Liveblogging the town hall debate: Zzzzzzzz
I don’t have any prizes to give away, but you get Special MM.com Bonus Points if your insipid question suggestion gets asked tonight.
As for drinking game proposals, I recommend taking a swig every time Tom Brokaw inserts his two cents after the citizens ask their questions. Apparently, the two campaigns agreed that he wouldn’t be allowed to do so — but he has since balked and said he wasn’t privy to the memorandum of understanding.
Second drinking game variation: Drink when Obama ties Bush to McCain again.
Here we go…
9:01pm Eastern. Tom Brokaw is on. He is as orange as an Oompa Loompa. Sen. Obama won the coin toss.
First question: Alan Schaefer. “What’s the fastest way to bail these people out?”
Obama gives his standard blame Bush, blame greed screed.
Expands bailout for the middle-class, fix health care, energy, blahblahblah.
Sen. McCain: “Americans are angry, upset, a little fearful…I have a plan to fix this problem. It’s got to do with energy independence, keep Americans’ taxes low…packages of reforms.”
Will he or won’t he talk Fannie/Freddie?
Prepare to be disappointed.
“We’re going to have to do something about home values…for retirees…I would order Treasury Secretary to renegotiate home loans.”
Oh, dear.
HE WANTS TO EXPAND THE BAILOUT. He wants to do what ACORN wants to do.
We’re Screwed ‘08.
He wants to make housing unaffordable to responsible, careful people.
I think I’m going to throw up.
What did I tell you? Yes, I called it:
It would be wise to dramatically lower your expectations of this debate. The town hall format lends itself to the worst pander-style, personal sob story politicking.
McCain is yammering about “greed and excess.” Nothing about Obama/Fannie/Freddie.
9:10pm Eastern. Obama is free to bloviate about his bogus tax relief plans Obama says “McCain is right” again about the housing loan modification proposals. Great. They agree: ACORN rules!
Next questioner: Oliver Clark asks the same question about how the bailout is helping people out.
Here we go: McCain mentions Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Mentions that Obama was second biggest recipient of Fannie/Freddie. Fannie and Freddie were the match that started this forest fire.
Goes back to his “stabilization” proposals.
Sorry, Mac, that’s not enough. He forgot to mention Jim Johnson, ACORN, etc., etc.
Obama attacks McCain as a “deregulator.” Obama puffs up his letter-writing “reform” efforts. Weak. “I never promoted Fannie Mae.”
McCain gets no follow-up.
Brokaw inserts his two cents. Take a swig. “Are you saying the economy is going to get much worse?”
Obama: “We’re going to have to coordinate with other countries” on further action.
CRIKEY.
Same question to McCain: “I believe it depends on what we’re going to do.”
He REPEATS his idea of buying up bad loans so people can renegotiate.
Next question: Teresa Finch. “How can we trust either of you when both parties are responsible” for this mess?
Take another drink. Obama’s just blamed Bush again.
9:21pm Eastern. McCain’s answer involves touting his work on “climate change” with Joe Lieberman.
Gag.
Next drinking game: When McCain says “reaching across the aisle.” Go. He’s saying a whole lot of nothing.
And another one: Take a swig every time he repeats Joe Lieberman’s name.
He keeps talking about earmarks — but, um, not about the ones he and Obama approved as part of the Crap Sandwich 2.0.
Obama’s talking about prioritizing spending. Blech.
Brokaw chastises both candidates about their time limits.
First Internet question: What sacrifices will Americans have to make?
McCain talks about eliminating government programs.
“We have to eliminate the earmarks.”
Except all the ones he just supported in the Crap Sandwich bailout!
9:30pm Eastern. Obama’s turn. He brings up 9/11. As a “tragedy.” Not as a murderous, evil attack by jihadists. But a tragedy.
I remind you of Obama’s compassion for the jihadists.
Drink up. He took another shot at Bush for telling people to shop and conduct business in the face of the 9/11 attacks.
Leadership from Obama: He recommends people weatherize their home.
No word about those tire gauges.
Brokaw: How would you break bad habits of too much debt and too much easy credit?
Obama: Yes, we’ll have to cut spending, but a scalpel, not a hatchet.
