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You are here: Home / Elections / Election 2012 / Debate Open Thread

Debate Open Thread

by John Cole|  December 10, 20116:42 pm| 58 Comments

This post is in: Election 2012

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Apparently there is a GOP debate tonight. Here is my pre, during, and post-debate commentary for the candidates:

Who schedules a debate for a Saturday night?

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Reader Interactions

58Comments

  1. 1.

    nancydarling

    December 10, 2011 at 6:48 pm

    John, when I was a little girl, we had a parakeet named Jake who could say quite a few words, among them “Oh, shut up” which my brother and I said a lot to each other apparently. Thanks for the laugh and the memories.

  2. 2.

    handy

    December 10, 2011 at 6:52 pm

    I gotta fever…

    Gingrich Fever!

    (actually that does sound contagious and hideously debilitating).

  3. 3.

    Xecky Gilchrist

    December 10, 2011 at 6:55 pm

    Who schedules a debate for a Saturday night?

    People who are hoping to God that nobody actually watches the debate apart from a few cranks?

  4. 4.

    Comrade Mary

    December 10, 2011 at 6:58 pm

    Do you know how many Canadian men would want to keep Sook-Yin Lee’s “Shut up and sit down!” on continuous loop?

  5. 5.

    Benjamin Franklin

    December 10, 2011 at 7:04 pm

    “who schedules a debate for Saturday Night?”

    It’s a tough economy and I can’t afford to go to the movies

  6. 6.

    The Dangerman

    December 10, 2011 at 7:10 pm

    “who schedules a debate for Saturday Night?”

    Those that are masters at debating?

  7. 7.

    Yutsano

    December 10, 2011 at 7:12 pm

    @The Dangerman: I’m amazed you’re capable of typing. I figured you’d be drunk out of your skull after the UCLA hiring. We’ll talk more later, I need a nap.

  8. 8.

    SensesFail

    December 10, 2011 at 7:15 pm

    Does anyone know where to find some good snark-filled debate live-blogging?

  9. 9.

    lamh35

    December 10, 2011 at 7:18 pm

    Gonna miss the debate. I’m at an “adult” Christmas party…i.e there will be a Santa, but he probably gonna be half-naked! Y’all go ahead and enjoy the GOP freak show…lol

  10. 10.

    amk

    December 10, 2011 at 7:21 pm

    @SensesFail: I like this brit’s take.

  11. 11.

    Violet

    December 10, 2011 at 7:22 pm

    @SensesFail:
    Try The Guardian. Not sure if they’re live blogging this one, but they’re always entertaining when they are.

  12. 12.

    RossInDetroit

    December 10, 2011 at 7:22 pm

    @SensesFail:

    Does anyone know where to find some good snark-filled debate live-blogging?

    Usually The Guardian. But I’m too bored with the whole thing to go look. Let us know if you find out. YAAWWWNN!!

  13. 13.

    amk

    December 10, 2011 at 7:28 pm

    yet another perry parody ad.

  14. 14.

    Kola Noscopy

    December 10, 2011 at 7:28 pm

    Why are they having so many debates? Have there always been this many debates? wth?

  15. 15.

    PaulW

    December 10, 2011 at 7:29 pm

    It’s times like this I’m glad I’m addicted to MMOs.

    (hurries off to City of Heroes)

  16. 16.

    MikeJ

    December 10, 2011 at 7:29 pm

    @SensesFail: Usually rumproast, but they don’t have a debate thread up yet.

  17. 17.

    Raven

    December 10, 2011 at 7:30 pm

    Indiana just beat #1 Kentucky with a bomb at the buzzer!

  18. 18.

    piratedan

    December 10, 2011 at 7:30 pm

    well its better to follow Adams snark on the Guardian site than it is to actually watch the debate itself

  19. 19.

    Frankensteinbeck

    December 10, 2011 at 7:33 pm

    @PaulW:
    I have a friend with a spines/fire scrapper. She stands next to things to death. Sometimes she explodes.

  20. 20.

    maya

    December 10, 2011 at 7:35 pm

    Well, my yahoo page is filled with “Newt is the target”, “can Newt deliver?”,”will Romney go negative, Newt positive?”,”will they go the full 15 rounds?” Obviously they have a ho in this race. I think Newt will ‘rope-a-dope’ his way through it. I’ll read about it here, in the am

  21. 21.

