Live Blog and Chat: Presidential debate
posted at 8:00 pm on September 26, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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.
Blowback
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missed opportunity I think for McCain here.
Pilgrim on September 26, 2008 at 9:11 PM
Answer with a direct response, McCain.
madmonkphotog on September 26, 2008 at 9:11 PM
Holding people accountable–good stuff by Mac here
james23 on September 26, 2008 at 9:11 PM
Give him a minute he’s just warming up
tee866 on September 26, 2008 at 9:11 PM
The liberals caused nothing? They lived on the Mars until now? They didn’t benefit from what caused this mess? They were not in charge since 2006?
Yes, what to do next, but NOOOOOOOOOO, it’s not the GREEEEEEEED of right alone!!!!!!!!!!!
Entelechy on September 26, 2008 at 9:11 PM
McCain is not calling Obama on any of his BS.
Mark1971 on September 26, 2008 at 9:11 PM
McCain is giving general platitudes and talk populist B.S.
CanadianGuy on September 26, 2008 at 9:11 PM
Is Obama hyped up on something?
Mattpat11 on September 26, 2008 at 9:12 PM
NO SHIAT, LEARN TO DEBATE AND FIGHT NARRATIVES OR GTFO…
that can’t stand or McCain deserves to lose…
ninjapirate on September 26, 2008 at 9:12 PM
McCain is telling the same old story about Ike. He’s offering platitudes while Obama is cutting his legs out from under him.
Star20 on September 26, 2008 at 9:12 PM
Jesus claims that he could have prevented this crisis but others didn’t let him prevent it.
Entelechy on September 26, 2008 at 9:12 PM
Wall St./Main St.
drinkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!
carbon_footprint on September 26, 2008 at 9:12 PM
McCain call this doofus out! What a liar Obama is!
jencab on September 26, 2008 at 9:12 PM
Wages have gone up.
madmonkphotog on September 26, 2008 at 9:12 PM
And again…..McCain lets him get away with it.
IrishEi on September 26, 2008 at 9:12 PM
Too bad McCain is restrained in being critical of democrats….makes his arguments weak.
John Doe on September 26, 2008 at 9:12 PM
Obama has not business talking about this problem as if it is something wholly separate from him when he’s in up to his eyeballs in this.
Kim Priestap on September 26, 2008 at 9:12 PM
Obama is such a shameless reviser of history…
RBMN on September 26, 2008 at 9:12 PM
The ‘old man’ – “are you afraid I couldn’t hear him”?
Entelechy on September 26, 2008 at 9:12 PM
Obama can’t look McCain in the eye!
jencab on September 26, 2008 at 9:13 PM
“DID YOU THINK I COULDN’T HEAR HIM?”
:LOL
unmeritedfavor on September 26, 2008 at 9:13 PM
what is the over and under on Uh Uh UH
DVPTexFla on September 26, 2008 at 9:13 PM
BARACK OBAMA: “John is absolutely right.”
JeffreyLloyd on September 26, 2008 at 9:13 PM
i thing barry is hiding a teleproter in his ears
custer on September 26, 2008 at 9:13 PM
No, sir, liberals never fed any lobbyists.
Entelechy on September 26, 2008 at 9:13 PM
“are you affraid I couldn’t hear him?” good line john.
Over30 on September 26, 2008 at 9:13 PM
Remember guys, what we want and what plays best to the MSM that will interperet this for the public are not the same thing.
I hate the pussyfooting too, but it is what it is.
pugwriter on September 26, 2008 at 9:13 PM
We drill here in the Gulf Coast. the nuts on either coast don’t want their pretty beaches and scenery messed up.
the Gulf is pulling its weight on energy.
madmonkphotog on September 26, 2008 at 9:13 PM
Wall St./Main St.
d r innnkkkk!
carbon_footprint on September 26, 2008 at 9:13 PM
Now I think we know why Palin is doing so badly, talk about Senator Platitudipus…
ninjapirate on September 26, 2008 at 9:13 PM
blah blah blah blah blah….victims..blah blah blah…blame…blah blah blah…the past…blah blah blah…
Come on, attack him McCain…don’t agree with him!
HornetSting on September 26, 2008 at 9:13 PM
Come on McCain, nail him with the 2005 vote that the Democrats killed the oversight in the Senate Banking Committee! Do It!
Ordinary1 on September 26, 2008 at 9:13 PM
Shoot me. Just shoot me. McCain thinks he is running for the Nobel Peace prize.
