What do you expect from tonight's debate?

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what do you expect from tonight's debate?

Published Oct 2, 2008
Views: 664

I'm sure we've all heard speculation about tonight's debate and likely have our own opinions. The truth is, no one really knows what we'll be saying once it's all over.

But at this very moment, what are your thoughts? Do you predict a clear winner, or will it be a draw?

Filed under: Politics

abuse

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Whining, Blaming and Lies...just like always.

Trust No One!!!

Write your congress member today.

God bless.

Rev. RB

Rev. RB aka Troll Magnet
GOLO member since July 2, 2007
October 2, 2008 1:01 p.m.

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I expect that WHEN or IF Palin mops the floor with Biden, alot of testicles will be hurting.

CottonTownRambler
GOLO member since February 21, 2008
October 2, 2008 1:02 p.m.

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I wish they would arm wrestle.-cmac

I do too...But then again I wish Obama and McCain would fight in a cage match and the last man standing would be President...

john283594
GOLO member since January 2, 2008
October 2, 2008 1:02 p.m.

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"Don't much like anything about Palin, but I'm pretty sure she is not as dumb as she has come across in interviews"

bullet - you are right. Even in Alaska, where being quirky is considered something of a virtue, you don't get elected governor by being stupid.

She has just never been, nor has she had to be, exposed to or interested in things beyond her narrow local interests. She herself has said her appeal does not come from her knowledge of issues. She appeals to "Joe Six-Pack" (her words) because they have that in common.

While I, personally, want someone who is both brighter and more well-informed than me as my leader, many Americans would rather have someone just like themselves. And they are as entitled to their view as I am to mine.

Ken D.
GOLO member since January 25, 2008
October 2, 2008 1:02 p.m.

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I think we all need to wait until tomorrow to argue about how well she did. I think it is ironic nobody is talking about how well they think Biden will do. Even if she does outstanding in the debate tonight, you Obama supporters will say she did horrible and take shots at her. The real test will be in November.

Chevelle Mackaroy
GOLO member since February 12, 2008
October 2, 2008 1:06 p.m.

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just a question....I realize there is a lot of mistrust for the moderator but isn't she just that, a moderator? Did she write the questions? I'm not trying to stir up anything but am truly asking-even if she is writing a book how will that make her biased in being the moderator. Don't they just try to keep the 2 on track? (Honest question)

scubagirl- 4 mos. smoke free
GOLO member since February 5, 2008
October 2, 2008 1:07 p.m.

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About writing their own speeches, obama (at least supposedly) wrote many of his own speeches. He wrote the famous one about race, and also supposedly wrote his convention speech. Not sure about the convention speech from 4 years ago. I'm sure he didn't write them alone, but i'm sick of people saying that he reads other peoples speech w/o bothering to check.

bullet656
GOLO member since July 18, 2008
October 2, 2008 1:08 p.m.

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Well, I am happy to know that not one racist speech was written by McCain or Palin...

Tired_of_LIBERALS
GOLO member since June 24, 2008
October 2, 2008 1:14 p.m.

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"Sadly, the Presidential Debates Commission doesn't have the chutzpah to get the candidates on stage and then grill them mercilessly in a format of the Commission's choosing rather than the political parties.

I don't get the control the format of job interviews I've attended...why should they?

As to my expectations, the campaigns have been doing their level best to set low expectations and they're likely right.

Biden's in a particularly tough position...he can't appear to patronise her or ignore her completely without having the Republicans howl that he's being sexist...even attacking McCain is probably the winning strategy.

Palin? I wonder what lines she'll feed Tina Fey for the next SNL skit!"

I agree. On all counts.

meh_whatever
GOLO member since December 4, 2007
October 2, 2008 1:15 p.m.

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TOL-yeah, saying that both black people and white people have reason to complain is very racist of him.

bullet656
GOLO member since July 18, 2008
October 2, 2008 1:16 p.m.

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bullet- I have read some of his speeches and his wife's college thesis - before it was pulled until "after the election". Obama can write well, and speak well - but for myself personally I want no part of him being POTUS. I feel he is the most unqualified candidate to ever win the primary (and he barely did that) and he frightens me on several issues of concern to me. I do not like McCain - but given the choice of bad or worse I find I have to vote for McCain. I had a horrible taste in my mouth about the whole thing but after he brought on Sarah Palin I am encouraged. I believe it was Ken that said many relate to her and they are entitled to that. I am one of those. I also think that people are free to vote on whatever matters to them - a candidate's religous/spiritual standing, a person's color of skin, a person with military experience, etc. I can not tell someone not to vote for Barack because he is black if I am voting for Palin because I relate to her life. SO on we go...

Mrs Pig - Sassy Cowgirl
GOLO member since September 28, 2008
October 2, 2008 1:16 p.m.

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It's funny to me that someone can write a book about Colin Powell, Barack Obama, and others, but still cling to the idea that she's going to spin it for Biden. It judges the content of her book that hasn't even been finished yet, and it judges her integrity as a journalist. I'm confident that a majority of her new found critics had no idea who she is before Townhall.com notified them that they should show some more of that pseudo-outrage.

flashlight
GOLO member since August 31, 2007
October 2, 2008 1:16 p.m.

