Your Plans
I am always conflicted about where to watch the Presidential Debates.
Do I stay at home with Ole Bubba and watch where I can hear or do I go to a debate watch party with a lot of other Democrats and risk sitting next to the guy who thinks he’s the third candidate and loudly debates both of them? Or the woman who screeches every time President Obama scores a point.
I like being with my people, but I also like the hear the debate.
What are you guys doing?
Depends on whether or not there’s a baseball game on some where.
1First I am going to go out and have a beer with my Democratic friends. I am doing this in the hopes that it may help me to make sense of how folks can a) understand and b) appreciate Mittens. Besides, watching these things without medication or a support group of some sort can be hazardous to ones health. Then I am going to return home to watch the debates with my Bubba because I too wish to actually hear what the candidates say.
In previous years I have prepared Bingo Cards for watch parties (economy is the center square, jobs and job creators along with Michelle and Anne round out the corners – prizes for bingo and a bonus for a full card!), but it was too easy and too loud for me to be able to enjoy the debate.
The real debate around here is which network to watch. The actually unbiased PBS, the left leaning MSNBC or the Right Wing crazies over at Faux Noise (it is important to know what the other guys are saying).
2I was going to a big ol’ pizza party at a local joint over by the University of Oregon. Then I thought “oh god parking!” and “oh god college students! drinking!” and decided I was too old and tame for all of that.
Coincidentally, I hooked up with the Obama campaign’s “dashboard” system on their campaign website, and found a smaller and more age-diverse gathering at a fellow Dem’s home here in the neighborhood. Potluck, debate, new faces, and I can walk there from here! Yippee!
3Going out with the 6 or 8 other Harris County Democrats for dinner. After a couple of stiff vodka tonics will probably sleep through the debate. After all, that’s why TIVO was invented!
4The Hubster and I are going to join some new and old friends, then we’ll go home and read the transcripts.
5I’m watching the debate on my back patio, just like when I watch Rachel Maddow, with the volume turned up REAL LOUD so all my republican neighbors can hear.
6Going to have to record it and watch it later in the evening. Wednesday evening is church choir practice night, and I hate to miss. Watching lthe debate live won’t make a difference in progress of the debate, whereas missing practice could significantly impact the quality of Sunday morning anthems for weeks to come.
Come to think of it, I’ll have to record the October 11th debate as well, since I’m picking up a friend at the airport who’s coming in for Austin City Limits festival. We’re planning on having dinner; maybe I can find a good restaurant that will be broadcasting the debate.
Sue, if you’re reading this, let’s talk.
7I’m going to hip-bump my Bubba off the only tv in the house (and thank goodness it’s not a Wrestling night or I wouldn’t be able to move him with a lit stick of dynamite) and watch as much of it as I can stand sober. Then I’ll watch as much of it as I can stand after a very large glass of well chilled Bailey’s Irish Cream. And *then* I’m going to get online and point and mock and read my favorite commentators & bloggers and chortle and laff at lot. Wheeee!
Actually, I have a meeting I simply cannot miss and so may be a little late to the party, but once I get home this is my plan. 🙂
8MCPO RET: Would you turn it up a bit louder please? I can’t quite make out what is being said where I live.:->
9I am reading a good book and maybe will have a nice glass of wine.
I’ll read about it the next day.
I just spent 3 hours at the local office volunteering so my great my great Congressmen can get reelected!
If you have the time volunteer. Just met some nice people and the kids are so enthusiastic!
10Depends on when daMrs’ class gets done, but we will be watching at home. Did all the debate parties to death while I was an OFA organizer last time (&daMrs was a volunteer, which is how we met.)
I have an idea. Let’s all stay home and liveblog it here! It will be like a debate watch party at the beauty shop. This way we know we’re watching with fellow fans, but don’t actually have to shower, or get gussied up, or wonder if Fryer cooked up enough fried shrimp and cream cheese balls to feed the multitude.
Any takers?
11DaChipster,
I am with you, all the way. Staying home, doing my thang where I can laugh at Mittens to my heart’s content. Waiting for the “zingers” which, he undoubtedly, will flub when POTUS counters him with FACTS.
12I’m hoping there’s a baseball game on. Or reruns of “CSI Frostbite Falls”. There’s always the weather channel. And my Nook. It’s not like anything that anybody says is going to change my mind and some people have already voted.
13I think I’ll be watching on C-Span or maybe PBS … neither of those two channels run commecials and, hopefully, none of the talking heads to tell us what we just saw or heard! If I had a laptop, I’d be on here with daChipster and anyone else who comes to the Beauty Shop to live chat this whole thing! I think that would be a total hoot!!
14DaC., How about a zinger drinking game? Any ideas?
15Staying home. I don’t miss a single word or nuance.
16Hi, Uncle Dave! That’s what I have planned. I’m gonna drink a Shiner everytime ol’ Mittens uses a zinger. Oops — only have a six pack. better get to the store!
