Presidential Debate/Project Runway Live Blog

8:55: Good evening, we're getting ready to rumble. Paste-prez Tim Regan-Porter will be joining me tonight for a tag-team live-blog dual.

8:59: I think that may be the most hyphens I've ever put in a single sentence.

9:01: Wolf is hyping the debate. Bravo is recapping the last episode. I have no idea how I'm going to keep up with both shows.

9:03: Bob Scheiffer is going over the rules of the debate (9 minute segments?) and Tim Gunn is going over the rules of the Bryant Park show. Here come the models.

9:05: Wow, the debate is already boring me.

9:06: Kenley doesn't give an eff what they say about the wedding dress. It's going in the show, ya'll.

9:08: Ohhh, here we go. McCain is going all "Joe-the-Plumber" on Obama.

9:10: A small child has been coloring all over Kenley's collection. Leanne doesn't know how to use color.

9:12: Whew! Commercial break. McCain brings up the "spread the wealth around" thing with Obama. It doesn't stick, so he tries "Joe-the-Plumber" again.

9:14: "Aren't you both ignoring reality?" Good question, Bob.

9:16: There's a dog pooping in the studio. I wish that would happen at the debate.

9:19: McCain is looking really happy with himself, Obama is looking annoyed.

9:20: The contestants visit the runway. Kenley is crying and wearing green bugs in her hair. This is out of control.

9:23: Thank God. Tim is here.  -Mark

9:24: I caught the first part of the debate on the radio. I think I like this format more.  No distractions from candidates roaming around the stage (which I hope they're not doing in this format). -Tim

9:25: Snap! Scheiffer asks the dirty campaigning question. -Mark

9:28: I suppose we should be equal-opportunity snarky and flippant in the debates, since we try to avoid being too political. We can delve into the politics of Project Runway.
(Full disclosure: I'm for the Senator. That One. Undecided on designer.) -Tim

9:30: Kenley's line is out. Not a fan of the painting or the green bugs. -Mark

9:31: Kenley's stuff looks like Kenley but she's shown more breadth.  surprised that there's not too much bright floral. Nice handpainting. And there's the rip-off dress (but still undeniably very skillful). -Tim

9:33: I love the variety Korto's brought to the mix.  The show needed a little world influence (beyond Paris/London/Milan). -Tim

9:33: Back to the debate. It's getting hot in here. -Mark

9:34: Not a fan of the painting?  Pfft. -Tim

9:35: The candidates are getting into the ugliness of some at the rallies. -Tim

9:36: Leanne is out. Lots of white and turquoise and beige waves. Variations on a theme. Very nice. -Mark

9:37: I'm torn on most of them.  Inspired.  But just not sure.  Is there enough variety?  Does it fit together? -Tim

9:37: Obama is talking about Ayers and ACORN and McCain is smirking. It's too much. Smirking is the new sighing.  -Mark

9:38: I think the money's on Leanne, but I'm not sure she's getting my vote. -Tim

9:40: OK, quiz time.  Match the candidates with a designer. -Tim

9:41: Leanne : Obama :: Korto : McCain. -Mark

9:41: Clearly, Kenley =~ McCain.  (Comes across as....) Irritable. Condescending.  Defensive.  But no doubt, some good work in her past. -Tim

9:42: The candidates pimp their veeps while the designers get judged. I'm glad to see Tim Gunn judging. -Mark

9:45: I think Season 3's Laura Bennett =~ Obama.  Well put-together.  Always composed.  Consistent.  Comes across as the consummate professional. Does Kenley know she got a twig stuck in her hair? Very distracting, -Tim

9:46: Did Heidi just say "idears"?  Is she going for the folksy Palin vote? -Tim

9:46: She's trying to appeal to the base. -Mark

9:47: Tim, Tim.  Hate the blue vest with the white pants. -Tim

9:48: I'm sorry, but crying and saying "It's been a long journey here" is not a good reason why you should win. Any of you.  -Mark

9:49: Geez.  This season's had more crying than the Hilary household in June. -Tim

