• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • About Us
  • Lexicon
  • Contact Us
  • Our Store
  • ↑
  • ↓
  • ←
  • →

Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

We are aware of all internet traditions.

Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?

Consistently wrong since 2002

We cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.

“Everybody’s entitled to be an idiot.”

Every reporter and pundit should have to declare if they ever vacationed with a billionaire.

We will not go back.

Let the trolls come, and then ignore them. that’s the worst thing you can do to a troll.

I might just take the rest of the day off and do even more nothing than usual.

If you voted for Trump, you don’t get to speak about ethics, morals, or rule of law.

Dear media: perhaps we ought to let Donald Trump speak for himself!

Accountability, motherfuckers.

The line between political reporting and fan fiction continues to blur.

People really shouldn’t expect the government to help after they watched the GOP drown it in a bathtub.

Republicans in disarray!

The republican ‘Pastor’ of the House is an odious authoritarian little creep.

Do we throw up our hands or do we roll up our sleeves? (hint, door #2)

You cannot shame the shameless.

When I was faster i was always behind.

Republicans got rid of McCarthy. Democrats chose not to save him.

The fight for our country is always worth it. ~Kamala Harris

My years-long effort to drive family and friends away has really paid off this year.

There is no compromise when it comes to body autonomy. You either have it or you do not.

Fear or fury? The choice is ours.

Mobile Menu

  • Seattle Meet-up Post
  • 2025 Activism
  • Targeted Political Fundraising
  • Donate with Venmo, Zelle & PayPal
  • Site Feedback
  • War in Ukraine
  • Submit Photos to On the Road
  • Politics
  • On The Road
  • Open Threads
  • Topics
  • COVID-19
  • Authors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Lexicon
  • Our Store
  • Politics
  • Open Threads
  • 2025 Activism
  • Garden Chats
  • On The Road
  • Targeted Fundraising!
You are here: Home / Elections / Biden-Harris 2020 / Tuesday Evening Open Thread: Waiting for the Debate

Tuesday Evening Open Thread: Waiting for the Debate

by Anne Laurie|  September 29, 20206:40 pm| 170 Comments

This post is in: Biden-Harris 2020, Election 2020, Open Threads

FacebookTweetEmail

Joe Biden boards a plane to Cleveland for his first debate with President Trump. The Biden campaign has a new plane with the Biden/Harris logo on the side. pic.twitter.com/Wc3mTUgSWb

— Tyler Pager (@tylerpager) September 29, 2020

The Guardian liveblog is here. I’ll probably be following the debate there, and via your comments, plus of course my favorite twitter feeds.

The Post had a whole long story about what a perilous challenge the debate poses to Biden, with passages along the way mentioning that Trump’s aides cannot get him to pay any attention to debate prep and he refuses to practice

— Tom Scocca (@tomscocca) September 26, 2020

I’ll believe that Trump is growing into the presidency when his staff stops talking about him like a toddler. https://t.co/F0aShH3zMC

[This is the 1845th tweet in the #ToddlerinChief thread.] pic.twitter.com/xDC1Ica569

— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) September 29, 2020

The “there’s always a tweet” genre genuinely surprises you sometimes. https://t.co/ntJfhBGBmp

— Conor Sen (@conorsen) September 29, 2020

FacebookTweetEmail
Previous Post: « I’m Only Watching the Debate Because the Potential Exists for Trump to Stroke Out and Drop Dead
Next Post: The First 2020 Presidential Debate Live Feed and Open Thread »

Reader Interactions

170Comments

  1. 1.

    debbie

    September 29, 2020 at 6:46 pm

    Trump did not write that last tweet.

  2. 2.

    JMG

    September 29, 2020 at 6:47 pm

    OK, here’s the poll of the year. CBS asked voters who said they were going to watch the debate why they were. Like 75 percent said it was to watch their preferred candidate perform. Only six percent said it was to help them decide how to vote. But in my all-time favorite response, eight percent said they’d watch because it would be the only thing on TV. What a confession of an empty life! Too lazy even to click over to ESPN.

  3. 3.

    Redshift

    September 29, 2020 at 6:48 pm

    I voted! Dropped my absentee ballot off in the drop box at our county’s one early voting location (more will open October 14.) It was near closing time, and there was a decent line outside for in-person voting, though not the huge lines there have been earlier (though maybe those were earlier in the day.)

  4. 4.

    Anne Laurie

    September 29, 2020 at 6:49 pm

    @debbie: Trump did not write that last tweet.

    Yes he (supposedly) did, but in 2012, when Biden kicked Romney’s skinny Mormon butt.

  5. 5.

    trollhattan

    September 29, 2020 at 6:50 pm

    “Cleveland, city of lights
    City of magic”
    –Randy Newman

    Just wanted to say that.

  6. 6.

    TaMara (HFG)

    September 29, 2020 at 6:50 pm

    Biden’s team will be fact-checking live here:

    Truth — and we can’t stress this enough, folks — over lies pic.twitter.com/sc8oWw1tzH

    — Truth (@truth) September 29, 2020

  7. 7.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    September 29, 2020 at 6:54 pm

    Michael M. Grynbaum @grynbaum · 24m
    Programming note: Chris Christie, who is helping run Trump’s debate prep, will be an on-air analyst tonight on @ABC News.

  8. 8.

    Shrillhouse

    September 29, 2020 at 6:55 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Ladies and gentlemen, your liberal media.

  9. 9.

    Another Scott

    September 29, 2020 at 6:56 pm

    @Anne Laurie: You mean Oh So Serious Paulie Blue Eyes I assume?  (AKA Zombie-Eyed Granny Starver.)

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  10. 10.

    debbie

    September 29, 2020 at 6:58 pm

    @Anne Laurie:

    I hate that the date of the tweet being commented on doesn’t show up. The word “feisty” is definitely not something in his current vocabulary. I wonder if Trump has called another man “nasty” yet?