17What I am waiting for is not the debates, but the media spin after the debates. Sadly that is what matters most in our election system. I predict that on FOX Romney will win.
18The last regular-season game for the Nats is at 1pm on Wednesday and I am debating whether or not to go. After all, the NATS ARE NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST CHAMPIONS!!! Ahem. I need something to look forward to, since I am not looking forward to the debate. It will either be a giant snooze, or Mittens will say something egregious.
I’ve found that the best place to watch these things is in my recliner (with my feet up) and a nice glass of bourbon at hand. The bars with the Frat boys are too noisy, and watching with fellow activists is too intense.
19I’ll be at home all by my lonesome. I’ll only have the cats at home, and when I whoop or blow big raspberries they run! I’d love to join daChipster. Will someone please tell me how to do the live chat here? Is it any different from commenting? And will JJ put up a special portal for it?
20Just asking.
I’ll catch the highlights the next day.
21I’m going to watch the debate at home, alone. In a group there is always someone who thinks he/she is there to entertain and talks too much and over what is being said in the debate.
daChipster has a good idea, so I’ll probably join the fine inhabitants of this not a blog to see what they have to say.
22There’s not enough blood pressure medicine in the house for me to stand that time with Mittens.
If i have to watch with DH, I’ll just have another glass of Bogle.
23I’ll be at the same rehearsal as Austinhatlady, but I’d be recording it regardless so I could rewind and relisten to anything I missed the first time. My hearing is not what it used to be and subtitles do not always match what is actually said. It also means if long sessions of applause break out, I can fast forward through them.
daChipster’s got a great idea, but my home computer is down and typing on my iPad is not too easy since I can’t “feel” the keys to touch type. I might just watch the comments scroll.
24Bascom Hill at UW-Madison:
25http://www.news.wisc.edu/21110
I prefer to stay at home, watch on C-Span and monitor the Twitterverse for a few laughs. Oh, and I’ll share some Dolly Madison Zingers with my little girl, in celebration of Mitt’s new-found debate stragetty…
26At home, probably alone. I prefer that for this kind of thing. I like to focus and not have to mess with chit chat. And I will watch on C-Span. Then turn over to MSNBC and see what they thought. I like to make my own judgments based on what I see and hear. Usually MSNBC agrees with me, sometimes not.
27No cable / satellite, so don’t have tv to watch. If I can find a feed online, I’ll be watching it there. And will check in here!
28The local Eleanor & Franklin Roosevelt Democratic Club is having a party, with refreshments “afterwards”. I assume not during because it’s not our TV screen. But I think I’ll stay home where I can swear to my heart’s content.
This column has some good drinking game suggestions, especially in the comments:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/oct/02/presidential-debates-even-more-fun?
29I’ve got to be on my computer working at that time, so I’m going to find a live stream (I think YouTube will have one?) and have it on in the background while I try to work.
I plan to keep a steady supply of chocolate (to treat the emotional trauma) and Tylenol (for the headaches caused by me banging my head against the wall) on hand.
30I’m going to a party hosted by “Veterans for Obama” at a retired General’s house. In Texas. Feels really odd.
31Since the meds that I take for PTSD aren’t strong enough to allow me to watch / hear any Republican for longer than 2 minutes without wanting to grab a weapon (only sorta kidding), I am most thankful that it’s my daughter’s 18th birthday. We’ll go to Chuy’s and have a few Texas Martinis. Besides, the President is far sharper than any snakeoil salesman, so how much of a contest can it be?
32Oh, I’ll be watching with the cat, she doesn’t say much but has been known to hiss at Republicans from time to time. I think that’s a well turned commentary and it doesn’t affect my hearing. I will watch part with the sound off because that’s how I get an idea of what low information voters are getting out of it if they can tear themselves away from Honey Boo Boo or all the Housewives shows, probably during commercials.
What I won’t expect is anything new from either of them, a blessing in Mitt’s case. I don’t think I can stand much more cluelessness out of that man’s mouth.
33Will watch with grandchildren to distract me.
34Watch at home. Then go to a party.
35it’s my son’s birthday. we will be going out for dinner. I may (may, not will) check for zingers when we get home, but I like to be in bed by 2000 (8 p.m.) and i don’t want to upset my routine.
it will be what it will be. I already saw jack ruby shoot lee harvey oswald, live and on tee vee, and I lived through the DC sniper while living in NOVA, so seeing this debate live is just not that big a deal.
36baking and taking cookies to Bastrop County Democratic Party debate party.
37Heard Howard Dean say the best way to watch is with the sound off, so that’s how i.m watching. I’m sure all the TV anchors will let me now later. Twitter will sure be interesting though.
38Gonna watch from the patio, with the volume on Rachel turned up! Professional opinion? I have 4 minutes in the office pool…the time line where Mittens shows the red triangle around his nose when he’s caught in a lie. Is that a good bet? If I win, gonna buy me a ticket to the O’s inauguration!
39I will be at the Fort Bend Democrats watching party. I have some new buttons and enjoy the company
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