Thus far the blogging of the VP debate drew comments faster and more furiously than the Presidential debate. Let’s see what happens this time around. As always, I’m watching the broadcast on PBS. Comments below the cut line.
9:02: ” I have selected a long list of excellent questions that will not be answered…”
9:03: McCain in a red tie, Obama in a blue tie. Perfect.
9:03: Obama goes for the attack early.
9:05: I’m being reminded of the Underpants gnomes from “South Park.” “Step One, Bailout. Step two…(deafening silence). Step three: Profit!”
9:06: Huh? Energy independence? Uhm…okay.
9:07: I’m waiting for McCain to sit down on the step next to the guy. Maybe ask him to sit in his lap.
9:08: And McCain goes for a joke! It’s a missed bunt.
9:09: Here’s the problem: McCain is talking about wall Street cronyism, yet he has plenty of Wall Street lobbyists on his staff.
9:10: Obama continues on the attack. He’s trying to bait McCain into blowing his temper, get scolding, etc. It’s a gambit; if it doesn’t work, if McCain doesn’t respond to the attacks, Obama going to look as if he’s endlessly carping.
9:12: The questioner is looking for specifics. Let’s see if he gets them. And now McCain fires back at Obama, referring to “cronies.” Obama is going to have to spend time defending himself rather than getting specific.
9:14: Smart. Obama speaks to the question first rather than responding to McCain’s charges.
9:15: And yet politicians ARE pointing fingers.
9:18: How do we trust you? Good question.
9:19: This could wind up being a major question because Obama tends to be a history and facts wonk while McCain does better in connecting with people on an emotional level, and trust is an emotional question.
9:20: This would have been the question for Obama to talk about hardscrabble roots or some such, the notion that “I’ve known hard times, I’m on your side.”
9:21: No, he has NOT been a consistent reformer. He has been consistently self serving. Read the Rolling Stones article.
9:22: They’re both blowing this opportunity. This is the kind of question that Bill Clinton would have knocked out of the park. Say what you will about Clinton, but he has tremendous personal charisma and you would have seen it on display for this question.
9:24: he could work on all three at once? NOW he can multi task? He couldn’t even campaign and work on the economy at the same time.
9:25: Every time he says, “My friends” I keep flashing back to “The Music Man” doing “Trouble.”
9:26: Yeah, but JFK had to die to give us the impetus to get to the moon.
9:27: Brokaw is trying his best to rein them in for time.
9:29: That air force tanker was actually a pork barrel project that he managed to push past through Carter’s objections. And there was a lawsuit involved as well because of European involvement that made its construction unfair competition for Americans.
9:30: OBAMA mentioned 9/11 first? Cripes.
9:31: Still, the comment about going out and shopping “not being the kind of call to service we were looking for” is kind of funny.
9:32: Clean coal technology is a myth. Unless there’s a new scientific breakthrough, it’s never going to happen.
9:33 If Bush says Wall Street got drunk, I’d take his word for it. With his history, he’d know.
9:34 I wonder if either of them will talk about putting Wall street on a 12 step program.
9:35: Obama should say, “I know Senator Obama worked with Herbert Hoover and knew Herbert Hoover, but I assure you I’m no Herbert Hoover.”
9:37: I keep waiting for them to follow the “West Wing” format and basically say, “Screw the rules, we’re just going to talk back and forth.”
9:38: Social security is the third rail of politics. If they talk about reforming it, they’re in trouble. “The straight talk express lost a wheel.” Nice. I’m sure he was waiting for the opportunity to use it.
9:40: Obama is steering the question away from what Brokaw said.
9:41: I’LL answer the question. Oh, snap.
9:41: Oh God, another frakking commission.
9:42: Look at the record? Keating 5.
9:43: McCain tries to distance himself from the Bush administration. Smart. Let’s see if Obama tries to tie him right back to it. Meantime he follows the West Wing scenario, advocating nuclear fuel just as Vinick did. Again, let’s hope a nuclear meltdown doesn’t happen to keep the scenario going.
9:45: Is EVERYTHING one of the biggest challenges of our time?
9:46: YES! Obama finally hits the nail in talking about the fact that McCain has been there for so long and hasn’t accomplished any of the things he talks about.
9:47: God, I just wish that Brokaw would just say, “Look, do you guys just want to toss the rules? Because if you do, let’s take the gloves off and go and I will go ‘Meet the Press’ on both of you.”
9:51: No. the health care in the congress is one of the most generous policies ever. They have all the stuff that we have slowly lost over the years due to the insurance companies.
9:52: Notice that Obama is no longer (a) stuttering at the start of questions and (b) saying “Senator McCain is absolutely right” about anything.
9:53: Why does no one point out that $5000 won’t get you health insurance?
