…and this is a 
Obama vs. Cranky Grampa
Category: Open Thread • Politics
Posted on: October 7, 2008 8:34 PM, by PZ Myers
We have another debate coming up shortly, so here's an open thread for you all to chatter on…if the software lets you.
There will be no drinking games allowed that encourage alcohol consumption every time POW is mentioned.
<sigh> If ever I hear the words "my friends" again, I shall gag.
Defining moment for me was when McCain insisted that Obama was dangerous because he would speak too loudly (while later castigating him for advocating diplomacy), and Obama came back to point out that McCain was the one singing "bomb bomb bomb, bomb Iran". In other words, McCain was a desperate fraud while Obama was calm and well-spoken.
Although I also felt Obama was thin on specifics and rich in politician-speak. He didn't thrill me, but he was solidly better than his opponent.
Oh, yeah…and when McCain called Obama "that one". That was condescending and creepy.
Politics
Comments
Posted by: King of Ferrets | October 7, 2008 8:41 PM
Can we have drinking games that encourage alcohol consumption any time one of them obviously is lying his ass off?
Posted by: Patricia | October 7, 2008 8:42 PM
Ahhh! PZ you're too strict.
Posted by: hje | October 7, 2008 8:48 PM
For sheer craziness, check out the Conservapedia article on Obama. Scary. I'm sure the entry on Palin is on the same par, but I can't bear to spend more than a few minutes on that site.
Posted by: QrazyQat | October 7, 2008 8:48 PM
There will be no drinking games allowed that encourage alcohol consumption every time POW is mentioned.
Alcohol poisoning is nothing to laugh at.
McCain/Palin, OTOH.
Posted by: harmlesstree | October 7, 2008 8:49 PM
Maybe Mccain will call Obama a terrorist, a traitor, and threaten to kill him like several of his fascist supporters did during various Mccain events.
Posted by: pradeep | October 7, 2008 8:50 PM
Let the clown show begin...
Posted by: DominEditrix | October 7, 2008 8:51 PM
I am hoping that McCain - who's been looking rather shaky this week - loses it during the debate.
And I'm baking FSM wafers*, which we will desecrate during the festivities, with applications of marinara sauce and a nice red plonk.
Read "mini pizzas"
Posted by: harmlesstree | October 7, 2008 8:51 PM
Maybe Mccain will call Obama a terrorist, a traitor, and threaten to kill him like several of his fascist supporters did during various Mccain events.
Posted by: QrazyQat | October 7, 2008 8:51 PM
Speaking of POW:
I've always been the guy with the finger in his nose
When the passport picture gets taken
When the big guys took me out stealing chickens
It was me caught holding the bacon
When they're dropping a piano from the forty seventh floor
I'm the guy underneath a looking up
And when the tidal wave strikes a hundred miles at sea
I'm always at the rail throwing up
Whee, KER-Pow!
Somehow I woulda met you anyhow
You fix it up and then holy cow
You folks should oughta see me now....
I was standing in the artsy-fartsy uptown restaurant a few frozen dinners ago
When I stumbled on a waiter full of crepe suzettes
And I ran out the door flambeaux
Then I ran down to Chinatown got myself some soy sauce
And grabbed some moo goo gai-pan to go
When I got wiped out by a stray bean sprout that was landin' on the floor
Whee, KER-Pow!
Somehow I woulda met you anyhow
You fix it up and then holy cow
You folks should oughta see me now....
Well I finally got so fed up
I was off to blow my head off
With the gun inside the cash box at the store
Then I thought I'd grab a fistful
Just in case I weren't successful
But instead I got my tie caught in the drawer
When you're riding down the road at a hundred miles an hour
And the guy ahead is hitching someplace
Honey don't you be surprised I'll be wiping out my eyes
If you pass me leaving dust in my face
Whee, KER-Pow!
Somehow I woulda met you anyhow
You fix it up and then holy cow
You folks should oughta see me now....
Whee, KER-Pow!
Somehow I woulda met you anyhow
You fix it up and then holy cow
You folks should oughta see me now....
-- The Loving Spoonful
Posted by: Kel | October 7, 2008 8:52 PM
As with the last debate, this thread will be my gateway on content. I await Scott from Oregon to turn up and call them both liars and talk about how neither candidate is following HIS ideas on how to save the economy.
Posted by: harmlesstree | October 7, 2008 8:53 PM
Maybe Mccain will call Obama a terrorist, a traitor, and threaten to kill him like several of his fascist supporters did during various Mccain events.
