10:03 pm
Live Blogging the Debate II
9:34 Lehrer still trying to get them to talk about how it’s going to affect the economy.
9:36 Liked the focus on values.
McCain is all about fear here: federal government is going to take over health care. Cuts in spending.
9:37 Did McCain just spend the China card?
“John’s it’s been your President who you’ve agreed with 90 percent of the time and you’ve agreed with this orgy of spending.” Nice.
it’s been your President who you’ve agreed with 90 percent of the time and you’ve agreed with this orgy of spending.” Nice.
Miss Congeniality is tonight’s POW. He said Maverick. Drink!
McCain: I saved Iraq. All by myself. Well, maybe with Petraeus.
The sad reality is that, other than service families, people don’t care about Iraq anymore.
9:40 Obama deconstructs McCain on Iraq. Key point: we hadn’t finished in Afghanistan. Mentions fact that we will have spent 1 trillion. “We took our eye off the ball.” Notes Iraq has surplus when we’re in trouble.
“We have to use our military wisely, and we did not use it wisely in Iraq.” Point Obama.
9:43 McCain said we shouldn’t look at the past and then talked Obama’s past positions.
9:44 Nice reference to Biden in contrast to Palin.
9:44 John likes to pretend war started in 2007 — another nice line. Obama is tearing McCain apart right now on all his mistaken views back in 2003.
9:45 Condescension alert: Obama doesn’t understand the difference between a tactic and a strategy. Not sure that’s going to score any points. Claims Obama can’t admit we’re winning. Obama disagrees.
9:46 Obama answer “you were wrong” will be replayed constantly.
9:47 Obama: difference is over timetable not funding troops. The strategic question the President has to ask is “was this wise?” War on terror started in Afghanistan and has to end there. He’s right. But where’s the question about what’s happening in Pakistan?
9:49 Talking over each other.
9:49 McCain: Snatch defeat from jaws of victory.
9:50 Now Afghanistan.
9:50 Obama: more troops quickly. You cannot separate Afghanistan from Iraq because you don’t have troops in Afghanistan.
9:52 FINALLY Pakistan.
McCain: Won’t repeat the mistake of twenty freaking years ago. People are going to have no idea what he’s talking about it. McCain criticized Obama for saying we should launch strikes into Pakistan. Isn’t that what Bush is doing?
McCain knew Alexander the Great. Alexander the Great was a friend of his. . .
This is a pretty good answer by McCain, with lots of specifics.
9:55 McCain looks like he has gas.
9:56 I think Obama’s “take him out” line will resonate better than McCain’s criticism. He’s giving a good answer as well.
9:57 McCain: again with the condescension.
9:58 “Back in 1882 when I was first a Congressman. . .”
9:58 Didn’t he just talk about Somalia twice?
9:59 McCain is playing the patriotism card and “death not in vain” card.
10:00 POW POW POW — well indirectly.
10:01 Duelling blue star mothers. Obama reiterates whether Iraq was the right choice. Throws out the “muddle through” line.
10:02 Hey John, nobody cares about Senate committee assignments, but I’m glad when you go back to the Senate that you’ll do that.
Okay next one in 30 min.