9:54: cross-state insurance won’t work. NY people can’t go flocking to Ohio for health insurance, because in many states the state governments supplement the medical programs (the HIP program, for instance, is supplemented by state taxpayer money.) If the state governments see people flooding in from other states whose taxes aren’t going into the pot, how likely are they to continue supplementing the programs?
9:56: Oooo. Obama finally brings the personal aspect in.
9:57: Hah! He brought up McCain voting against children’s healthcare. I was wondering if he would.
9:58: Obama just stepped in something and he knows it. Biden’s from Delaware.
9:59: Obama can use this question as a major opportunity to link McCain to Bush when it comes to damaging our ability to act as peacemakers.
10:01: Obama was wrong about the surge. And McCain was wrong about every aspect of the war.
10:02: Not really answering the question, but he’s jabbing back at McCain at least.
10:03: 79 comments on this thread thus far. As of this time during the VP debate we had over 200.
10:05: I agree with McCain: It requires a cool hand at the tiller. Unfortunately his is anything BUT a cool hand. That’s the problem.
10:07: “Your young men and women are my first priority right after our nation’s security.” Which would make them your…second priority.
10:09: Except the problem is that more troops in Afghanistan will likely not lead to much except more deaths of civilians which is going to pìšš øff the people there and further inflame hostility toward us.
10:11: Actually it’s “speak softly and carry a big stick,” which is a West African saying that Roosevelt quoted.
10:13: YES! YES! And notice he said “speaking softly, ” the correct quote.
10:15; And we’re back to McCain’s secret plan to get bin Laden. He keep saying that. He has a secret plan. Has he shared this plan with anyone?
10:16: Brokaw is going to give Saturday night Live a field day.
10:18: Oh my God, McCain said that Obama was correct about something. Is that a first?
10:19: McCain’s right, I doubt we’ll have another cold war with Russia.
10:20: We’ve been SHOWING moral support for Georgia. It didn’t mean jack.
10:21: Yes. Obama jumps on the moral support opening. The question is, where do we get the money to provide financial support. And Obama already said the first thing he would cut would be money designed for foreign support.
10:22: As opposed to anticipating something AFTER it happens?
10;23: Gee, I would have thought McCain says Yes.
10:25: Ooooooo. the Jewish vote is listening carefully.
10:26: Aw, c’mon, are we back to the preconditions thing?
10:27: So Obama is basically saying that we want to take steps to make sure Israel isn’t attacked by Iran. Which is fine. But WHAT IF IT IS? That’s the question. If the steps fail, what then?
10:29: He never answered the question.
10:30: Obama deflects the zen question with humor and switches to his stump speech.
10:31: I could see McCain saying, “I don’t know how we will survive if Obama is elected, and I intend to never have to learn it.”
10:34: Except the great honor of his life was to put himself first. Again, read the RS articles.
CONCLUSION: I think both of them got good shots in. To my mind, Obama gave the better performance, albeit narrowly, but I’ve no idea if anyone who is undecided would have been swayed one way or the other.
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Whoops — that’s a minor gaffe. Obama meant the Internet there, not the computer.
Is the “voted 23 times against alternative fuels” claim accurate, or is it like the “94 times to raise taxes” claim? Anybody know?
Actually, McCain only voted against alternative fuels 11 times. So Obama is exaggerating too.
Still, McCain has a clear record of voting against alternative fuels.
Actually, McCain only voted against alternative fuels 11 times. So Obama is exaggerating too.
Still, McCain has a clear record of voting against alternative fuels.
Shut up about the time, Tom. Where’s Gwen when you need her?
Shut up about the time, Tom. Where’s Gwen when you need her?
Okay, I found the “That one” comment from McCain kinda charming. Yeah, it’s a dig, but it still amused me.
Okay, I found the “That one” comment from McCain kinda charming. Yeah, it’s a dig, but it still amused me.
McCain is reminding me of the current notion Lex Luthor who keeps saying that he’d have solved all the world’s problems if it weren’t for Superman. If he has all these answers, why hasn’t he tried to enact any of them in the decades he’s been in office?
McCain is reminding me of the current notion Lex Luthor who keeps saying that he’d have solved all the world’s problems if it weren’t for Superman. If he has all these answers, why hasn’t he tried to enact any of them in the decades he’s been in office?
So how much power does a Navy nuclear power plant put out, and why isn’t the government building nuke plants based on the Navy size and safety protocols?
So how much power does a Navy nuclear power plant put out, and why isn’t the government building nuke plants based on the Navy size and safety protocols?
Huh, McCain is standing behind Obama. I wonder how that will play with audiences at home. Crazy old guy wandering around or active man ready to jump back into the fight.
I’m probably overthinking this detail.
Huh, McCain is standing behind Obama. I wonder how that will play with audiences at home. Crazy old guy wandering around or active man ready to jump back into the fight.
I’m probably overthinking this detail.
Tom is asking very good follow-up questions (which doesn’t make it easy to answer quickly, though). (But McCain answered that one before he got to “My freinds…” and was able to tack on a minute of attacks.)
