Join Caitlin Shamberg, producer of To The Point along with other special guests. TBA, throughout the first Presidential Debate between President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney. Tonight, October 3, 2012 at 9pm Eastern Time.
A KCRW hosted LIVE CHAT will be made available on To The Point's Tumblr page. It is scheduled to begin at the time of the Presidential Debate this evening. We'd love for you to join us there, we have some exciting guests lined up to join in the conversation!
Caitlin Shamberg added To The Point.
Hi! It's Caitlin. We're super psyched to be watching the presidential debate with you!
Here's some warm up reading.
KCRW added W. Kamau Bell, Joshua Treviño, Rachel Hastings, Ted Johnson, Farai Chideya, Gary Scott, and Anna Scott.
Hey all! This is Rachel. Are you ready for some football!?!? If you are, then you've probably entered the wrong chat.
Interesting that the Gaffes and GIFs article mentions that the guy who blinks less will be the winner. The future of our country depends on a semi-staring contest!
Debate countdown. Three hours, five min. Let's get it done!
Debate countdown! 2:54:24 to go. Join us: kcrw.com/election2012
Let's do this debate already
Isn't this kind of too much food?
twitter.com
The Gov's pre-game meal: BBQ sandwich and some spaghetti from Cheesecake Factory. http://t.co/5lEx79W1
CNBC goes to Rep. Ron Paul as part of its pre-game show. Paul jumps right to The Fed and debt crisis.
HowardKurtz @HowardKurtz
Twitter exec tells me there have already been more tweets about #DenverDebate than all the debates in '08--even though it hasn't started
MSNBC (or is it NBC now?) has Ezra Klein wonking out about tax rates and deductions as its #denverdebate prep.
I thought The Onion was supposed to be satirical.
Fox News: Bill O'Reilly making Dennis Miller laugh over voter ID laws.
KTLA Los Angeles goes with Family Guy in runup to #denverdebate.
5 minutes away!
What is everyone eating during the debate?
I might get a little agitated during the debate, but I have manchego cheese, fig jam, and half a pound of Serrano ham to keep me calm.
CNN is tracking the undecided voters with squiggly lines... here we go...
Here we go... President Obama gets to answer the first question.
Lay's thick cut chips with sea salt
Sadly, I don't even know if Mitt is going to be more exciting than Jim Lehrer. #debates
Farai here... Lehrer: "Let's begin with jobs...." what are major differences between you?
Welcome to our chat, everyone!
Loving the squiggly line on CNN. Undecideds are um flat, oh now squiggling up a little.
"How would you create jobs?" "Happy anniversary honey!"
POTUS starts with 20th anniversary greetings to his wife. The "no clapping and booing" rule works against him here as the lack of audience response mutes the effort.
Blue tie vs. red tie?
And within seconds President Obama reminds the American public that his wife is awesome. #debates
Does Romney have a cold? #denverdebate
"You're spending your anniversary with me!" Zing count: 1
just so you're not confused twitter.com
RT @michaelscherer: Blue Tie, Red Tie.
Women squiggles are liking education!
The lines at the bottom of the screen on CNN are hypnotizing -- and largely useless.
@wkamaubell You gotta tell us if Obama reveals anything to you
Judging by Mitt's face just now, I can tell that he HATES wind.
Is Romney's flag pin bigger than Obama's? #startingrumors
So that means that "middle income" had been $254,000 or so.
We're so thrilled to welcome everyone to our chat! Farai Chideya, W. Kamau Bell and Rachel Hastings! Thanks for being with us!
Everyone take a drink when you hear "trillion," "middle class" or "percent ..."
Romney on the attack. Economic crush. Obama staring at his notes on split screen.
@CaitlinKCRW WILL DO! And you do the same for me with Mitt.
Will Obama be good on defense? (Remember "You're likable enough, Hillary")
"By the way, I like coal," Romney says to Virginia voters.
Mitt's prep team forgot to work on his "I can't believe I have to pretend this dude is my equal!" face. #debates
I like it when Bill Clinton talks taxes better.
Do you guys think Romney looks nervous? At least on CNN in HD he's kinda shiny (sweaty?)
@wkamaubell @CaitlinKCRW When Mitt's not talking, he looks like he's going to sneeze.
I got five boys??
AND THERE GOES ZINGER #1! #MiitHasFiveBoys #debates
Jim Lehrer is trying so hard to rein the pols in, and they are so hotfooting it around his instructions.
OK: So Romney is arguing he won't cut taxes as much as President Obama says he will. Is this the framing he wanted?
