A historic night: The first presidential debate of 2008
Scroll down for updates and liveblogging…Obama hammers Bush-McCain theme, McCain emphasizes — sigh — fighting against “climate change…with Sen. Clinton”…McCain hits his stride on the war, foreign policy, Obama’s no-preconditions bungle…Gaffe of the debate so far: Obama trying to respond to McCain on his military/moral authority: “I’ve got a bracelet, too!”
What a week, huh? The high-stakes presidential debate at Ole Miss starts at 9pm Eastern. Hang out here and share your thoughts. I’ll liveblog for as long as my stomach can take it.
Expectations: Low.
Ole Miss has a debate site here.
The moderator will be PBS anchor Jim Lehrer. The debate format:
– Each debate will have a single moderator and last for 90 minutes…
– During the first and third presidential debates, and the vice presidential debate, the time will be divided into eight, ten-minute segments. The moderator will introduce each segment with an issue on which each candidate will comment, after which the moderator will facilitate further discussion of the issue, including direct exchange between the candidates for the balance of that segment…
– Time at the end of the final presidential debate will be reserved for closing statements.
***
A reader proposes the first drinking game suggestion:
Michelle, how about a college-style drinking game tonight – where everyone takes a drink whenever Obama says “Bush” – in his laughably ridiculous ongoing effort to link McCain to Bush.
If you’re looking to get inebriated quickly, start drinking every time Obama says “Uh.”
Or every time McCain touts bipartisanship.
***
9:08pm Eastern.
First question on the need for solvency and security: Where do you stand on the economic recovery plan?
Obama: He’s reciting his bailout talking points…Oversight, returns to taxpayers, no CEO golden parachutes, help homeowners. Failed economic policies by George Bush supported by McCain.
McCain-Bush! Take your first swig, people.
McCain: Mentions Ted Kennedy being hospitalized. I’m not feeling too great about things tonight, but tonight I’m feeling a little better…touts bipartisan efforts to forge a bailout deal…Republicans and Democrats sitting down and negotiating.
Bipartisanship! Take another swig, people.
More McCain: This is the end of the beginning of the crisis. We’ve got a lot of work to do. Eliminate dependence on foreign oil.
Lehrer: Do you favor the plan, Sen. Obama?
Obama: We haven’t seen the language yet. There is constructive work being done there.
The question is how did we get here? Obama takes credit for warning about the problem.
McCain: Reminds that he warned about it, too. Says he will vote for the bailout. I’ve been heavily criticized for calling for the resignation of the SEC chairman.
He’s going on an anti-greed screed.
Obama: Attacking McCain for claiming the fundamentals of the economy are sound. Lehrer tries to get them to talk to each other directly. They won’t.
I agree with a commenter below. Obama is wearing too much make-up.
9:19pm Eastern.
Still on the economy.
McCain: We need to control spending. He’s talking about earmarks as a gateway drug. Refers to his friend Tom Coburn (also cited as a friend of Barack Obama). Obama has asked for $932 million in earmarks. Points viewers to Citizens Against Government Waste for documentation. That’s one of the fundamental differences between Obama and me.
Obama: Earmarks account for $18 billion in the budget. McCain wants $300 billion in tax cuts to wealthiest corporations and individuals.
McCain-Bush, McCain-Bush!
Bottoms up. Take another gulp.
McCain goes after Obama for $800 billion he supports in new spending. Obama says he’ll close corporate loopholes. Expand health care.
9:25pm Eastern. McCain is defending his business tax proposals. He really should challenge Obama on the Bush talking point.
Side note: Obama’s got a shiny flag lapel pin.
9:34pm Eastern. Sorry, tuned out for a moment there while Obama was burbling about building broadband lines.
McCain turns to defense spending. He’s recounting all his pork barrel fights.
I wonder if this debate will ever get to the stated focus: Foreign policy.
9:36pm Eastern. Another “Bush’s failed policies” line from Obama. What’s that now? 10?
Lehrer keeps hectoring the candidates to answer his question about how the financial crisis would change how they govern.
