McCain vs. Obama Debate Coverage

Post Debate Reaction:
Damian: tie.


Stephanopolous - Obama wins on strategy, style, and overall.
McCain wins on accuracy.
He noticed that Obama appeared darker than he does in person, which agrees with what Vahl noticed. He also said McCain looked washed out.


Early polls - Obama wins by double digits.


Vahl: I am leaning towards McCain. He had specific plans to freeze spending, keep taxes low for me, take care of vets, and achieve foreign policy success. I'd rather have a Vice-Pres in training than a Pres in training.
When Obama talked about his Senate experience, it reminded me of when you write a resume and try to make your work history sound like more than what it was.



CBS - tie


CNN - tie


David Brooks - tie.



Vahl Debate Coverage -- due to an emergency situation, Vahl had to text message in his comments, and was not able to watch the debate in its entirety:


Obama closing statement - excellent. Presidential.


McCain attacks Obama's judgment, compares his stubbornness to Bush!


This Bin Laden line didn't work for Kerry.
Good comment about China by Obama.

Broader vision.



McCain - cannot lose in Iraq.


Obama - long way to go. Suitcase nuke threat. Supports Star Wars. Focus on Al-Qaeda in Pakistan. Regain respect. Compliments McCain.


McCain supported 9/11 commission. Against torture.


McCain is good at talking over people.


Obama supports foresight. Plan for energy. Attacks McCain on energy.


Overall, Obama appears to be taking a tough stand on every foreign policy issue. McCain appears to have a command of the details, and sounds more realistic.


Missed a lot.


Obama has a bracelet, too.


McCain mentioned Somalia. I did not understand what he meant.
He grasps the gravity of war.



Obama's got some good zingers, but his Pakistani policy sounds pie-in-the-sky.


Obama - tough decisions ... Nothing specific.
McCain - let family decide. No national healthcare.
Leaving debate coverage.


McCain - spending freeze.
Obama - scalpel line good.
McCain - nuclear power plants.


Obama - eliminate private ins for medicare. Bush zinger. Accountability.


McCain's got jokes. Eliminate ethanol subsidies. Fixed cost funding. He's giving me the how.


How is Obama fixing healthcare, education? HOW?


McCain giving Obama the Romney treatment.


How will Obama save my taxes? I was called away.


McCain talking common sense on business tax ... Attacking ... Doubled child tax credit? Right on!


Obama rebutts ... He fixed healthcare? I missed that issue.


McCain taking shots at Obama on earmarks.


Platitudes ... Talking points.


Mcain looking at moderator. Seems relaxed. Cracks joke about age.


Sheesh - Obama's eyes look menacing on this hospital T.V. screen.



Obama looks confident. Kennedy-esque.

9:03pm: Watching PBS Coverage.


12:10pm: Rush claims Obama screwed up the White House meeting. Very interesting story. Let's see if McCain brings it up tonight.


6:19am: Overnight news indicates Obama won the White House meeting:

Both McCain and his Democratic rival, Sen. Barack Obama, would leave the White
House without comment, and the meeting was described as among the wildest in
memory. A beleaguered President Bush had to struggle to maintain order and
reassert himself. And when Democrats left to caucus in the Roosevelt Room,
Paulson pursued them, begging that they not “blow up” the legislation.

The former Goldman Sachs CEO even went down on one knee as if genuflecting, to which Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Cal.) is said to have joked, “I didn’t know you were Catholic.”

It was McCain who had urged Bush to call the White House meeting but Democrats made sure Obama had a prominent part. And much as they complained later of being blindsided, the whole event turned out to be something of an ambush on their part—aimed at McCain and House Republicans.

“Speaking professionally,” said one Republican aide, “They did a very good job.”

When Bush yielded early to Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D- Nev.) to speak, they yielded to Obama to speak for the assembled Democrats. And it was Obama who raised the subject of the conservative alternative and pressed Paulson on what he thought of the idea.

House Republicans felt trapped—squeezed by Treasury, House Democrats and a bipartisan coalition in the Senate. And while McCain spoke surprisingly little after asking for the meeting, he conceded that it appeared there were not the votes for the
core Paulson plan without major changes.

09/25/2008:
6:09PM: Pre-fight weigh-in:





5:00PM TONY VAHL:
Obama and McCain have entered the White House.
Photos destined for history books being taken.
Longest Presidential debate continues.




3:54PM DAMIAN HOSPITAL SAYS: Friday night...8:00PM...LIVE FROM MISSISSIPPI..it's the first debate between Obama and McCain! Tune in, folks, this is gonna be a war!

2:31PM:
It now appears both candidates are losing the debate.



12:33PM:
Rush Limbaugh: Paulson asked for McCain to return.
McCain move is a gimmick, Obama can't vote present,
Clinton "dropping neutron bombs" on Obama.



12:01PM: Obama: "Call me if you need me." Loki.
Dr. Hoffman, Enneagram Council:
Obama has officially integrated the unhealthy aspects of Enneagram type 5
- sidestepping, misdirecting, taunting McCain rather than taking a stand.



11:45AM: McCain is boxed into a corner, with no way out.
Will the Silent Majority stand up for him and his courage?



10:02AM: CNN Was Obama blindsided by McCain announcement?

9:34AM: Glenn Beck ripping Bush for not taking crisis seriously enough!
"Great depression ... McCain will lose ... Get blamed."



5:34am -- From DrudgeReport/Reuters -- Obama backs off McCain, agrees to bipartisan statement:

WASHINGTON, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Congress looked close to reaching a deal to approve a $700 billion plan to bail out the U.S. financial system ...

... After a week of pointed barbs on the campaign trail, McCain and Obama later took the unusual step of issuing a joint statement, calling Bush's plan "flawed" but urging fellow Republicans and Democrats to reach a solution.