  11. 11.

    Lord Fartdaddy (Formerly, Mumphrey, Smedley Darlington Mingobat, et al.)

    September 29, 2020 at 6:59 pm

    Not going to watch it.  I’ll let the newspapers take one for the team, and tell me about it tomorrow morning.

  12. 12.

    Elizabelle

    September 29, 2020 at 7:01 pm

    @Lord Fartdaddy (Formerly, Mumphrey, Smedley Darlington Mingobat, et al.):   How you be??

  13. 13.

    Goku (Amerikan Baka)

    September 29, 2020 at 7:01 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    Sure sounds like a conflict of interest to me

  14. 14.

    Yutsano

    September 29, 2020 at 7:04 pm

    @Lord Fartdaddy (Formerly, Mumphrey, Smedley Darlington Mingobat, et al.): Hey you.

    Yeah you.

    You’re around.

    You’re posting.

    That makes me happy. Please feel free to keep doing that.

  15. 15.

    Goku (Amerikan Baka)

    September 29, 2020 at 7:06 pm

    @Redshift:

    Congratulations! I can’t wait to start early in-person voting beginning 10/6.

    This is for anybody to answer: Apparently, in a Ohio early voting is only at the county BOE. I could’ve sworn that 5 or 6 years ago early voting was held in more than one location. Is that right?

  16. 16.

    PsiFighter37

    September 29, 2020 at 7:06 pm

    I refuse to watch it live. Will read a few comments / tweets before going to sleep, and will catch the worthy clips tomorrow morning. I hope Biden fucking knocks him down repeatedly. Treat him like Paul Ryan in 2012, but with even less respect.

  17. 17.

    PsiFighter37

    September 29, 2020 at 7:07 pm

    @Goku (Amerikan Baka): Wouldn’t surprise me. The Ohio GOP always tries to suppress the vote as much as possible, and especially during presidential years.

  18. 18.

    Yutsano

    September 29, 2020 at 7:09 pm

    @Goku (Amerikan Baka): La Rose is a knucklefuck. There more than likely were more locations in the past but can’t have that in the middle of a pandemic now can we? Ugh these people are so damn obvious.

  19. 19.

    Leto

    September 29, 2020 at 7:10 pm

    President* doesn’t shit his adult diapers on stage. Media: this is when Trumpov became president. 

    Joe doesn’t layout a 50 point process to do X  Media: not a great night for Biden.

    VDE!!!

  20. 20.

    Humanities Prof

    September 29, 2020 at 7:10 pm

    @Goku (Amerikan Baka): I don’t think so.  I think it’s always been this way.

    We’ve early-voted in every election since we moved to our current residence eight years ago, but we’ve always had to do it at the BoE.

  21. 21.

    Goku (Amerikan Baka)

    September 29, 2020 at 7:10 pm

    @Lord Fartdaddy (Formerly, Mumphrey, Smedley Darlington Mingobat, et al.):

    Glad to see you posting. I haven’t been as active lately so I don’t know your situation, but I hope you’re doing ok

  22. 22.

    Leto

    September 29, 2020 at 7:12 pm

    @Yutsano: I’m really happy that PA Dems were able to get ballot drop boxes secured and ready for this. Just waiting on my ballot and then BOOM! Voted! Awww yeah! :)

  23. 23.

    Goku (Amerikan Baka)

    September 29, 2020 at 7:13 pm

    @Yutsano:

    @Humanities Prof:

    I remember my original polling location was a branch of the county public library system. I guess I could be wrong. I never voted early before now except by absentee. My polling place has moved twice (not very far tbh) within the last 5 years, both churches after the library

  24. 24.

    Kathleen

    September 29, 2020 at 7:17 pm

    @Goku (Amerikan Baka): In Hamilton County the BOE was the only place available for early voting. I started early voting in 2006 or 2008.

  25. 25.

    Morzer

    September 29, 2020 at 7:19 pm

    File under: Things We Never Expected To Happen

    @BillKristol

    OMG—Now I’ve misplaced the debate questions I got in advance. I knew I should have straightened up my desk. . . . Whew. Found them. They were under the print out of today’s instructions from Mr. Soros.

  26. 26.

    Kathleen

    September 29, 2020 at 7:25 pm

    Also Buckeyes – the Democratic Party has endorsed Jennifer Brunner and John O’Donnell for Ohio Supreme Court in case you didn’t already know. We get sample ballots for all the endorsed judges running in the city, county and state.

  27. 27.

    WaterGirl

    September 29, 2020 at 7:27 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: In what world is that ethical, unless they also have someone from Biden’s group?

  28. 28.

    PsiFighter37

    September 29, 2020 at 7:27 pm

    @Kathleen: Brunner was a very good SoS. Hope she wins.

    It is still hard to believe that Democrats controlled everything in Ohio after the state GOP imploded under Bob Taft in the mid-2000s. I don’t think something like that clean sweep will ever happen again.

  29. 29.

    zeecube

    September 29, 2020 at 7:28 pm

    I’ll be watching.  My drinking game tonight: Every time Trump says “China”, I have to take a sip of water using two hands.

  30. 30.

    MisterForkbeard

    September 29, 2020 at 7:30 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Uh. Isn’t that a huge and blatant conflict of interest for our media and oh nevermind.

  31. 31.

    WaterGirl

    September 29, 2020 at 7:33 pm

    I will record on Tivo and then start watching a bit late, so I can fast-forward through Trump and only watch the not-moderate moderator and Biden.

  32. 32.

    JaySinWA

    September 29, 2020 at 7:35 pm

    @JMG: Some people don’t have cable. And what is on ESPN these days anyway?

  33. 33.

    MomSense

    September 29, 2020 at 7:35 pm

    @Another Scott: 
    The Awl (RIP) live blogged the Biden/Ryan debate with the sound muted. One of the funniest political blogs I’ve ever read.

