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
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Trackbacks
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- Presidential Debate Liveblog! « WitSnapper | The Blog
- Michelle Malkin » Debate video: Obama can’t remember the soldier’s name on his bracelet
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I won’t specifically state that I am going to attack Pakistan. No, no smart presidential candidate would.
What is this Poc-i-stan?
Afghanis aren’t Arabs. Iranians aren’t Arabs. Turks
aren’t Arabs.
I really wish McCain would ask BO how he can do anything at all after the spending cuts to the military that he plans. IDIOT. Never gets old.
I almost didn’t watch the debate, but this is true entertainment watching Obama getting creamed by McCain. Obama is babbling, but McCain’s answers are so full of facts and knowledge. McCain is the clear winner tonight.
HE did too talk about attacking Pakistan and there is tape, there is video, there is sound. LYING I remember what happened right after he made that remark was circulating in the news cycle.
Obama is losing it. lol
Odumbo has no substance. Coming off very green…
I agree. Obama looks like a 3rd grader playing football against varsity.
I’m in Texas. Everything comes back to football this time of year.
ADD – Obama
POkistan??
You don’t cross an Allie’s border to conduct a bombing strike. It’s just not done. What an idiot.
My husband is mumbling and is trying not to listen, but can’t help himself.
Obama brings up the Bomb Iran song..haha, Obambi is a joke, he is stuttering stammering…If you point a gun you better be ready to pull the trigger is a great line.
Do you people really think that one of these guys is coming across better than the other one? Really?
Pock-i-stann? Where is this Pock-i-stann?
Sure we coddled Mushariff – he had nukes!
NavyWife:
My husband doesn’t want as a boss either. He just yelled at the screen:
YOU’RE AN IDIOT !! LOL
Alle’sfriend’sThe dictator stepped down!! Diabolical!
A 20 century mindset? As opposed to a 7th century mindset I guess.
Oh, this pinhead just gave McCain “permission” to disagree with him. How arrogant can you get.
Then he just gets petty and mentions the whole bomb bomb Iran song thing. C’mon. Grow Up!
Oh, we alienated the Pakistani people. I guess we need more social workers stat!
hell, I have POCK-istani colleagues who don’t pronounce it that way.
I noticed the same thing…
“I don’t think Obama understands….”
There’s the money quote.
I’ve been saying that all night
Skool him John, Failed state yeah there was some kind of Civil War that went on for how many years in Afghanistan.
Obama .”.we can’t just be on the defensive and absorb and absorb those blows” Guess he doesn’t know much about our special ops.
What Would Reagan Do?
The only thing my husband thinks is good about Obama is that he speaks well. Meaning he “sounds” good. Not substance-wise, just tone. That’s about it.
I don’t think he speaks well at all, although he’s great for insomniacs.
It is a speaking tool when you call the other person John like Obama it is supposed to show he is personable. But it isn’t working for him tonight.
Oh God, not the bracelet.
Gently laugh and say, “There you go again!”
McCain is much more fluid about foreign affairs. Obummer is not. When Obummer can’t stutter out an explanation, he goes for the petty card. He can’t help it… he’s a political engenue!
Reagan is probably wishing he was in a cowboy movie and could rope and hogtie Obama.
But his tone is not good tonight, BAL. He sounds like a little kid.
Wow for a second there I thought McCain was looking at his watch
now injecting grapes with tater squeezins. want some?
This debate reminds me of Dole vs Clinton.
What part of TX Stacy H? Southwest Tarrant County here.
John McCain can speak and make sense. All BO can say is “When I become
President.”
Ladies and gents,
My husband isn’t even watching it. He doing some work around the house but when he comes by the tv, it’s all Obama is such a liar, etc.
McCain is on a roll. core beliefs revealed.. ::swig::
A moron stated at work today that it is “over for him (McCain). I can’t wait to watch the debate tonight!! It’s OVA!” … I really really REALLY hope she is watching.
” Obama looks like a 3rd grader playing football against varsity”
Funny you should mention that…when I saw Obama sitting at the table with President Bush and everyone yesterday, it reminded me of the smart kid that attends the school board meetings so “the kids” are represented! LOL
Wow, let’s compare jewelry
From Sgt. uh…. well uhhhh…
hahaha
Obama is a “high functioning moron”.
I think that McCain is appearing calm deliberately to show how agitated Obamadrama can get.
Contrast folks.
Obama had to look at his arm to get the name right.