Arithmetic! Borrowing from Bill.
guess boys lie, girls don't
KCRW listeners are drinking along!
RT @ShaveCreme Gonna be WASTED. / @anne_litt: Drink every time you hear the words "middle class" tonight. #kcrw
@AnnaKCRW Should we start a "Bill Clinton" count?
@Rachelhastings Let's do it! That's 2 ...
The squiggles are so not responding to this tax stuff.
Squiggle flatline
Can avg people even follow this?
Point Mitt?
CNN's "undecided voters" squiggles agree with Ron Brownstein, women like Obama more than men.
@CaitlinKCRW @AnnaKCRW I like to think that the squiggles are actually people who look like squiggles who are watching the debate. #squigglevision #the90s
"We're way over our fifteen minutes" says Lehrer. He's talking about the way the debate is segmented.
From Politico:
"FORMAT FOR TONIGHT'S DEBATE (9 to 10:30 p.m. ET, at the University of Denver's Magness Arena, inside the Daniel L. Ritchie Center for Sports and Wellness), per a debate official: "It goes 90 min. straight-up -- no breaks. First three 15-min. segments are economy [Economy I, II, III], 4th segment health care, 5th is 'the role of government' and last is 'governing.' Then closing statements, so segments will be less than 15."
Shout out to Bill Clinton time.
@AnnaKCRW Clinton count: 3
@CaitlinKCRW @rachelhastings Tax talk puts squiggle people to sleep.
@faraichideya Are they ever allowed to exceed the 90 minutes?
And Mitt officially makes it awkward for the first of what promises to be many, many times. #1stWord #LastWord #debates
Romney's claim of right-of-way over Lehrer seems petty.
Greetings, people of Earth! Joshua Treviño here with my own take on Kang versus Kodos 2012.
C'mon Mr. Lehrer - grab the horns twitter.com
what's "moderator" mean?
Bottom line in this debate so far: Barack Obama is appealing to the ref; Mitt Romney is bossing the ref.
Welcome @jstrevino!
@jstrevino: pushing string? or game changer?
Whoah! Dig at PBS.
Obama didn't even need to PRACTICE that zinger!
Mitt Romney hits the red meat button: I'll end PBS ... Big Bird is great, but we all must sacrifice.
I'm going to take you off the air Jim--
DID ROMNEY JUST PROMISE TO FIRE JIM LEHRER? #debates
Welcome back to the Mitt Romney of the primaries: the man who owned it like it was a boardroom.
Squiggly lines over at PBS -- oh Nevermind, they can't afford them
@wkamaubell Can he do that? Can he fire Jim Lehrer? Can the president do that?
Welcome back also the Barack Obama of academia: the man who owned it like it was a faculty meeting.
Should Obama mention Bush by name?
Obama needs to use the "Bush" word. #debate
Haha. Joshua Trevino!!!! Arrives with The Simpsons reference that I can really get down with!!
The president shoulda grabbed that! #mittonsimpsonbowles
The President's debate-prep apparently assumed the viewing audience tonight is solely Ezra Klein's fanbase.
It has never been more clear that they just don't like each other. #debates
Romney deploys the "You've been President four years line," and incredibly, the President appears surprised by it.
@jstrevino Do either of them really want anyone watching?
Obama and Romney agree: Romney has ruled out revenue.
And the Europe bashing begins ...
And the corporate bashing follows ...
Suddenly it is painfully clear how this President got rolled in confrontation after confrontation with a GOP House.
Spain vs. Exxon: Who do you like less?
Obama's gettin' serious ... started dropping his "g"s
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Mitt was just laughing at the thought of public school kids sitting on the floor?
Zinger, Obama?
This debate is a thesis defense versus an investor pitch.
This is a shoveling-your-way-out-of-policy-minutia contest.
Obama looks like he can't even bear to look at him. #LookUpBarack #DontGoAllAlGoreOnUs #debates
Romney shows his socio economic status: "Maybe I need to get a new accountant" Something not everyone has.
Jim Lehrer needs to step out of the way and let these men argue directly if they like. It was good enough for Lincoln and Douglas.
"Manage your care for your poor" sounds super caring!
Favorite hashtag: #DontGoAllAlGoreOnUs
The President's repeated affirmations that he and Romney share basic positions recalls nothing more than Al Gore in 2000.
@jstrevino .. but where does Polk fit in?
@caitlinKCRW Thanks!
KCRW listeners are still tweeting about the PBS line
RT @kcrw: Our live chat is on! Send us your thoughts with #KCRW hashtag. and follow here: http://goo.gl/sSOlN
I'd call this multi-issue rigid-format-gone-flaccid w/ no fact-checking by moderator a format #fail.
ok -- 40 minutes in. this is not engaging debate.
