Live Blog and Chat: Presidential debate
posted at 8:00 pm on September 26, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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I’ll be live-blogging the first presidential debate, scheduled to start at 9 PM ET. I’m using the Cover It Live system again tonight, but I’m combining it with the Ustream chat room from my show. That way the community can interact with each other as well as with me while I live-blog the debate. Jazz Shaw from The Moderate Voice will be moderating the chat, and don’t forget to register at Ustream to participate!
Here are the keys I’ll watch in the debate:
- If they stick to foreign policy, McCain has to get aggressive with Obama and demand specifics. McCain wants to emphasize his long experience on foreign policy and military affairs. Obama needs to keep the debate on general themes and criticize George Bush while avoiding getting pinned down on specifics.
- If the debate switches to financial policy, which I expect, the dynamics change a little bit. Obama is perceived to be stronger here, and he will need to get specific in order to demonstrate that. McCain still needs to aggressively push Obama on his inaction on Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae in 2005-6 and emphasize that government meddling created the financial meltdown.
- Obama reacted poorly when Hillary Clinton went after him in Pennsylvania. If he starts stammering his way through questions, he’s rattled. And no one gets under people’s skin like McCain.
I’ll watch the debates on C-SPAN. No one is providing an embeddable live-stream for the debate, as far as I know.
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But I bet it won’t be.
theregoestheneighborhood on September 26, 2008 at 11:02 PM
If McCain was smart he would use the enrgy question in the next debate to move to forgien policy and its ramifications. He made a good start today.
unseen on September 26, 2008 at 11:06 PM
Go to msn.com and click on left box….and vote. It’s pretty much the same crazy crowd…Obama is at 74%
HornetSting on September 26, 2008 at 11:06 PM
I’ll say it again, it’s just a tagline and that’s all Obama needs. He never says how he’s gonna restore America’s image, he just says he’s gonna do it. But with headlines like that on major news sites, who needs real answers, eh? Sad.
dugan on September 26, 2008 at 11:06 PM
He is an elitist, faux conservative and another Peggy Noonan, and he thinks it was a “draw.” That proves that McCain won big.
Gabe on September 26, 2008 at 11:07 PM
Vote
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26906945/
indythinker on September 26, 2008 at 11:07 PM
From this side of the pond – who won ? That is – stand back, who will so be SEEN as better in Better ?
(If anyone wants to see BBC bias – go to bbc.com.uk/editors
then click on Justin Webb’s blog on the right hand side)
JohninLondon on September 26, 2008 at 11:07 PM
malkinmania on September 26, 2008 at 11:07 PM
Vote at cnn.com, msn.com, and politico.com
davenp35 on September 26, 2008 at 11:08 PM
http://news.aol.com/elections
Chakra Hammer on September 26, 2008 at 11:08 PM
McCain: B-
Barry: D+.
MSM: Obama looked presidential. (Think Warren G. Harding.)
profitsbeard on September 26, 2008 at 11:08 PM
I too was EXTREMELY impressed with “Jim” tonight. It’s about time a moderator did his job. He can moderate ALL of the debates as far as I’m concerned.
I think a good commercial for John will be to make a montage of all the times B. Hussein said “McCain’s right” or “I agree with Senator McCain.” I’m sure we’ll here it on the radio talk shows.
Anybody on the other blogs who says Obama won is guilty of wishful thinking. Now it’s up to Palin to be NATURAL and not over coached. She’ll clean Biden’s clock.
Mojave Mark on September 26, 2008 at 11:08 PM
Oh no, Luntz’s focus group for Obama…’cause he “cares”.
capitalist piglet on September 26, 2008 at 11:08 PM
Frankly, it looked like two Senators talking, neither one seeming “Presidential”.
But that’s just my impression.
Texan on September 26, 2008 at 11:08 PM
Wow..undecided voters parroting Obama talking points? Hmmmmm….odd!
