# The first presidential debate: 10/3/2012 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 3, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602 "2012-10-03T17:16:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/41 "2012-10-04T00:11:20Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Man, what do you have to do to have your debate not be good enough for Gary Johnson. He was on someonline Q&A thing a few weeks ago where he was reduced to answering whether he’d rather fight 100 normal ducks or one horse-sized duck (to be fair, he did chose the right answer). That was [his AMA on Reddit](http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/10ia67/i_am_gov_gary_johnson_the_libertarian_candidate/) last week. The duck thing is a meme that gets asked of just about everyone that does one. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/42 "2012-10-04T00:12:52Z")
> [@mkecane](#): > > They seriously talked up his zingers? All I can do is think of the DJ-3000 on KBBL on the Simpsons. > > Hey, hey. How about that weather out there? Woah! > _That_ was the caller from hell. > Well, hot dog! We have a weiner. > Those clowns in congress did it again. What a bunch of clowns. [Also.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riNIjE-J4NQ&t=0m31s) 😃 I hope Mitt Romney says something like that during the debate. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/43 "2012-10-04T00:22:41Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Man, what do you have to do to have your debate not be good enough for Gary Johnson. He was on someonline Q&A thing a few weeks ago where he was reduced to answering whether he’d rather fight 100 normal ducks or one horse-sized duck (to be fair, he did chose the right answer). Can the horse-sized duck fly? ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/44 "2012-10-04T00:46:54Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Can the horse-sized duck fly? And is Gary Johnson prepared? 'Cause with time to prepare, well, it’s Gary every time. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/45 "2012-10-04T00:51:35Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Yeah but what this tells me is that the staffers of a major party candidate for president didn’t have the wherewithal to go down to the nearest 7-11 and grab a pair of $3 ear plugs if their man was bothered by the train. Or that Mittens himself didn’t think of it. They’re talking logistics of changing hotels? How about the logistics of getting in a car and purchasing some little pieces of foam rubber? > > Even more likely, the logistics of lowering expectations for their candidate by making excuses involving a freight train and a restless night are easiest of them all. Or asking for a room facing away from the tracks. Last week I spent 3 nights in Oklahoma City at a Marriott Courtyard hotel right across from the rail line, in a room overlooking the tracks. Slept pretty normally. Really… I now expect the President’s staff on their part to announce this afternoon he inadvertently stood up from under an open cupboard door and got a mild concussion. This “oh I’m not a great debater” game got silly a while ago. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/46 "2012-10-04T00:58:26Z")
Very glad this thread is here. My other board for politics is already up over 600 messages in the debate thread, and I couldn’t possibly keep up with that thread. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/47 "2012-10-04T00:59:15Z")
Some TV actors and musicians are [asking](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jason-alexander/first-presidential-debate_b_1936056.html?utm_hp_ref=politics&ir=Politics) Americans not to watch their TV shows or listen to their music tonight but to watch the debate instead. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/48 "2012-10-04T01:00:23Z")
Let the debates begin! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Dord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@The\_Dord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Dord)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/49 "2012-10-04T01:03:20Z")
It’s live on NPR at the moment if you’re a fan of radio 😛 ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/50 "2012-10-04T01:03:47Z")
… And we’re off! (Watching on PBS, myself) ---
**Author:** ![Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Curiosity_Kills_Her)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/51 "2012-10-04T01:05:31Z")
Jim Lehrer has creepy eyes. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/52 "2012-10-04T01:06:29Z")
Obama in blue tie, Romney in red tie? That’s attention to detail. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/53 "2012-10-04T01:06:55Z")
> [@Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](#): > > Jim Lehrer has creepy eyes. That’s why he’s always the debate moderator! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/54 "2012-10-04T01:08:13Z")
Good first joke for Mitt ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/55 "2012-10-04T01:12:35Z")
Romney’s trying to project empathy as hard as he can. But he’s sticking with the pessimistic view of US schools and US small business entrepeneurship, and he’s still referring to middle income families as “them”. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/56 "2012-10-04T01:13:44Z")
Mitt, that’s not a question. That’s a bunch of talking points poorly veiled as a question. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/57 "2012-10-04T01:14:02Z")
Romney won’t cut taxes for the wealthy? I thought they were the only ones paying taxes! ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/58 "2012-10-04T01:14:11Z")
Is anybody else watching the CNN debate-o-meter? I think it’s hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/59 "2012-10-04T01:14:15Z")
Four million new jobs in domestic oil and gas in less that four years? Unlikely in the extreme. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/60 "2012-10-04T01:14:27Z")
Uh, Mitt? Coal industry is getting crushed by plunging natural gas prices. But what are facts to a party that repudiates fact-checkers? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602.md?page=4)