Tonight's Debate Playbook

We've discussed the fact that presidential debates rarely, if ever, have a major impact on election results, but we'll be treated to the first installment of the 2012 edition tonight.

While political pundits are wringing there hands in anticipation, the expectations of the general public should be where they are for everything involving our federal government - low.

Tonight's playbooks are simple. President Obama will play defense, bobbing and weaving. He doesn't need to win, he simply needs to stay away from any blatant mistakes. As the underdog, Mitt Romney must be the aggressor, attempting to land a decisive blow that he hopes will create some electoral momentum.

What's the best the viewing audience can hope for? Two things. First, that one, memorable moment, whether it's Lloyd Bensten's zinger ("You're no Jack Kennedy"), Gerald Ford stumbling through a question about Soviet domination or The Gipper smiling and saying, "there you go again." Second, enough material for Saturday Night Live to write a funny script. After all, the debates have become, above all, a television event.