    Brian S

    December 10, 2011 at 7:35 pm

    All week long, we’ve been getting emails from the university administration about taking care of the school’s image when it comes to responding to the debate. Not one word about what’s going to happen to the image as a result of the debate, but then again, Iowans are polite like that.

    Me, I’m going to a potluck with two bottles of wine and a pie.

  22. 22.

    Mr Stagger Lee

    December 10, 2011 at 7:36 pm

    I wish it was moderated by a panel of comedians, Bill Maher, Chris Rock, Denis Leary and others. Oh BTW they should announce the Heisman soon, why bother watching that whole show on ESPN(which as totally hijacked the prestigious award) and lose an hour of your life.

  23. 23.

    robertdsc-PowerBook

    December 10, 2011 at 7:38 pm

    I’ll skip it in favor of MW3 on the PS3.

  24. 24.

    garbo

    December 10, 2011 at 7:44 pm

    @handy: I’m thinking “I have a bad case of Gingrich that just won’t go away!” sounds more like it.

  25. 25.

    eemom

    December 10, 2011 at 7:45 pm

    This is hilarious — republican debates have gotten so frequent that nobody even notices they’re happening anymore.

    Probly too late for this season, but by next year there’ll be a Deluxe Collector’s Edition Set complete with never-before-seen episodes that you can delight your favorite wingnut with on Christmas morning.

  26. 26.

    rikyrah

    December 10, 2011 at 7:46 pm

    the Guardian and, dare I say Sully?

    I’m sorry, but I can’t watch the GOP Clown Car…that’s what other people are for.

  27. 27.

    garbo

    December 10, 2011 at 7:47 pm

    Alternate programming note: Just downloaded Louis CK’s Live from the Beacon which he is making available directly for download/streaming from his website for $5.

  28. 28.

    The Dangerman

    December 10, 2011 at 7:52 pm

    @Yutsano:

    I figured you’d be drunk out of your skull after the UCLA hiring.

    UCLA Football is … a curious entity. I’m not at all surprised they had to make a reach to get a Coach.

    As for getting lit up, meh, it’s football. Now, if UCLA screws up the Pauley rebuild, I might start drinking heavily; the last design I saw sucked, but it’s changed a few times since that time (each time, radically more expensive, of course).

    What’s wrong with Mora?

    Edit: My understanding is the last 2 coaches have been begging to get the academic entrance requirements decreased, but it ain’t gonna happen. Somehow, Stanford has found the answer; UCLA, not so much….

    …and folks wonder why UCLA can’t get a big name Coach….

  29. 29.

    SensesFail

    December 10, 2011 at 7:58 pm

    @amk:
    @RossInDetroit:
    @MikeJ:
    @Violet:
    Thanks! :)

  30. 30.

    Linda

    December 10, 2011 at 7:58 pm

    Who schedules a debate for Saturday night?

    People who know nobody will see it, and don’t care. Saturday night is a well-know ratings graveyard, and tonight will be particularly bad since 90% of the offices on earth are having Christmas parties tonight (including mine). So, it’s like scheduling an infomercial, except there won’t be any advertising dollars, but infinitely more potential for comedy.

  31. 31.

    HRA

    December 10, 2011 at 7:59 pm

    “who schedules a debate for Saturday Night?”

    Losers?

    Yeah, I am going to watch it. It’s comic relief after an entire day of being in the kitchen making cookies and cleaning up after it.

  32. 32.

    cathyx

    December 10, 2011 at 8:04 pm

    It’s amazing how much that line is used in movies. I will admit that I hate hearing shut up. That is like fingernails across a chalkboard for me when I hear it.

    I got my 8ft Noble Fir today for $10. It’s in the garage right now. I can’t possibly put it in the house this early because of my cats.

  33. 33.

    handy

    December 10, 2011 at 8:07 pm

    @garbo:

    If the Gingrich spreads please consult a physician immediately.

  34. 34.

    Elizabelle

    December 10, 2011 at 8:09 pm

    Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer on CBS.

    And then a brandy and NO debate. Missed all the other ones; why start now?

  35. 35.

    Ralph Spoilsport

    December 10, 2011 at 8:12 pm

    Rudolph is on

  36. 36.

    cathyx

    December 10, 2011 at 8:13 pm

    I just checked the TV guide. They don’t televise the debate in real time. It’s on at 9:00pm on the west coast.

  37. 37.

    bjacques

    December 10, 2011 at 8:14 pm

    And the Insane Clown Posse tour just goes on and on and on. Fucking primary contests–how do they work?

