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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eBay just laid off a couple of thousand workers and are giving their execs four years pay as compensation. Maybe Meg Whitman wasn’t a good pick to suggest.
We are so screwed.
who the heck is alan? Oliver… he’s name is oliver.
We are so screwed!
First question – Obama blames Bush and McCain – McCain doesn’t lift a finger to defend or refute. Does he have his hearing aids on????
My goldfish could do better – and I don’t own a goldfish.
And then more bailouts. I am ill.
ok John … about time … Dems in Congress + Fannie + Freddie + Payoffs + refusing to pass it is fine … but he still needed to name names …
Oliver, it’s obvious I have your vote. See you at dinner on Sunday.
The credit markets are NOT frozen! Obama needs to be called on this fear mongering.
Michelle, don’t throw up just yet.
DAMNIT JOHNNY!
This guy actually wants to INCREASE the Bail-out.
Here comes BO: “let me tell you what’s in it for you…” ::grin::, ::grin::
We’re Screwed ‘08
Alan was the first questioner.
Ooohhhh he’s starting to slip! I hope he calls McCain Tom again.
Credit frozen? I just got a car loan and my son just closed on a house…
oh…wait…I have a 785 FICO…
If McCain doesn’t pump up he will be a moot point after this debate.
He is trying to play “nice guy” and not hurt anyone’s feelings.
Gee, grow some balls man!
correcting history? … pompous ass
Good lord Obama is lying through his teeth. A letter?? I’d like to see it.
Regulation caused this problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BO’s talking down to this guy, hope he gets that. Blame repubs…not going to explain that he was big benefactor….
Wow, he wrote a letter. Definitely should be Prez.
She’s not there anymore. She retired. Irrelevant.
I want proof that Obozo sent any letter to anyone. What an effing liar!!
=nice shot to the empty suit glass jaw , just how much money did you get Obama ???
OMG now with the deregulation from Obummer. Can we get proof about that letter to Bernanke?
uh, you took money from them.
Obama lying again. he didn’t sound the alarm. If Obama wrote to Paulson, I wanna see the letter.
Do that many of companies run in the red and can’t afford their payrole? That many businesses take out loans every payrole period?
I don’t think I buy that one…
Don’t waste your time. McCain lost everybody on the first question when he went all socialist. But up a few trillion dollars worth of bad loans????? What planet is he living on????
We ain’t screwed just yet, everybody. By the way, Obama just gave a snooty reply when mentioning having to correct Sen. McCain, not surprisingly.
Whoopsie. Thanks.
When is BO going to tell the truth about his tax cuts? It’s a REBATE not a tax cut.
Obama is leaving lots of openings for McCain re: Fannie and Freddie. Time to pounce.
Right, the beginning of more taxes. I really can’t stand this guy
Someone needs to teach Obama the difference between ‘deregulation’ and ‘oversight’, kinda like tactic vs. strategy.
Oh, after BO points fingers he says we’re not interested in pointing fingers. GAG!
Here’s the problem – Obama can spew lie after lie and there’s no rebuttal. McCain will have to spend all his time calling out Obama on all the hooey.
Obozo: “I never promoted Fannie Mae, I just took their money and hired their cast-offs to work for me…”
Shouldn’t bail out banks, shouldn’t bail out people who should be renters.
Yeah, bama’s confident about the economy ’cause his pocket is well padded.
Obama wouldn’t know the truth if it walked up and hit him between his eyes.
BO will win this election in a blow-out, now. We’ll get to run this experiment.
Obama the Regulator Really is that what Obama is selling? I didn’t sue Citibank I didn’t force them to issue sub prime loans.
This guy cannot talk without a teleprompter…it is driving me crazy…I…can’t….follow…what..uh…he…uh…is … saying.
Actually BO – I do want to see politicians pointing fingers – at you, and Bill Ayers, and FM & FM, etc etc…
I hate this format.
Are we going to hear anything on immigration or is that a non-issue now?
McCain: Obama just lied!
Good dig — Obama’s name wasn’t on that letter…Hah!
McCain writes letters too! Now I don’t know who to vote for.
McCain is hitting back with warning about Freddie/Fannie. He needs to hit harder.
hey john … do those of us who pay our bills get new lower mortgages too? … at least he just called BO on the letter not having his name on it …
Obamanation ” I don’t think you want us point fingers after I just pointed my finger”
Gentlemen:
The government CANNOT stabilize the housing market, dammit!!!
They are both lying.
Obama’s name was not on that letter… you don’t say.
I think that’s the Messiah’s SOP… write a strongly worded letter. He’ll be sending them out all over the world to our enemies! “If you don’t do X, I’ll write another strongly worded letter!”
I think McCain corrected Obama on the letter to Paulson. Keep going, Sheriff!
“We” are not here to make sure people stay in their houses and can pay their bills!
McCain: stop leaning on the chair. Someone’s going to say that means you are old.
Both of these guys are wrong about the economy: As I’ve asked before, now that we’ve put this $700+ billion band-aid on the problem, when will Congress get around to fixing the systematic problems (created by themselves no less) that caused this? There are multiple solutions out there for this, but I wonder if this issue is even on the radar screen anymore, especially with elections coming so soon.
