10:04 pm
Live Blogging the Debate I
Here we go. Will McCain actually look at Obama tonight?
9:00 I really can’t stand Wolf Blitzer. But we don’t get MSNBC in high def. On second thought, I hate the CNN trackers — going to MSNBC.
9:02 I really hate this format. It’s bogus. No real discussion and no real debate.
9:03 McCain passes first hurdle: smiles and looks Obama in the eye.
9:04 First question: how do we bail out average folks? Obama: we are in the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. This is the final verdict on the past eight years of economic policy, supported by McCain. Keys: strong oversight of rescue package, crackdown on CEOs’ compensation. Middle class needs a rescue package: tax help, mortgage relief, infrastructure, health care, green energy.
9:06 McCain opens with a shot at Obama about this being the first town hall meeting. McCain just lost the election: the answer to the economic crisis is energy independence. He’s throwing numbers around and I don’t think people will listen. McCain promising to buy up bad mortgages and renegotiate at diminished value — going to be expensive, he admits. Glad I have “my friends” in tonight’s drinking game.
9:08 Question is who to appoint Secretary of Treasury. McCain: first criteria is somebody who Americans identify with and support. Suggests Warren Buffett who supports Obama. Meg Whitman.
9:09 Obama: Buffett would be a good choice, there are other folks out there. Key is that next Sec Treas realizes that it’s not enough just to help those at top. Reminds folks that McCain said fundamentals of economy is strong. First “McCain is right.”
9:11 Next question: what in the bailout is actually going to help?
9:11 McCain: It’s a rescue, not a bailout. Claims that he suspended campaign in order to ensure good oversight. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Oh man you’re killing me. Can’t believe that McCain is talking about Fannie and Freddie, given the fact that 2/3rds of his staff were lobbyists for them. Obama is smiling like he knows he’s about to nail McCain. McCain blaming everything on Fannie and Freddie. What a crock.
9:13 Obama: Credit markets are frozen up, means business can’t get loans, make payroll, shut down. That’s why bailout necessary. Then goes on to correct McCain “not surprisingly.” Biggest problem is deregulation of financial system, which McCain has championed. In contrast, Obama wrote a letter two years ago, went to Wall St. a year ago while McCain talked about regulation.
Here we go — Obama goes after McCain on Fannnie and Freddie but then deftly brushes it aside by saying you’re not interested in politicians fighting over who did what.
9:16 Brokaw: Is it going to get worse? Obama: No. Politically expedient but wrong answer.
McCain: It depends on what we do. Focuses on buying up bad loans. We can fix our economy. American workers are the best in the world.
So it looks like McCain’s first Hail Mary is buying up bad home loans and renegotiating them.
Next question: How can we trust either of you with our money when both parties got us into this mess? Good question.
9:19 Obama: You’re right to ask that question. What you do isn’t what Washington does. Reminds people that when Bush came into office, we had surpluses and he’s doubled the national deficit. Biggest increases in deficit spending and national debt in history. McCain voted for 4 out of 5 of those budgets. Repeats basic points of his plan, but includes college affordability. Goes jujitsu on spending, says he’s going to cut more than he adds.
9:21 McCain: System is broken, I have reached across the aisle, a clear record on bipartisanship. Obama never taken on his party. So apparently bipartisanship is a solution to both parties being responsible? McCain trots out the L word for the first time.
Obama answers the question by blaming Washington business as usual. McCain answers the question by blaming Obama.
Is it me or does McCain look tired?
9:24 Healthcare, entitlement reform, energy — which first? McCain says all three. McCain is repeating talking points that didn’t work in the first debate: entitlements, bipartisanship, drilling, etc.
9:25 Obama agrees that we’re going to have to prioritize just like a family (good frame): 1. energy — sets a specific goal and how much it’s going to cost. Compares it to JFK/Moon. 2. Health care — broken health care is bad. 3. Education — so our young people have the opportunity. Hits McCain on tax cuts for the wealthy. Need to prioritize not just spending but tax policy.
9:28 Next question: what sacrifices will you ask Americans to make? Good question.
9:28 McCain: we’re going to have to eliminate programs that aren’t working. How is that a sacrifice for average Americans? McCain seems to think that the “overhead projector” for the planetarium is a winning line. I don’t think it is. He really isn’t answering the question. I think there’s an opening here for Obama.