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scubagirl, Gwen Ifill is supposedly writing her own questions. She can shut down a candidate exactly on the buzzer or let them drone on. She can also inflect the question for maximum effect, good or bad. To his - and PBS' - credit Jim Lehrer did an excellent job as moderator last week. But he doesn't have a pecuniary interest in who wins the election, hence the doubt about fairness being applied tonight. We'll see soon enough.

ContinuityMan
GOLO member since March 25, 2008
October 2, 2008 1:17 p.m.

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Here's to a great debate and an even greater new episode of CSI - man, I hope they did not kill off Warick!!!

Mrs Pig - Sassy Cowgirl
GOLO member since September 28, 2008
October 2, 2008 1:18 p.m.

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flashlight - she has moderated debates before so don't be confident that folks do not know who she is.

Mrs Pig - Sassy Cowgirl
GOLO member since September 28, 2008
October 2, 2008 1:19 p.m.

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sweet, I just checked NBC to make sure that they weren't playing a new episode of the office and they're not. Guess I should have guessed, since they are a main station and will show the debate, but I wasn't sure. New My Name is Earl though!

bullet656
GOLO member since July 18, 2008
October 2, 2008 1:20 p.m.

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Mrs Pig - "Keep comparing her to Quayle - he laughed all the way to the whitehouse!"

LOL! Seriously, I am laughing. That is something that Quayle would have said himself!

(Here's two pieces of info, the President lives in the White House, not the VP and Quayle was VP, not President.)

Not_So_Dumb
GOLO member since August 22, 2008
October 2, 2008 1:21 p.m.

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To clarify further - BEFORE this non-issue was raised, her name was not recognizable by most people. But yet, we see suddenly-experts on her judge her professional integrity as a journalist and the content of what her book says.

flashlight
GOLO member since August 31, 2007
October 2, 2008 1:21 p.m.

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So... They have already started censoring? They pulled her college thesis, a public document? What kind of cr ap is that? I guess that is what we have to look forward to if Bhussein wins? Socialism and censorship - oh great!

Tired_of_LIBERALS
GOLO member since June 24, 2008
October 2, 2008 1:21 p.m.

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PBR should be renamed to Paid For Leftists. Or perhaps renamed to Pravda. As to the debate, I expect both candidates will put their feet in their mouths. If Biden has any sense, he will get short answers just focusing on what the Obama campaign considers to be the positive side of their messaging. I have no idea how Palin will do, her interviews of late have not gone particularly well for her.

whatelseisnew
GOLO member since October 18, 2007
October 2, 2008 1:22 p.m.

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What? Joe Biden makes Dan Quayle look like The Shining Orator Of The Ages. They don't call Biden "Senator Gaffe-o-Matic" for nothing. Roosevelt was President in 1929? We went on TV then?

"I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy ... I mean, that's a storybook, man." - Senator Joe Biden

ContinuityMan
GOLO member since March 25, 2008
October 2, 2008 1:27 p.m.

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Can't wait to see the debate. I'm with others who are betting they both put their foot in their mouths...and probably more than once. Let's face it, no matter who you are voting for, Palin and Biden both are like watching an accident happen. Can't wait to see them together. I think we're all in for a laugh.

cabswife
GOLO member since November 9, 2007
October 2, 2008 1:27 p.m.

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"PBR should be renamed to Paid For Leftists. Or perhaps renamed to Pravda."

Too late. RNN (Republican News Network, AKA Fox News) has already laid claim to Pravda (or is it TASS? I always get those two confused.)

Ken D.
GOLO member since January 25, 2008
October 2, 2008 1:31 p.m.

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SO Dumb - I did not say he lived in the whitehouse, I said he laughed all the way to the whitehouse. He spent a lot of time there as part of his job as Vice President.

Flashlight - Gwen has been around a long time and you know if this was reversed libs would have a problem with it. Moderators have too much control to be perceived as biased - but what the heck is another black eye on "typical" media?

Mrs Pig - Sassy Cowgirl
GOLO member since September 28, 2008
October 2, 2008 1:33 p.m.

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Doesn't survivor come on tonight or is that earlier ?

soggy_biscuit
GOLO member since October 1, 2008
October 2, 2008 1:33 p.m.

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ContinuityMan-thanks for that. I'll be watching tonight to see how all 3 do. Too bad it's not a real debate tho', that would be much more interesting.

scubagirl- 4 mos. smoke free
GOLO member since February 5, 2008
October 2, 2008 1:39 p.m.

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Doesn't survivor come on tonight or is that earlier ?

I'm hoping the debates are at 9 so Survivor will be shown. Hoping, not sure

scubagirl- 4 mos. smoke free
GOLO member since February 5, 2008
October 2, 2008 1:39 p.m.

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She is going to simply take it to his 72 yr old, 26 years in congress - azz....

Trublue in Wake County
GOLO member since September 30, 2007
October 2, 2008 1:41 p.m.

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"Moderators have too much control to be perceived as biased"

To the far right, everything's biased to the liberals. Don't project your "perceptions" onto everyone.

flashlight
GOLO member since August 31, 2007
October 2, 2008 1:45 p.m.