McCain: “Nailing down Obama’s tax proposals is like nailing Jello to a wall…likens Obama to Hoover…I am not in favor of reducing taxes for the wealthy…pitches $5,000 refundable tax credit for health care…”
9:37pm Eastern. Obama wants to break the rules he agreed to and respond to McCain. Brokaw stammers. He’s going to read the next question…no, he’s going to ask his own question: Will you give a date certain on reforming entitlements.
Obama won’t guarantee a date. Then segues back to his rejoinder to McCain on taxes. More anti-greed stuff from both candidates.
Back to citizen questions: Ingrid Jackson asks McCain about “climate change and green jobs.”
Prepare for more disappointment, people.
Drink, drink: “Joe Lieberman and I” kept on this issue.
At last, something I can support: McCain pushes nuclear energy, assails Obama for his opposition.
9:47pm Eastern. Brokaw is lecturing the candidates again about the time limits. Obama blames McCain.
9:48pm Eastern. McCain goes after Obama for his pork-laden energy bill vote. McCain says he’ll vote against the earmarks.
Except all the ones he just supported in the Crap Sandwich bailout!
Next question: Lindsey Trella. “Do you believe health care should be treated as commodity?”
Obama launches into his I Will Heal All stump speech.
McCain repeats his $5,000 tax credit idea. He made a hair transplant joke that no one laughed at. Cringe.
Brokaw question: Is health care a privilege, right, or responsibility?
McCain: “I think it’s a responsibility.”
Obama: “It’s a right.”
Well, finally, a stark, unequivocal difference between these two.
9:57pm Eastern. I feel like watching the Palin/Biden debate again. How about you?
Obama is rolling right over Brokaw. And Brokaw is letting him.
Question: Phil Elliott. “How will all the economic turmoil affect our ability to act as a peacemaker in the world?”
I am so sure this dude is “undecided.”
10:01pm Eastern. McCain lays into Obama’s failed judgement on foreign policy. “We don’t have time for on-the-job training, my friend.”
Obama is back to Bush-bashing. Drink. Now, we’re just rehashing last week’s debate.
Worthless.
McCain-Bush, McCain-Bush.
Sarah Palin was so much more effective at defusing this talking point in her debate.
McCain is doing…nothing.
Except: “My friends, my friends, my friends, my friends.”
McCain says he’ll bring home troops in victory and honor, Obama would bring them home in defeat.
Citizen questioner Katie Hamm asks about Pakistan.
McCain attacks on Obama’s invade Pakistan remarks.
Obama wants a follow up, in violation of the prior agreed-to rules.
Brokaw gets rolled again: “I’m just hired help here.:”
Obama: “You’re doing a good job, Tom.”
In. The. Tank.
Obama recycles “Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran” and annihilation of North Korea talking points. Like I said: This is just a rehash of last week’s debate.
Next…
10:23pm Eastern. Brokaw wants a yes or no: Is Russia under Putin an evil empire.
Obama blabs for 45 seconds without a yes or no.
McCain: Maybe. It depends on their behavior.
Terry Shirey, retired Navy chief. Question is about support for Israel. Would you be willing to commit to troops if Iran attacks Israel or would you wait for UN Security Council?
McCain thanks Shirey for his service. “Obviously, we wouldn’t wait for UN Security Council.”
Obama promotes sanctions.
10:30pm Eastern. Brokaw saves the most insipid question of the night for last from “Peggy in Amherst:”
“What don’t you know and how will you learn it?”
Obama immediately launches into his Dreams of My Father biography spiel. Talking up his mom again. Food stamps. Mentions Bitter Half Michelle Obama and the American Dream.
The stupid-meter is broken.
McCain ignores the question and gives his same wrap-up statement as last week: Country first.
10:34pm Eastern. Obama and McCain step in the way of Brokaw’s teleprompter.
One last whine from Tom: “You’re in the way of my script.”
Crikey. Thank goodness, this torture is now over.
11:16pm Eastern. I’m forcing myself to watch some of the post-debate commentary.
Disaster: Mitt Romney apparently wasn’t made aware of McCain’s new $300 billion housing entitlement plan. And Fred Thompson could barely muster up enthusiasm for McCain.
No mention of Ayers. No mention of ACORN. Not even the feeblest attempt to expose Obama’s radical roots.