SouthernGent on September 26, 2008 at 11:09 PM
Go Here – Vote for McCain As The Debate Winner on Drudge:
http://www.drudgereport.com/
grtflmark on September 26, 2008 at 11:09 PM
He asked them what they would do when one of them RULED America. Last time I checked, we still live in a representative republic.
RushBaby on September 26, 2008 at 11:10 PM
P.S. I watched it on C-Span as well. I don’t need the talking heads to tell me what I saw.
Texan on September 26, 2008 at 11:10 PM
Fox News has a segment with Independent voters (the most idiotic voters in the nation), and they said Obama won, some said McCain stumbled. No one mentioned any of Obama’s gaffes.
Cr4sh Dummy on September 26, 2008 at 11:10 PM
I think he had it about right. A draw in Obama’s weakest area translates to advantage Obama, although a goodly portion wasn’t foreign policy.
a capella on September 26, 2008 at 11:10 PM
BalbiBabe,
Any info on the “Mud Hut” ? Just askin’
Over.
1GooDDaDDy on September 26, 2008 at 11:11 PM
Just heard on CNN, after Wolf Blitzer interviewed Joe Biden, who said repeatedly “I just hope I do as well in the vice presidential debates, as Barack did tonight against John McCain…”
Wolf Blitzer:
Thank you for joining us, Senator Biden. It sure would be nice if Sarah Palin would have joined us…
Anderson Cooper:
Don’t hold you breath on THAT one…
What a*******
VastRightWingConspirator on September 26, 2008 at 11:11 PM
Vote
http://www.star-telegram.com/767/story/936537.html
indythinker on September 26, 2008 at 11:11 PM
The Luntz group is a perfect example of the wussification of America.
ejbentz on September 26, 2008 at 11:11 PM
Krauthammer HATES the Palin pick. I think he and Will are drinking the same hate Palin sauce.
CC
CapedConservative on September 26, 2008 at 11:12 PM
Oh shiznitz! McCain up with an ad already..LOVE IT!
SouthernGent on September 26, 2008 at 11:12 PM
Frank Luntz poll group went heavily for Obama.
When Obama ripped on McCain for mistakes in Iraq, the “GOP” presence in the poll group agreed with obama on a 62% basis.
indythinker on September 26, 2008 at 11:12 PM
Those groups are always the same… the followers on one side always mimic the comments of the first person.
CC
CapedConservative on September 26, 2008 at 11:13 PM
WAIT A MINUTE? HOW CAN FOX PUT ON BIDEN AND NOT PALIN. FOX MISSES THE POINT ON THIS BIG
ConservativePartyNow on September 26, 2008 at 11:13 PM
Biden: aw crap why didn’t they nominate me.
fiatboomer on September 26, 2008 at 11:13 PM
I think McCain did a good job of establishing himself as an individual and that is important for Independents, they tend to vote for the individual as much as policy.
The whole economy thing just burns me, this Democrat Congress has been so pathetic that I have to admit I felt kind of sorry for Bush. Whatever the problems in Washington, the Congress had as much or more to do with it than Bush. I would have had more respect for Obama if he had said, both parties have spent too much, but I will try to change that. But no he just demonized Bush. I remember when Bush vetoed that farm bill because of the price tag, Obama was one of the Democrats who helped to push it through. McCain supported the veto. There is a difference right there.
Terrye on September 26, 2008 at 11:13 PM
McCain should have gone after Obama about the consequences of defeat in Iraq.
Crux Australis on September 26, 2008 at 11:14 PM
As a Obama supporter its hard to be objective about how well he did in the debate. But I am think that McCain was the better debater tonight, he was more clear and to the point with less verbal tics. I also didn’t like how Obama interrupted McCain. I think McCain hurt Obama when he mocked him about knowing what Kissinger thinks about foreign policy better than him. Having said that, I don’t think McCain knocked him out, Obama displayed a clear and consistent worldview when it came to foreign policy. I think he demolished the stereotype that he is a vapid celebrity out of his depth. With McCain sinking in the polls, he needed to have a game changing win. I don’t think he accomplished that tonight.