  34. 34.

    evap

    September 29, 2020 at 7:36 pm

    I voted today, in the special election to fill John Lewis’s seat for the rest of the term. There will almost certainly be a runoff — 7 candidates on the ballot — and the winner will end up serving for about 30 days. What an waste of money. But I got a chance to try out the new voter check-in and voting machines. These print out a paper ballot that you can check and the ballot is scanned. They keep the paper ballots so that they could do a hand count if necessary. And the poll workers don’t have to touch your id. I like it!

  35. 35.

    Morzer

    September 29, 2020 at 7:39 pm

    @zeecube: Remember that water poisoning really is a thing.

  36. 36.

    Zzyzx

    September 29, 2020 at 7:39 pm

    I am so terrified. Not because I think that Trump will be good but this is a situation where only bad things can happen really. I will watch but I don’t want to.

    My original plan was to order some comfort food to help but my new exciting plan is to just skip dinner and stress, because that’s completely healthy right!

  37. 37.

    Another Scott

    September 29, 2020 at 7:40 pm

    It’s debate night, so I’ve got my earpiece and performance enhancers ready. pic.twitter.com/EhOiWdjh1b

    — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) September 29, 2020

    He’s telling everyone about it!!11ONE

    Hehe.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  38. 38.

    Major Major Major Major

    September 29, 2020 at 7:40 pm

    I am excited for the debate, but I can never pay attention after the first forty-five minutes or so.

  39. 39.

    Morzer

    September 29, 2020 at 7:41 pm

    @Another Scott:

    Joe “The Beast” Biden is ready to rumble.

  40. 40.

    Sloegin

    September 29, 2020 at 7:41 pm

    Yep, I’m gonna not watch the debate because it’ll be just like last time.  Biden will be prepared, Trump will waddle in and say all the stupid things he’s always said in every stump speech, no moderator will call him on his BS.  Debates are for people with different viewpoints willing to argue rationally.

  41. 41.

    Calouste

    September 29, 2020 at 7:43 pm

    @Morzer: I don’t think Joe is going to get angry at whatever the shitgibbon spews out, he’s just going to laugh at him.

  42. 42.

    Hoppie

    September 29, 2020 at 7:46 pm

    Waiting for Ghod’s Own Decision On Trump

  43. 43.

    WaterGirl

    September 29, 2020 at 7:47 pm

    Does anyone know why C-SPAN comes up as starting an hour before debate time?  Do they do a pre-show?  If so, would that be people calling in?  ugh.

  44. 44.

    Falling Diphthong

    September 29, 2020 at 7:48 pm

    @JMG:

    CBS asked voters who said they were going to watch the debate why they were. Like 75 percent said it was to watch their preferred candidate perform.

    It’s Dancing with the Stars. My guy was brilliant; yours was a disaster. Closer to the conventions (building party esprit de corps through a shared experience) than comparing position papers.

  45. 45.

    zeecube

    September 29, 2020 at 7:48 pm

    @Morzer: That’s why I didn’t go with “Sir”.

  46. 46.

    WaterGirl

    September 29, 2020 at 7:49 pm

    I hope Joe and the other guy are positioned REALLY far apart, because if not, I think Trump will make a big display of intimidation by coming over to shake Biden’s hand and do the dominant handshake thing, even though it’s agreed that they will not shake hands or do elbow bumps.

    I am thinking Trump will do it anyway as an intimidation move to make Biden look weak.  He’s such a petty man.

  47. 47.

    Baud

    September 29, 2020 at 7:55 pm

    @Another Scott: Joe’s starting to grow on me.

  48. 48.

    Major Major Major Major

    September 29, 2020 at 7:56 pm

    There’s nothing wrong with watching a debate because you think it will be fun.

  49. 49.

    Calouste

    September 29, 2020 at 7:57 pm

    @WaterGirl: In that case, Joe should just say “Hey Donald, can’t you remember the agreements for this debate?” In general, “can’t you remember “ or something along those lines should be his go-to option whenever the shitgibbon spews out a lie.

  50. 50.

    Elizabelle

    September 29, 2020 at 7:57 pm

    @zeecube:   LOL.  Agree that water is the best beverage for a drinking game tonight.

  51. 51.

    What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us?

    September 29, 2020 at 7:57 pm

    @trollhattan: I have a soft spot for Cleveland. Have an Aunt and Uncle there and have visited regularly all my life.

  52. 52.

    Kathleen

    September 29, 2020 at 8:00 pm

    @PsiFighter37: Brunner was great! She handled the first Presidential election after the 2004 fiasco and was meticulous.

    We have a reprise of state Republican scandal. Don’t know if that will translate into Dem votes for the state Senate and Legislature.

  53. 53.

    trollhattan

    September 29, 2020 at 8:01 pm

    @What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us?:

    Case Western Reserve was recruiting the kid and after I researched it a bit suggested she give it a look, being pre-med and all it looked like a great fit. She decided not to, which dad thinks wasn’t the bestest choice but TBH winters on Lake Erie would have been a REAL challenge to a California kid.

  54. 54.

    Kathleen

    September 29, 2020 at 8:02 pm

    @MomSense: Did you ever read Media Whores Online? It’s been defunct since the late 90’s and I’m still in mourning.

  55. 55.

    randy khan

    September 29, 2020 at 8:03 pm

    @Goku (Amerikan Baka):

    Sure sounds like a conflict of interest to me

    Or Christie’s chance to get sweet, sweet revenge.  (No, I don’t imagine that will happen – he clearly does not have the guts to do it.  But it would be glorious.  “And on the Republican side, Chris Christie.”  “Tonight, my name is Inigo Montoya. Donald Trump, you killed my campaign. Prepare to die.”)

  56. 56.

    Fester Addams

    September 29, 2020 at 8:03 pm

    @WaterGirl: He wants to play that game, grab his hand, crush it, lean in and cough in his ear.

