ThinkProgress Liveblogging Tonight’s Presidential Debate
ThinkProgress Liveblogging Tonight’s Presidential Debate
Continuing our coverage of the 2008 election debates, the entire ThinkProgress team — including the Wonk Room and Matt Yglesias — will be liveblogging tonight’s debate (beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET at Belmont University) and the media’s post-event commentary.
Tonight’s debate will be in a “town hall” format. Some of the debate guidelines:
–The questions will be culled from a group of 100 to 150 uncommitted likely voters in the audience and another one-third to come via the Internet. Brokaw selects which questions to ask from written queries submitted prior to the debate.
–The Gallup Organization makes sure the questioners reflect the demographic makeup of the nation.
–An audience member isn’t allowed to switch questions and will not be allowed a follow-up either. His or her microphone will be turned off after the question is read and a camera shot will only be shown of the person asking — not reacting.
–The moderator may not ask followups or make comments.
–McCain and Obama will be provided with director’s chairs, but they’re also allowed to stand. They can’t roam past their “designated area” marked on the stage and are not supposed to ask each other direct questions.
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No follow-ups, no reaction shots, no direct questioning…
Why do they even have to be in the same room? They’ve designed an encounter in such a way that the participants are not permitted to acknowledge that the other exists. They should just broadcast alternating clips of their stump speeches.
Get your John McCain NOPE T-Shirts & Stickers today!
October 7th, 2008 at 11:26 amWhat happens when an enraged McCain leaves his zone, comes over and chokes Obama? Will Brokaw throw a flag?
October 7th, 2008 at 11:26 amGood thing for Obama that McCain can’t wander into his “area.”
October 7th, 2008 at 11:27 amSo, once again, the McCain campaign gets their cake while eating it… a debate with no follow-up questions… A debate where the debaters aren’t to address each other… A debate where the rules restrict any attempt at actually debating the issues.
These aren’t debates – They are little more than question/answer sessions…
October 7th, 2008 at 11:31 amSo, can anyone tell me when we’re going to have the first actual debate between these two cause so far, I seem to have missed it.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:33 amWe have an intellectually unrigorous election process. This debate continues that pattern.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:33 ammccain demanded this because he is a coward. This is not a debate.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:36 amAnd McDepends is crying and wonders why Obama wouldn’t take part in a bushel of these type of phony “debates”…….
No wonder the stupid old putz wanted this type of format ; to spew GOP talking points and bullshit is his only ability……..
October 7th, 2008 at 11:37 amYeah, yeah, I know the McSame folks think the town hall format is their guy’s strong suit, but I have a feeling that Obama will surprise them with his performance. Mainly because he knows WTF he’s talking about.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:39 amLooking forward to it TP, as you do a great job. The NBC 30-minute post-debate ana lysis doesn’t cut it. This place is filled with information for our minds to absorb.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:41 amThe best question to ask of McCain would be “what drugs are you on right now, and how long will it take you tomorrow to recover from them?”
I predict that tomorrow we won’t see much of McCain. Just like after his last debate, he spent the day out of sight, dealing with the economic crisis in Washington “by phone”.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:41 amOnly if he can do it uncontested as in this debate style. Saying it is a debate style is a joke.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:43 amWhen I see McCain talking, he appears to look and sound a lot like the late Peter Lorre. Does anyone else see that? I first noticed it at the RNC when he gave his marathon speech. And when he’s in a “town hall” format, it only appears more so.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:43 amVery funny blog, Princess Sparkle Pony. Bookmarked.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:44 amWont happen. McCain cant raise his arms above his shoulders so Obamas throat is out of reach. And Obama is too fast for the old man any way. OTOH McCain is by far the more experienced fighter. Could be an interesting bout
October 7th, 2008 at 11:44 amAny chance they’ll ask McCain why he won’t released his medical records?
October 7th, 2008 at 11:47 amI can’t wait for that healthcare a-nalogy for our $3 trillion economic bailout. Will McCain cite clogged arteries or Obama mention systemic infection?