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Categories: Barack Obama, John McCain
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Obama has not lived long enough to know how to handle the unexpected. He can’t even answer an unexpected question.
Is it just me, or do they give the same answer to every question?
Why did McCain not hammer Obama on his criticism of attacking Iraq with an evil dictator who, at best, shut a blind eye to Al Queda, yet a minute later says we should attack Pakistan, an ally??? I would have been standing up and calling him completely insane and totally incompetent and a danger to this country on that call.
What an anti-climatic finish, that question must have been chosen to make sure if BO was flailing people would lose interest at the end.
An Obama voter.
Vasoline ‘08:
Cause you’re gettin screwed regardless.
Verdict: Boooooooooooring.
I made it all the way through! What do I win?
The debate was awful, but McCain’s closing was very good.
Hofstra in NY? Hmmm must be a new school
My verdict on McLame…. Lackluster!
If by some strange course of events he’s able to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, it will be entirely due to Sarah Palin!
Bomb… Bomb… Bomb…
Bomb… Bomb… THIS SHAM
This was sickening.
The answer is yes.
John McCain, you are no Ronald Reagan.
Man that was a slaughter.
Cindy as always, looks gorgeous and elegant.
Brokaw picked the questions out of the questions submitted. These were lame questions. I particulary found the question about Pakistan and then eluding to the Vietman War to be pretty stupid.
I wanted some zingers!!! No zingers!!!!
Rats!!
I haven’t gotten to that part yet, Stryker is having a flashback to the hospital.
BTW, it’s St. Arnold Texas Wheat here in Houston.
Score card:
McCain = a lukewarm 7.5
Obama = zero.
Just kidding. I think he got a 4.
I have never seen a politician throw away his chances for becoming President than I have with McCain. I am awed with incredulity.
I’d like to know when this is all over with as to who or what paid him to take a dive to get Obama in the White House.
On October 7th, 2008 at 10:33 pm, backwoods conservative said:
What kind of idiot chooses something like that for the last question?
Tom probably wanted a softball for that last question…
If this is McCain’s idea of ‘taking off the gloves’, we’re in deep doo-doo.
Patchthebun – I had no idea about the Fiarfax rally either. Neither did folks I work with. Can you imagine how huge it would have been if more people had known?
a Zen-like question sh*t new age poppy-cock
my granddad- Red Arrow Division WW1
father – USN south Pacific WW2
self – RVN 3 tours all voluntary
brothers USAF and USMC
we don’t need no stinkin’ Zen
I enjoyed the VP debate soooo much better.
jenmom:
Ain’t gonna happen. It’s scary but 50% of the people are gullible and care only about themselves. The other 50% really care about their country and working hard and want a fair shake. Not footing the bill for the lazy.
It’s a damn shame that’s for sure.
bo’s woman looks like such a………I can’t say it here.
don’t forget being a minority helps.
There were no moments- For either.
If i had to bet on outcomes i think BO next president and congress goes back to republican control. So, there might be some hope if congress refuses to let BO get his way.
Oh my. I thought they both were pretty cruddy tonight on this debate. But just wait – all the liberal sites will hail Obama as king and bow down to him and his amazing debate from tonight.
Oh I keep hoping for some miracle that McCain can win this.
If not, the next 4 yrs under Obama are going to be a nightmare.
Worst debate ever. A snowman question would have been a big improvement.
McCain won that one.
refill the Glenlivet
now we hear what we heard
from the talking heads
The last question – i finally understand Barack Obama, not from my own perception, but from his.
He has dreams – and they are the same as the dreams from his father.
Socialism!
That is, of course, if Sarah Palin doesn’t save it. (crossed fingers)
fox pundits agree.
McCan’t didn’t do it.
Either of these guys could win, but America still loses.
I am sick to my stomach. What a waste of time.
Niters
Well, if we are looking at a 50/50 split with this presidency, I guess voter fraud will pull the election over to Obama this year.
Obama failed to answer any question directly….. That law school served him well.
As some one posted on another blog…
Do we want 2 Lawyers in the White House?
or,
Do we want 2 hard working Americans?
McCain / Palin 2008
I would have to agree. McCain let a prime chance slip through his fingers. While he did point out some of Obama’s failing he didn’t hammer them home.