  57. 57.

    Baud

    September 29, 2020 at 8:04 pm

    Hillary coming up on MSNBC.

  58. 58.

    Immanentize

    September 29, 2020 at 8:05 pm

    @WaterGirl:
    ” I wouldn’t touch you
    With a 99 and a half foot pole!”

  59. 59.

    Baud

    September 29, 2020 at 8:06 pm

    Nicole Wallace says she heard Trump has been practicing.

  60. 60.

    Immanentize

    September 29, 2020 at 8:07 pm

    @Baud: of course he has.  But the word is his concentration is short.  30 mins at most

  61. 61.

    Morzer

    September 29, 2020 at 8:09 pm

    https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1311085850826952704

    @kylegriffin1

    MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Federal appeals court upholds six-day extension for counting ballots in battleground Wisconsin, handing Democrats a win.

  62. 62.

    MomSense

    September 29, 2020 at 8:10 pm

    @Kathleen: 
    Damn, no. It sounds like I would have loved it. The Awl weather reports were brilliant.

  63. 63.

    Adam L Silverman

    September 29, 2020 at 8:11 pm

    @JMG: There’s a reason they double upped the Stanley Cup finals games on Friday and Saturday nights. Had they stuck with the regular scheduling they’d been using, a game every other night, game 5, which was played last night and was the last game in the series, would’ve been played tonight.

  64. 64.

    aliasofwestgate

    September 29, 2020 at 8:12 pm

    I just got my birth certificate and i’ll be able to get my official Wisconsin ID next week after roomie is done working and we make our trip to the DMV on monday or tuesday. I’ll have ot make the appointment prolly friday night. but once that’s on the way, i’m good and we’ll be voting early on Oct 20th or just after. That’s our basic plan, and if absolutely need be, we can vote in person on Nov 3rd. We’re both young enough and prepared with masks and whatnot to do so.  Having to get a new birth certificate was the most harrowing thing because waiting on it to ship took FOREVER.  Almost a solid month for them to track the damned thing down too. I also have plans to get a new passport next year, because we WILL be able to travel overseas again. i know it.  I have plans to go to japan in 2022 if possible with a group of friends.

  65. 65.

    japa21

    September 29, 2020 at 8:12 pm

    @Baud: I know a surgeon that can take of that for you.

  66. 66.

    Adam L Silverman

    September 29, 2020 at 8:13 pm

    @trollhattan:

  67. 67.

    Quinerly

    September 29, 2020 at 8:13 pm

    @What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us?: I like Cleveland quite a bit. Great music city. Club scene, live music. Had friends in Ashland, Ohio (now deceased). Visited there quite a bit up until 2013.

  68. 68.

    zhena gogolia

    September 29, 2020 at 8:15 pm

    OMG, Cauvin is ad libbing Q&A with Trump for an hour. I can’t tear myself away.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiT0yNfd7tY&feature=youtu.be

  69. 69.

    Baud

    September 29, 2020 at 8:16 pm

    @zhena gogolia: Oh, just marry him already.

    :-)

  70. 70.

    Quinerly

    September 29, 2020 at 8:18 pm

    @Baud: but is he really Joe? Read earlier today that QAnon supporters thought during the primary debates that Biden’s earlobes were proof that he had somehow been cloned or replaced with a body double for those debates. Hmmmm….. ?

  71. 71.

    Sab

    September 29, 2020 at 8:18 pm

    @Goku (Amerikan Baka): Not in my county (Summit.) Back in 2004 the BOE rented out a huge space in a dead retail space with plenty of parking. Next time the moved it back to the BOE building.

    Since Ohio has dems and repubs equal on the BOEs, the Sec of State as tiebreaker pretty much can decide what the local BOEs can do.

  72. 72.

    zhena gogolia

    September 29, 2020 at 8:18 pm

    @Baud:

    I know, I’m tiresome.

  73. 73.

    MomSense

    September 29, 2020 at 8:19 pm

    @Lord Fartdaddy (Formerly, Mumphrey, Smedley Darlington Mingobat, et al.):

    I am so happy to see you.

  74. 74.

    Baud

    September 29, 2020 at 8:19 pm

    @Quinerly: He’s not Trump. That’s all that matters.

     

    @zhena gogolia: I hope you saw the :-).

  75. 75.

    Adam L Silverman

    September 29, 2020 at 8:21 pm

    I’m one of the political scientists they interviewed!

    Key to successful debate performance by Donald Trump is not continually sniffing in the fashion of an adderall pill-crushing monkey, according to leading political scientists. pic.twitter.com/HXxBjdUkcZ

    — DPRK News Service (@DPRK_News) September 29, 2020

  76. 76.

    zhena gogolia

    September 29, 2020 at 8:21 pm

    @Baud:

    I did.

  77. 77.

    Skepticat

    September 29, 2020 at 8:21 pm

    The fog cleared momentarily, and the moon looks full, though I know it’s not quite there. How apropos is a full moon tonight?

  78. 78.

    Immanentize

    September 29, 2020 at 8:23 pm

    @Skepticat: me?  I’m drinking a pina colada at Trader Vic’s.

  79. 79.

    WaterGirl

    September 29, 2020 at 8:23 pm

    @aliasofwestgate: Good for you!  Bureaucratic bullshit can suck the life out of you.  Congratulations.

  80. 80.

    Quinerly

    September 29, 2020 at 8:24 pm

    @trollhattan: ?

  81. 81.

    L85NJGT

    September 29, 2020 at 8:24 pm

    What’s Joe using? Anabolics? HGH? Blood doping?

  82. 82.

    Baud

    September 29, 2020 at 8:24 pm

    @Immanentize: Your hair is perfect.

  83. 83.

