Opening Remarks of the Gentlelady from Maryland

Mike Gravel flunky!

KT, I'll definitely be here. I know we're supposed to be bored by debates, but as a true political nerd I adore them...

BTW, it is not appropriate - it is not something that the good guys would do - that the VP debate will cause the debut airing of the second Office episode of this extraordinary fifth season, after the four previous extraordinary seasons, to be postponed and delayed for another seven days (in honor of Sarah Palin I'm trying to phrase my comments in the most complicated way possible so I seem more prepared to handle nuclear launch codes).

Disclosing who you vote for can only increase your credibility Karen. It's unfortunate that so many journalists (like you) have taken the "Supreme Court Confirmation" model of disclosure... the odd idea that announcing your personal preferences somehow makes you seem less biased than hiding them.

This point of view has always seemed bizarre to me. Certainly, to do your job you have to be able to seperate your personal preferences from your objective journalistic judgement, right? Well, if you CAN do that... then what's the harm in telling us what those preferences are? Unless you think we don't believe you can do it... but if we don't believe you can do it, we don't trust you anyway and you've lost nothing. If you CAN'T, well... then you're not qualified for your job... right?

By hiding your personal preferences, we simply have to take your word you're not being biased, by announcing them, we'd get to know for sure (if KT says she's voting McCain and writes a fair amount of kind things about Obama... that would certainly do wonders for her reputation as being unbiased).

You should reconsider this. James has a much, much better point of view here than you do. Seriously, think about it.

I think the popularity of Bentsen's line was more about JFK/Camelot worship than him actually winning any points in a debate. Like you said, they lost in a landslide.

Still, if any line was delivered perfectly (including his follow-up), it was Bentsen's. Like if it was straight out of a movie.

The Bush/Quayle campaign set themselves up for that. They telegraphed the Quayle is just like JFK for several days before the debate.

KT,

Lately there has been a lot of talk about burying one's life's savings in the back yard. I do not have a back yard. Any creative suggestions for a city dweller with access to cement and asphalt?

Karen: Just wanted to say I'm your biggest fan. Love your excellent journalism and non-pretentious blog ways. Thanks! Beth

Karen there is something going on with the comment section here. I had to sign out and than could not sign in again as dfh. Am I paranoid or is the swamp trying to get rid of me?

Is there a place to watch the debate online? I'm stuck at work!

Karen I thought the same as you when Senator Bentsen said those now famous words.

Nevermind, found it at cbsnews.com

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/18/politics/2008debates/main4457570.shtml

q: mccain said he wouldn't go to the debate unless there is a deal. there is no deal, and yet he's going to the debate.

david brooks: well, sometimes politicians aren't literal. they're metaphorical.

David Brooks is the kind of guy I could take to the salad bar at Applebees.

I had to log out, then log back in in order to comment here.

"And I don't even tell my children who I'm voting for..."

Ship her to Guantanamo, slap on the irons, and she'll crack in a trice, singing like a lovestruck leftie liberal!

So far, no problems here on login/outs.

Yeah, I was able to comment without issue.

I faced a nonsensical "you do not have permission to post" message, but I logged out and logged back in, and I'm here.

I really look forward to your thoughts, KT.

Obviously there's no compulsion to disclose your vote before the election, but it will be very interesting to see which foreign policy premises the candidates put forward that strike you as credible.

Exciting stuff!

Watching CNN pre-debate (so that I'm as revolted as possible prior to watching the candidates), and it's striking how different the depth of perspectives are between Michael Ware/Christiane Amanpour and Jon King/Gloria Borger.

The latter pair seem extraordinarily shallow and uninformed to me. Why are they even present? Of what possible value are their opinions about any of this?

I think those that have logged into other blogs like Tuned In, CC, etc. before were able to access the Live Blogs by simply logging in and out (like me and others).

It could be that those that haven't logged into any blog other than Swampland may be having issues.

Gloria Borger seems to be to John McCain as Margaret Carlson is to Fred Thompson.

Take care of yourself, Oregon JC.