@faraichideya I agree. The rigid format thing is not working.
Let's get to what really matters, people: Gardasil.
@jstrevino I bet the CNN squiggles LOVE Gardasil.
@CaitlinKCRW @faraichideya Oh this is a format? I thought they were just doing vocal warmups.
Striking with the viciousness of #boxingpuppets
Maybe it's just my TV, but Obama is in better focus. is that just my TV? Does Romney have vaseline on his lens?
#futurepeople!
I have to believe that Obama is saving a 47% line like you save power-ups in video games. #debates
Follow @SullyDish for cultist despair not seen since the Millerite Great Disappointment.
CNN's undecided men really don't dig Obama #denverdebate
If you're 54, you might want to listen.
"If you repeal Obamacare... and I have become fond of that term," seniors lose to insurance companies, says POTUS. #debates
@garyrobertscott And the women HATE vouchers.
Clinton! Point Mitt.
@rachelhastings Another Bill Clinton! I've lost count though.
maybe he should getting all that money from the govt twitter.com
Jim Lehrer may be the worst moderator in the history of moderation.
@AnnaKCRW It's 4! Clinton count: 4
Look, when you're married long enough, sometimes you have anniversaries like this.
Aw, get in there Jim!
OK, they agree that the voters have a choice ... what was the point of that?
#garagebanks!
Love this:
The saddest thing for Romney must be that most Americans would actually trust Obama to do a better job killing Big Bird.
Obama boosted big banks with regulation? Is that what Romney was saying?
Debate recap: Big bird is SO dead. Medicare is on life support. Jim Lehrer needs a ruler to smack his pupils' knuckles.
There's some worry online about the cost to Mitt of steamrolling Jim Lehrer, what with the latter's constituency of absolutely no one.
do we need some culture war? twitter.com
My lord, Dodd-Frank. Entitlement reform. Corporate tax reform. This is like attending the Citi dinner at Davos.
Romney argues he'd be a better technocrat than the President, which has got to sting a little.
We really could have just called it a night when Lehrer said the American people have a clear choice. #HowCouldYouStillBeUndecided #debates
Jim Lehrer's declaration of clearness is #premature
But so many squiggles are still undecided!
@wkamaubell I think Jim would have liked that too.
Expensive things DO hurt families. Like when one of them gets sick and they can't afford health insurance!
Does anyone know why there's a dot on Romney's flag pin?
@rachelhastings Or like falling chandeliers?
OK, this feels like a clear argument, Romney knocking Obama for spending time on ObamaCare.
@AnnaKCRW Exactly.
The squiggles have spoken: women love Obamacare, men are kind of indifferent to Obamacare.
Is Obama's health care explanation going to convince undecideds?
At last, the President too turns on Jim Lehrer, making him the 1943 Italy of moderators.
@jstrevino Can Obama win on Obamacare?
President Obama's best zinger so far was at Lehrer. #Damn #WorkOnYourAimBarack #debates
Romney ties Obama to Pelosi and Reid on Obamacare, defends Massachusetts health-care law, saying Obama wasn't bipartisan.
Prediction: Obama and Romney both win the debate, Jim Lehrer loses the debate.
yes -- Rush, for sure twitter.com
Romney is Top 40, Obama is prog rock
HI. It's Ted. Thanks for having me.
I am reminded of my late grandfather muttering contemptuously, "Pobrecito": mediamatters.org
welcome @tedstew
Hi @tedstew! So how would you rate this for production value?
Here's an explanation of that dot on Romney's pin.
"Private market and individual responsibility always work best." -- Romney on health care
Welcome @tedstew! Anything you've found particularly effective?
Per a covo I'm having on Twitter, we need a Pop-Up-Video for politics.... Get me a designer, coder, and comedian.
If you have been following the race throughout, you are probably surprised at how staid this is compared to the primary debates. But this is playing well for Romney, who may have been helped by going through so many tangles with other GOP candidates. He's vigorous where Obama is, well, tentative.
Mitt's "screen saver face" when President Obama talks looks like he's thinking about dressage and car elevators. #WantsToBeAnywhereButHere #debates
No offense to the democratic majesty of the American people, but they ain't following this disquisition.
Obama looking to hit back on Romney for lacking to offer details.
failing to offer, not lacking
Josh and ted - something is missing in addition to Obama's tentativeness
Stepping back from the scorekeeping, this is a remarkable civil and thoughtful policy heavy debate.
not convinced that was a #terrificsegue
I should also say that this debate is much more policy oriented than I expected. All of the talk about zingers may have just been mind games and hype as a prelude.