Posted by: Will K. | October 7, 2008 8:54 PM
Scott from Oregon '08
Posted by: harmlesstree | October 7, 2008 8:55 PM
Maybe Mccain will call Obama a terrorist, a traitor, and threaten to kill him like several of his fascist supporters did during various Mccain events.
Posted by: SeanH | October 7, 2008 8:57 PM
Oh, get on stage already, you lazy Senators. I'm already up past my bedtime.
Posted by: Trish | October 7, 2008 8:57 PM
Have popcorn and my political debate bingo cards here with the hotwords on them.
I'll bet Obama says "No, Senator, I DO understand the situation ...."
If I win I want a set of Pharyngula eucharist shaped beer coasters.
Posted by: Trish | October 7, 2008 8:58 PM
Have popcorn and my political debate bingo cards here with the hotwords on them.
I'll bet Obama says "No, Senator, I DO understand ...."
If I win I want a set of Pharyngula eucharist shaped beer coasters.
Posted by: Trish | October 7, 2008 8:59 PM
Have popcorn and my political debate bingo cards here with the hotwords on them.
I'll bet Obama says "No, Senator, I DO understand ...."
If I win I want a set of Pharyngula eucharist shaped beer coasters.
Posted by: Knurl | October 7, 2008 9:00 PM
The drinking game should be based on Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and/or bailout? It's 2008. You decide. I'm just sorry I missed you all on the VP debate.
Posted by: Trish | October 7, 2008 9:01 PM
Damn .. sorry to appear so enthusiastic. /embarrassed
Posted by: Jared | October 7, 2008 9:02 PM
Wow, comments in triplicate...
Posted by: hubris hurts | October 7, 2008 9:03 PM
Yes, the audience has agreed to be polite, but have the Senators?
Posted by: Trish | October 7, 2008 9:04 PM
oooh. Grandpa looks stiff.
Posted by: pradeep | October 7, 2008 9:06 PM
What's up with McCain, he seems a little stiff?
Posted by: pcarini | October 7, 2008 9:06 PM
Yes, the audience has agreed to be polite, but have the Senators?
I hope not! (I'm worried a pharyngula live-comment of this might be enough to do scienceblogs in its weakened state)
Posted by: Knurl | October 7, 2008 9:07 PM
The Eucharist shaped coasters are fine. My parents were Orthodox Catholic. My dad STILL won't eat meat on Friday. Why do I make sure I don't live in the same state that he does?
Posted by: Garrett | October 7, 2008 9:07 PM
"oooh. Grandpa looks stiff."
That's the Viagra kicking in.
Posted by: hubris hurts | October 7, 2008 9:08 PM
McCain: "Let's not raise taxes on anyone" in one breath, then talks about our multi-trillion dollar debt in the other. I don't like paying taxes either, but how are we to pay down this debt?
Posted by: pcarini | October 7, 2008 9:09 PM
I wince every time McCain says "my friends", the same way I do whenever I hear a newsreader say "folks".
Posted by: hubris hurts | October 7, 2008 9:09 PM
So, McCain is against letting the government get involved in healthcare, but he's okay with the gov becoming our real estate agent and banker?
Posted by: co | October 7, 2008 9:09 PM
"Not you, Tom." Ooh. Was that a joke?
Posted by: eBay Seller | October 7, 2008 9:10 PM
Meg Whitman???
A company laying on 1600 people. Sweet...
Posted by: scooter | October 7, 2008 9:11 PM
"My FREINDs"
Drink
I punched out for this, I better see some blood.
Posted by: Knurl | October 7, 2008 9:12 PM
Stiff.. arthritis. Let's see how the dexedrine lasts.
Posted by: Crudely Wrott | October 7, 2008 9:12 PM
After the greeting and wave, McCain sat down and began to write, or doodle. This disconnected him from the audience. Well, me, at least.
Posted by: Patricia | October 7, 2008 9:12 PM
I hope Scott from Oregon doesn't show up! I'm sick of his rant.
Hey Danio, maybe we could do a public service act, find out where Scott lives and duct tape his hands over his mouth. No more talking or typing!
Posted by: hubris hurts | October 7, 2008 9:13 PM
McCain is trying to "connect" with the audience. He's getting very close to the people who ask the questions. I may be wrong, but I think that would creep me out a bit, were I there.
Posted by: Capital Dan | October 7, 2008 9:13 PM
I want to see this thing turn into a knife fight.
Posted by: Lurch | October 7, 2008 9:13 PM
Tom would be better qualified than anybody in Bush's Administration!