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Oh, I see. If you are liberal you can be unbiased. However if you are conservative there is no way you can be unbiased. I never realized that?

Tired_of_LIBERALS
GOLO member since June 24, 2008
October 2, 2008 1:47 p.m.

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Mrs Pig - "He spent a lot of time there as part of his job as Vice President."

So does the maid service. Doesn't mean either made it the White House.

Not_So_Dumb
GOLO member since August 22, 2008
October 2, 2008 1:49 p.m.

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I agree she shouldn't be the moderator, for the simple fact that no matter what happens, the conservatives will say she is biased. Even if Palin is declared the winner by the majority of people, they will still say, "she did great despite the bias." I can understand that, if the tables were turned I'd be a little leery. But if there is bias, it's time for Palin to show why she called herself a pitbull.

bullet656
GOLO member since July 18, 2008
October 2, 2008 1:50 p.m.

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"Oh, I see. If you are liberal you can be unbiased. However if you are conservative there is no way you can be unbiased. I never realized that?"

I didn't say that. They're both capable of impartiality.

Did Ifill seem biased when she moderated the 2004 vice presidential debate? What do you think about "Washington Week"?

flashlight
GOLO member since August 31, 2007
October 2, 2008 1:53 p.m.

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bullet - I agree. A perceived conflict of interests can be more damaging than a real one. Ifill failed miserably the common sense test of appearances becoming reality.

Not_So_Dumb
GOLO member since August 22, 2008
October 2, 2008 1:54 p.m.

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She didn't have a book in the works in 2004.

Tired_of_LIBERALS
GOLO member since June 24, 2008
October 2, 2008 1:54 p.m.

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bullet, I disagree. I think the premise of saying that she's in the tank for Obama is based on half-truths and spin. It shouldn't be dignified with a response by trading her in for someone more likable to the unable-to-please right.

flashlight
GOLO member since August 31, 2007
October 2, 2008 1:55 p.m.

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What does she have to say about Colin Powell in her book? About Obama? You apparently know a lot about it.

flashlight
GOLO member since August 31, 2007
October 2, 2008 1:56 p.m.

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Even if Palin is declared the winner by the majority of people

who will say this? Certainly not the O-Media

soggy_biscuit
GOLO member since October 1, 2008
October 2, 2008 1:58 p.m.

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flashlight - the truth doesn't matter. A moderator who writes a book on one of the candidates will be seen as biased so clearly by the majority of folks that they won't bother to investigate further.

Not_So_Dumb
GOLO member since August 22, 2008
October 2, 2008 2:05 p.m.

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flashlight, I see that point too. I think even if Rush was the moderator, but didn't attack Biden excessively, then they would say that he was trying too hard to not come across as biased and was therefore biased in the other direction. But, I still believe that the moderator should be switched so that if she doesn't do so good they won't have their excuse already written for them.

bullet656
GOLO member since July 18, 2008
October 2, 2008 2:05 p.m.

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Its going to be a three ring circus at best, and both sides will claim victory tomorrow.

Panther
October 2, 2008 2:06 p.m.

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"Its going to be a three ring circus at best, and both sides will claim victory tomorrow."

I agree!

bullet656
GOLO member since July 18, 2008
October 2, 2008 2:08 p.m.

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I just hope for one thing - that the "moderator" did not slip Biden the questions already. Watch his responses and if they seem a little too well formed and proper then be suspicious. For Ifil to do this job while writing a book about Obama is outrageous. She has much to gained if he wins. No way can she be nonjudgmental. But, I do hope Palin is just herself tonight and that the American people see her for her true self. Go Sarah!

Huey
GOLO member since October 4, 2007
October 2, 2008 2:08 p.m.

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I'm convinced at this point, they've got a list of excuses ready to go, in the event Gwen Ifill can't moderate tonight. If it's not her, it would be something else.

flashlight
GOLO member since August 31, 2007
October 2, 2008 2:09 p.m.

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Flashlight, see below...(or above depending on how you have GOLO set up)

bullet656
GOLO member since July 18, 2008
October 2, 2008 2:09 p.m.

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"If it's not her, it would be something else."

But at least they'd have to wait until told the reason to complain! :)

bullet656
GOLO member since July 18, 2008
October 2, 2008 2:10 p.m.

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How many times do I have to say that the book IS NOT EXCLUSIVELY ABOUT OBAMA?

flashlight
GOLO member since August 31, 2007
October 2, 2008 2:10 p.m.

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flashlight - Obama is in the title. That is all people will care to know and decide there is bias.

Not_So_Dumb
GOLO member since August 22, 2008
October 2, 2008 2:11 p.m.

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"I just hope for one thing - that the "moderator" did not slip Biden the questions already."

do you really think this would happen? really?

Jeremiah
GOLO member since July 25, 2007
October 2, 2008 2:14 p.m.

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None of the questions will be a surprise to either candidate. There is a limited list of questions that are relevant to the election and both candidates know them.

Not_So_Dumb
GOLO member since August 22, 2008
October 2, 2008 2:20 p.m.

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