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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you know, what really chaps Obama and his crew is that there hasn’t been another attack on our soil since 9/11..
On October 7th, 2008 at 10:10 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:
On October 7th, 2008 at 10:08 pm, Sean said:
No fly zone over Darfore? What does that mean?
Yeah, glad you mention that. I didn’t know there was an air war going on there
—————————————
Does Darfore has any airplanes?
Did BHO just said he would invade ??
Since when did we stop looking for Obama? We’ve got special forces all over that area and we still haven’t found him. Maybe the Obamessiah knows where he is?
Maybe Palin can march on stage and punch Obama in the face.. you know, just to break the ice..
I don’t drink alcohol but I think I might start after watching this.
I hope I don’t have to listen to “Pockiston” for the next four years.
On October 7th, 2008 at 10:09 pm, bloodhound said:
They used Honda gas generators all over the mountains of Tora Bora to throw our sensors off-track. We were looking for the signature of a dialysis machine and those little gas generators look about the same.
They got the idea from Russian Intel agents.
After McCain bragged about his solving climate change and working on legislation with Ted Kennedy, I had to leave the room and throw up.
My feelings on the debate are best expressed in a monologue from Billy Madison: here…
This thing is booooooooring! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
AJ, um, sorry about last night. That team deserves a better manager.
Obama reminds me of the neighbor who goes out in the morning to get the newspaper in a bathrode scratching his rump. clueless.
Woman who asks Obama about crossing into Pakistan and compares it to crossing into Cambodia during Vietnam, doesn’t look old enough to know squat or care at all about Cambodia.
Yeah, they’ve been wishing for one since Kerry/Bush election in 2004.
And they all say we’re not any safer, and we’re worse off. Okey dokey.
Oops… meant to say when did we stop looking for Bin Laden… Well Obama is just as dangerous if not more…
hearts and minds…these people respect power and hate weakness, that is why europe is cowering…
On October 7th, 2008 at 10:11 pm, tpierce2 said:
On October 7th, 2008 at 10:10 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:
On October 7th, 2008 at 10:08 pm, Sean said:
No fly zone over Darfore? What does that mean?
Yeah, glad you mention that. I didn’t know there was an air war going on there
—————————————
Does Darfore HAVE [has] any airplanes?
I’m getting emotional!
I have my drink now.
Anyone watching on Fox? Who the hell are these uncommitted Ohio voters? I don’t think they know how to use the dial thingy.
Hey Tom, follow the damn rules….
On October 7th, 2008 at 10:12 pm, Cliff said:
It’s what happens when you have two guys both trying to be bipartisan collectivists.
When he discussed tempering our approach with respect to genocide and sending troops in to address it. Sorry you missed it. It was a good’n.
okay…what did I miss…my wife called an unofficial Rice Krispie Treat break…..can go good with beer.
O wants his own rules..Brokaw hems and haws, “oh, OK Barry, go ahead”
Obama gets a bye
They cannot even abide by the rules that they set. Remarkable.
“you’re doing a great job, Tom”
What a jackass.
I want to be very clear. LOL. Means he’s lying thru his teeth.
good grief…he’s getting the follow up..
THANK YOU McCain, about time you said something about Obama’s ‘quick followups’.
Don’t we need a UN mandate in order to invake Pokistan?
They beat themselves no doubt mookie, but thanks…. i’m over it…. lol again.
Tom: you’re a pushover. Both parties agreed to a format. It’s Brokaw’s job to enforce it.
How many times is he going to say he’s going to be clear? If he was clear, he wouldn’t have to tell us how clear he’s being all the time! Clear as mud!
He insisted on a follow up.
It’s “wet” behind the ears, not green, doofus.
BOMB BOMB BOMB…BOMB BOMB IRAN
a golden oldie
Do they even have cars?
That is not what he said about Pakistan again Obama doesn’t think Google has been invented. This was quoted right after he said it he would strike an Allie in this case Pakistan.
and this is the person that said he would invade Pock-istan…loser.
Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran!
Just drank for Pokistan. Oh – again.
This is NOT a quick followup.. DO YOUR JOB AND SHUT HIM UP TOM!!!!
Bin Laden, Bin Laden. Get a clue Obama: Osama is dead.
Isn’t Bahgdad in Iraq?
They both stink. But McCain’s the only one who had to shine. He didn’t. We’re toast.
On October 7th, 2008 at 10:12 pm, Speakup said:
She saw Air America with Mel Gibson. She’s up on ancient history.
“Pokistan”, it’s an elitist thing. You wouldn’t understand.
LOL BHO is not getting the last word on this question.
you guys that are drinking must be plastered.
Bomb Bomb Bomb Iran – Too funny our candidates are talking about that.
I had to stop listening to the debate. John McCain does not want to win, and shame on us for letting him get the nomination. He REFUSES to go after Barack Hussein Obama. It seems as if he wants to lose the election.