And ebay laid off 10,000 (?) today?!
Posted by: Knurl | October 7, 2008 9:14 PM
Stiff.. arthritis. Let's see how the dexedrine lasts.
Posted by: hubris hurts | October 7, 2008 9:15 PM
Obama: "I've got to correct a little bit of Senator McCain's history, not surprisingly."
Posted by: J Myers | October 7, 2008 9:15 PM
Did McCain just refer to "Alan"? Who the hell is Alan?
Posted by: pradeep | October 7, 2008 9:16 PM
McCain is moving in a stilted manner, almost like he has recently suffered from a stroke and is partially paralyzed.
Posted by: Knurl | October 7, 2008 9:16 PM
Stiff.. arthritis.
Posted by: «bønez_brigade» | October 7, 2008 9:16 PM
I'm drinking every time the CNN "Uncommitted Ohio Voters" meters diverge & intersect (so that means two drinks each time).
Posted by: co | October 7, 2008 9:17 PM
Ouch. "You're not interested in hearing politicians pointing fingers." That seemed (to me) to be a response by Obama to some glazed eyes in the audience.
Posted by: Cory | October 7, 2008 9:18 PM
Obama needs to do a quick defense of any accusations then go on why he should lead, this turning to mostly attacks on McCain cheapens his message IMO
Posted by: Kel | October 7, 2008 9:18 PM
No-one wants Scott from Oregon to show up. Not even Scott from Oregon would want Scott from Oregon to show up. But he needs to voice his opinion here because he can't voice it anywhere that matters.Posted by: hubris hurts | October 7, 2008 9:19 PM
I'm glad that Obama brought up the fact that the Republicans shelved without bringing to a vote the Freddie/Fannie bill that McCain keeps bragging about
Posted by: Chris | October 7, 2008 9:20 PM
Americans are the best importers? so we're the best at importing goods? great!
Posted by: «bønez_brigade» | October 7, 2008 9:23 PM
BTW, Brokaw's voice crackles as if he's nervous and has never been on a stage such as this.
Posted by: hubris hurts | October 7, 2008 9:23 PM
AAARGH! I can't stand listening to McCain bragging about how he "stood up to his own party." If he really can't stand what the Republicans do and have done, why is he still in the party? Why pretend to distance yourself from the party you support???
Posted by: Knurl | October 7, 2008 9:23 PM
Where does the meter stuff come from? Breathalyzers?
Posted by: eBay Seller | October 7, 2008 9:23 PM
Antiscience!
Posted by: Zack | October 7, 2008 9:23 PM
Damn those planetariums!
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp, KoT, OM | October 7, 2008 9:24 PM
Yeah fuck the planetariums. Who needs that education sciency mumbo jumbo.
I see the sun that's all that matters.
Posted by: scooter | October 7, 2008 9:24 PM
McReacharound has been fighting corruption by tracking himself down. And that's why we need to drill.
"My Friends"
DRINK
Posted by: Frankenstein | October 7, 2008 9:24 PM
Planetarium...BAAAAAD!!!!
Posted by: J Myers | October 7, 2008 9:24 PM
Holy hell... Obama: McCain will tell you X, which is false for this reason.
60 seconds later, McCain: X! X!!
Posted by: cactusren | October 7, 2008 9:24 PM
McCain looks really angry...and now he's bashing spending money on planetarium projectors. Cuz educating people about science isn't worth spending money on, apparently...
Posted by: sara | October 7, 2008 9:25 PM
Racism is unspeakable, sexism is inappropriate, but ageism is acceptable?
They are both talking nonsense about bailing out all of the profligates who have no savings and believe strongly in "market value." This country is going straight to hell.
I wonder if we will hear about Bear DNA again this evening?
Posted by: dana | October 7, 2008 9:25 PM
Damn those planetariums!
Replace Mccain's criticism of planetarium with the word "library", and see how that sounds.
Posted by: Chris | October 7, 2008 9:25 PM
Americans are the best importers? so we're the best at importing goods? great!
Posted by: peterprinciple | October 7, 2008 9:25 PM
Teresa Finch (questioner) - "How can we trust either of you with our money when both parties got us into this global economic crisis?"
She must be an undecided leaning towards McCain since she seems to not be able to read.
Posted by: BobC | October 7, 2008 9:25 PM
After both candidates reminded me that Warren Buffet would be a much better president than both Obama and McCain, I got bored and turned off the TV.
It won't be a close election. Obama will easily win in Florida and Ohio, and McCain can't win without those two states.