McCain says he’d call for a spending freeze on everything except defense and entitlements.
Obama’s babbling about something or other.
McCain goes after Obama on nuclear power, dependence on foreign oil…and CLIMATE CHANGE, “an issue I’ve been involved in for many years along with Sen. Clinton.”
Gag.
9:42pm Eastern. McCain is repeating his lines about cutting spending. Okay, I think he’s got his message across on that.
Obama: Bush-McCain! Bush-McCain!
McCain: Repeats his “I was not elected Miss Congeniality…I’m a maverick and so’s my running mate.”
Lehrer moves to the war. What are the lessons of Iraq?
McCain talks strategy, surge, praises Petraeus, we will come home in victory.
Obama pats himself on the back for opposing the Iraqi invasion, rattles off body count, claims al Qaeda is resurgent, complains about military spending.
9:48pm Eastern. McCain does well, finally, in attacking Obama on his surge flip-flops and not visiting the battlefront.
Obama’s answer: “I’m proud of my vice presidential pick.”
Joe Biden: Obama’s human shield!
McCain says “Obama doesn’t know the difference between a tactic and a strategy.” McCain recounts his visit to Baghdad two Fourth of Julys ago and how troops told him, “Let us win.” McCain gives a counterinsurgency 101 lesson. McCain points out Obama voted to cut off funds for the troops.
Very good fusillade from McCain.
Obama getting antsy.
McCain engages Obama on setting specific dates for withdrawal.
9:55pm Eastern. Lehrer turns to Afghanistan. Do we need more troops?
Obama: “Yes. I’ve said that for over a year now.”
9:58pm Eastern. McCain is “not prepared to threaten Pakistan as Obama said he would do…You don’t say that out loud…I’ve been to Waziristan…need a strategy…”
Sidenote: Email from reader Rich…
MM,
Overall so far…McCain is not quick enough on the uptake. Obama is more focused and clearly more prepared with the details and populist counter-arguments. McCain needs to respond quickly from two perspectives….1) What he would do moving forward, and 2) What he has done over the last 25+ years, esp bipartisan efforts.
Q1: Why did McCain say he has “spoken out” about Fannie and Freddie instead of talking about his introduction of legislation in 2003 to provide further regulation/oversight of F & F.
Q2: Obama immed answers a question of what he plans to cut during this financial crisis with a laundry list of his proposals for new spending programs. McCain misses an easy opening to say just that…”Obama was asked what he would cut and answered how he would spend”.
More later..
Rich
USMC (Retired)
Obama comes back at McCain for singing “Bomb, bomb, Iran.”
McCain returns fire with his record on Lebanon, Somalia, Kosovo. “I have a record of being involved in these national security issues which involve the highest responsibilities you can have…”
McCain recounts his Matthew Stanley bracelet story. Talks about troops, families, refusing to come back with defeat and dishonor.
Obama: I’ve got a bracelet, too!
He has to look at it…uhhh…to remember whose bracelet it is.
10:06pm Eastern. Obama attacks McCain on Afghanistan. McCain responds: “You would think if he were so concerned, he would have gone to Afghanistan.”
McCain wants a “League of Democracies.”
10:14pm Eastern. McCain takes a dig at Obama’s presidential seal…”I don’t have a seal yet”…
should have probably explained the joke a little…
10:15pm Eastern. McCain attacks Obama’s pledge to meet tyrants without preconditions.
Obama blusters on his preconditions/preparations line.
10:18pm Eastern. McCain is strong on North Korea.
Obama cites Kissinger.
McCain comes back: He’s known Kissinger for 30 years. Obama is parsing words.
10:26pm Eastern. McCain sounds forceful on Russia/Georgia. Obama follows up meekly.
10:30pm Eastern. Last question. What’s the likelihood of another 9/11?
McCain: Less than it once was. Recounts teaming up with Joe Lieberman on formation of a 9/11 investigation commission…Bush opposed us…we reached across the aisle…long way to go on intelligence services…trained interrogators so we don’t ever torutre another prisoner ever again…America is safer today than it was on 9/11, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a long way to go…he really should tie the war on terror overseas — not just in Iraq, but worldwide — to homeland security…and what about border security…
Stop. Oh, my god, he just mentioned doing a better job on our borders.
