The Debates

[xrayzebra]

Well looks like Obama has won the first round. No Fox news in the mix, so
far.

DEBATE MODERATORS ANNOUNCED:
PBS Jim Lehrer, first Pres debate, Oct 3 Denver...
CNN Candy Crowley, town hall, Oct 16, Hempstead NY...
CBS Bob Schieffer, third Pres debate, Oct. 22, Boca Raton...
ABC Martha Raddatz, VP debate, Oct 11, Danville KY...

http://www.drudgereport.com/

:ihit

[mercos]

No MSNBC news in the mix either. Seems fair. Those are the two most biased news channels and they should be kept out. The debates are to important to be tainted by either network.

[CosmicCowboy]

No MSNBC news in the mix either. Seems fair. Those are the two most biased news channels and they should be kept out. The debates are to important to be tainted by either network.

:lmao

And Candy Crowley is impartial?

[coyotes_geek]

The VP debate should be pretty entertaining. :lol

Ryan should just keep quiet and let Joe do all the talking.

[Sportcamper]

The VP debate should be pretty entertaining. :lol

VP debates would have been outstanding if Condi were on the ticket...

[mercos]

Haven't kept up with Crowley lately, tbh, but I remember her coverage of Bush's 2000 run was very fair. Just based on that I would say she is less partial than Bret Baier, Megyn Kelly, or whoever else Fox News would have thrown in as moderator.

[cantthinkofanything]

The VP debate should be pretty entertaining. :lol

Ryan should just keep quiet and let Joe do all the talking.

He should just have a pre-printed sign that says "WTF" and hold it up after Joe speaks.

[baseline bum]

The VP debate should be pretty entertaining. :lol

Ryan should just keep quiet and let Joe do all the talking.

True; keeping people in the dark on his plans is likely Ryan's best bet.

[Yonivore]

True; keeping people in the dark on his plans is likely Ryan's best bet.

I think a discussion on Ryan's budget proposal -- which is not necessarily the Romney/Ryan budget proposal -- deserves a fair public discussion. After all, we keep hearing that it decimates Medicare and throws Granny off a cliff when Congressman Ryan continually says his budget plan does not touch Medicare for those 55 and older. So, let's find out -- by examining the facts -- which rhetoric is accurate.

What we do know, right now, is President Obama's Medicare plan has already siphoned off $500 Billion dollars to pay for Obamacare and, with the sequestration of the coming apocalyptic budget slashing, will lose another $200 Billion dollars. Whose plan fucks with seniors more? Whose plan is throwing granny off the cliff?

Erskine Bowles, President Obama's hand-picked representative (and said to be Timothy "TurboTax" Geihtner's replacement, at Treasury in a second term), says this about Paul Ryan's budget proposal:


dbzpuqWo6yU
It's "sensible, honest, and serious."

The Democrat Senate has yet to even consider a budget since Obama took office and the budgets Obama has proposed have been laughed off the Congressional floor.

Congressman Ryan reached across the aisle and worked with Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden to arrive at a Medicare Reform Plan.

What is the President's plan for saving Medicare?

I agree with some blogger I read yesterday, "Paul Ryan represents Obama's most horrifying nightmare; math."

He demonstrated the flawed math in Obamacare which has gone from promising a nearly $500 billion dollars surplus, over the next 10 years to a $1.5 trillion dollars drain on our economy, over the next 10 years.

As has been said by President Obama himself, Paul Ryan is likable. He has friends on both sides of the aisle. He makes his points without being rancorous. And, he can support his assertions with cold hard math.

[baseline bum]

I think a discussion on Ryan's budget proposal -- which is not necessarily the Romney/Ryan budget proposal -- deserves a fair public discussion. After all, we keep hearing that it decimates Medicare and throws Granny off a cliff when Congressman Ryan continually says his budget plan does not touch Medicare for those 55 and older. So, let's find out -- by examining the facts -- which rhetoric is accurate.

What we do know, right now, is President Obama's Medicare plan has already siphoned off $500 Billion dollars to pay for Obamacare and, with the sequestration of the coming apocalyptic budget slashing, will lose another $200 Billion dollars. Whose plan fucks with seniors more? Whose plan is throwing granny off the cliff?