Star20 on September 26, 2008 at 9:14 PM
That’s it I need to get drunk fast to watch this thing if they aren’t gonna call him on the BS
tee866 on September 26, 2008 at 9:14 PM
McCain lets them slide on who’s brought on this crisis. Disappointing!!!!
Entelechy on September 26, 2008 at 9:14 PM
No he’s doing OK, platitudes are coming from Obama. McCain brought up dependence on foreign oil.
JonPrichard on September 26, 2008 at 9:14 PM
McCain ought to be correcting Obama’s B.S. WHY doesn’t he????
RBMN on September 26, 2008 at 9:14 PM
Economic issues so far. McCain holding his own. Not making up any ground though. Obama so far hasn’t stumbled.
indythinker on September 26, 2008 at 9:14 PM
john, there’s no r in washington.
Over30 on September 26, 2008 at 9:14 PM
Lehrer is pulling teeth to get these guys to go after each other. Obama is scoring points with his followers and McCain is just laying down. This is going to get ugly if he doesn’t start addressing Obama’s points without being led by Lehrer.
Pilgrim on September 26, 2008 at 9:14 PM
1st Lead Question:
Obama – B
McCain – B
JeffreyLloyd on September 26, 2008 at 9:14 PM
McCain has already given it away. Standing there and letting that boy LIE.
GMAB!
Virginia Shanahan on September 26, 2008 at 9:14 PM
so far, no big differences b/w the two
james23 on September 26, 2008 at 9:14 PM
uhhhh count is 25
iam7545 on September 26, 2008 at 9:14 PM
McCain has to jump on Obama’s horse crap and call out Dodd and co.
186k on September 26, 2008 at 9:14 PM
I agree. McCain should be sh***ing all over Dodd and Barney Frank.
BuckeyeSam on September 26, 2008 at 9:14 PM
Narrate or die!!! Go read some Alasdair MacIntyre Team McCuckoldry…
ninjapirate on September 26, 2008 at 9:14 PM
Mac’s to nice.
I like the fighting flyer approuch.
Over.
1GooDDaDDy on September 26, 2008 at 9:15 PM
Sigh ….
CanadianGuy on September 26, 2008 at 9:15 PM
Nobody under 40 knows what the “Great Society” was.
RBMN on September 26, 2008 at 9:15 PM
Earmarks! Here we go!
Ordinary1 on September 26, 2008 at 9:15 PM
Can I get a refund?
HornetSting on September 26, 2008 at 9:15 PM
Just got here…what have I missed?
dmarie on September 26, 2008 at 9:15 PM
McCain’s got to get off this reign in spending thing. I mean great do that but what are you going to do about the current crisis. Details, he isn’t doing well.
church on September 26, 2008 at 9:15 PM
“this one is kind of old?”
Mattpat11 on September 26, 2008 at 9:15 PM
gateway drug.
Obama has $806M reasons to be worried.
madmonkphotog on September 26, 2008 at 9:15 PM
McCain, GET OFF THE STUMP SPEECH!
JeffreyLloyd on September 26, 2008 at 9:16 PM
There you go MAC!!!!!!!!!!!
carbon_footprint on September 26, 2008 at 9:16 PM
Talk about earmarks, point out Obama’s earmark to his wife’s hospital.
BuckeyeSam on September 26, 2008 at 9:16 PM
yeahhhhhhhhhhh he’s doing it with the pork
tee866 on September 26, 2008 at 9:16 PM
ummm, now John is saying how the Republicans failed by spending too much. Godddddddddddddddd.
Star20 on September 26, 2008 at 9:16 PM
More attacks McCain!
dugan on September 26, 2008 at 9:16 PM
SMACK. Big John lowered the boom.
madmonkphotog on September 26, 2008 at 9:16 PM
Obama – here come the Palin attacks
JeffreyLloyd on September 26, 2008 at 9:16 PM
strike one. earmarks.
HornetSting on September 26, 2008 at 9:16 PM
Suspended
Ordinary1 on September 26, 2008 at 9:16 PM
uh oh…could this be a setup for the Acorn Earmark in this nightmare bill?
Pilgrim on September 26, 2008 at 9:16 PM
Indeed! Great opportunity to nail Jesus, missed. The fault is at the bilateral trough, and McCain let the lefties slide on someting this major, as if they were on another planet until now.
Entelechy on September 26, 2008 at 9:16 PM
Good grief. If McCain does not get fired up, OBumBa will kick his ass!