Knock me over with a feather.
Obama: He’s talking missile defense. al Qaeda in 60 countries.
McCain should have covered that.
10:34pm Eastern. Obama credits McCain on the torture issue and then gives us his Big Idea for making America safer? “Restoring our standing in the world!” Making us more “respected!”
McCain: Obama doesn’t get it. If we fail in Iraq…it would lead to defeat…Americans will judge…right path or wrong path…this is the central issue of our time.
10:40pm Eastern. Wrapping up.
McCain: “I don’t need any on-the-job training. I’m ready to lead now.”
Obama is talking about his name. Filibustering about “investing,” “The Children,” etc.
McCain gets the last word: “I know how to heal the wounds of the war, I know how to deal.”
See what others have said
Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.
Trackbacks
- Presidental Debate, Round One- Maverick vs. Mushmouth? « Above My Pay Grade!
- La Shawn Barber's Corner
- Jules Crittenden » Debate
- PrestoPundit
- Live Blogging The Debate | The Daily Conservative
- McCain Rapid Response Debate Ad - Obama Not Ready To Lead | BigMouthFrog
- Democrat=Socialist
- Presidential Debate Liveblog! « WitSnapper | The Blog
- Michelle Malkin » Debate video: Obama can’t remember the soldier’s name on his bracelet
- Michelle Malkin » Debate video: Obama can’t remember the soldier’s name on his bracelet
- MishMashZone » Debate, Who Won?
- Nicholas Fitzgerald » The Debate Debate
- First Presidential Debate. « The Pink Elephant
- The Presidential Debate « Tai-Chi Policy
- Obama, “Hate Bush, Kill Bin Laden!” « Riggword Weblog
- ¿Quién ganó el debate?
- The Kissinger Factor « Memoirs From a Young Conservative
- Election 2008–Presidential Debate I Recap | THE TYGRRRR EXPRESS
- Presidential debate drinking game. | I'm Surrounded By Idiots
- The College Politico » Blog Archive » The Debate… Who cares?
- Full Video & Transcript Of The First Presidential Debate - 26 Sept 2008 | BigMouthFrog
- Kick the Anthill
- The Irascible Chef
- Michelle Malkin » McCain will support earmark-stuffed Senate Crap Sandwich; Obama: Me, too!
- McCain will lose the support of his base if he votes for this bill. | LOUNGE DADDY
- Defeat the Cram Down Bullsh*t Bailout Bill: Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 « Pronk Palisades
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Categories: Barack Obama, John McCain
Power Line
» More From the East Anglia Archives
Doug Ross @ Journal
» ACORN pwnage part II: Breitbart's BigGovt Lowers the BoomBig Government
» BREAKING: San Diego ACORN Document Dump ScandalVillainous Company
» Amateur Hour in the Oval Office Continues....Nice Deb
» OGreen Room
» Times Slimes Obamic ClimesLegal Insurrection
» Nation Mag Outs Secret U.S. Anti-Terror Program
WHAT?????? Yes dear Im coming……..
NOooooOOOOOOO!!!! Im not blogging again…….
I SWEAR!!!!
I SAID IM COMING!!!!! ITS OFF!!!!!!!!
(Gotta go everyone… Night!!!!)
IM COMINGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!! (jeez……)
You might want to get some smarter friends too.
Moseyed over to the NYT and Boston.com to post some comments.
They were short, polite and to the point.
And pro-McCain.
Just went back to check on any responses….and they have all been deleted.
Why are these people so easily threatened?
So very sad.
Not a surprise to me when it comes to national security Obama doesn’t stand a chance against McCain. But I was disappointed that McCain didn’t spell out the fact that Obama wants to double the capital gains tax…that would be a disaster- especially right now! Around 100 million americans own stock…this has got to get out there. WHY DIDN’T HE HIT HIM WITH THIS TONIGHT???
Edelweiss/Swiss Miss:
A few observations.