Off topic: the stock market has been crashing lately and there's some excellent buying opportunities now. For example Google is only $346 a share, down from its $747 high.
Posted by: hubris hurts | October 7, 2008 9:27 PM
Good god - McCain can't remember three items for a few minute? He has to stop and write down "Healthcare, Entitlement Reform, Energy"
Posted by: «bønez_brigade» | October 7, 2008 9:28 PM
Damn, they should've invested in a simple piece of electronics that can either produce light or sound every 60 seconds. Brokaw has reminded them 3 or 4 times now.
Posted by: pcarini | October 7, 2008 9:28 PM
So much for Brokaw's 1 min. response / rebuttal time. Of course either candidate would be crazy to follow that of their own volition.
Posted by: andy | October 7, 2008 9:29 PM
instead of drinking to 'POW', i'll just drink to 'maverick.'
Posted by: Betz | October 7, 2008 9:30 PM
McCain gets the first question from the Internet.
Am I wrong to be amused by that?
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp, KoT, OM | October 7, 2008 9:30 PM
Planetarium projector
DRINK
Posted by: Kausik Datta | October 7, 2008 9:30 PM
Eliminate agencies of the government that aren't working? Damn! There goes the Executive, the Judiciary, the Legislative...
Posted by: scooter | October 7, 2008 9:30 PM
OMIGOD, Elmer Fudd as the mediator, sucking flag.
My Friends
My Friends
DRINK
DRINK
Posted by: clinteas | October 7, 2008 9:30 PM
If Stiffy says one more time "I know how to fix X" or "I have taken on Y" Im going to throw something.
All empty phrases from McCain,nothing of substance,I hope someone out there will notice.
Posted by: ilya | October 7, 2008 9:31 PM
is mccain going to get rid of abstinence only sex ed?
Posted by: hubris hurts | October 7, 2008 9:31 PM
Good question, "What sacrifices will you ask the American people to make?"
BTW - apparently "earmarks" is the word of the day. Where's Groucho when you need him?
Posted by: randy | October 7, 2008 9:31 PM
notice how every earmark mccain hates is a science earmark
Posted by: cactusren | October 7, 2008 9:32 PM
McCain: Spending on defense needs to be cut, but in the meantime we need a spending freeze on everything but defense...
yeah, that makes lots of sense
Posted by: Knurl | October 7, 2008 9:32 PM
McCain eliminate military aviation contracts in AZ? PuhLeeze.
Posted by: matt | October 7, 2008 9:32 PM
mav·er·ick (māv'ər-ĭk, māv'rĭk) n.
An unbranded range animal, especially a calf that has become separated from its mother, traditionally considered the property of the first person who brands it.
Posted by: Ken from Oregon | October 7, 2008 9:35 PM
Drinking games be damned. I started drinking BEFORE the debate just so I could stand listening to it.
Posted by: cyan | October 7, 2008 9:35 PM
So far, McCain has been speaking and acting "folksy", "daddy": as if he's in the living room of a family that just can't understand complex issues but that just wants to be reassured that they don't have to worry 'bout a thing: he, McCain will take care of everything for them.
Obama has been speaking to people as if they can understand the current major problems, and he is presenting them with the most rational ways with which those problems can be dealt.
When the consensus is tabulated, we'll see if the majority of the US voters are mentally little kids or adults.
Cynically, I expect that the former is true.
Ideallistically, oh! how I wish it will be the latter.
Posted by: cactusren | October 7, 2008 9:35 PM
Wait? We have to make sacrifices for our country? I thought shopping fixed everything!
Posted by: pcarini | October 7, 2008 9:36 PM
No, grandpa, don't talk about jello... you're trying to avoid the unflattering topics.
Posted by: scooter | October 7, 2008 9:36 PM
uuugh
This is depressing
I'm going to need to get a good chortling tonight.
My Friends
DRINK
Posted by: Melody | October 7, 2008 9:37 PM
"Nailing jello to a wall." How very quaint.
Posted by: peterprinciple | October 7, 2008 9:37 PM
Overhead projector for a planetarium that costs $3 million?
"Earmarks" - DRINK!
"My Friends" - DRINK!
Posted by: hubris hurts | October 7, 2008 9:37 PM
Did he really just say, "Nailing jello to the wall?" Ooooooh he's so folksy.
McCain needs to be careful about what he attributes to Obama, it is clear that Obama is correcting him on all of his misleading statements.
