Debate III

Getting ready for the last debate. Watching Section 60, HBO's special on the section of Arlington National Cemetery for Iraq and Afghanistan vets. With all the focus having shifted from Iraq to the economy, the show gave me a little different perspective on the relative importance of the issues. Hey, a lot of people just lost some money, some lost their jobs. Oh no for them!

Before we start this, I know I missed the second debate. Pretty much nothing important was said. And people only remember the beginning and ending of things; the first and last debates are the ones that matter. This is the last debate, the last chance McCain make up a now sizable deficit.

And we begin the LIVE BLOG!

Why can't each guy just get a minute or two for an opening statement? They do it anyway during the first question.

McCain: buying back failed mortgages will be his first priority. McCain want a welfare state where people who can't magage their finances get bailed out by everyone else.

Schieffer: Would you like to ask [Obama] a question? McCain: No. I'd rather just attack him and not give him an opening to respond.

Obama: He's been watching some of McCain's ads. Zing! But seriously, I'm only raising taxes on people making lots of money, because the rich are greedy evil bastards.

Why all this referencing to Joe the Plumber? I didn't see him up there with Goldman Sacs, Citigroup, JP Morgan Chase, Merril Lynch, and Morgan Stanley. How's he getting all this free publicity?

Won't some spending have to be cut with $750 billion bailing out Wall Street? -
Obama: I will change some spending to other spending.
McCain: I will build the economy. Nuclear Power! Spending freeze! I oppose subsidies for ethanol. Wow. A specific answer. And one I agree with. That came out of nowhere. I was not expecting that this early.

McCain: "If you want to run against President Bush, you should have run four years ago." The line of the night. Perfectly played, Senator.

Obama goes back to tying McCain to Bush. You can't do that now. McCain shut that down. You've got to adjust, find a new talking point.

Schieffer: Are either of you man enough to own up to your attack adds and repeat your claims to your candidate's face? Good question.

McCain: Gets defensive, demands apology.

Obama: I also am a coward.

McCain: Brings up Ayers. And ACORN. Really doesn't score any points with it.

Schieffer: Give some ups for your running mate.

Obama: By the way, Biden is pretty blue collar.

McCain: Defending Palin. Straight face so far. She's a maverick. And she has a retard baby.

Schieffer: How much will you reduce foreign oil. Give a specific number.

McCain: We can reduce buying oil from Venezuela by spending more on Canadian oil.

Obama: I also will not answer the question.

Schieffer: Health Care!

Obama: Let people buy into same health care plan as federal employees.

McCain: Follow example of the Veterens' Hospital. He lost me there.

Obama's plan sounds like it would work fine. It might be expensive to taxpayers, but it would work.

McCain: Obama and those Democrats in Congress! (preview of next post)

Schieffer: Nominate judges supporting Roe v. Wade?

McCain: I'd rather not answer. Interesting.

Obama: I will uphold Roe V. Wade.

McCain: I don't know how you vote 'present' on a bill regarding abortion. I usually just am not present.

Schieffer: US Education sucks. Discuss.

Obama: Early childhood is important because our parents are horrible. $4000 credit for service. Sounds good.

McCain: Public schools suck. Let's stop funding them.

Closing Statements!

McCain: I am a Mavrik! You can trust me. I've served my country my entire life. I've never held a real job.

Obama: Bush sucks. McCain is old.

Tom Brokow: The real winner tonight: Joe Wurzelbacher, Plumber, of Toledo Ohio. Let's give him another mention.

Coming up on NBC: people who should have been the VP nominees, Hillary Clinton and Mitt Romney.

Romney: I may seem to be in denial, but I really am just a tool of my party.

Clinton: I think Obama will actually win so I'd better support him.

Fact Check: McCain has only aired 70% negative ads. Focused primarily on swing states.

The real loser: Every network, for buying into the false assumption that Obama and McCain are the only possible choices. Heck, I can't even constitutionally be President, but technically I am still a choice.

Debate I and a half

It's time for the Veep debates. I, like most of you, will be watching it as one watches NASCAR, hoping to see some crashes, maybe getting to see someone get seriously hurt. *Darn it, everyone else is using the same Nascar metaphor. I thought I was clever.*

Palin says she is part of a team of mavericks. Sarah Palin is not a maverick.

Palin says the economic crisis is not our fault. Yes it is! Why is a crackpot like me the only one with the balls to call America out?

Palin: "I may not answer the questions the way you might like to hear." - I won't actually be answering your questions.

Biden is on the attack early. What's the difference between Biden and a pit bull? One eats its own poop. And is a dog.

Does anyone think Palin's voice is getting annoying? You're darn right.

Biden: I agree with the Governor. The Dems are making an effort to say they agree. Also I think the decision to only refer to Palin as "The Governor" was a good call.

Palin: "A toxic mess on main street that is affecting Wall Street." Perhaps she does have the balls to call out America. Or maybe she doesn't know the words that she is saying.

Ifill transitions from energy to climate. Watch out for her.

Biden: John McCain may be for everything as long as its left up for the free market to take care of it. -What the hell is wrong with that opinion?

Palin: I have gay friends. I'm tolerant!

Biden: Chickens out on redefining marriage.

Palin: "Your plan [for Iraq] is a white flag of surrender." -Wow, when she wants to attack, she doesn't bother with rational debate.

Biden: But enough about what we plan to do, John McCain is wrong. -His debate tactic is starting to get old. If you want me to vote for you, tell me why I should vote for you.

Palin: "I'm so glad to hear that we both love Israel." -What's up with the love-fest for Israel? Do we owe them something? Are the Jews the puppeteer masters of all our politicians? I will stop talking now.

Biden: "I gave the president the power [to go to Iraq] not to go to Iraq... -Still in denial [or was and possibly still is complicit].

Palin: John McCain, who knows how to win a war [or get shot down and taken prisoner for 5.5 years].

Biden: This is the most important election any of you will ever vote in. -I guess I don't need to vote on anything after this one.

Palin: "I think we need a bit of reality [and meth production] from Wasilla in Washington."

Biden: Hey, I'm blue coller too.

Palin: Say it ain't so Joe. Now dog gone it, you mentioned the Bush administration. Talking about the past. That's not the folksy way to do things.

Did Palin say our education is too blass? Did she mean blase?

Palin: "My experience as executive..." You know, Palin is the only one of the four that has any executive experience. Think about that while you are trying to sleep tonight.

Biden: "I led the fight against Bork..." Never mind referencing Bush, but Bork? Not going for the youth vote there, are you Joe?

Note to Palin: Increasing the deficit is not decreasing spending.

Palin: I like talking to America without the filter of [not having the time to better memorize talking points].

Ifill hurt her ankle preparing for this debate? I guess you don't have to watch out for her.

Chuck Todd (NBC) Those watching to see a car wreck were disappointed. -Yep. Neither did too much to hurt [or help] their campaign.

Geraldine Ferraro: Palin did not do anything that would end up on another SNL sketch. And so everyone wins! Because women weren't shown to be intrinsically stupid.

Jon Stewart: "If Bronson Pinchot can do that [lear trapeze in a month] Palin won [will win/will have won] the debate].