    Adam L Silverman

    September 29, 2020 at 8:25 pm

    @Another Scott:

    SCOOP: Biden camp denies Trump campaign request to cut him open and see if he is cake

    — David Freedlander (@freedlander) September 29, 2020

  84. 84.

    Jinchi

    September 29, 2020 at 8:25 pm

    @Anne Laurie: when Biden kicked Romney’s skinny Mormon butt.

    Pretty sure that was Obama kicking Romney. Biden debated Ryan.

  85. 85.

    Adam L Silverman

    September 29, 2020 at 8:26 pm

    @Major Major Major Major:

    but I can never pay attention after the first forty-five minutes or so.

    One out of every five men over the age of 40…

  86. 86.

    WaterGirl

    September 29, 2020 at 8:26 pm

    @zhena gogolia: He is so good.

  87. 87.

    Marcopolo

    September 29, 2020 at 8:27 pm

    This is perfect: Maddow interviewing HRC on what to expect at the debate tonight!

    They kicked it off w/ her prescient responses to Trump from the first debate in 2016.

  88. 88.

    WaterGirl

    September 29, 2020 at 8:27 pm

    @zhena gogolia: No you’re not!  You supply links which prompt me to watch him.  He is VERY good, and underappreciated.

  89. 89.

    Adam L Silverman

    September 29, 2020 at 8:27 pm

    @WaterGirl: They are and they’ve moved it to C-Span 2 because they’re covering a House vote on a resolution to take a sense of the House on the peaceful transition of power.

  90. 90.

    WaterGirl

    September 29, 2020 at 8:28 pm

    @Adam L Silverman:

    Key to successful debate performance by Donald Trump is not continually sniffing in the fashion of an adderall pill-crushing monkey, according to leading political scientists.

    I just wanted to see the again, without the distraction of his face.

  91. 91.

    Adam L Silverman

    September 29, 2020 at 8:28 pm

    @WaterGirl: The podiums look to be around 10 feet apart. There will be no handshakes.

  92. 92.

    Quinerly

    September 29, 2020 at 8:29 pm

    @Immanentize: ?

  93. 93.

    Sab

    September 29, 2020 at 8:29 pm

    @Goku (Amerikan Baka): In Ohio they have really cut down on the number of voting places on election day, and they keep moving them around. My parents voted for forty years at the same elementary school on the next block from their house. Since 2010 the election day voting spot has changed every two years and is usually at least 4 miles away in unfamiliar neighborhoods. Same for me. My husband has lived in our same neighborhood for 35 years, and voted at the same church about a mile up the hill until 2010, when voting spot changed every two years to a spot miles away in an unfamiliar neighborhood.

    On a more cheerful note, when I absentee voted in college in 1972 I had to get my signatue notarized on the ballot envelope. Don’t need to do that any more.

  94. 94.

    Morzer

    September 29, 2020 at 8:29 pm

    @Skepticat:

     

    When the moon hits your eye

    Like a Trump make-up pie

    That’s amore!

  95. 95.

    sdhays

    September 29, 2020 at 8:30 pm

    @Immanentize: I doubt it’s very useful, even when he bothers. I can’t imagine anyone helping with his debate prep actually being anything other than the caricature of Biden that makes Dump feel safe. Anything else could risk a tantrum and Dump’s feeling getting hurt.

  96. 96.

    Adam L Silverman

    September 29, 2020 at 8:30 pm

    @Baud: No, she said she was told he has not been practicing.

  97. 97.

    Morzer

    September 29, 2020 at 8:31 pm

    @zhena gogolia: Are you betraying this blog of your ardent fans with… J L Cauvin?  Do we have to go all Jerry Falwell and sit in the corner until you finish?

  98. 98.

    WaterGirl

    September 29, 2020 at 8:32 pm

    @Jinchi: Come on, give Anne Laurie a break.  It’s been nearly a decade century since then!

  99. 99.

    Leto

    September 29, 2020 at 8:32 pm

    @Adam L Silverman: this is that top 10k blog analysis that the country needs right now. Also that cake tweet, lol!

  100. 100.

    WaterGirl

    September 29, 2020 at 8:33 pm

    @Adam L Silverman: ooh.  I bet i have the wrong thing set to record on Tivo then.  Off to check.

  101. 101.

    Baud

    September 29, 2020 at 8:33 pm

    @Adam L Silverman: No, I heard it right. They had a whole discussion about how he’s not doing nothing.  He’s not doing much, but he’s doing something.

  102. 102.

    Aleta

    September 29, 2020 at 8:33 pm

    Trump on a cliff notes:  The Rioter Party is setting fire to our gates.  Prayer is hanging by a thread.   Babies.  Brave heterosexual men in uniform thanking Trump.   $100 coupon for drugs in the mail to every old person, in two weeks.    Together, Trump alone rescued millions from foreign viral hoax.  Our Beautiful American Rights.  Faith not fear.  Evil lies, all around us.

  103. 103.

    Marcopolo

    September 29, 2020 at 8:33 pm

    @Adam L Silverman: That’s good because I hear Biden will actually be a hologram.

  104. 104.

    dmsilev

    September 29, 2020 at 8:34 pm

    @Adam L Silverman: Well, I could imagine Trump walking(*) over to Biden at the beginning to do a dominance handshake thing.

    (*) Autocorrect wanted ‘whaling’ for some reason, perhaps Apple somehow got its hands on Trump’s actual BMI and body-fat numbers.

  105. 105.

    Patricia Kayden

    September 29, 2020 at 8:34 pm

    To Trump:
    1. What comics would you like to read in jail?
    2. How did you squander the $400 million your Dad gave you?
    3. Which country will you try to run to when you lose the election?

    OK let's say you're the moderator what are your first three questions— Jeff Stein (@JStein_WaPo) September 29, 2020

  106. 106.

    piratedan

    September 29, 2020 at 8:34 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: I’m oh so sure that will be mentioned in the chryon underneath him when he performs his “analysis” right?