Ric on September 26, 2008 at 11:14 PM
Obummer won the first part. I expected more from Johnny Mac. But what do I know, I got in the bottle during BOR (Rove still rules) McCaine won the rest but the leftwing media will score it all as a win for Obummer.
oldgoat on September 26, 2008 at 11:14 PM
He deserves full credit for being fair and balanced, but I can’t really say he did such a good job over all. There’s 3 things I saw that were not so good.
1) He let half the debate get spent on the economy, which is already supposed to be the subject of a debate.
2) He seemed to be stuck on getting McCain and Obama talking directly to each other, which is not the point of a debate.
3) Getting McCain and Obama talking directly turned policy or political differences into personality differences, which muddled the whole point of having a debate over the issues.
theregoestheneighborhood on September 26, 2008 at 11:14 PM
Instead of working on image, Obama should improve his brother George’s life.
Loxodonta on September 26, 2008 at 11:14 PM
I loved watching the debate with you all but man I wish the live feed wouldn’t have made firefox go nuts when I would reload the page.
tee866 on September 26, 2008 at 11:14 PM
some blog up on kos has a list of sites they’re trying to spam.
p0s3r on September 26, 2008 at 11:14 PM
Will? Will???????
The man who calls the 18 billion in earmarks a budget rounding error?
Elitist knows not Red or Blue. Witness Wall Street and Hollywood Blvd.
Limerick on September 26, 2008 at 11:15 PM
One of the things that occurred to me this evening, if Mc is possessed of such an irrational temper, he did a damn nifty job of concealing it tonight. Oby definately tried to push his button a couple of times and just got a grin.
N4646W on September 26, 2008 at 11:15 PM
I take it Obama is interviewing for Dancing with the Stars, cause it sure seemed like he did a lot of dancing tonight.
N4646W on September 26, 2008 at 11:00 PM
Great one hubby! I feel McCain did fantastic. Obama was a ass.
sheebe on September 26, 2008 at 11:15 PM
I think many of Obama’s replys of “I agree with John” were simply cover… he either had no position or did not want to try to express one. McCain never agreed with Obama when it was reversed.
CC
CapedConservative on September 26, 2008 at 11:15 PM
OK, I am trying to look at this and ask, what is the average guy going to take away from this?
Obama was angry. Obama kept smirking. Obama kept angrily raising his hand like a little school boy. Obama kept interrupting. There was more than once he seemed to wonder around looking for a thought.
McCain always seemed calm. He always was respectful. He spoke with clear authority. He had command of the facts and he was tough! He was also funny!
Bottom line,, McCain could not have lost a single person tonight! He most likely won many people over! Obama had too have embarrassed or scared those who were considering him and certainly lost some
JellyToast on September 26, 2008 at 11:16 PM
Amanpour should go back to Iran. And why in the hell is a foreign aider and abetter like Ware even involved in commenting on a U.S. presidential debate? CNN is beyond disgusting.
Travis1 on September 26, 2008 at 11:16 PM
I think our country might be screwed. We now have to explain the fine nuances of diplomacy and geopolitical strategy in a soundbyte to the American people. There is no time to actually describe what is going on.
In every issue, McCain needs time to explain how Obama is mischaracterizing the complex issues. He can’t do it–no one can–in 15 seconds.
Obama has the soundbytes and bullshit down pat. McCain actually believes what he says and is right about the issues. Modern TV journalism allows only 15 seconds per answer.
If Obama is president, we will have nukes going off around the world. This is fucking bad.
indythinker on September 26, 2008 at 11:17 PM
I’m waiting for the SNL rehash of this where they show Obama interrupting McCain after every syllable.
Honestly, that more than anything which was actually said made the biggest impression on me. McCain was clearly, visably resisting the urge to talk over Obama. Obama apparently lacks that degree of self-control.
