"How long have I been at this? Five weeks?"

Seriously, did she actually just say that?

Yes, yes she did.

[The Bitter Cynic]

yes, yes she did

[Allagash]

Biden should stay away from talking about oil companies. Palin actually has experience there.

Palin: "How long have I been at this? 5 weeks?" Way to slam your lack of national experience, governor. Worms didn't like that phrase.

[extarbags]

More head-rearing. :(

[Sharpe]

OH, good question by Ifill, with a reference to the bad bankruptcy bill McCain supported (and helped pass) a couple years ago. Palin's answer is essentially a long string of flat out lies and BS.

Edit: Biden kinda sleazed his way out on supporting the bill. I guess he had no good options, but I would have liked him to admit he was wrong.

[Andrew Mayer]

She seems to be heading into word salad territory.

"Rear that head of abuse!"

Thank you McCain!

[LesJarvis]

The worm don't like Sarah no more.

[XPav]

Wait, we need to have more regulation, but less government interference in private industry?

[JM]

Perhaps I'm reading the worm wrong. What's the time delay on it? I was treating it as virtually instant.

[arctangent]

The worm isn't liking her as much now. Good sign?

[jeffd]

Has Palin actually answered a question yet?

[Talisker]

He looks like he wants to hand out ice cream cones to everyone.
Awesome :)

[XPav]

I think it's instant -- when the candidates stop talking, the worm flatlines.

[Athryn]

He looks like he wants to hand out ice cream cones to everyone.

This is so true, he has an awesome smiley smile.

[Wader]

What I cant figure is why men seem to not like Biden?

[arctangent]

She's beginning to smirk.

[XPav]

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT MOOSES.

[Allagash]

There's a delay on the worm, by at least a few seconds. They need to get more gamers in the focus group, they'll reduce that lag. Of course, that would make the worms very twitchy & you'd see all the worms trying to min/max themselves.

[Talisker]

Has Palin actually answered a question yet?
As the questions are asked, she seems to be shuffling through her cards to find one that's maybe sorta close, then going with "I'm talking to the American people, not answering the questions" approach with whatever scripted bit she's pulled out.

[Post-It]

Has Palin actually answered a question yet?

No. She's obviously just proceeding with her memorized speech. It's like she hears a keyword from the moderator, and then goes into her spiel.

[Karen]

SHE'S STILL DOING IT!

[BlueJackalope]

sort of listening and folding clothes and such, so far she is hurdling that low bar of diminished expectations....so far

Biden is doing what he needs to, use facts and attack McCain without being mean.

[Angie Gallant]

Palin: FUCK YOU I TALK ABOUT WHAT I WANT (AGAIN)

[JM]

Is this a failure of moderation? Does she have a way to *force* them to answer the question?

"I want to talk about record on energy" "It's important to come back to"

FUCKSAKE ANSWER THE QUESTION, SOMEONE PLEASE ASK HER TO ANSWER THE QUESTION GNAAAAAAAARGH

[Athryn]

Tens of thousands? That sounds more like an Alaska answer as opposed to a national answer.

[Post-It]

Hurry up and get to foreign policy!

[Bahimiron]

I just looked at CNN's realtime scorecards.

Apparently 4/6 of CNN's experts think that Palin is winning, 1/6 think Biden is winning and the last one thinks it's too close to call.

...what?!

[extarbags]

"I'm not one to attribute every activity of man to the change in the climate... there's something to be said for the activities of man."

[Post-It]

I don't want to argue, just do what I say now!!!!!!

[XPav]

Alaska has more climate change problems than say, like Louisiana?

Right-o.

Positively impact the effects?

[Talisker]

She's not attributing our activities to changes in the climate. Good to know the weather isn't controlling us.

[Wader]

She did it again! put "activity of man" and "changes in the climate" backwards in that sentence.

[JM]

She's winning in the sense of parroting her party's policy, yes. This isn't a debate :(

[Allagash]

"Every man activity of man..." At least this time she admitted that she doesn't think global warming is totally man-made.

[Talisker]

what

[JD]

It's that "We don't want to talk about the causes of climate change, just the solutions!"-thing again....

[Lum]

Welcome to tonight's debate, with Joe Biden on today's issues, and Sarah Palin on the one issue she knows anything about.

[Sharpe]

Apropos of nothing, both candidates are speaking very very fast. Palin is the worst offender but Biden was trucking along with her. He seems to be slowing down a bit now.

[BlueJackalope]

I just looked at CNN's realtime scorecards.

Apparently 4/6 of CNN's experts think that Palin is winning, 1/6 think Biden is winning and the last one thinks it's too close to call.

...what?!
low expectations and she comes across as folksy

I would expect this as long as she doesn't stumble

[JM]

"The cause is man-made. That's the cause."

Errr no, "man-made" is not a cause. Sorry Joe.

[jeffd]

What I cant figure is why men seem to not like Biden?

Cuz their wives *really* like Biden.

[XPav]

Men LOVE nuclear power! The worm has spoken!

[Bahimiron]

She just talks and talks and talks and talks and talks.