  38. 38.

    garbo

    December 10, 2011 at 8:17 pm

    @handy: They keep referring me to the psych ward for some reason.

  39. 39.

    Tara the Antisocial Social Worker

    December 10, 2011 at 8:29 pm

    @eemom:

    Probly too late for this season, but by next year there’ll be a Deluxe Collector’s Edition Set complete with never-before-seen episodes that you can delight your favorite wingnut with on Christmas morning.

    Try to guess which one is the blooper reel!

  40. 40.

    RossInDetroit

    December 10, 2011 at 8:30 pm

    Here’s the Guardian’s always snarky Richard Adams live blogging the clownery.

  41. 41.

    Vodkamuppet

    December 10, 2011 at 8:31 pm

    I have no money. no plans and I’ve yet to watch one of these “debates”, what channel is it on and when? I wanna see the batshit cray-cray in its entirety for once.

  42. 42.

    Bmaccnm

    December 10, 2011 at 8:32 pm

    A little OT, but… On my way home from work this morning I was listening to Nice Polite Republicans- so sue me- talking about the continued power of the TeaParty, despite the ruins of Michele Bachman, Herb Cain & Rick Perry, and to whom they will throw their awesomely powerful support in New Hampshire. A N.H. Tea Partier was interviewed, saying “I really like Newt Gingrich. I like what he’s got to say. But I’m worried he might turn out to be just another politician.” In some way, this explains why they have so many debates. And why we’re all fuked.

  43. 43.

    RossInDetroit

    December 10, 2011 at 8:33 pm

    Chris Suellentrop and some other dudes will be liveblogging here.

  44. 44.

    Linda Featheringill

    December 10, 2011 at 8:45 pm

    @Vodkamuppet:

    ABC and Yahoo, I think, for the debate live.

  45. 45.

    dmsilev

    December 10, 2011 at 8:48 pm

    @Tara the Antisocial Social Worker: Trick question! All of them are blooper reels.

  46. 46.

    dmsilev

    December 10, 2011 at 8:51 pm

    @Vodkamuppet: If you want to watch it on the intertubes, yahoo.com has a live stream.

  47. 47.

    RossInDetroit

    December 10, 2011 at 8:58 pm

    Okay, here’s a stream if anyone’s interested.

  48. 48.

    curious

    December 10, 2011 at 9:06 pm

    ooh, this should be fun. they are being asked for numbers of jobs they could create. did gingrich really just say 25 million?

  49. 49.

    RossInDetroit

    December 10, 2011 at 9:11 pm

    Bachmann just said abolish the tax code and make the poor pay FIT because they don’t now.

  50. 50.

    RossInDetroit

    December 10, 2011 at 9:15 pm

    I wonder if the government actually employs anyone to count beans in some capacity. Because I would love to have “Federal Bean Counter” on my business card.

  51. 51.

    Hewer of Wood, Drawer of Water

    December 10, 2011 at 9:15 pm

    @Linda Featheringill: The debate’s on Yahoo?. Haven’t all of them been on Yahoo?

  52. 52.

    RossInDetroit

    December 10, 2011 at 9:17 pm

    @Hewer of Wood, Drawer of Water:

    It’s here.

  53. 53.

    RossInDetroit

    December 10, 2011 at 9:18 pm

    Ron Paul sounded sane and reasonable for a minute there. What am I missing?

  54. 54.

    Vodkamuppet

    December 10, 2011 at 9:36 pm

    I just can’t make it through this. I shouldn’t have switched from the Red Wings game.

  55. 55.

    RossInDetroit

    December 10, 2011 at 9:37 pm

    Perry’s lying. “I read your book”. Busted.

  56. 56.

    catclub

    December 10, 2011 at 9:45 pm

    @RossInDetroit: Soybean crop supports?

  57. 57.

    rikyrah

    December 10, 2011 at 9:46 pm

    from the Clown Car Debate via the liveblogger from the UK’s Guardian:

    Gingrich narrows his eyes and shoots back:

    Let’s be candid the only reason you didn’t become a career politician is you lost to Teddy Kennedy in 1994.
    Ouch! “Just a second, just a second,” wibbles Romney. But Gingrich keeps going and smacks down all of Romney’s points. And wins a big round of applause.

    If this was boxing fight the ref would have stepped in by now.

    In his response, Romney falls back on babbling about numbers.

  58. 58.

    RossInDetroit

    December 10, 2011 at 10:33 pm

    Ron Paul is a 39 Short. He should not wear a 42 Regular suit that he swims around inside.

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