McCain looked like a guy who could control himself, regardless of his emotional state at the moment (isn’t he supposed to have some thermonuclear rage bubbling just beneath the surface?). He sure did better than I would have in his place; were I opposite Obama and he kept refusing to control himself they would have had to stop the debate long enough to dislodge my hands from his supercilious throat.
Harpazo on September 26, 2008 at 11:17 PM
I live in De. I have listened to that idiot biden for an eternity! John cleaned up tonight, clearly proving obama is an “empty suit” no question, if you have a brain, who won tonight! GO MCCAIN!
mdreb on September 26, 2008 at 11:18 PM
As a concerned athiest who has voted for a Democrat in every election since FDR and I strong supporter of Barak Hussein Obama, I must say shame on Hussein for his lies and distortions about Senator John S. McCain’s record. This lifelong Democrat is reconsidering his choice for president this year and I’m urging all of my athiest friends to do the same.
CanadianGuy on September 26, 2008 at 11:18 PM
Indy thinker, thanks for the reference. Easy to get in and vote.
Bambi on September 26, 2008 at 11:18 PM
Judging by the expression on his face, I’d say Krauthammer is walking around with a grapefruit up his rectum.
mushroom on September 26, 2008 at 11:19 PM
To some extent, the McCain camp has been sheltering Palin.
Cr4sh Dummy on September 26, 2008 at 11:19 PM
“but imagine being an independent watcher – how did it look to the wider world ?”
I call BS and shenanigans. There is nothing independent or fair minded about the “international watchers” you guys are spun so hard by your ridiculous media that all you can do is parrot obamba’s perfection.
He is a stumbling fool and can barely speak contemporaneously. He stutters his way through every sentence and manages to say nothing and you and the media cant wait to coronate him and bend the knee.
America1st on September 26, 2008 at 11:20 PM
Bingo. This guy’s not Kerry II, he’s Gore II.
SNL had sure as hell better nail Obama on this in their first debate skit.
Harpazo on September 26, 2008 at 11:20 PM
Most repeated phrases of the debate by each candidate:
Obama: Senator McCain is absolutely right…
McCain: Senator Obama doesn’t understand…
fossten on September 26, 2008 at 11:20 PM
Uh…
Skywise on September 26, 2008 at 11:20 PM
Krauthammer is wheelchair bound…. BUT he doesn’t like Palin.
CC
CapedConservative on September 26, 2008 at 11:21 PM
When Obama brought up his Kenyan father, Senator McCain should of asked him how his Kenyan brother was doing.
Elric66 on September 26, 2008 at 11:21 PM
Yeah, McCain’s body language was MUCH superior to Obama’s. When Obama wasn’t interrupting, he was looking down as if he was dozing, or sneering, or making some other facial contortion. Or slouching. Not very smart.
One thing that annoyed me about that Fox pannel is some woman saying Obama never stuttered or made verbal gaffes… Guess I was watching a different debate. Then some other woman stated that McCain didn’t speak clear…well, gee. I wonder if a rifle butt to the face had anything to do with that? And then she sneered about how McCain spoke about his past which she didn’t care about as opposed to Obama looking to the future…. Well, I’m sorry lady. But you get knowledge and experience from the PAST, not the future. The future is just a dream, but the past is cold hard fact.
wolfva on September 26, 2008 at 11:22 PM
Uhhh…Krauthammer is confined to a wheelchair.
Just so ya know. ;)
pugwriter on September 26, 2008 at 11:22 PM
I think the McCain campaign needs to argue that McCain is smarter than Obama. This will be very controversial, which is great, because it will get lots of coverage. The proof is in Obama’s vagueness. Obama sounds like he knows what he’s talking about, but he’s vague. McCain has specifics. McCain is smarter than Obama.
indythinker on September 26, 2008 at 11:22 PM
I think many of Obama’s replys of “I agree with John” were simply cover… he either had no position or did not want to try to express one. McCain never agreed with Obama when it was reversed.