So, you went to boarding school in Switzerland. So what? I was also educated at a boarding school in Lausanne. Yes, I know the Nestle factory is in Vevey, home of the big yodeling festival. Who cares? What is your point? How is that relevant to any of the discussions here?
If you are indeed a medical student, I weep for your patients. Empathy is an important quality in the medical field. You should work on that.
As immature high schoolers, we used to lurk in the cafes and snicker at Americans who would arrive in waves during the summer and stumble through with their fractured French, with what we derided as a desperate attempt to appear sophisticated and worldly. Unlike you, however, I grew up and realized how childish this behavior was, and that maybe they were nice people who just wanted to practice a language they had endeavored to learn and were excited to practice, and we were the classless boors for our arrogance and mockery.
It was during my years in Switzerland that I grew to know and love Americans– I fell in love with their openness, their generosity, their can-do spirit and zest for life. One of my fondest memories is a group of New Yorkers who met us in a bookstore in town and needed directions and after chatting back and forth for a bit, insisted we join them on their ski trip to Kitzbuhel. I am still friends with those wonderful people, 30 years later.
When I was at school in Lausanne everything and anything American was all the rage. One of the cooler & wealthier guys even had his dad import a vintage Corvette for his 18th birthday present.
It was during my last year of school, that I came to the realization that the put-downs and snide remarks and put-on airs from the Europeans were a result of unbridled jealousy and envy.
So, please spare us all your little lectures about anything “Swiss”. Everytime you do so, you are just confirming for all of us your petty insecurities. Clearly, the standards for boarding schools have gone dramatically downhill, because in my time, good manners and etiquette were just as important to our studies as civics and math.
Our hostess and her guests here have been very gracious and accomodating to you. Please do all of us a favor and put that Swiss boarding school education to good use and reciprocate.
Merci!
McCain is the comfortable old shoe. People have too many unanswered questions about Obama to vote for him. Right now I’m saying 370 votes for McCain in the electoral college.
I’m always amazed at how many people are STILL undecided at this point.
McCain was the better debater tonight. Obama was flummoxed, flustered, frustrated, and irritated, not to mention totally on the defensive. McCain basically held no punches. Round 1 to McCain. Anxiously awaiting Biden-Palin this coming Thursday….
Fellow Malkinites, what we have here is the very personification of the difference between a lady and a female.
Nicely done, YTZGal. Nicely done.
Or as my elder daughter would say,
PWNED!
A few things people seem to have missed:
-Good performance by McCain after the first half-hour or so, but his brain was outrunning his mouth. For example, Ireland’s growth is the envy of the EU, and it’s based off a little bit of EU cash being dumped in, but mostly on the low tax rates Ireland has. In pretty short order, Ireland is being transformed from a very poor country to a rather well-off one. Mostly on the back of the sort of tax cuts McCain was putting forward.
But without explaining those facts to the American public, the mention of Ireland’s 11% business income tax doesn’t say much – it really is a brilliant, illustrative point. Especially counterpointing the economic problems most of continental Europe is mired in as they try to rationalize the shackles of socialism.
-Near the end, McCain turned the “McCain = Bush” garbage right back on Obama by comparing Obama’s inability to admit he was wrong on the surge to Bush’s inability to admit he was wrong. “The next administration needs flexibility”. That point/clip needs to be broadcast from the rooftops.
These guys are used to thinking about issues but they’re not used to explaining them well to the American people. I guess that’s what Rush is for.
Went to bed after the debates and slept restlessly interrupted by a series of nightmares. Is this all we have for our country. I won’t pile on Obie, since his inability to lead is well known, but Mick with his nebulous responses, his condescending attitude and his stubborn refusal to address Obie directly really knawed at me. He came across as smug… instead of teaching Obie, he refused to even acknowledge him. His behavior mimiced spouses in the midst of a nasty divorce, who “reply” to each other through their attorneys. C’mon Mick, take the high road, and please prepare for the debate. You could have spoken to many of Obie’s shortcomings, but you missed them, or let them slide. Depending on the election outcome we can look forward to eight years of dismal mediocrity, or a complete trashing of America. What a choice. Damn you all.