"No matter how this began, we all have a responsibility to work through it and restore confidence in our economy. The jobs, savings and prosperity of the American people are at stake," the candidates' statement said.

"This is a time to rise above politics for the good of the country. We cannot risk an economic catastrophe."

9/24/2008:
9:15pm -- Vahl: "Is this serious enough to reschedule a foreign policy debate on Friday? Answer: Yes."

The debate now appears to be even, going into the overnight hours.



9:14pm -- ABC reaction -- "Stark terms ... $700 billion ... bad debt ... 'gov't the only one with patience and resources' ... tough case ... skepticism ... 'Terrible plan ... haven't heard any better' ... rescue plan needs to be passed quickly."




9:13pm -- "Elected officials rise to the occasion ... leaders come together to meet great tests."



9:12pm -- King Paulson offers blueprint to solve problem. "Democratic capitalism is the best system ever devised ... moment of great challenge ... will overcome this one."



9:11pm -- "Financial securities ... families ... small businesses ... Money Market insured ... FDIC has been in existence for 75 years ... update regulatory structures ... outdated 20th century laws."



9:10pm -- The price tag -- $700 billion. Obama perks up. "Low prices ... money flows back to Treasury ... investment will be paid back."



9:09pm -- "Rescue plan ... resume flow of credit ... failed executives ... bi-partisan board ... as soon as possible." Strong sales pitch by Bush.



9:08pm -- "Spirit of cooperation." Obama is reeling. McCain trying to stand up.



9:06pm -- Bush has never sounded clearer or more cogent. This is clearly his element.



9:05pm -- "Domino effect." Vahl's prophecy revealed to be true.



9:04pm -- Bush echoes Tony Vahl's words from two years ago. V for Vindication.



9:02pm -- Bush outlines how serious the situation is in America ... this affects the "Entire economy." Obama is struggling to get on his feet at the moment. McCain clings to the ropes, catching his breath.



8:46pm -- BREAKING NEWS: Obama Accepts Bush Invitation To Meet In Washington ... Bush jumps into the ring and knocks down Obama while McCain recovers in the corner!



7:41pm -- Talk Radio and candidates taking a break. Obama was barely touched, despite the best efforts of the Wallbanger and McCain. The Silent Majority remains Silent. G. has officially endorsed Vahl's opinion.



7:18pm -- Skew. Skew. Stop the scanner. More from U.S. News and World Report:

The McCain campaign official also appeared to leave some wiggle room for the
candidate to participate in the debate. "It could still happen," he said. "But
we won't know until we get our arms around this tomorrow." GOP strategists say,
however, that after calling for the debate to be postponed, it would be almost
impossible politically for McCain to change his position.

The Commission on Presidential Debates has notified the University of Mississippi, the location of the debate, that for now the debate will proceed as scheduled.

7:15pm -- It's 2008 -- a new era. McCain's stand is viewed as weakness ... in other news, down is up, and left is right. More from U.S. News and World Report:

One longtime GOP adviser who has been involved in past presidential campaigns and debates says that McCain's move will spin out one of two ways: If he goes back to Washington and is seen as a catalyst for a palatable solution to the crisis, it will be a "great way for McCain to stop his bleeding on the economy," the adviser said. "But it can also be seen as a transparent political ploy, when he could just as easily appear at the debate, insist the discussion be all about the economy, and talk this through with Obama." The adviser's prediction: It will play out as a political ploy.

7:11pm -- Obama officially pulls ahead, as McCain's teammates walk off the field. From U.S. News and World Report:

"I'm puzzled," said longtime McCain supporter Ed Rogers, chairman of BGR Holding, a lobbying firm formerly known as Barbour Griffith & Rogers. "I think we, us McCain people, we need the debate. Not having it just freezes the board, and the status of the game right now favors Obama."

"We don't need to quit the game," he said. "We need to change the game."

7:04pm -- Savage is currently winning, uh, the debate:

Savage: "Doctor, first do no harm ... the hyppocratic oath ... I'm not voting for this hack McCain ... I'm done ... I'll vote for local issues, but I'm not voting for the Republican machine ... I'm not voting for Obama.

"These guys crash the ship, and then they ask that they give us the wheel. We'll lock you in the brig, Johnson."

Vahl: "I thought McCain was going to take a hard line against the bailout ... he's just parroting Bush? What?"

6:11pm -- The debate has begun to swung in Obama's favor.

"Savage just called McCain a 'putz'," said Vahl. "His words carry weight with independents. This may be the bailout that Obama needed in this debate."

6:01pm -- as of right now, editorial staff at DailySkew.com has declared McCain in the lead.

"His decision to suspend his campaign and go to Washington shows true
leadership and courage," stated Tony Vahl. "He's risking his entire campaign ...
he's guaranteed to get openly mocked by his opponents ... he's basically become a
target for easy criticism by Obama and his supporters.

"The bottom line, for me, is this: the dominoes are falling. I
predicted this years ago, and we're now getting into the final pages of this
Financial Crisis, so to speak. McCain has chosen to go do what he does
best -- broker a bipartisan deal.

"Obama has also made a choice -- leaving the leadership to the members of
Congress, instead of showing some true leadership.

"David Letterman can take shots at McCain all night tonight, if he wants
... it doesn't matter. McCain clearly understands the serious of the
matter.

"This is a moment that will be remembered in history books, regardless of
the outcome (the financial crisis AND the election). Obama has, once
again, shown his poor judgment (Biden, J. Wright and his other friends from
Chicago, etc.) and missed an opportunity to show he's got what it takes.

"A debate on foreign policy tomorrow pales in comparison to what is about
to happen in Washington, D.C."

***

About this blog post: When John McCain announced he wanted to delay the debates, and Obama said no, I felt like the debates had started. Hence, this blog post.