O looks like he’s lost and angry…..I wish McCain would look at his when he hits him with a statement…
I’m not complaining about the bracelet story, just as long as he stops calling us “my friends”
OMG is he kidding?? I have a bracelet too???? IDIOT! Still following McCain’s lead.
Hey John … we didn’t come home in defeat … we had won … but the Dems pulled the funds to finish the job … MISSED OPPORTUNITY …
Braclet wars!! Good God!!
Hey Stacy H….Kaufman County here
This is a
prettyvery weak comment but my emotions are involved so forgive me… McCain’s just slappin’ the begeeezus outta The One! I’m a happy camper tonight!They will have died in vein if you surrender!!!!!!!!
I really don’t like this guy!
Obama doesn’t even know the name on a bracelet on his arm! Had to look.
Can’t believe O had the name of the person who gave him the bracelet written down. Lame.
Oh, Obummer got a bracelet. Did he have to look up this poor soldier’s name?
Pathetic POS. What a fake he is. He knows nothing about the military. Nothing.
I’ve got a bracelet too. Extra tickets at Chuck-e-cheese…
Now that’s helping Michelle’s kids
put your frigging hand down, you disrespectful slob.
McCain just gave me chills.
I’VE GOT A BRACELET TOO NYAH
I have a bracelet too!
It’s a friendship bracelet thast Hugo Chavez gave me!
Obama can’t even give our troops a compliment without stumbling. It comes from the heart, dude. I guess you’d have to have one.
Translation: my sob story is better than yours!
Good grief.
*Obama jumping up and down*
I HAVE ONE TOO! I HAVE ONE TOO!!
What the hell is Obama talking about.
Obama, I think we could just appease, and acquiesce to their demands?
I want a President that doesn’t wear bracelets. Is that too much to ask??
It’s blatantly obvious that Obama is winning this debate by a very large margin. Whatever you’re opinion on either candidate, Obama is by far the better debater.
They’re still sending out videotapes! ooohhhhh…. he is such an IDIOT!!! How about that there have been no attacks on our soil for 7 years????? IDIOT!!!!!!
He either believes that 4000 troop deaths were wasted deaths, or he believes that no military death is in vain. Which is it?
He’ll get tired of talking out of both sides of his mouth, he’ll start talking out of both sides of his ass (if he hasn’t already).
BO’s gotta tell his stories now. Husband is blowing
raspberries at BO. I think the dogs are wanting to
go outside so much tonight to get away from the
sound of BO’s voice. He is trying to castigate McCain?
The way he says Tally Bon!!!!
good one john
Is it just me, or with the cut-away, does Obama look like he is sneering at McCain?
Can’t wait to get in “his” bracelet story too? What a jerk.
BAM!
Obama went there once. Once.
Obama still didn’t go to Afghanistan. Ha!
Afghanistan is the center of the fight but it wasn’t it was Iraq. That is where the fight was not where it started where it was raging. Just Like Osama Bid Laden told everyone.
LOL!!!! Sub-commitee chair…we take up the issues of my sub-committee…
Barry never called a meeting…LMAO!!!
That’s twice he’s smacked him with that
Slam!!! McCain’s committees talk about what they’re supposed to. Obama takes a direct hit.
McCain is getting angry. He has to rail that in. Even when it is in response to Obama talking about military deaths when he knows NOTHING about that sort of thing.
_ USAF brat speaking.
he always does that ytz
OMU, get sober, then come join the party.
Dude, the Duke, John Wayne, wore one for a NAM POW. If he can, McCain can.
BHO Eye twitch… Mc Cain is getting BHO’s gall
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH “you would have thought Sen. Obama would have gone to Afghanistan.”
suh-NAP
“Senator Obama doesn’t understand….”
OMG…the enemy is still sending out videos! This guy might be the next president? I almost wet my pants when I heard him say that.
Can you believe there are people who believe the O is winning?
Is anyone getting tired of Obummer saying that we’re not refocused on Afghanistan. It makes me sick.
# 758 pm, BayStateRepublican said:
I’ve got a bracelet too. Extra tickets at Chuck-e-cheese…
LOL – i wish i could think that quick & be so funny. i just threw away Chuck-e-Cheese tickets today…
love it!
ObaMessiah is clearly outclassed. McCain is taking him to the foreign policy/military woodshed.
Another “barely functiong moron”?
Heavy reality time, Iran.
Omu = Lgm
The Iranian government is lousy? I wonder what thats like.
Whistling past the graveyard…
skysoljr82
Don’t waste your time.