CC
CapedConservative on September 26, 2008 at 11:15 PM
hawkdriver on September 26, 2008 at 11:23 PM
Good point Indy. I think half of Obama’s answers to specifics about foreign policy was to talk about how the Bush administration was ‘wrong to go into Iraq’, even when the discussion was N. Korea. McCain gave real answers, with real facts.
wolfva on September 26, 2008 at 11:24 PM
I just endured the 10 pages of questions on vote.com to vote. Its McCain by 86 to 14 last I checked. And they make you register a working email, so its alot more constrained than the rest of them.
Chuck Schick on September 26, 2008 at 11:24 PM
This should result in lots of ads for McCain… show McCain’s postition… show Obama agreeing with John. Ask which is the leaderl.
CC
CapedConservative on September 26, 2008 at 11:25 PM
I think Obama hoped to rile McCain, but wound up a lot more rattled himself.
I did get the impression at first that McCain seemed tired, but his energy picked up as time went on. He let Obama get away with way too much in blaming Bush for the current bailout, rather than pointing out all the times Bush tried to get Congress to deal with reform of Fannie Mae/Freddy Mac, to no avail. He at least should have pointed out that numerous Republicans tried to push the issue of reform in 2004-2005, 3 years ago, which was a couple years before Obama claimed to be concerned about it.
theregoestheneighborhood on September 26, 2008 at 11:25 PM
There is, but it may not go until after the election.
baldilocks on September 26, 2008 at 11:25 PM
I have to respect Ric if he really is an Obama supporter. And I think most Americans watching this will absolutely agree, Mac hit a homer. They might not all admit it, but he won this debate. Hands down.
hawkdriver on September 26, 2008 at 11:26 PM
But so true. To paraphrase Obama — you can bestow an Ivy League degreee upon a fool but he is still fool.
rplat on September 26, 2008 at 11:27 PM
Hey…. don’t forget….
Obama’s got a bracelet too…!!!
TheKernel on September 26, 2008 at 11:28 PM
Check!
SkinnerVic on September 26, 2008 at 11:28 PM
Cr4sh Dummy on September 26, 2008 at 11:10 PM
I saw that, they said McCain stutter to much. What?
Cindy Munford on September 26, 2008 at 11:29 PM
The Barack Obama campaign is asking Missouri law enforcement to target anyone who lies or runs a misleading TV ad during the presidential campaign.
fossten on September 26, 2008 at 11:29 PM
Absolutely. The wifey and I were just talking about that.
If McCain’s team has any sense at all, they’ll have ads starting tomorrow showing McCain answering a question and Obama saying, “I agree with John” over and over and over.
Hell, that ought to be McCains campaign slogan from now on.
“I agree with John, and Obama does too”.
BacaDog on September 26, 2008 at 11:30 PM
Drudge poll at 70-27 now with about 94,000 votes.
pugwriter on September 26, 2008 at 11:31 PM
Wow…Ok.
Over.
1GooDDaDDy on September 26, 2008 at 11:31 PM
Well, I was worried that McCain was going to 86 the rescue plan. Fortunately, no. His candidacy and the GOP are alive for now.
indythinker on September 26, 2008 at 11:32 PM
For the opening, Obama looked relaxed, strong and glowing, like he’d just spent a day at a spa, while McCain looked like he’d been working an exhausting schedule for two days. So, I was worried right away.
But as the debate went on, McCain got stronger and stronger, while Obama looked more and more like an agitated, petulant child. (Sort of like an even more immature Chavez?) And I started thinking McCain was winning this.
By the end, McCain looked like like he could knock Obama over by just smiling at him. I am so happy with McCain’s performance tonight. I don’t see how anybody but his most loyal acolytes could say Obama won this debate.