Erskine Bowles, President Obama's hand-picked representative (and said to be Timothy "TurboTax" Geihtner's replacement, at Treasury in a second term), says this about Paul Ryan's budget proposal:



The Democrat Senate has yet to even consider a budget since Obama took office and the budgets Obama has proposed have been laughed off the Congressional floor.

Congressman Ryan reached across the aisle and worked with Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden to arrive at a Medicare Reform Plan.

What is the President's plan for saving Medicare?

I agree with some blogger I read yesterday, "Paul Ryan represents Obama's most horrifying nightmare; math."

He demonstrated the flawed math in Obamacare which has gone from promising a nearly $500 billion dollars surplus, over the next 10 years to a $1.5 trillion dollars drain on our economy, over the next 10 years.

As has been said by President Obama himself, Paul Ryan is likable. He has friends on both sides of the aisle. He makes his points without being rancorous. And, he can support his assertions with cold hard math.

LOL cold hard math. Reduce the deficit by slashing taxes. :lol

Ryan doesn't push granny off the cliff; he pushes everyone else off while making them still pay for the cocksucking entitled Baby Boomers' benefits.

[DarrinS]

LOL cold hard math. Reduce the deficit by slashing taxes. :lol

Ryan doesn't push granny off the cliff; he pushes everyone else off while making them still pay for the cocksucking entitled Baby Boomers' benefits.


Thoughtful analysis. You're becoming the new boutons. Congrats.

[baseline bum]

Harsh coming from the right-wing boutons.

[DarrinS]

Harsh coming from the right-wing boutons.

Nice try, but I'm not the one having emo outbursts.

[baseline bum]

Nice try, but I'm not the one having emo outbursts.

lightbulbs

[DarrinS]

Example

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6069864&postcount=10

[ElNono]

"They're gonna have to pry incandescent lighbulbs off my cold, dead hands!"

lol emo outbursts

[ElNono]

lightbulbs

:lol exactly what I thought

[baseline bum]

Example

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6069864&postcount=10

Yeah, it was stupid to pick a right-winger when Romney already has wingnuts like you locked up to vote against the muslim porch monkey communist.

[Wild Cobra]

Yep.

Bet all the questions will be softballs for Obama and hardballs for Romney.

[Yonivore]

Yep.

Bet all the questions will be softballs for Obama and hardballs for Romney.
I'm okay with that; I don't think it does Obama any favors. Who wants to pick on the Forest Gump of politics, anyway? Let the adults have a serious conversation about the future of our country while Obama continues to repeat slogans and cliches.

[baseline bum]

LOL @ slashing taxes to pay down the deficit as being the adult thing to do.

[Wild Cobra]

LOL...

Forest Gump of politics.

I tell you, I would rather have Forest running this nation than Obama.

[DarrinS]

Yeah, it was stupid to pick a right-winger when Romney already has wingnuts like you locked up to vote against the muslim porch monkey communist.


7pdWAcK6Eh8

[Clipper Nation]

Yep.

Bet all the questions will be softballs for Obama and hardballs for Romney.
Does it matter? They'd fundamentally agree on every question, no matter how hard or soft, tbh...

[Yonivore]

LOL @ slashing taxes to pay down the deficit as being the adult thing to do.
I'm not sure how allowing the current tax rates to remain in order to encourage economic activity is "slashing taxes" or a proposal to "pay down the deficit." I believe the plan to "pay down the deficit" involves "slashing government" and "slashing spending."

[elbamba]

True; keeping people in the dark on his plans is likely Ryan's best bet.

Could you point me in the direction of the budget the senate has passed? I need some clarity so I can compare the two.

[elbamba]

LOL @ slashing taxes to pay down the deficit as being the adult thing to do.

How do tax increases and increased entitlement spending without reform pay down the deficit? If I am not mistaken both politicians or both primary political parties seem happy to continue to spend money without really taking serious steps to pay down the deficit.

[Yonivore]

Could you point me in the direction of the budget the senate has passed? I need some clarity so I can compare the two.
:tu

[ElNono]

How do tax increases and increased entitlement spending without reform pay down the deficit? If I am not mistaken both politicians or both primary political parties seem happy to continue to spend money without really taking serious steps to pay down the deficit.