9:50: Stop with the idears!  If I hear one of the judges say "nucular", I'm going to shoot the TV, Elvis-style. -Tim

9:51: "pedal architecture"  -- first time that phrase has been uttered? -Tim

9:52: OK, quick:  who did you think was going to win before the show?  who do you pick now? -Tim

9:53: Ahhh, I don't know. I'm so distracted. I'm going to have to stick with Leanne. God! McCain is still smirking! He's so proud of himself!  -Mark

9:54: I thought Kenley two weeks ago, I thought Leanne last week.  I think think it's a toss up right now. -Tim

9:55: I want to pick Korto but I'm starting to lean Kenley. -Tim

9:56: I have to be fair. Obama is laughing a lot, too, and it's equally obnoxious. -Mark

9:57: Kenley the first out.  Didn't expect that.  How much did her personality influence the vote? But I might have disqualified her for lack of originality. -Tim

9:57: Booyah! Leanne wins. Korto is hella disappointed and her heart is bleeding. -Mark

9:58: Eh.  Not surprised, but that collection was my least favorite. -Tim

9:59: "Drinks are on this brother" - most awkward sentence ever uttered. -Mark

9:59: "Drinks are on this brotha"???  Fail. -Tim

10:01: OK, who's the best dressed candidate? Obama clearly has the better suit. McCain's thinning strips are nice, though. -Tim

10:02: Obama's tie is much better. I hate even the slightest hint of anything asymmetrical.  -Mark

10: 03: Toss-up on the tie.  Unless you include Shieffer.  His tie wins.  Hands down. -Tim

10:03: Great point, Tim -Mark

10:03: McCain is back on "Joe-the-Plumber". -Mark

10:04: Wait. Obama's wearing a flag lapel-pin and McCain's not?!?  So much I missed when I didn't watch the debate through the prism of Project Runway.  Thanks, Heidi and Tim. -Tim

10:05: "Senator Government"  - that was an amazing slip. -Mark

10:05: "Senator Government" -- Destined to lead. New child name! -Tim

10:07: When will Bob ask about the much needed music industry bailout? -Tim

10:09: Josh commended on the tie colors. Good catch. Notice Bob shows both colors. -Tim

10:10: This is way easier when there's only one show to watch. -Mark

10:11: Glad to see McCain's makin' the effort to look at Obama.  (I'll now drop all trailing "g"s when discuss the Republican ticket.) Loves me some folksiness. -Tim

10:12: Who in the world uses a sharpie to take notes? -Mark

10:13: Easier to watch, but maybe not a fun.  Going between runway and the debate two-shot was a bit surreal and dizzying. -Tim

10:15: McCain is going after Obama on abortion, so Obama takes a long sip of water. Good call. That's a much better move than laughing. -Mark

10:16: Damn him and his eloquence.  Wouldn't want that in the White House. -Tim

10:16: Mark, large print is much easier with a sharpie. Duh. -Tim

10:17: Oh right, they're legally blind. -Mark

10:18: Hah. Gabe from Atlanta Film Festival just asked if Kevin Costner is going to play Joe the Plumber in the movie...Just don't let it be Jeff Foxworthy. Or that Cable Guy, Larry. -Tim

10:19: We find bad teachers another line of work? How does that work? -Mark

10:23: McCain is sounding awful condescending right now. -Mark

10:27: Wow.  He is Kenley.  Did you really want to end the last question with that much sarcasm? -Tim

10:28: Why is CNN's uncommitted-voter tracker green and orange? Totally unpatriotic. -Mark

10:30: On Facebook, my feed has something like a page of Joe the Plumber jokes.  The clear winner of the debate tonight:  Plumbers named Joe. -Tim

10:30: And Plumber is the #3 hot topic on Twitter. -Tim

10:31: Bob gets the most folksiness points of anyone with that last line: "Go vote now. It'll make you feel big and strong." -Mark

10:32: Whew.  Glad it's over.  Weak season of Project Runway.  Mixed debate season. -Tim

10:33: Yep, pretty weak all around. I'm exhausted. Auf wiedersehen! -Mark

10:34: 'Night, Mark.  'Night, all. -Tim