You can tell Romney has memorized his answer and is chomping at the bit to get it out.
Ooh, @tedstew zingers as reverse psychology. Interesting.
The President misses the best Lincoln quote, via Michael Scott: "Lincoln once said, 'If you're a racist, I will attack you with the North.'"
It's not that Barack isn't winning. It's just that Mitt isn't losing... which kinda means he's winning. #ThisIsWhySportsIsBetter #NoMoralVictories #debates
Mitt's right about Mass. schools.
Life like pro-life?
straight from the 3x5s
But Romney appears much better prepared, and even if he helps turn the tide on his negatives he has won.
Ted--do you think 40 million stayed tuned from beginning to end?
LOOK ALIVE, OBAMA!
RT @undeclared This debate would have gone much better w/Warren Olney moderating. #kcrw
RT @coreyealons: Note: about 12 mintues left in this debate and no references to 47%. #debate #justthefacts
I love when one nods in response to what the other is saying, even when they totally disagree
I bet that there has been a dropoff in viewers during the debate, especially since it was so policy heavy. That is actually a prescription for a vigorous debate, but I am not sure it is the kind of compelling TV that keeps non-political junkies engaged.
even hard for political junkies
@ToThePoint_KCRW I like to think that it's a "get a load 'a this guy" kind of nod.
I think "you're entitled to your own plane" was on the zinger list.
Just when I thought there were no zingers...
Well, if there's one thing we can all agree on, it's SHHH JIM!
I had a list of Mitt Romney's habitual failings and blind spots before this debate. I just didn't expect to see the President exhibit them all.
ooh that Elon Musk. Such a loser.
Aw, poor Jim ... anticipating the reviews.
Rachel-- I haven't checked the GIF live bloggers. The nodding must be on overload.
This is a good question -- partisan gridlock is something voters definitely know how to talk about.
Obama too dependent on the passive construction
@CaitlinKCRW -- but what can either of them say except that they'll sit down with both sides?
@garyrobertscott -- he just likes to uuuuh ... choose his words ... um, carefully.
Jim Lehrer will be joining Big Bird for about twenty rounds of single malt when this wraps up.
President: "I want to thank Gov. Romney, because I think this was a terrific debate." Gov. Romney agrees.
#handkerchief
@garyrobertscott @AnnaKCRW Fun fact: pauses will take up 30 seconds of Obama's final two minutes in this debate.
Obama's wrap up is the most emphatic he has been the entire debate, but how many people are watching?
Romney closer: "We have unlimited juice? This party is gonna be off the hook."
This was not a rollercoaster ride.
Suddenly I am keenly interested in tuning to the MSNBC coverage.
What the candidates are talking about when they talk about the middle class, #shamelessplug:
What is a bit mystifying is that Obama didn't reference the 47% remark, nor were there many remarks about job growth during his administration. It has allowed Romney to say that his administration has seen unemployment above 8% throughout.
DEBATE OVER. Winners: Mitt and wonks. Losers: Jim Lehrer, Muppets.
Vets have been talking about how upset they were that Romney didn't mention them at the convention. Wonder if any were watching now.
And thanks to KCRW for having me participate this evening. Remember: don't blame me, I voted for Kodos!
Thank YOU @jstrevino!
Thank you all for joining! @jstrevino @tedstew @rachelhastings @wkamaubell @faraichideya and our @tothepoint_kcrw producers!
Thanks Josh!!
I'm not sure who won, but I am sure that there are now 6 Mitt Romneys on stage.
Romney looked competent. He needed that. Not sure what else comes from this.
Thank you for having me @ToThePoint_KCRW and all!
We'll be doing analysis on tomorrow's @tothepoint_kcrw. And now Candy Crowley is talking about how no one knows what Simpson Bowles is...
Good night all. Thanks to everyone!
Thanks all!
The verdict: This was Romney's debate. Obama was off his mark, even more so than in the three debates he had with John McCain. The first debate favors the challenger, but this definitely gave Romney an opening and he took it. Obama seemed unrehearsed, tentative and sometimes just not clear. Romney seemed more in command of the facts, and for a campaign that has been criticized for not having details, he came across as having them, even if that meant sacrificing Big Bird.
Thank you!
Romney came in message-ready. POUTS focused on facts. We'll see if future debate formats provide different rhetorical opportunities/(dis)advantages for candidates.
That was fun!
Thanks again, everyone! And good night!