Me too.
If you are still undecided you are not paying attention.
#1400 I didn’t think McCain came off that way at all.It was Obama who was very rude through the whole debate,constantly interrupting and calling him John.I thought he acted like a smarmy school kid.
The pundits and talking heads are already saying Obama was the winner.
??????????????
0bama Missed it On China/Space
What a (literally) dumb man! Doesn’t 0bama know that the U.S., the nation that he claims to love so dearly, is 50 years ahead of China in space?! Why is he singing the praises of China on its space program? Doesn’t he even know that we have sent men to the moon and safely returned them to earth after their exploration there? Do you think he has a clue that we have sent multiple probes and vehicles to Mars and Saturn?! What a dumb (!) statement by a Marxist hanger-on! Is this what they don’t teach and what he failed to learn at Columbia and Harvard?! He doesn’t even know recent U.S. history!!!
res_judicata
Yeah. That was funny.
We need to improve education in America by paying for more people to go to college so China doesn’t beat us in the space race?
The problem with American education is that kids can’t pay for college? What about k-12 that isn’t getting them ready for college?
We are worried about China beating us in a space race using technology that we invented?
As you say…dumb.
Obama seemed snoooty to me.
Did any one notice the hate-filled look on obummers face as he drank from his cup? It appeared he was attempting to hide behind the cup, but looked straight at John with daggers! I would like to see a still photo of that one!
If he had fallen off stage and McCain had yanked him back up with a wedgie they would be saying the same thing. It’s full-on Obama worship. We’re screwed.
I watched as much of this political kabuki theater as I could.
But while this was on:
Congress passed a massive defense appropriation bill.
Congress also moved forward on the Bailout. They say they’ll have it done before or by Monday.
So while the giggling and the drinking games were going on the American public got sold to the bankers.
Just thought y’all might want to know.
OBAMA’s commercials should end with
“….. and I uh uh uh uhprove this message.”
Kissinger on Fox news just validated what McCain said – and that what BHO said about him was FALSE.
Was BHO lying or just misinformed? – WHO CARES!
wow….over 1400 comments….thats what I get for sleeping late on Saturday….
Yep McCain came out on top with this one folks. Obama looked somewhat confused and upset at the same time. Kind of funny to watch really.
Add in the extra bonus of Ole Miss taking out #4 Florida in college football today and things may turn out alright after all.
Slightly O/T, re the commenter saying we should focus on the House and Senate, check out Deborah Honeycutt, M.D. Poised to become the first black Republican Congresswoman. Although I don’t live in her state, I have contributed to her campaign twice.
Oh bless you, my dear. I feel the same way when I see Canadians on boards tell American’s how they are the “nice ones” and not “warmongers” ect.
They aren’t nice, and they aren’t nearly as “special” as they think, so as a now naturalized American, I can fully understand your view.
This lecture to a prissy and priggish woman was overdue and beautifully done.
Bravo!
I agree with you big time there farmgal. Another thing I noticed is when McCain was giving a reply they would split screen with Obama. When he was giving a reply (Obama)they rarely showed McCain.
Obama was sighing and making childish faces when McCain tweaked him and to me it just shows how immature Obama really is and unfit to be in charge of even a cub scout meeting.
Den mothers doth protest!
I’m watching Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace.
In two words, here’s why McCain will probably lose the election:
Lindsay Graham.
Obama sends in spokesmen & women with strong voices (lying lawyers, most of them).
McCain sends in Graham.
He appears weak, he appears tired all the time, he can’t argue and cannot stand up to lies that are being handed to him on a silver platter.
It makes me very sad.
I couldn’t agree with you more about Graham, who can’t help but come across as ineffectual against the Obama attack dogs, but I disagree with your first point about President McCain, simply because Obama is a catsatrophe in the making and, deep down, Americans know it; our security is at the crossroads in the war on terror, we can either continue in victory or yank defeat out of the fire, and we’re too economically unstable for a President Obama.