Loxodonta on September 26, 2008 at 11:33 PM
Apparently Krauthammer isn’t the only one with fruit up his butt…
It’s his ATTITUDE I was referring to. Geesh. Don’t be so damned literal.
mushroom on September 26, 2008 at 11:34 PM
Obama – Tons of hypotheticals from a guy with no experience. He comes across almost like a teenager or a twenty-something.
McCain – An adult. A man who’s made very difficult decisions including those involving thousands of peoples’ lives and had to live with the consequences.
I think the above was evident in the debate and McCain won it decisively.
Django on September 26, 2008 at 11:34 PM
Hah…FOXNews is so on McCain’s side…yay! That “I don’t even have a seal yet” line was great.
SouthernGent on September 26, 2008 at 11:36 PM
I would too!
One thing I think all of us Indies or harder right conservatives all get, is the platitudes about foriegn policy and theoretical crap is just that. And Obama only came up with one thing that was any more that just that when he said 3 brigades (not battalions there Joe “Xerox”) But you can’t run foriegn policy parrotting simple points that someone else has said. Mac had a strategic out-line. Barry was touch-feely and three new brigades.
hawkdriver on September 26, 2008 at 11:36 PM
I don’t know what debate they were watching, maybe they are the same Independents they are with Cindy Sheehan’s group or something.
Cr4sh Dummy on September 26, 2008 at 11:36 PM
jinx, coke!
hawkdriver on September 26, 2008 at 11:37 PM
I agree. The hard core Obamamaniacs will claim their guy won but I honestly think McCain won it convincingly.
Django on September 26, 2008 at 11:37 PM
Jeez, what ads will Obama run then? Certainly not the one where they say McCain opposes stem cell research.
funky chicken on September 26, 2008 at 11:38 PM
They said they only split between Bush and Kerry voters
ConservativePartyNow on September 26, 2008 at 11:38 PM
For me the line of the night was
I don’t have a seal yet.
tee866 on September 26, 2008 at 11:39 PM
In spite of our feelings about McCain winning, prepare yourself for tomorrows CNN/Gallup Poll:
Debate Winner
Obama 58%
McCain 40%
Tie/NA 2%
CapedConservative on September 26, 2008 at 11:39 PM
I’ll put it down that the MSM will have “Obama Wins!” as headlines tomorrow.
Just wait and see!
I may sound like a broken record, but please repeat after me:
The Propaganda Wing of the Socialist Democrat Party
lsutiger on September 26, 2008 at 11:39 PM
I dunno if it I shoulda been laughing or offended when Obama started talking about how we should treat returning vets as if McCain was completely clueless. Someone help me out here, which candidate was in the military? Which one actually sacrificed for his country? I mean, to listen to Obama it was him.
Yeah Hawk; Obama kept saying he’d send in 3 brigades. But to do what? He never did explain that. Hell, you can send the entire US Military there, but without a STRATEGY they can’t do much.
wolfva on September 26, 2008 at 11:39 PM
Is there a jail big enough for all of us?
hawkdriver on September 26, 2008 at 11:40 PM
?
Django on September 26, 2008 at 11:40 PM
Well,I’ve treid to comment, at comment 666,and
I hope this works!
canopfor on September 26, 2008 at 11:41 PM
McCain won this one:)
canopfor on September 26, 2008 at 11:43 PM
We both posted within a two comments that he was talking all hypo and no substance only I said he was touchy-feely.
hawkdriver on September 26, 2008 at 11:43 PM
Wasn’t there a controversy about a week ago where a some anti war activists infiltrated into one of these focus groups of “independent voters”? Same thing could have happened here.
Cr4sh Dummy on September 26, 2008 at 11:46 PM
Funky, it’s only McCain ads attacking Obama that the “Truth Squad” is concerned about. Obama can say whatever he wants to about McCain.
mushroom on September 26, 2008 at 11:47 PM
ConservativePartyNow on September 26, 2008 at 11:38 PM
Yeah but really there is no way to know for sure about that.
tee866 on September 26, 2008 at 11:48 PM
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