You're not mistaken. But that's exactly where the frustration stems from: they're both the same thing under different colors, simply picking different winners and losers. baseline can speak for himself, but I suspect he isn't happy with Barry or his policies either.

[baseline bum]

Could you point me in the direction of the budget the senate has passed? I need some clarity so I can compare the two.

That would just be an exercise in masturbation, like Ryan's proposal was. It's obvious nothing is happening until after the election.

[Yonivore]

That would just be an exercise in masturbation, like Ryan's proposal was. It's obvious nothing is happening until after the election.
It won't be because of Republicans. In fact, the vast majority of the blame can be pinned on one person; Harry Reid.

[baseline bum]

It won't be because of Republicans. In fact, the vast majority of the blame can be pinned on one person; Harry Reid.

LOL, you're as big a partisan hack as WC.

[DarrinS]

LOL, you're as big a partisan hack as WC.

So, you can't answer elbamba

[baseline bum]

I answered him that it was stupid to send a budget that had zero shot of passing the house. Just like Ryan's sociopathic budget has no chance in the senate.

[Clipper Nation]

It won't be because of Republicans. In fact, the vast majority of the blame can be pinned on one person; Harry Reid.

So Bright Orange Boehner and Bitch McConnell have nothing to do with it? :lol

[DarrinS]

I answered him that it was stupid to send a budget that had zero shot of passing that house. Just like Ryan's sociopathic budget has no chance in the senate.

Lol @ sociopathic budget, but fine with raiding Medicare to pay for Obamacare. But, at least you're not a partisan hack.

[Yonivore]

So Bright Orange Boehner and Bitch McConnell have nothing to do with it? :lol
Not when it comes to getting legislation through the Senate. The only gatekeeper is Harry Reid.

And, the House, under Boehner, has a pretty good record of sending passed legislation to the Senate where it's killed by Harry Reid.

[Yonivore]

I answered him that it was stupid to send a budget that had zero shot of passing the house. Just like Ryan's sociopathic budget has no chance in the senate.
If it had no chance in the Senate, why not vote on it?

[baseline bum]

Lol @ sociopathic budget, but fine with raiding Medicare to pay for Obamacare. But, at least you're not a partisan hack.

You're an ignorant motherfucker, since I have made it completely clear that I hate Obama and his piece of shit healthcare bill. Go put words in someone else's mouth.

[Clipper Nation]

Not when it comes to getting legislation through the Senate. The only gatekeeper is Harry Reid.

And, the House, under Boehner, has a pretty good record of sending passed legislation to the Senate where it's killed by Harry Reid.

It takes two sides to have our current state of irresponsible gridlock, tbh...

[DarrinS]

you're an ignorant motherfucker, since i have made it completely clear that i hate obama and his piece of shit healthcare bill. Go put words in someone else's mouth.

loud noises!!!

[Yonivore]

You're an ignorant motherfucker, since I have made it completely clear that I hate Obama and his piece of shit healthcare bill. Go put words in someone else's mouth.
Tbh, you haven't made it that clear...well, until now. I don't even hate Obama, I just think he's wrong.

[baseline bum]

loud noises!!!

OK, captain strawman.

[baseline bum]

Tbh, you haven't made it that clear...well, until now. I don't even hate Obama, I just think he's wrong.

:rollin

LOL at the idea you don't hate Obama when you criticise him for the most meaningless things, like ipods.

[Yonivore]

:rollin

LOL at the idea you don't hate Obama when you criticise him for the most meaningless things, like ipods.
I think he's been a completely incompetent president. That doesn't mean I hate him.

[elbamba]

You're not mistaken. But that's exactly where the frustration stems from: they're both the same thing under different colors, simply picking different winners and losers. baseline can speak for himself, but I suspect he isn't happy with Barry or his policies either.

I concur. One thing that I hope we get with Ryan on the ticket, is a serious policy discussion with real ideas. People might hate what Ryan has to say, but at least he had the balls to put it out there. He has been excoriated by democrates for his plan. Yet democrates have not put anything on the table. I don't want them to wait until after the election. Give the american people two plans that they can compare and vote on. Obama has not presented anything for the American people with which to hold his feet to the fire in term two. I hope we get serious economic policy debate from both parties. I won't hold my breath.