At that point my shoe will hit the screen. The costly buyout is now a reason not to address America’s healthcare crisis. The gall of our elected leaders to foster corporafornication at the expense of our health!
October 7th, 2008 at 11:50 amMcCain up to this point has been taking questions from mostly his audience. Tonight he’s up against all audiences. The last time I recall McCain taking a question from a random individual, his response was You’re drafted, jerk!
I agree with ralph. I strongly believe that Obama will build further momentum. I am loving this ticket.
October 7th, 2008 at 11:50 am… and are not supposed to ask each other direct questions.
but doesn’t DISallow them…
but knowing obama, he won’t directly ask mcPRICK, “John, do YOU agree with your running mate that i am “pallin’ around with terrorists?”
October 7th, 2008 at 11:51 amSorry, won’t RELEASE his medical records. It was a rhetorical question anyway….or was it hypothetical?
October 7th, 2008 at 11:58 amGood to see Princess Sparkle Pony back. It’s been quite a while.
October 7th, 2008 at 12:00 pmI’m going to live-twitter because I’m also very self-important.
October 7th, 2008 at 12:01 pmTechnodaoist Says:
These aren’t debates – They are little more than question/answer sessions…
October 7th, 2008 at 11:31 am
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Worse. They’re stump speeches with audience participation.
We don’t have debates in this country. Haven’t had them for a long time.
October 7th, 2008 at 12:07 pmIke_Skelton Says:
But what do you think about the town hall meeting tonight?
October 7th, 2008 at 12:12 pm“John, did you have too many herbal supplements for your memory and energy this morning? Your teeth are clenched so hard I’m worried you’re going to crack them!”
October 7th, 2008 at 12:19 pm@Fred:
Looking forward to it. I’m hoping McCain will finally lose his temper tonight, but I doubt anyone will be allowed to ask a tough enough question for this to happen.
October 7th, 2008 at 12:29 pmCrap. What a waste of time. I’ve already heard McLoser’s talking points ad nauseum. Hell, I could probably recite them myself…
However, I’m going to an event tonight where we’re going to see the debate on a large screen, and, better yet – we’re being treated to a live debate between Stephanie Miller and Rightwing Tool Dennis Praeger, so all is not lost. ;o)
October 7th, 2008 at 12:35 pmWow, three months ago there sure were a lot more McCain supporters on these discussions. Have the poor babies figured it out yet? Maybe they have. It’s over for them. 60 Democratic Senators, a forty-seat majority in the House and an executive with FDR-like plans for fixing the economy – the modern conservative movement is OVER! Many thanks to GW Bush for hastening it’s demise.
October 7th, 2008 at 12:37 pmMcIIIrd had the nucking ferve yesterday to blame Obama for inaction because he didn’t ‘deliver’ the votes in his party when the House shot down the first version.
He conveniently ignored that 2/3 of the members of HIS party voted against it while 40% of the dems voted agin it.
Please, bring this up tonight, Senator Obama, and while you’re at it, ask him WHY THE FCUK he won’t look you in the eye?
October 7th, 2008 at 12:58 pmInteresting, outside of the debate location there are lots of folks with signs chanting Obama. McCain supporters must be napping before they go out for their earlybird dinners.
October 7th, 2008 at 1:32 pmThe questions for tonight are being written by “undecided” voters. So they’re either being written by the most uninformed idiots in the country or by a bunch of liars. Great format there.
October 7th, 2008 at 2:41 pm“An audience member isn’t allowed to switch questions and will not be allowed a follow-up either. His or her microphone will be turned off after the question is read and a camera shot will only be shown of the person asking — not reacting.”
Wouldn’t want to take any chances on being forced to have real dialog with a voter.
Like others have already said, what a waste of time. An hour of campaign commercials would be more spontaneous and informative.
October 7th, 2008 at 3:09 pmLet’s hope McCain looses his cool…then it will be game over!
October 7th, 2008 at 4:06 pmObama waxed him but good.
October 7th, 2008 at 10:40 pm