The first link is to Dave Ramsey’s plan. As the second link’s author attests: “The solution to the problem, of course, has nothing to do with what Congress has been trying to do. Here is a first approximation of what should be done: 1. repeal the CRA and Sarbanes-Oxley (including “mark-to-market” valuation rules), 2. dismantle the GSE’s, 3. exempt the securities (or underlying mortgages) that have been targeted in the “bailout” from all income and capital gains taxes (this will attract private equity investors to buy the assets, thereby establishing market valuations), and 4. investigate all government officials (elected and otherwise), non-profits, and private sector players involved in creating the mortgage crisis, and impeach, censure, and prosecute as the evidence indicates.”
Obama: why should we ask other countries how they feel about our proposed laws before we enact them?
This is all our fault as Americans. We were too busy working and living our lives when these Socialist $&#($ snuck in and corrupted the thought process of average Americans and now the 51% tipping point has been reached. It’s all about entitlement now.
We’re all effed!
Good rebuttal from McCain. He put his name on a letter warning of the FM’s and Obummer’s name wasn’t on it.
I am incredulous, either Obama is High? Or he thinks You Tube and Google, hasn’t been invented yet.
How can we trust you? Cynicism, no realism.. Obame you are a fool
BUSH IS NOT RUNNING YOU IDIOT
Good third question! Oh, our discretionary has been cut. Oh, my what will we do!!!
Now it’s BOOOOOOSH’s fault.
I’m waiting for the McCain is Bush’s 3rd term line…waiting…3…2…1
Notice the “uh, uh, uh” is creeping back into Obama’s answers.
McCain has just laid out a HUGE socialist expansion, folks. There is no defending this… <>… from a conservative point-of-view.
bush never met a pork bill he didn’t like.
No there isn’t a lot of blame to go around, you- OBAMA, and the rest of Democrats were influence peddling.
Yes, but Bush was WRONG to pass every single spending bill that the DEMOCRATS sent to him!
Osama isn’t answering the question!
Why should we the people trust either of you?
liar BO … there was not a surplus … that was a projected surplus from before the dot com bubble burst … we were heading into recession when Bush came into office
He doesn’t want to point fingers… but he’ll happily point his finger at George Bush. Repeatedly.
Agree – this format sucks. McCain needed the old format to repeatedly call Obama a liar. If he could repeatedly drill him on that, he might throw Obama off balance.
Not sure how much more of this I can take.
THIS ISN’T PRES. BUSH’S FAULT. IT’S THE FAULT OF BOTH PARTIES YOU FREAKING DO NOTHING DEMOCRATIC PHONEY.
Okay, I’m better now.
ANSWER THE QUESTION.
Talking points…talking points…talking points.
Obama: Congress, not the President, controls the purse.
He’s cutting more than he is spending?! Where?!
OK.
Mr. Obama just said we have a problem with over spending and he is talking about spending more??!?!?!?!
OK wait they are “investments”
B.S. meter pegged.
Ish
Thunderhawkk: 156
Yep, I’ve been thinking the same thing lately. I don’t think its quite 51% yet, but its getting there fast
OMG, I can’t believe Obama just said we’re spending too much in Washington and then said he would spend more money! Now I know he didn’t just say he was cutting more than he would be spending. That was a brand new lie he just made up on the spot!
Cutting more than he spending. There will be a net spending cut. Is your head spinning too?
Obama’s reforms are all soak the rich rather than structural changes. That’s his viewpoint. It’s a terrible prescription for our current problems.
What spending is Obummer cutting? He refused to freeze federal spending at the first debate.
We know, and we don’t like it either. But the alternative is Marxism.
lobbyist / special interests, really??…better than domestic terrorists.
They always do this.. The financial impact from the Clinton years took time to impact.. It’s cyclical & delayed, & they know it..
Obama knows that what we are dealing with now started back in the Carter administration with his flawed community re-investment decision.
I would like to hear Odummer make one complete statement without a pause.
McCain needs some Geritol.
Obama will meet face to face with terrorists bent on our destruction but he’ll just send a letter to people responsible for an economic crisis.
That’s right…the stock market started tanking in early 2000. March to be exact.
Net spending cut? Impossible if he wants to fund everything he proposes.
Obama, net spending cuts? You mean de-funding our Defense Department?
Obama is cutting more than he’s spending? What kind of freaky math is that?
Yuck. McCain now talking up bipartisanship. NOOOOOOO!!!
Obama will say anything, true or false. It doesn’t matter. No one will call him on it.
30, that was the goofiest answer I’ve ever heard from Obama, with the exception of the tire gauge gaffe.
” I am cutting more than I am spending” Obama
That has to be the biggest lie of the night. Oh wait, this thing isn’t over yet.
I’m so tired of hearing about your long arms John, quit reaching and start laying down some blame man…take responsibility and call BHO out!!
My wife is restraining me from throwing things at the television! Poor thing stil has to hear me shouting at them though….
at least Mac is trying to point out BOs lack of a record …
I can’t watch this. It’s making me sick. We really are screwed.
On October 7th, 2008 at 9:20 pm, RockyR said:
McCain has just laid out a HUGE socialist expansion, folks. There is no defending this… … from a conservative point-of-view.
For this being McCain’s preferred format, he sure is sucking out loud so far!