Week of October 12, 2008 - October 18, 2008
10:38 - Ahhh. Autism correction.
Palin's nephew has been diagnosed with autism.
Strange, still, that it would be brought up so often in this debate. Is this disorder now a "hot topic" for the electorate?
Strange, still, that it would be brought up so often in this debate. Is this disorder now a "hot topic" for the electorate?
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10:30 - Wrap-up
If Obama is declared the winner of this debate, it will be because he's a better (looking) listener. McCain seems edgy - stiff-necked, blinking. Obama seems, at worst, a little tired.
Odd handshake - compensating for the apparent gaffe last time?
Our space lasers are maintaining their target.
And this live-blogging business. It's invigorating! Pass us the ether, Chim-chim. We need to unwind....
Odd handshake - compensating for the apparent gaffe last time?
Our space lasers are maintaining their target.
And this live-blogging business. It's invigorating! Pass us the ether, Chim-chim. We need to unwind....
10:25 - Autism again?
Yes, it would be good to have a better grasp on the cause. But 1. Down's syndrome is not autism (although it is a risk factor), and 2. It's more convincing if you're not having autism advocates arrested.
10:07 - The Supreme Court question.
MEATY.
McCain: Skillful use of code words: States' rights. Litmus test. Legislating from the bench. But also voting for Justice Bryars. Reassuring to both sides. And yet "those of us who are proudly pro-life"? Oh, no. The "pro-abortion movement" and the partial birth abortion hot-button.
Obama: Hangs in the balance. Comes out and talks like an adult: a moral issue, for women to decide. Concrete example: Ledbetter case. Not a homer, but a good line drive.
McCain: Skillful use of code words: States' rights. Litmus test. Legislating from the bench. But also voting for Justice Bryars. Reassuring to both sides. And yet "those of us who are proudly pro-life"? Oh, no. The "pro-abortion movement" and the partial birth abortion hot-button.
Obama: Hangs in the balance. Comes out and talks like an adult: a moral issue, for women to decide. Concrete example: Ledbetter case. Not a homer, but a good line drive.
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10:01 - "Zero!"
This is actually feeling like a real debate.
Perhaps now we could construct tiny robot gladiators so they can really fight.
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10:03 - $12,000! Yes! (Although not as nuanced as it could be.)
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10:05 - Joe? Hey, Joe. Some of us, too, have imaginary friends. We talk to them late at night in the laboratory.
Perhaps now we could construct tiny robot gladiators so they can really fight.
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10:03 - $12,000! Yes! (Although not as nuanced as it could be.)
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10:05 - Joe? Hey, Joe. Some of us, too, have imaginary friends. We talk to them late at night in the laboratory.
9:57 - a note on the format
Is it just the altered perceptions of us in the Mad Scientist community, or does this format seem much better than the previous two debates? The moderator is more invisible, which is a pleasant change.
9:48 - Carter's legacy. (Alternative Fuel Technology)
Talking point: Bush administration has not supported alternative (solar, wind, tide, biofuel) energy. Nor did the Clinton administration.
Unstated truth: President Carter installed solar panels on the White House roof. President Reagan, in one of his first acts in office, had them removed.
Unstated truth: President Carter installed solar panels on the White House roof. President Reagan, in one of his first acts in office, had them removed.
9:43 - Palin, again. And autism?
How different would this campaign had McCain selected someone like Christine Todd Whitman as his VP?
And why autism? Is McCain linking autism to Down's syndrome? They are not the same diagnosis.
And why autism? Is McCain linking autism to Down's syndrome? They are not the same diagnosis.
9:39 - ACORN ongoing
Obama didn't mention it. Why? (Unless the buffer underruns ate it. Damn this satellite's narrowband connection!)
9:37 - Ayers surfaces. With ACORN.
Tied to Ronald Reagan.
Mention the 2006 keynote speech! Do it!
Do it!
Mention the 2006 keynote speech! Do it!
Do it!
9:30 - Stem cell factcheck: True
Embryonic stem cell research support also cannot be denied.
Yet again, we wonder how his running mate felt about this policy at the time.
9:32 - and Obama swivels to directly to the running mate's base. And McCain begins blinking. (We Mad Scientists are familiar with nervous tics.) Is Obama's anger righteous? Is his smile too wide? He seems to be "working the ring" more now than previously. It may be playing to McCain's strategy.
Yet again, we wonder how his running mate felt about this policy at the time.
9:32 - and Obama swivels to directly to the running mate's base. And McCain begins blinking. (We Mad Scientists are familiar with nervous tics.) Is Obama's anger righteous? Is his smile too wide? He seems to be "working the ring" more now than previously. It may be playing to McCain's strategy.
9:25 - Climate change factcheck: True.
One wonders what McCain's running mate made of his position at the time.
His support for nuclear power is appropriate for any Mad Scientist.
But not enough to halt the SPACE LASER COUNTDOWN.
Our Hollywood representative (Mind Control Shortwave Studios) is now comparing the C-Span split screen to The Brady Bunch.
His support for nuclear power is appropriate for any Mad Scientist.
But not enough to halt the SPACE LASER COUNTDOWN.
Our Hollywood representative (Mind Control Shortwave Studios) is now comparing the C-Span split screen to The Brady Bunch.
9:19 - OVERHEAD WHAT??
HE SAID IT AGAIN!!
IT IS NO OVERHEAD PROJECTOR, YOU MEDDLING INSECT!
MINIONS!! TO THE SPACE LASERS!!
WE SHALL SHOW YOU OVERHEAD PROJECTORS!
IT IS NO OVERHEAD PROJECTOR, YOU MEDDLING INSECT!
MINIONS!! TO THE SPACE LASERS!!
WE SHALL SHOW YOU OVERHEAD PROJECTORS!
9:16 - Follow the eyes.
Odd thing about the C-Span coverage. The split screen is aligned in such a way that as Obama addresses his questioner, the moderator, he appears to be looking away from McCain, and vice versa.
On the other hand, it allows the viewer to watch them as they listen to each other's responses.
On the other hand, it allows the viewer to watch them as they listen to each other's responses.
9:12 - Joe the Manchurian Candidate.
Joe the Plumber can spread the wealth around, yes - as long as he is not committing class warfare?
How many times did McCain just say "spread the wealth around" within 20 seconds? Our psychological wing detects an attempt at hypnotic suggestion... but he is late to this particular neurological party.
How many times did McCain just say "spread the wealth around" within 20 seconds? Our psychological wing detects an attempt at hypnotic suggestion... but he is late to this particular neurological party.
9:12 - Joe the Manchurian Candidate.
Joe the Plumber can spread the wealth around, yes - as long as he is not committing class warfare?
How many times did McCain just say "spread the wealth around" within 20 seconds? Our psychological wing detects an attempt at hypnotic suggestion... but he is late to this particular neurological party.
How many times did McCain just say "spread the wealth around" within 20 seconds? Our psychological wing detects an attempt at hypnotic suggestion... but he is late to this particular neurological party.
How difficult is it *really* to live-blog a debate?
Call this an experiment, if you will.
Logging in via our electronic thought helmets from secure locations beneath the oceans and in geosynchronous orbit, we are closely observing the progress of tonight's debate.
Hopefull, C-Span.org's streaming video buffers will maintain.
Logging in via our electronic thought helmets from secure locations beneath the oceans and in geosynchronous orbit, we are closely observing the progress of tonight's debate.
Hopefull, C-Span.org's streaming video buffers will maintain.
