Welcome to MSNBC's live blog of the first presidential debate, featuring Krystal Ball, co-host of MSNBC's The Cycle; Joy-Ann Reid, managing editor of NBC's TheGrio.com and an MSNBC contributor; and Richard Wolffe, executive editor of MSNBC.com.
They'll be keeping the candidates honest, assessing who's having the better of the exchanges, and judging whether all those "zingers" that Mitt Romney promised us are hitting their mark. And we want to hear from you too, so send us your comments and we'll post a selection of them on the live blog.
We'll kick things off at 9pm EST sharp. See you then!
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Looking for a good debate tonight. Hope these people keep the people informed what is fact and what is fiction from these two men..
As for the VP'S remarks on the middle class being buried for the last four years is fact. The plans of the right wing in government was to bury the middle class so they can make this a one term president. The record is there for the people right, left, center to see. It isnt name calling it is the obstruction and the hate that the right has shown for this president and the amrican people that makes me mad. The right took two oaths one was to grover and the other to the corporations and wealthy, and they tossed out taking an oath to the people of this country or we would have had a country that was coming out of a near depression. I will listen to both men and see which one will be for us the average american or who is really just for going back to the past and not the furture.
Romney's team screamed bloody murder when Biden used the 'buried' epithet for the middle class. Romney just deployed it HIMSELF.
Your commentary was offensive after the debate. You confuse your level of excessive verbal discourse with a reasonable debate. I watch you because I agree with your positions but your commentary on tonight's debate confuses your way of communicating with a president's.Did not vote for you. Voted for the President. Agree that Obama did not seem as smooth as usual but I liked him alot.
If we are gonna have a zinger war, Obama should hire Jon Stewart to listen in, hook up an ear piece and feed the President zingers to throw back at Mitt..... We're talking 'landslide' here!!!!
That's a great idea, but I have a feeling that our President is perfectly capable of coming up with his own finely-crafted and funny-as-hell retorts!
Jon Stewart for office, Stephen Colbert as VP
Now this is a ticket I could get behind as of now I really don't think either one can save anybody from anything. But these two will a least make it funny in a campaign where we can laugh as the boat slowly tips over.
This is for all MSNBC pundits..(just finished watching Alex), I hear over and over how the "average voter" wasn't/isn't paying attention to the political shennanigans but as an older, east Tn resident and a flaming, socialist/progressive democrat I'd like for the world to know we are watching and listening! I watch Thomas at 11, Alex at 12, Tamaron at 2, Martin at 4, Chris at 5, Rev Al at 6, Ed at 8, Rachel at 9 and my good buddy Lawrence at 10!! add to that my time on HP you can see my day is one political cramming session! Seriously, you guys are doing a great job, just quit underestimating your audience!
Thank you!! I have been paying attention; and I have been communicating the presidential election with family and friends.
I have msnbc all day long. in my computer at work and in the background at home while doing chores, etc. my family and friends consider me the "go to girl" for political news. this election is very important for too many people.
And I thought I was the only one with MSNBC on ALL DAY. I work from via my laptop, and have had it on solidly, from the time I wake (9 a.m. PT) until Lawrence closes things at 8 p.m. About to watch the debate....
Yes, I believe that the Baby Boomers still have a vibrant and important role in politics and our generation will be seriously harmed if the GOP gets its way!
thanks Carolyn - I have exactly the same MSNBC schedule as you and we certainly are watching and listening. Go for it!!!
WOW...I am impressed! Now I can tell my husband that there is someone out there that is worse/better than me :) I LOVE them all! Still miss Keith though. Enjoy the night...and the next 34 years and hopefully the next 4 years!
Me too! I'm also retired and that sounds exactly like my schedule also. I love the entire MSNBC line-up, all my favs from Rachel, Chris, and all the rest... Vote Obama 2012 !
Since I am retired, with my morning coffee, with Joe all the way to Lawrence and I feel when I watch the local news, that I have all of the facts to draw my own conclusions. Tonight this president made his case but Romney LIED to the very end plus he confirmed the notion of going back to the Bush years which is unacceptable...Obama/Biden2012
Ditto to Carolyn Ann's comments - my husband and I have been in eastern tn for about 4 years and we can truthfully report to the rest of the country that we see the tide changing (transferred from Seattle and boy was this a major culture shock). We start our day off with MJ and then I listen via sirius all day until 5 at which time I watch Rev. Al to Lawrence. The diversity in thought and personality of your panel is greatly appreicated. Thank you for keeping us informed and in my humble opinion, the news balanced. It's unbelieveable how many people here in the south that rely on faux news for information and I'm not talking about the typical low information voter. Recently I was at my dentist's office and he had faux news on and when I asked the hygienist to change the channel she said she couldn't because that was the only station he allowed them to watch. My next response was to please turn the tv off. I'll take silence over noice anytime.
I can't wait to see what Mitt considers a "zinger". He's not exactly quick on the draw. With any luck, this should be a complete blowout.
My mind is made-up. I am watching the debate to see how Obama performs against Romney. I want Obama to stand-up against Romney. I hope Obama will stop Romney by not letting him do as he did in the Republican primary debates. I know the president can do it. He is very articulate with extremely good senses, style and eloquence. He has a professionalism that Romney does not carry.
Obama/Biden 2012
I have my mind made up but I really want to see what Romney has in mind if he could win the election. I am afraid that it would be very interesting. I don't think he can tell us because he knows it would kill his chances against President Obama.