Posted by: Ragutis | October 7, 2008 9:38 PM
So, CNN has the little dial thingies where undecideds rate how much they like what they're hearing from the candidate speaking. McCain is getting positives, but a lot of flat-lining too. Obama, however, is frigging pegging that thing at some point on nearly every topic so far. Looks like bad news for McCranky.
Posted by: sara | October 7, 2008 9:39 PM
Those Tennesseans sitting behind Sen. Obama are really distracting! What is that woman smiling about? They are posing.
Posted by: J Myers | October 7, 2008 9:39 PM
McCain: We can address health care and energy at the same time.
What Obama could have said: I am glad that my opponent now realizes the importance of simultaneously addressing important issues, when just last week he declared he could not simultaneously address our economic circumstances and the matter of his own campaign.
What Obama said: 9/11!
Posted by: hubris hurts | October 7, 2008 9:40 PM
I don't understand how McCain's insurance proposal works. He wants to tax insurance premiums, then give us a tax credit for those premiums. Doesn't one cancel out the other?
Posted by: QED | October 7, 2008 9:41 PM
Right - A freeze on all spending EXCEPT defense. McCain still has a hardon for war - not so much for health care or education.
Posted by: Capital Dan | October 7, 2008 9:41 PM
hahaha! I think that definition fits a hell of a lot better than the one McCain is trying to pass off to America.
Posted by: tai haku | October 7, 2008 9:41 PM
the cnn uncommitted voter lines are strangely mesmeric....like a lava lamp, a lava lamp that hates McCain being a tool.
Posted by: Kevpod | October 7, 2008 9:41 PM
PZ, you or Phil gotta track down that overhead projector that's responsible for America's ruin.
Posted by: Ferrous Patella | October 7, 2008 9:42 PM
I am having to cook dinner while the debate is on. I cannot hear the words so much as tone.
How can a person sound whinny and condescending at the same time.
Pastas burning! Gotta go.
Posted by: clinteas | October 7, 2008 9:43 PM
McCain having another go at Brokaw LOL
How does he fix Medicare?
Yay !! A commission !!!
My Friends
Posted by: Yoshi | October 7, 2008 9:43 PM
Awwww, Barry got shot down by Brokaw! :(
Posted by: hubris hurts | October 7, 2008 9:43 PM
McCain: "**I'll** answer the question, Tom." Snort, snort, chortle chortle
Posted by: pcarini | October 7, 2008 9:43 PM
Ouch.. McCain! "Base Closing Commission"! He's trying to lose the military now. I know the AF base closings were a big deal here, even though Hill AFB was passed over.
Posted by: Knurl | October 7, 2008 9:43 PM
Yes, McCain has been acting like "dad". A folksy pastor. "It's not that hard to fix Social Security"? WTF? "Our wonderful Ronald Regan."? WTF?
Posted by: tai haku | October 7, 2008 9:44 PM
the cnn uncommitted voter lines are strangely mesmeric....like a lava lamp, a lava lamp that hates McCain being a tool.
Posted by: Brad D | October 7, 2008 9:45 PM
Maybe Palin is right. Humans and dinosaurs together, right now, on TV! Oh, nevermind, that was just McCain.
Posted by: cactusren | October 7, 2008 9:46 PM
Aghhh! McCain: The best way to help the environment is with nuclear power.
And put the waste on an active fault zone in Nevada? I think not.
Posted by: scooter | October 7, 2008 9:46 PM
He's degeneratin into Palinesque sentence fragments.
Nuclear Power: biggest taxpayer supported boondoggle in history
I can't drink no more my friends I'm getting dizzy.
Posted by: clinteas | October 7, 2008 9:46 PM
I have been on Navy Ships,I know nuclear energy is safe !
*headdedk*
My Friends
Posted by: «bønez_brigade» | October 7, 2008 9:47 PM
@Kevpod (#95),
It was for the Adler Planetarium in Chicago.
Posted by: lusoman | October 7, 2008 9:48 PM
Oh, no: Obama has gone Palin. He just said "drillin'".
Posted by: pcarini | October 7, 2008 9:49 PM
D'oh, Barack.. "I'm just trying to keep up with John!" It doesn't help to sound like a 5-yr old. "He started it"
Posted by: Pygmy Loris | October 7, 2008 9:49 PM
"That one!" WTF
Posted by: wildlifer | October 7, 2008 9:49 PM
What was his plan for SS and medicare? Commissions??
Posted by: hubris hurts | October 7, 2008 9:50 PM
McCain started out deathly white. He's getting redder and redder as the debate continues. What happens if he has a stroke right on stage? Yikes!