  107. 107.

    Adam L Silverman

    September 29, 2020 at 8:35 pm

    @WaterGirl: They may have swapped it back, so you may want to set both. I find that what C-Span says it is broadcasting and what it is broadcasting are not always the same thing.

  108. 108.

    Morzer

    September 29, 2020 at 8:35 pm

    @Patricia Kayden:

    Will the great state of Greenland be in the Trump column this time around?

  109. 109.

    Aleta

    September 29, 2020 at 8:37 pm

    This would be a good time to arrest Trump.

  110. 110.

    L85NJGT

    September 29, 2020 at 8:37 pm

    @Baud:

    Using Chris Christie as a verbal punching bag isn’t really debate prep…..

    …and why did they settle on that guy for a Biden stand-in?

  111. 111.

    Morzer

    September 29, 2020 at 8:38 pm

    @L85NJGT: He makes The Donald feel slim and beautiful.

  112. 112.

    Marcopolo

    September 29, 2020 at 8:39 pm

    @Adam L Silverman: Fake news! Nicole did say that despite Trump’s remarks he’s not doing much that her sources in the WH say he is doing a fair amount of debate  prep.

  113. 113.

    Sab

    September 29, 2020 at 8:40 pm

    @Kathleen: Jennifer Brunner was once our Sec of State, and she insisted on having a paper trail for voting machines. I love her.

  114. 114.

    MomSense

    September 29, 2020 at 8:41 pm

    @zhena gogolia:

    He’s so funny.

  115. 115.

    PsiFighter37

    September 29, 2020 at 8:41 pm

    @Marcopolo: Maybe they were talking about how slow Donnie snorted all the Adderall before their 10-minute debate prep sessions started.

  116. 116.

    WaterGirl

    September 29, 2020 at 8:42 pm

    @Adam L Silverman: Like a non-binding house resolution that says we need a peaceful transition of power in a fucking democracy is going to help.  Once you get to the point where you have to say that, I think you have lost half the battle.

    I do not see the point.

  117. 117.

    Jean

    September 29, 2020 at 8:42 pm

    Did anyone hear Nicole Wallace spend time praising Howard Baker during her 2 hour slot?  She was interviewing the author of The Man Who Ran Washington.  She loved the guy.  Made me wonder when she’ll return to her Republican roots.

  118. 118.

    zhena gogolia

    September 29, 2020 at 8:42 pm

    @MomSense:

    they just asked if it was true that he wanted Ivanka to be his running mate, and he said, “Not running mate. I wanted her to be my mate.”

    He’s just ad-libbing and he is cracking me up.

  119. 119.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    September 29, 2020 at 8:42 pm

    @L85NJGT: yup, whenever Nicole Wallace starts talking about having  “a source close to trump” or the campaign, I think, I wonder if Christie stuck her with the lunch tab

  120. 120.

    guachi

    September 29, 2020 at 8:43 pm

    I’m not even certain I want to watch liveblogs of this debate. You guys are made of heartier stuff than I am.

  121. 121.

    Immanentize

    September 29, 2020 at 8:43 pm

    @Baud: why yes, yes it is.

  122. 122.

    Butter Emails

    September 29, 2020 at 8:44 pm

    @Marcopolo: 

    Fake news! Nicole did say that despite Trump’s remarks he’s not doing much that her sources in the WH say he is doing a fair amount of debate prep.

    I believe that Fox news repeatedly showed the debate topics and spewed related talking points about them over the last couple of days. Perhaps that was the debate prep.

  123. 123.

    TS (the original)

    September 29, 2020 at 8:44 pm

    Late to the thread

    1. I see Biden knows how an umbrella works
    2. Flash cards – they are using flash card to teach Trump. I used flashcards when my daughter was 3 to teach her to read.
  124. 124.

    WaterGirl

    September 29, 2020 at 8:44 pm

    @Adam L Silverman: I went to the regular CSPAN channel, and it was the house vote on the resolution.  I went to CSPAN 2, and it had a counters that said debate starts in 25 minutes.  (10 minutes ago)  So I set that manually to record from 7:55 to 10 pm.

    But no, I did not delete the other recording because I am a belts and suspenders kind of girl.

  125. 125.

    Morzer

    September 29, 2020 at 8:44 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Nicole Wallace hasn’t filed for bankruptcy, so… probably not.

  126. 126.

    Marcopolo

    September 29, 2020 at 8:45 pm

    You'll have to inspect a lot lower than the ears to find where the president will be pulling his answers out of tonight. https://t.co/NWInD3GV7k— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) September 29, 2020

  127. 127.

    Kathleen

    September 29, 2020 at 8:46 pm

    @MomSense: I’m sorry I missed Awl!

  128. 128.

    Ruckus

    September 29, 2020 at 8:47 pm

    @trollhattan:

    This west coast boy spent too much of a winter north of Chicago in 1970, at Great Lakes Naval Training Center. I’m not averse to snow and cold, and it still sucked donkey balls. Maybe the exact location had something to do with it. One good event was the release of Mash, the movie. The lifers didn’t want it shown but the base commander said “It’s the army, what do I care if it makes fun of them?” The lifers hated it, the swabs loved it.

  129. 129.

    geg6

    September 29, 2020 at 8:47 pm

    So we have our first COVID case on campus.  Ten students quarantined from contact tracing.  Which gives me some faith in the random testing and contact tracing the university is doing.  At our small campus, that’s a big hole in the student body on campus.  Due to so many classes being online or hybrid, student traffic on campus is sparse, so it will be noticed because only a few were commuters.  Most of them lived in on campus housing.  Could be worse, I guess.  Our Altoona and University Park (what everyone calls main campus) campuses are spiking.  And it is probably related because Altoona is so close to State College that students at both campuses are always going back and forth for parties and others events.  Cross pollinating, if you will.

  130. 130.

