SNL skit at that time:
Sam Donaldson: Vice-President Bush, there are millions of homeless in this country - children who go hungry, and lacking in other basic necessities. How would the Bush administration achieve your stated goal of making this a kinder, gentler nation?
George Bush: Well, that is a big problem, Sam, and unfortunately the format of these debates makes it hard to give you a complete answer. If I had more time, I could spell out the program in greater detail, but I'm afraid, in a short answer like this, all I can say is we're on track - we can do more - but we're getting the job done, so let's stay on course, a thousand points of light. Well, unfortunately, I guess my time is up.
Diane Sawyer: Mr. Vice-President, you still have a minute-twenty.
George Bush: What? That can't be right. I must have spoken for at least two minutes.
Diane Sawyer: No, just forty seconds, Mr. Vice-President.
George Bush: Really? Well, if I didn't use the time then, I must have just used the time now, talking about it.
Diane Sawyer: No, no, Mr. Vice-President, it's not being counted against you.
George Bush: Well, I just don't want it to count against Governor Dukakis' time.
Diane Sawyer: It won't. It will come out of the post-debate commentary.
George Bush: Do you think that's a good idea?
Diane Sawyer: You still have a minute-twenty, Mr. Vice-President.
George Bush: Well, more has to be done, sure. But the programs we have in place are doing the job, so let's keep on track and stay the course.
Diane Sawyer: You have fifty seconds left, Mr. Vice-President.
George Bush: Let me sum up. On track, stay the course. Thousand points of light.
Diane Sawyer: Governor Dukakis. Rebuttal?
Michael Dukakis: I can't believe I'm losing to this guy!
Jon Lovitz as Dukakis
Dana Carvey as GHW Bush
Jan Hooks as Diane Sawyer
Kevin Nealon as Sam Donaldson
http://snltranscripts.jt.org/88/88adebate.phtml