[elbamba]

That would just be an exercise in masturbation, like Ryan's proposal was. It's obvious nothing is happening until after the election.

Put something on the table. Even if it can't be passed. We pay our politicians for this, not to wait until after elections.

[baseline bum]

I concur. One thing that I hope we get with Ryan on the ticket, is a serious policy discussion with real ideas. People might hate what Ryan has to say, but at least he had the balls to put it out there. He has been excoriated by democrates for his plan. Yet democrates have not put anything on the table. I don't want them to wait until after the election. Give the american people two plans that they can compare and vote on. Obama has not presented anything for the American people with which to hold his feet to the fire in term two. I hope we get serious economic policy debate from both parties. I won't hold my breath.

I don't see any balls in putting out a plan that is just the complete gamut of Republican talking points. I wouldn't be signing the praises of someone like Sanders or Kucinich coming out with a plan calling for a return to a 90% top tax rate either, since it would be a similar non-starter.

[Clipper Nation]

I concur. One thing that I hope we get with Ryan on the ticket, is a serious policy discussion with real ideas.

Not going to happen unless Ron Paul da gawd pulls off the upset in Tampa... Ron bless

[Yonivore]

I don't see any balls in putting out a plan that is just the complete gamut of Republican talking points. I wouldn't be signing the praises of someone like Sanders or Kucinich coming out with a plan calling for a return to a 90% top tax rate either, since it would be a similar non-starter.
I think it's pretty ballsy for Romney to select a Vice Presidential running mate with a plan (not all of which he agrees with) but, with a plan that has been excoriated over the past year by Democrats.

He's basically pushing his chips out to the middle of the table and calling Obama's bluff.

Romney knows Obama's plan cuts over $700 billion from Medicare and instituted a panel of unelected officials to make decision over the provision of care.

Obama needs to defend that against the Romney plan which proposes leaving everyone over 55 along and offering those, under 55, the choice of staying with Medicare or going with something else, akin to Medicare Advantage.

[ElNono]

I concur. One thing that I hope we get with Ryan on the ticket, is a serious policy discussion with real ideas. People might hate what Ryan has to say, but at least he had the balls to put it out there. He has been excoriated by democrates for his plan. Yet democrates have not put anything on the table. I don't want them to wait until after the election. Give the american people two plans that they can compare and vote on. Obama has not presented anything for the American people with which to hold his feet to the fire in term two. I hope we get serious economic policy debate from both parties. I won't hold my breath.

As somebody pointed out in another thread, there's hardly anything novel with Ryan/Romney plan. It's basically your standard conservative cliché-filled "document":

- fair tax
- tax cuts for the rich
- trickle down
- repeal barrycare
- gut social programs/medicare except for baby boomers
- keep or expand military spending
- kick the can on addressing the mounting debt

The sad part is that except for perhaps the "fair tax" and the "social programs" part, barry is pretty much the same.

I would welcome serious policy discussion too, but apparently there isn't much to discuss, seeing both sides pretty much in line either through discourse or actions, despite the rhetoric you'll hear from here until november.

[coyotes_geek]

Obama needs to defend that against the Romney plan which proposes leaving everyone over 55 along and offering those, under 55, the choice of staying with Medicare or going with something else, akin to Medicare Advantage.

Not really. All Obama needs to do is to attack Ryan's plan and keep to his talking point about raising taxes on the rich. Obama has no plan and thanks to the republicans idiotic strategy of pushing more tax cuts, he doesn't need one.

[jack sommerset]

Obama is going to smile a lot and answer questions that are not asked. Romney will do his best to get Obama to talk about the last 4 years. God bless

[Jacob1983]

I can't believe we get to see the lead singer of Seether in one of the debates.

[AFBlue]

Obama is going to smile a lot and answer questions that are not asked. Romney will do his best to get Obama to talk about the last 4 years. God bless

They're both gonna do that, tbh. Neither is particularly interested in their own plan/record. They're just sure it's better than the other guy's.