There is another one after this one the third and let it be the last.
Update
Candidates Spar on Economy in Town-Hall Debate
Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain at Tuesday’s debate in Nashville; APSen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama took questions from undecided voters in Tuesday night’s town hall-style presidential debate, the second of three before Nov. 4th’s election.
The economy topped the list of questions from the forum crowd, with both candidates clashing on the best solutions to the country’s economic crisis.
MP3: NewsHour analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks preview Tuesday’s debate and assess the stakes for both candidates.
Blog: Candidates to Answer to Undecided Voters in Town-Hall Style Debate
Watch live NewsHour coverage of Tuesday’s presidential debate starting at 9 p.m. ET on most PBS stations.
Cindy McCain is about a hundred times better choice for first lady than Michelle Obama.
Elect Barack and get Michelle decisions.
Elect McCain and get Cindy for national support.
I have to say, McCain did well, but I doubt most people sat through the whole thing. It was just to much ramble for regular folks.
I do NOT think one single penny should EVER be wasted on another “debate” between these two.
Use that money to help the taxpayers.
What a waste. Repeat and repeat.
Securitymom- I know! It makes me a bit more optimistic for Virginia. Its interesting how much more conservative people are down here in RIchmond compared to NoVA
Welp – I gotta go get approved for a mortgage so I can buy way more house I can afford and have McCain come bail me out.
Is Michelle O’s butt getting bigger?
Well, back to focusing on the Congressional races: the folks who will actually prevent much of the nonsense these guys said tonight.
Anyone else notice how immigration wasn’t ever a topic? The lady on Fox News now is talking about how McCain isn’t much of a “fiscal conservative”. Wow, they’re just now figuring this out?
THAT ONE
These questions were from undecided voters like my beer was randomly taken from the same six pack.
Billy Bubba with the big gut just had his picture taken with Big Ears.
I guess everyone thought one word: BORING.
They’re both worthless.
They really need to do this as an ad hoc town hall meeting. Anything goes…
That would be the one debate where we’d get the zingers.
McCain better work Sara 24/7 if he wants to win! Jeez, jeez, jeez–I am now going to get a drink!
Reaching across the isle? NOT! Nationalize mortgages? NOT! How in the hell did we ever get McCain into the leadership position? I still have to vote for Sara/McCain. Obama will destroy this country!
committed, what do you expect with the spawn of satan?
Sorry, couldn’t resist.
Both get a lukewarm 5.0 from me. It was an underwhelming, unenthusiastic, campaign talk fest. McCain didn’t attack or go after Obummer. Obummer was like, “look at me I’m new!” kind of thing.
It’s not looking good for McCain. He really doesn’t want this. He doesn’t want to win. I wasn’t impressed.
all the video is now big “O”
no bias on the camera crew
I’ve been drinking, and it ain’t helpin’.
Maybe McCain does not want to win anymore, i mean whoever gets the keys to the white house is in for a rough ride. Probably anyone is only going to do 4 years. He must have said, forget it, don’t want the job.
McCain just got his a$$ kicked. Obama just gave the performance of his life.
The Right better find that “whitey” tape. For next week’s debate, you better find Jerimiah Wright and bring him out strapped to a board, masked like Hannibal Lector. I think I might drop another donation. And what’s the last debate about, Economics and Domestic issues? Woohoo.
Seriously, if the Right wants to turn this election around, try focusing on long held democratic opposition to drilling. Also, I’d spend the rest of the ad money on the fact that Obama wants to give DL’s to illegals. That ain’t gonna happen. I’m so freaken happy right now.
I cannot stand Britt Hume……he mumbles and drools.
Talking to the group on fox. I can’t understand how anyone could have been moved by either of these candidates?
Yep, they are talking about the ‘that one’ comment on CNN. I knew it.
Brokaw Sucked.
Questions sucked.
Interruptions sucked.
Waste of time, glad I DVR’d it and fast-forwarded thru it.
McCain lost a chance, I think.
The carpet was ok.
( michelle zerobama looks like a 60’s style bean bag chair with a zipper)
Amen, Gayle.
It is finally over. A real snoozefest.
Obviously, I agree with McCain far more than I do with Obama, so in that regard, I believe he won the debate.