    Adam L Silverman

    September 29, 2020 at 8:49 pm

    I have the live feed and open thread up for the debate.

  131. 131.

    WaterGirl

    September 29, 2020 at 8:49 pm

    They showed the audience for the debate, and people were sitting right next to one another – I don’t see much distancing going on.  Even with masks, that is not safe.

  132. 132.

    zhena gogolia

    September 29, 2020 at 8:49 pm

    @zhena gogolia:

    He’s going to keep interrupting Sleepy Joe so he’ll get mad and call him “Jack.”

  133. 133.

    Marcopolo

    September 29, 2020 at 8:50 pm

    @WaterGirl: And yet 5 Rs voted against it.  Gaetz, King, Gohmert, Massie, And someone I did not recognize.

  134. 134.

    Sab

    September 29, 2020 at 8:50 pm

    @trollhattan: I went to Case for grad school. The lake effect is real. It snows a lot in Cleveland. I even saw a thunder snow storm once.

    I love Cleveland. University Circle especially. All those museums and Severance Hall (Cleveland Orchestra). Excellent not too expensive restaurants everywhere that you can get a reservation for on the same day.

    Plus a Great Lake nearby.

  135. 135.

    Burnspbesq

    September 29, 2020 at 8:51 pm

    @JMG:

    Too lazy even to click over to ESPN.

    Speaking of con artists, Spurs – Chelsea is streaming on the ESPN app. Trump could learn a few things from Jose Mourinho’s pre-match protestations of woe.

  136. 136.

    Kathleen

    September 29, 2020 at 8:52 pm

    @Quinerly: I have family roots in Cleveland. My grandfather immigrated from Ireland (he came through Baltimore) he and his siblings ended up in Cleveland. I don’t know how long he lived there. I do believe he enlisted in the Army during WWI in Cleveland.

  137. 137.

    Adam L Silverman

    September 29, 2020 at 8:52 pm

    @dmsilev: About a month ago I was texting with BettyC and my iPhone autocorrected Ivanka to Ivana Karen.

  138. 138.

    WaterGirl

    September 29, 2020 at 8:52 pm

    @Marcopolo: 5 elected officials voted against the fucking peaceful transition of power?????

  139. 139.

    zhena gogolia

    September 29, 2020 at 8:53 pm

    “I drag the right leg because it’s so muscular.”

  140. 140.

    Adam L Silverman

    September 29, 2020 at 8:53 pm

    @L85NJGT: Very similar physical appearances and demeanor.

  141. 141.

    Quinerly

    September 29, 2020 at 8:53 pm

    @Kathleen: ?

  142. 142.

    Adam L Silverman

    September 29, 2020 at 8:54 pm

    @Marcopolo: Okay, I heard/processed the first part and didn’t process the second part.

    Baud is still wrong though. On principle.

  143. 143.

    Adam L Silverman

    September 29, 2020 at 8:54 pm

    @WaterGirl: No one really wants me honestly responding to comments like these. Especially on open comms.

  144. 144.

    Kay

    September 29, 2020 at 8:55 pm

    They made a list of more than 30 celebrities including Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift and Billy Joel to appear in their ad campaign to “inspire hope” about coronavirus, but they ended up with only Dennis Quaid, CeCe Winans and Hasidic singer Shulem Lemmer.
    The health department’s $300 million-plus, taxpayer-funded vehicle to boost confidence in President Donald Trump’s response to the pandemic is sputtering. Celebrities are refusing to participate, and staff are arraying against it. Some complain of the unstated aim of helping Trump’s re-election. Others point to an ill-prepared video team and a 22-year-old political appointee who has repeatedly asserted control despite having no public health expertise, according to six people with close knowledge of the campaign and documents related to its operations.

    300 million dollars.

  145. 145.

    cain

    September 29, 2020 at 8:55 pm

    @Calouste:

    He’s going to get mad because Trump is going to bring up Hunter. He’s going to make the mistake of going after his kids.

  146. 146.

    Adam L Silverman

    September 29, 2020 at 8:56 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: She’s itty bitty. She has to be careful Christie doesn’t confuse her for an hors d’oeuvre.

  147. 147.

    Kathleen

    September 29, 2020 at 8:57 pm

    @Sab: Yup.  In the past 30+ years I’ve lived in 3 places all within blocks of each other. My polling place has changed a lot, which is one of the reasons I like early voting. My State Senator and State Rep both changed because of gerrymandering and I didn’t realize it until I voted in a primary and saw “my candidate” was not on the ballot.

  148. 148.

    L85NJGT

    September 29, 2020 at 8:57 pm

    @Morzer:

    Between him and Giuliani, it’s like a particularly bleak episode of the Sopranos.  The boss knows his capos have flipped and are wearing wires, but would rather not be alone.

  149. 149.

    Adam L Silverman

    September 29, 2020 at 8:57 pm

    @guachi:

    via GIPHY

  150. 150.

    geg6

    September 29, 2020 at 8:57 pm

    @Adam L Silverman:

    Negative.  She said just the opposite.

  151. 151.

    Sab

    September 29, 2020 at 8:58 pm

    @Ruckus: I went to see MASH the movie with my dad ( Korean War doctor vet.) He laughed so loud and so often it was embarrassing to be in the theater with him. And he was not usually an outgoing type of guy.

  152. 152.

    Kathleen

    September 29, 2020 at 8:58 pm

    @Morzer: zhena is “seeing other blogs”.

  153. 153.

    Quinerly

    September 29, 2020 at 8:58 pm

    @Jean: James Baker.

    I guess you heard the part about James Baker rubbing GHWB’s feet a few hours before he died. Baker hates Trump but still voting for him because of….. JUDGES.

  154. 154.

    Adam L Silverman

    September 29, 2020 at 8:59 pm

    @Marcopolo: Probably that nut bar Gosar from AZ.

  155. 155.

