In 2012, at least fifty bona fide independent candidates have run for the US House and Senate.  About twenty of those candidates have already withdrawn or been defeated. If half a dozen of the remaining contenders are elected, it would be a remarkable cap to an already extraordinary year for political independents.

As the country enters the final full month of the 2012 presidential campaign, another crucial issue has come onto the national political stage which could have a devastating impact on small and big businesses alike. The looming "fiscal cliff" is set to take place on January 1, 2013, and will likely be the most pressing issue for Congress and the president.

So after watching the first presidential debate of the year between President Obama and Governor Romney, I came away with only one feeling.  Nothing at all.  There was no major breakout moment for either.  Nothing was said that we haven't heard before from either campaign during all the speeches that have been given... including the conventions.  And it only allowed the voters to actually hear half of the presidential candidates.

While most news sources, IVN included, will be live-blogging the debate, the staff at Tumblr will be hard at work, creating animated gifs highlighting the best and worst moments of tonight's debate. In a blog post from the staff, Tumblr writes:

Paul Sadler (D) and Ted Cruz (R) went head-to-head in their first debate on Tuesday night. The race is considered by several political analysts to be in Cruz’s favor since Texas is decidedly a Republican state, but Sadler is determined to silence the skeptics and prove that he still has a chance in November.

Tweeting during the presidential debate?