But in a different (and more important) sense, McCain lost. Obama is sitting pretty in the polls. All he had to do was tread water – which he did. McCain had to have a knock out against Obama, and that didn’t happen.
I said earlier that McCain had won, barring some unforeseen event. Well, there was an unforeseen event – the enormous mortgage crisis. It plays to Obama’s perceived strength – the economy. And it is a positively huge event.
At this point, McCain’s best shot at winning is if a huge security problem takes the headlines – having to do with Iran, AQ, etc. Given the size of the economic crisis, it would have to be huge to grab the headlines. I think that is unlikely to happen.
This really is starting to look bad…
these people in the focus group on Fox are uncommitted…BS!
the Zero wins on health care? huh?
WHERE IN OUR CONSTITUTION IS HEALTH CARE A RIGHT???????????????????????????????????????????????
McCain should step down and let Palin go…
So according to Luntz, VA thought tonight was interesting?
And McCain did better on the economy? Why not just throw a dart on 11/4?
I’m going to barf.
Gayle
I wonder how much of the boredom could be laid at Tom Brokaw’s feet. Town Hall is McCain’s strength. But it seems the way Brokaw or whoever over saw the format were responsible for the card board delivery. McCain did better at Saddleback.
The Thing is this didn’t help Obama either. This is going to be called a Tie and I would probably agree, this was too tedious. A Draw.
On October 7th, 2008 at 10:44 pm, Marshall Russ said:
On October 7th, 2008 at 10:41 pm, committed said:
Is Michelle O’s butt getting bigger?
Great comic relief. Laughed my head off.
If she gets to the White House with her own personal chef, it will really “expand”.
good 1 shooter, lmao…good thing i hadn’t just taken a drink…lol
Frank Lutz and his “undeciders” are a bunch of braindead idiots.
CAN’T WE EVER TALK ABOUT OUR CONSTITUTION AND HOW IT IS BEING BASTARDIZED.
But… I don’t want to live in a Communist country…
I’m heading for the mountains. I’ll check in every now and then to see how things are going.
Wolverines!
Glenlivet # 5
me either sad sad sad
It was a big O in my opinion.
It definitely favored Obama.
McCain’s age was showing.
AAAAAWWWWWWjeeeeez!
This country is in deep doodoo!
We select our political leaders the same way the CEO’s seem to be selected for the corporations!
What did this tell me , nothing I didn’t already know. Obama is NOT ready to guide this Country.
That would actually be fun….
Or bring in the brother from the Hut and have Cindy give him the house in La Jolla….
Where does the money for Obama’s National Health Care come from, after he voted for the 850 Bail Out Bill. No one is that stupid, there is no money for ANYTHING let alone entitlements. Taxes will have to be collected and programs will be have to be cut that is reality.
So we are to believe that nobody submitted questions on gun rights, or abortion, or illegal immigration? I find that hard to swallow. There’s some blatent liberal filtering at work here.
OK, next debate. Someone please give McCain a shot of Vitamin B12 before the debates. It will help. Trust me.
I trust the stock market more than obama.
This pundit hack just said that the people of this country are getting more and more comfortable with the thought of Obama as president…who listens to this crap anymore??
Well, I’ve had a blast tonight..only because y’all are some funny folks.
Goodnight!
Like I told someone earlier tonight. The lesser of two bad candidates. McCain has some bad plans. Every plan that Obama has is a bad plan.
We are doomed! That was awful.
I understand that Mr Will Good has deep pockets. Maybe he’ll pay for it.
The questions were almost as bad as the answers. Is there some federal government bailout program to credit me for the 90 minutes I just lost out of my life?
so much for focus groups, oh Luntz just maybe out of job before this is over.
No fight on McCain, maybe he’s saving up for the last round, yeah right.
i’m pissed i just wasted an hour and /2 for that bs.
we’re screwed in ‘08
You’re not listening to Olberfufu are you?
Turn on FOX.
I HAD BETTER DEBATES IN COLLEGE
WHAT A COUPLE OF LOSERS
Only thing I’m getting more and more comfortable with the the grip on “my bible and guns”
I was about to leave a post asking you, Gabe and others to see if you are reconsidering you post-Palin prediction of a McCain victory. It looks like you already just answered with great thought and detail.