    Kathleen

    September 29, 2020 at 9:00 pm

    @Sab: Yes she did! That was after the 2004 debacle.

  156. 156.

    Marcopolo

    September 29, 2020 at 9:01 pm

    @WaterGirl: Well, look @ who they are.

  157. 157.

    Gravenstone

    September 29, 2020 at 9:01 pm

    @Baud: 

    but he’s doing something

    C’mon man, giving his handlers ulcers doesn’t count.

  158. 158.

    zhena gogolia

    September 29, 2020 at 9:01 pm

    @Morzer:

    Cauvin is not a blog. He’s twitter/youtube/podcasts.

  159. 159.

    Marcopolo

    September 29, 2020 at 9:01 pm

    @Adam L Silverman: Nah, I know him.

    Looked it up.  Someone named Clay Higgins.

  160. 160.

    Immanentize

    September 29, 2020 at 9:03 pm

    @geg6: ugh.  So sorry

  161. 161.

    Kathleen

    September 29, 2020 at 9:03 pm

    @Quinerly: ♥♥

  162. 162.

    Adam L Silverman

    September 29, 2020 at 9:06 pm

    Good start by Biden. He said “how are you, man?” Not “how are you, Mr. President?” Well done!

  163. 163.

    Jean

    September 29, 2020 at 9:07 pm

    @Quinerly: yes, I heard that part, and of course, Baker, who is 90, is voting for Trump because Baker is a REPUBLICAN.  Guess he hasn’t figured out that there are no Republicans, only Trumpists.

    It was a weird segment, and Nicole was very smiley and flattering.

  164. 164.

    Marcopolo

    September 29, 2020 at 9:07 pm

    @Quinerly: What I read is Baker said Trump is nuts & he wouldn’t endorse him.  And not that he was voting for Trump but that he wasn’t voting for Biden.  The implication being he wouldn’t vote period.

    Edited to add:  Oops I’m wrong. Guess I was thinking of something else I read.

  165. 165.

    Jay Noble

    September 29, 2020 at 9:09 pm

    Back in the 90’s when I was in  Lincoln, the 1st polling place was a rec enter just across the alley. The second was a an elementary school maybe six blocks away. But I got a chuckle. The elementary schoool was just across the street from the governors mansion. Wheh they changed the polling places, the Governor had to traipse about 6 blocks too. :-)

  166. 166.

    MisterForkbeard

    September 29, 2020 at 9:10 pm

    @Patricia Kayden: To Trump:

    1. “What”
    2. “The”
    3. “Fuck?”

  167. 167.

    Sab

    September 29, 2020 at 9:14 pm

    @Kathleen: I live in Akron in a smallish (300) housing development up against our biggest metropark. It has a street encircling it, with other streets inside. The outer side of the encircling street is in a different Congressional district from everyone else. They have Marcia Fudge. We have Tim Ryan.

    Marcia Fudge lives in Warrensville Heights up on Lake Erie 35 miles away. Tim Ryan lives in Warren on the PA border also 35 miles away. We are the fifth largest city in the state yet our Congresscritters don’t live here.

    Otherwise they have been good reps. ( Marcia better than Tim.) He has really cleaned up his act since Pelosi politely handed him his head on a platter during impeachment. Also too he married a teacher and has tiny kids now, so gun violence in schools and the Covid mess are real to him now.

  168. 168.

    PsiFighter37

    September 29, 2020 at 9:19 pm

    Jesus, Trump is worse than I thought. Literally just shouting “Bernie” when he can.

  169. 169.

    SFAW

    September 29, 2020 at 9:20 pm

    @Hoppie:

    Waiting for Ghod’s Own Decision On Trump

    Nicely done, Sam.

  170. 170.

    J R in WV

    September 29, 2020 at 9:32 pm

    @Ruckus:

    I showed up at Great Lakes Navy Base in very early March 1970… so we missed each other by not very much at all…

Comments are closed.

Primary Sidebar

On The Road - PaulB - Olympic Peninsula: Salt Creek Recreation Area & Kalaloch Beach
Image by PaulB (5/10/25)

Recent Comments

  • Jay on We Are Just Incubators (May 15, 2025 @ 7:15pm)
  • Anne Laurie on Lest We Forget: Kilmar Abrego Garcia (May 15, 2025 @ 7:06pm)
  • Jackie on We Are Just Incubators (May 15, 2025 @ 7:06pm)
  • Anyway on We Are Just Incubators (May 15, 2025 @ 6:59pm)
  • Jay on We Are Just Incubators (May 15, 2025 @ 6:59pm)

PA Supreme Court At Risk

Donate

Balloon Juice Posts

View by Topic
View by Author
View by Month & Year
View by Past Author

Featuring

Medium Cool
Artists in Our Midst
Authors in Our Midst
War in Ukraine
Donate to Razom for Ukraine

🎈Keep Balloon Juice Ad Free

Become a Balloon Juice Patreon
Donate with Venmo, Zelle or PayPal

Meetups

Upcoming Ohio Meetup May 17
5/11 Post about the May 17 Ohio Meetup

Calling All Jackals

Site Feedback
Nominate a Rotating Tag
Submit Photos to On the Road
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Links)
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Posts)
Fix Nyms with Apostrophes

Hands Off! – Denver, San Diego & Austin

Social Media

Balloon Juice
WaterGirl
TaMara
John Cole
DougJ (aka NYT Pitchbot)
Betty Cracker
Tom Levenson
David Anderson
Major Major Major Major
DougJ NYT Pitchbot
mistermix

Keeping Track

Legal Challenges (Lawfare)
Republicans Fleeing Town Halls (TPM)
21 Letters (to Borrow or Steal)
Search Donations from a Brand

PA Supreme Court At Risk

Donate

Site Footer

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Comment Policy
  • Our Authors
  • Blogroll
  • Our Artists
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 Dev Balloon Juice · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!