I have been voting Democrat for over 20 years, and nothing Romney say tonight will change that. I am part of that 47% that will vote for the President regardless. However, as a retired veteran currently on my second career I am hardly dependent upon government, and hardly a moocher...LOL! I earn every penny and continue to work serving my country. I will be watching the debate thou. Any opportunity to see our President in action against this wanna be is very fun and interesting. Romney seems very small and petty in comparison with the President of the United States. He is utterly unfit for the office of the presidency.
Absolutely and Amen!.....nuff said
Congrats to Richard Wolfe! Welcome to MSNBC - You know they only hire the BEST!
I concur.
I love Richard Wolfe. I remember him with KO every night waaaay back lol like 8 years ago. I'll be watching him too!
President Obama repeatedly needs to point out the obstructionist GOP Congress that failed to pass 12 necessary spending bills in Congress. The GOP House failed to pass the American Jobs Act that would have saved or created two million jobs. The GOP House failed to pass the Farm Bill. The Senate filibustered the Small Business Tax credit bill that would have created one million jobs. The three million jobs in these two bills would have lowered our unemployment rate to 6%. So much for the GOP caring about creating jobs for Americans. The GOP has put partisan gain first and obstructionism and "do nothing-ism" and the country a distant second. Many infrastructure bills and green energy bills are sitting stalled in the Congress because of GOP obstructionism. President Obama needs to hammer Mitt Romney and the Republicans all night long tonight. Because all Romney/Ryan cares about are more tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires by "voucherizing" Medicare and cutting programs for middle class and poor people. The CBO has also said that the Romney/Ryan tax proposals will leave huge trillion dollar deficits. Zingers will not save Romney from his own public policy incoherence.
I do not have cable or TV. will MSNBC online have live streaming of the presidential debate in Denver tonight?
You can pick up a link on MSN page, for live stream. I love NBC/MSNBC!!
I hope they can tell us what they would about veteran unemployment and homelessness? I feel the Veterans Jobs Corps Bill did not go far enough to solve a problem that has been going on since before the latest wars began. Why can't we train returning veterans how to build their own homes and communities using a CCC or WPA green works programs? Combining sustainable energy solutions to community service programs reduces the costs of the program and increases the potential for career development.
I hope the 47% will be watching tonight, i am looking for a good debate. Mr.Obama need to show the American people he is for the whole country.
(Obama 2012)
I can't help but wonder who Tricky Mitt will pander tonight. He has not only an active audience of approximately 60 million but an evenly split swing state with up-for-grabs independents.
My hope is that our POTUS will nip him in the bud right off the bat and immediately put Tricky Mitt on the defensive to the point where he can never recover.
That is my hoping for the best. The worst our POTUS can do is to come out with the same old tired and worn out "They want to go back to the way it use to be" argument and expect that to have any more impact than it has. If that is not immediately followed up with specific facts and then tied to Tricky Mitt, I fear we are in for 90 minutes of boring talking points from both sides and I will switch it off. I can watch the highlights on Morning Joe.
Obama really is not that far ahead in the polls to where he can stand in front of the nation with the same old boring arguments *unless* he plans on putting Bill Clinton on the stump everyday until election day. There are too many variables in this election like voter ID and no enthusiasm from people. Our POTUS simply does not have the charisma that he had 4 years ago. :(
I don't think Jim Lehrer will let that happen. He's a very sharp moderator. He'll press for detail in a very subtle but effective way. Watch and see.
I watch MSNBC day in and day out...sometimes i even get up at 5:30 to watch Willie, and have been known to watch several reruns of the nightly lineup..I have a question if anyone should know...The United States Marines use to guard our embassies abroad, who was guarding the U.S. ambassador in Libya? Please do NOT tell me that it was rent-a-cop contractors... no one has mentioned who was defending the consulate that was attacked.
Ex marine and Spec 0ps private security firm employees contracted to the state department.
I really think the confidence factor will be of utmost importance. The ability to hear a question, asses and formulate a lucid and informative answer. When confronted with something they might be as rehearsed on or in line with, can they give an answer that makes sense.
I agree, Ron! I am appalled at the showing Romney made on his foreign visits! I wonder if we shouldn't cancel his passport to keep him away from our allies!
money is the root of all evils for mitt the pink slip man!
I hope that the moderator asks Romney if he knows WHO the 47% are, it was obvious to those of us paying attention that he has no clue that it is elderly on medicare, students and the working poor...now there is that 1.2% of the 47% that are millionaires....
I am sooooo excited and nervous but I know the president will do well. No matter how much Romney has practiced he cannot help from letting America know that he is a part of the 1%.
I wished I could watch the debate on TV but I can't stand this freaky creep (rachel maddof) that they always have to put in charge! Why does it have to be this freak in charge? Of all the talking heads on msnbc, why this freak in charge? Get rid of the freak rachel maddof, please!
Careful there, your misogyny and homophobia are starting to show. On this site you are the freak - Troll!
misogyny! (learn how to spell, first) homophobia! Where do you come up with all that? What evidence do you have? What do you know about me? But it is obvious what you are, ignorant!
I am so nervous and excited to view the debate. I know the president once he is able to relax will do just fine. Romney however no matter how much he has practiced he cannot restrain himself from reminding America that he is part of the 1% and we are not!!!
How does Tickle Down Economics work Mitt Flop? Why do you even have a off-shore tax haven? How did 47% of become losers and victims? How will you pay the 7 Trillion in spending you have planned in tax breaks and defense spending? How can you be the President of us all when you have written 47% of off?
Paul Ryan admits that the middle class is buried and then moments later he says "That means we need to stop digging by electing Mitt Romney the next president of the United States," Personally I"d rather keep the shovel in Democratic hands.
Romney does not stand a chance!
Very Cool. . .btw. . . Did Romney get permission from the Obama Camp to have Ann on stage holding his hand?