9:30 Obama goes straight to 9/11 and how we were not asked to sacrifice. I think this is really going to resonate. Brings up shopping! Acknowledges that we need to start thinking about how we use energy — says that we have to think how we all can do better. Still, he really doesn’t answer the question.
9:33 Brokaw: how do you end all these credit binges?
9:33 Start with Washington: we have to show we have good habits. It means looking at both spending and revenue. Earmarks account for about $18 billion in budget, but his tax cuts for CEOs don’t involve sharing the burden. People don’t feel the rich are sharing the burden with other folks. All of us are going to have to make sacrifices, but we have to be sure that those who need help get help.
9:35 McCain brings out the jello bomb! Did McCain just try to suggest that Obama was Herbert Hoover? Most Americans are going to say WTF? Is it me, or do folks agree that most Americans are going to find the tax cuts mantra stale? McCain now talking about the specifics of his policies.
9:37 Brokaw is doing his damnedest to prevent real debate. Next question: reform social security and medicare?
Obama: We’re going to have to take on entitlements, maybe not in the next two years, but in first term. “Straight talk express lost a wheel.” Obama wants to provide a tax cut for 95 percent of Americans. McCain wants to give a $200 billion tax cut to corporations and $100 billion to CEOs.
9:40 McCain claims that he will answer the question. Repeats for the second time tonight the Reagan-O’Neill analogy. Medicare will be tougher than social security. McCain uses a Bush talking point: up or down vote.
Next question: environment.
9:43 McCain: tough economic times do not mean we can’t address environmental issues. “I’ve traveled all over the world looking at greenhouse emissions.” Didn’t that involve jet flight, which creates greenhouse gases?
9:45 Obama: environment is one of biggest challenges of our time. But it’s also an opportunity. Green economy can create 5 million new jobs. Environment is part of our national security. Did Obama just come out in favor of nuke power? We have 3 percent of oil reserves and use 25 percent of the world’s oil. We can’t drill out of the problem, and using more fossil fuels just means more global warming.
9:47 McCain says he’ll look at Brokaw. At least he’s looking at somebody. Brokaw follow-up: manhattan project-. . .
THAT ONE? What, is Obama an inanimate object?
Sorry, I just lost track of the discussion because of McCain’s reference to Obama as “that one.”
9:49 Next question: health care is profitable. Do you believe health care should be treated as a commodity? Talk about a message in Obama’s wheelhouse.
Obama: uh, duh, no. I know he didn’t say that, but that was the essence of his answer. He’s giving a wonky, technical answer, but I think that’s what people want to hear right now.
Obama’s performance tonight is reminding me of Clinton’s best performances in 92 — wonky but compassionate.
Offhand thought: I bet this has a lower rating than the first debate, which means McCain isn’t going to be helped by the size of the audience. Means a lot of people will determine who won by word of mouth.
9:53 McCain: fundamental difference b/t me and Obama is that he focuses on government. “Senator Obama will find you.” What, is he the bogeyman. Oh wait — he is to McCain. Too bad for McCain the horror movie is his campaign.
McCain: “Gold plated cadillac policies” — racist code? And WTF was that reference to hair plugs?
9:55 Brokaw: health care privilege, responsibility or right? McCain: responsibility Obama: right.
9:57 Obama repeating core message of his health care, refutes McCain’s claims. McCain crosses arms — classic defensive body language. Obama: McCain voted against S-CHIP.
In a debate over who is responsible for health care, government or insurance companies, the person who is blaming insurance companies will win. Uh oh — Obama just opened a door for McCain by mentioning Delaware and credit cards.
9:59 How will the US act as a peacemaker given economic constraints?
McCain: strong military, strong economy. Criticism of America’s foreign policy is justified, but America just rocks and don’t you forget it. Question of when to go to war can only be answered by someone who has experience making bad decisions on Iraq. Okay, he really didn’t say that, but it sure sounds like it.
Obama: I don’t understand how we invaded a country that had nothing to do with 9/11 while igoring Osama. Don’t understand how McCain could have supported Iraq. Iraq has put a huge strain on our budget. Just happens that we’ve spent $700 billion so far. We need that money here in the United States.
I agree with McCain alert — we are the greatest force for good in the world. But there’s never been a country in the world that has seen its economy decline and maintained its military might. We don’t have the resources or allies to do what we need to do, but only if we change the McCain-Bush foreign policy.