If we can survive to 2012 at least and are not communist by that time, we will have a new generation of conservatives: Palin and Jindal.
Yeah, and Obama thought he was serious when McCain was singing that. SheeSH! What an idiot.
telegraph punches, that was a good response.
Obama should pray that they move away from this topic..he loses everytime..
O is a sneering sack of sh%t.
Tom Brokaw told Gwen Ifill she held her self high after she moderated the VP debate and didn’t mention she was going to have a book published on Obama. Tom Brokaw is a tool.
we’re supposed to believe that barry will bomb his muslim brothers?
Flinchy is so transparent. He has cobbled together some kind of “centrist” rap.
“….and hell followed with him.”
…or have nothing to say.
I’m going to see Sarah Palin with my litle girl on Monday. I’m excited.
Just thought I’d announce that. I’m bored.
It is the way his terrorist friends in New York pronounced it.
Good one John!
don’t telegraph your punches
that means you allso, Obama sees you coming, slap him a few times!
On October 7th, 2008 at 10:14 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:
Honda trucks with AK-47′s and / or cheap RPG’s mounted on the back.
Also they have a lot of Chinese arms and munitions. Probably a couple of BMP-1′s.
This debate is driving me to drink.
Good night all and thank you Michelle…
Obama: I was very clear…..I am Lord of the World.
OK…. respond to the Brits comment on Failure in Afganistan, acceptable dictator.
Let the Brits leave then. Good to see who we count as friends, or not. This could be just a parrotting of 10 Downing St
The One told Kharzi whats what! I wonder why that didn’t fix it.
Compare McCain joking with a friend over Bomb Bomb Bomb and this…
Obama, in order to save gas, I suggest Americans inflate their tires. And he wasn’t joking around with anyone.
How are you going to make the Iraq govt take personal responsibility for them selves when you can’t make people at home take responsibility for themselves?
Nail him on the Surge…
AAAARRRRGGGG!
The one place McCain is most experienced in and he blew it. What he should have said is:
“Well, Mr. Obama may not realize this but going into Pakistan, a sovereign nation, without permission IS an invasion.”
How many people other than political junkies do you think are actually still watching this?
I’ve had much more entertaining screen savers.
Well put, Irish.
I am not optimistic.
It’s fairly obvious that Obama has no military experience, knowledge, or training. I really do wish he’d read at least one book, just one, on warfare. He could start by learning the differences between tactics, operations, strategy, and policy.
Why doesn’t McCain say that BO wants to decimate the military???? He is on video saying just that.
Anybody on this blog that voted for Mac in the primary? If so, (1) shame on YOU, and (2) thanks a frickin lot!
We all saw this coming, didn’t we?
I’m so jealous! Have a great time!
Drained, I know what you mean I have the TV on in the other room and I’m cruisin’ the net.
Is this thing about over? Soooo boring. I want Sarah!!!!!!!!
Patchthebun…LUCKY! I tried to get tickets to the Greenville, NC rally today..they were all gone by the time I called…have a great time!
BlameAmericaLast.
Way ahead of you. I took a que from securitymom and cracked open a guinness
You lucky you.
Does this sound like a rerun of the last debate?? Groundhog Day!
4 min of battery power left…time to shut down for full recharge…maybe go play Halo and relieve some stress.
Nite all
Czar 31 clear of the range, exitinr the STRC and climbing to cruise altitude
Alden Humphries, tennis player, Hewitt, TX.
Jeez, Obummer will stick it to the military and demoralize it so much that it won’t be the same.
I love how Obummer is still fighing Boosh on Iraq. Even though he never voted or made a stand on it for the record. Uggghhhh.
I don’t know about you, but I was never looking for Obama in the first place.
Second point – my grandmother could have won this debate a half hour ago, and she’s been dead for 32 years!
You can say that again.
Get there early! I tried this past Saturday in L.A. It was full house in the arena, and they had overflow watching screen in another arena!
The guy in the green shirt loks like he is trying to understand …
wife says trying to understand O-gasm is like trying to understand jello! LOL
refill the Glenlivet
Mom24ks!! Howdy neighbor!!
mom24ks- just drive up here to Richmond!
Worst.Debate.Ever.
How would this debate have been different if Bob Barr was in it?
Obama is clueless. “I agree with John. ….What? I have more time?”
McCain, McCain;
Go after him! Go after his record [lack of record]!
He is such an empty suit that the coat hanger declined the job!
So now Obama wants to send money to Poland, Estonia, etc. More spending.
Not that ancient and Air America wasn’t exactly that Cambodia specific.
A woman who asks a military question that’s right along a line Obama would want to go is at least interesting if not suspicious.
financial assistance? but, we are spending money in iraq to help them that should be here…i don’t get it.