Sorry, John, you lost me this time. Mandates are totally fine by me.
McCain: If your employer doesn’t insure you, Obama will fine him!
Did I hear that right? That doesn’t sound like something that will bother most people.
McCain: If your employer doesn’t insure you, Obama will fine him!
Did I hear that right? That doesn’t sound like something that will bother most people.
Did he just recommend people from TN get their healthcare from AZ? Just a hop in the private jet?
Someone ask McCain why socialized health insurance is bad especially since that is what he has lived on all his life!
Someone ask McCain why socialized health insurance is bad especially since that is what he has lived on all his life!
Where did the “hair transplants” line come from?
Where did the “hair transplants” line come from?
So, how exactly is a $5000 “refundable tax credit” going to help those of us who don’t have health care because we don’t make enough money to [i]pay[/i] any taxes to refund? And what kind of suck-ášš health care are you going to buy for $5000, either?
So, how exactly is a $5000 “refundable tax credit” going to help those of us who don’t have health care because we don’t make enough money to [i]pay[/i] any taxes to refund? And what kind of suck-ášš health care are you going to buy for $5000, either?
Obama’s got some fire in him about people having health insurance.
Obama’s got some fire in him about people having health insurance.
There’s a fundamental build-up of the word fundamental in these debates. That’s fundamentally wrong. A true fundamental difference of past campaigns.
There’s a fundamental build-up of the word fundamental in these debates. That’s fundamentally wrong. A true fundamental difference of past campaigns.
Uh, I don’t think you want to bring up Delaware being lax on banking regulations with your running mate, Barack…
Uh, I don’t think you want to bring up Delaware being lax on banking regulations with your running mate, Barack…
Oxford Freedom plan is 447$ per month. Thats what you get for 5000$ per year. ($5364 to be exact)
That’s what *I* had these past 12 months, unemployed.
Oxford Freedom plan is 447$ per month. Thats what you get for 5000$ per year. ($5364 to be exact)
That’s what *I* had these past 12 months, unemployed.
Actually, my companies coverage pays $4,000-$5,000 a year to cover us.
I figure the insurance company is just going to deny me care anyway if I get sick, but if I’m not covered, hospitals will charge their most expensive rates.
Actually, my companies coverage pays $4,000-$5,000 a year to cover us.
I figure the insurance company is just going to deny me care anyway if I get sick, but if I’m not covered, hospitals will charge their most expensive rates.
Ug, stop making jokes, McCain! The audience was told not to laugh and they’re sticking to it. It’s painful to see someone make a joke and be greeted with silence.
Ug, stop making jokes, McCain! The audience was told not to laugh and they’re sticking to it. It’s painful to see someone make a joke and be greeted with silence.
Someone should tell McCain that there aren’t four corners; the world is round.
Someone should tell McCain that there aren’t four corners; the world is round.
“My friends”
“My friends”
McCain, your are NOT my friend, quit telling me that you are.
“My friends”
“My friends”
McCain, your are NOT my friend, quit telling me that you are.
PAD: 9:58: Obama just stepped in something and he knows it. Biden’s from Delaware.
I doubt that will be much of a problem. Delaware is solidly leaning towards Obama. Also, I don’t it will annoy people too much. He’s not slamming the people of Delaware, just the state government that made certain banking regulations.
PAD: 9:58: Obama just stepped in something and he knows it. Biden’s from Delaware.
I doubt that will be much of a problem. Delaware is solidly leaning towards Obama. Also, I don’t it will annoy people too much. He’s not slamming the people of Delaware, just the state government that made certain banking regulations.
10:03: 79 comments on this thread thus far. As of this time during the VP debate we had over 200.
To be fair, this quote-unquote “town-hall format” makes for a debate that’s as dull as dishwater.
10:03: 79 comments on this thread thus far. As of this time during the VP debate we had over 200.
To be fair, this quote-unquote “town-hall format” makes for a debate that’s as dull as dishwater.
Sorry about not commenting enough. I’m hurling all my comments at the TV screen.
How can a man who rotted in a prison, crashed multiple planes and set an aircraft carrier on fire know how to win a war?
PAD: 10:03: 79 comments on this thread thus far. As of this time during the VP debate we had over 200
McCain isn’t as polarizing as Palin. Thus, there’s less fun to be had jabbing at the comments. Since both candidates are *generally* answering the questions that they are being asked, this debate is much less ridiculous than the VP debate.
PAD: 10:03: 79 comments on this thread thus far. As of this time during the VP debate we had over 200
McCain isn’t as polarizing as Palin. Thus, there’s less fun to be had jabbing at the comments. Since both candidates are *generally* answering the questions that they are being asked, this debate is much less ridiculous than the VP debate.
They’re underground landmarks. McCain is giving a shout-out to the mole people.