It reminds me of someone who goes into a job interview, is asked a question the answer to which they're not certain about and so they just babble and babble until they sort of peter off, realizing that no one will ever stop them.

'Cept the interviewee is likely to not get the job. Whereas the job deciders in Palin's case are some dumb, dumb motherfuckers.

[Talisker]

Independents don't want us to sell energy technology to China, apparently.

[Lum]

I just looked at CNN's realtime scorecards.

Apparently 4/6 of CNN's experts think that Palin is winning, 1/6 think Biden is winning and the last one thinks it's too close to call.

...what?!

Two are Republican strategists (Castellanos and Rollins), they're the ones hitting the Palin point button over and over again. Begala and I think Rosen are Democratic strategists and are listing Biden as winning strongly. King and Borger are journalists so of course love the Dems (King has it tied, Borger has Biden winning.)

DRILL, BABY, DRILL!

[Wader]

oh gosh... drill baby drill...

[Brandon Clements]

The worm is peaking.

[XPav]

Ok, I'll answer this question.

Senator O'Biden. Hahaha!

[Andrew Mayer]

I just looked at CNN's realtime scorecards.

Apparently 4/6 of CNN's experts think that Palin is winning, 1/6 think Biden is winning and the last one thinks it's too close to call.

...what?!

They're always wrong. The real consensus usually forms over the next 12-24 hours.

[Lum]

"Barack Obama and Senator O'Biden..."

[The Bitter Cynic]

Uck, just listening to her is a chore.

[Talisker]

"Drill baby drill" -- and the worm doesn't budge.

[Post-It]

Drill! I want to fellate the oil companies even though twenty minutes ago I said that I'm against the oil companies!

[Talisker]

HARD TARGETS -- he's invoking Jean Claude Van Damme! Starring Lance Henriksen as Dirty Coal.

[JM]

Independents don't want us to sell energy technology to China, apparently.

We're definitely seeing a different worm. That went UP when he mentioned it.

Maybe you bastards have inverted the worm to confuse us Euros.

[Karen]

They're always wrong. The real consensus usually forms over the next 12-24 hours.

In the last debate, all six counters gave the debate to Obama by the end (by a large margin), but then after the debate was over, they had a panel in which they all thought it was a tie. So: they are schizophrenic, or something.

[Wader]

Ok, the moderator just messed up her question... its "same-sex benefits"

[XPav]

He's not saying the "M" word!

[Lum]

I can't WAIT for Palin to answer the same-sex benefits question. Preferably with a verse from Leviticus.

[Brandon Clements]

I'm just up to the 'Five Weeks' comment on my DVR, but that's a beauty pagent response.

[XPav]

She did!

[JM]

Hey, there's a straight (hyuk) answer from Biden.

[Lum]

"Some of my best friends take it up the butt, Gwen."

[Talisker]

We're definitely seeing a different worm. That went UP when he mentioned it.

Maybe you bastards have inverted the worm to confuse us Euros.
I'm seeing the REP/DEM/IND worm.

[Andrew Mayer]

In the last debate, all six counters gave the debate to Obama by the end (by a large margin), but then after the debate was over, they had a panel in which they all thought it was a tie. So: they are schizophrenic, or something.

The word you're looking for is "wrong".

[JM]

Yeah, me too Talisker. CNN feed?

[Wader]

dancing dancing

[Allagash]

Hey, the men like same-sex benefits. Where's this focus group, San Francisco?

Wow, this is impressive, I thought same-sex benefits support would hurt Biden.

Wha? Palin is tolerant of gay rights? To a point at least.

[XPav]

Wiggle wiggle wiggle on the gay marriage question but we support it and agree!

[JM]

I was about to get angry at Biden and his "no gay marriage" but then I actually listened to the rest of it - leave it up to the religions. Huh, smart political answer.

[Talisker]

Yeah, me too Talisker. CNN feed?
Yep.

[XPav]

Ok, is anyone looking at Palin's neck here?

Here we go again on the funding thing again.

[Andrew Mayer]

Sending the troops... funding the troops... whatever.

[Talisker]

Ok, is anyone looking at Palin's neck here?
I am now -- what am I looking for?

[arctangent]

The worm is not liking "stay the course".

[JM]

"With all due respect I didn't hear a plan".

This should be the theme of the evening...

[Anti-Bunny]

Palin: "I HAVE A BUNCH OF HOMOPHOBE FRIENDS!" *smile*

[Wader]

Biden got a big bump for the start of his Iraq speech.

[Karen]

Did she just say that Al Quaeda are Shia?

[JM]

"The amendment he voted for - voted against"

Shit like that completely ruins the point, Joe.

[Andrew Mayer]

Oh yeah... the war.

The worm gets the war.

[Talisker]

Argh -- don't talk about how we need to "draw down our troops", say "we need to bring our troops home."

[XPav]

I am now -- what am I looking for?

Weird spots or skin or something.

[Crater]

White flag of surrender?

Good heavens, are you still trying to win?

[Juan Rayo]

Oh wow "your plan is a white flag of surrender"
She got tough.