SunSword on September 26, 2008 at 9:16 PM
pork barrel spending
good by Mac
“I suspended requests for my home state”–BS by Oblarney
james23 on September 26, 2008 at 9:16 PM
“until we clean it up”. remember that statement.
I SUPPORT TRICKLE DOWN ECONOMICS.
madmonkphotog on September 26, 2008 at 9:17 PM
yeah he suspended requested for earmarks last year, when he starred thinking he had a shot at being president.
church on September 26, 2008 at 9:17 PM
Becaues I eas running for president.
It wasn’t me…..Bill, is that you?
I never had relations with that woman, EARMARKS!
HornetSting on September 26, 2008 at 9:17 PM
CEOs create jobs
Ordinary1 on September 26, 2008 at 9:17 PM
Lehrer is trying to provoke confrontation in the hopes Mac will fume or sputter. He believes the narrative.
phineas on September 26, 2008 at 9:17 PM
Obama sounds terrified. Why is he talking so fast and yelling into the mic? I hate to sound like a broken record, but this is distracting.
Mattpat11 on September 26, 2008 at 9:17 PM
ObumBa has been shamelessly lying — but McWimp has not been calling him on it! ACORN! Oil Shale! Dem complicity in FMFM!
SunSword on September 26, 2008 at 9:17 PM
I’m loving the USTREAM comments!
highhopes on September 26, 2008 at 9:17 PM
Is anyone else screaming at the TV
spypeach on September 26, 2008 at 9:18 PM
McCain needs to remind everyone of Obama’s fiscal corruptions.
profitsbeard on September 26, 2008 at 9:18 PM
vote obama so i can buy a cpu and a tank of gas
custer on September 26, 2008 at 9:18 PM
“Tax cut for 95% of Americans” will be one of the bigest Muenchhausen lies ever uttered. Only fools believe this, only sheep.
Entelechy on September 26, 2008 at 9:18 PM
Obama is well versed. I hope McCain is ready to trip him up. He needs to get on it.
…………….
DOH! There it is!
Virginia Shanahan on September 26, 2008 at 9:18 PM
HOw do you cut taxes on 95% of americans when 40% don’t pay taxes in the end? Someone needs to call Obama on this
church on September 26, 2008 at 9:18 PM
tax cuts for the rich…… great line, all the union boys at work use it… i simply reply..” have you every cashed a paycheck from a poor man ? “
palefaced on September 26, 2008 at 9:18 PM
Wow…McCain is playing the doormat here…not saying a thing in the face of blatent lies and blame shifting from O…this will kill him unless he grows a spine…he keeps playing the ‘deer in headlights’ here.
AUINSC on September 26, 2008 at 9:18 PM
Barack brings up high gas prices. Sick ‘em John
Ordinary1 on September 26, 2008 at 9:18 PM
McCain – “I don’t mean to go back and forth.”
It’s a frickin’ debate. Fight, Fight, Fight!!!
dugan on September 26, 2008 at 9:18 PM
Here we go….Go Get Him Mac!
Pilgrim on September 26, 2008 at 9:18 PM
RIGHT ON. After running for president.
Obama has nowhere to go.
madmonkphotog on September 26, 2008 at 9:18 PM
When are we going to get to National Security?
John Doe on September 26, 2008 at 9:19 PM
Oh, no. the “Maverick” line.
madmonkphotog on September 26, 2008 at 9:19 PM
get em, cain, get em!
HornetSting on September 26, 2008 at 9:19 PM
profitsbeard, McCain is talking about corruption, without nailing Obama. Nice will lose.
Entelechy on September 26, 2008 at 9:19 PM
ACCORN.
Over.
1GooDDaDDy on September 26, 2008 at 9:19 PM
NOW you’re talking John! “..under indictment” YES
IrishEi on September 26, 2008 at 9:19 PM
He just justified his earmarks as not triggered by lobbyists.
Good shot at Obama on the turnabout.
Time for McCain to point out that Obama’s “tax cut” is welfare. Also, cutting taxes for corporations will keep large corporations in country.
BuckeyeSam on September 26, 2008 at 9:19 PM
STUTTERING!
carbon_footprint on September 26, 2008 at 9:19 PM
Oh my goodness, I just did that math. Love it.
flyawaybird on September 26, 2008 at 9:19 PM
McCain is letting Obama walk all over him …. WTF?
CanadianGuy on September 26, 2008 at 9:19 PM
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