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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McCain should bring up class warfare right now.
Entelechy on September 26, 2008 at 9:19 PM
You have to talk about total revenue, with dynamic scoring, rather than tax rates to get to the meat of the matter. You don’t get higher revenue by raising taxes. You get less economic activity.
RBMN on September 26, 2008 at 9:19 PM
Tax companies so they’ll all go overseas
Ordinary1 on September 26, 2008 at 9:19 PM
Keep going on spending. Obama on the ropes.
indythinker on September 26, 2008 at 9:19 PM
Why did Mac let Obama interrupt his answer!
CCRWM on September 26, 2008 at 9:20 PM
Ruffini on twitter says Obama is making attacks, McCain looks post-partisan.
Post partisan isn’t going to win this debate Mac…at least I don’t think so
Pilgrim on September 26, 2008 at 9:20 PM
845 billion global poverty act
Virginia Shanahan on September 26, 2008 at 9:20 PM
Fuzzy math?
John Doe on September 26, 2008 at 9:20 PM
so, Obama wants to spend more then the $700B?
he just admitted he WILL raise taxes.
madmonkphotog on September 26, 2008 at 9:20 PM
Those that are the EMPLOYERS YOU BAG OF ……
HornetSting on September 26, 2008 at 9:20 PM
Obama keeps calling him “John”. I don’t think we’ll hear McCain call him “Barack”.
capitalist piglet on September 26, 2008 at 9:20 PM
Here we go on taxes. Get ‘em, McCain.
BuckeyeSam on September 26, 2008 at 9:21 PM
Hey Obama, people are struggling right now because gas prices are high because we can’t use our own resources.
Corporate tax too high, good one McCain!
Ordinary1 on September 26, 2008 at 9:21 PM
McCain needs to tell Obama that his tax cuts for 95% of the people goes out the window with this bailout!!!
Star20 on September 26, 2008 at 9:21 PM
Lehrer wants a cage match.
HornetSting on September 26, 2008 at 9:21 PM
my friends…we will be appalled!
Pilgrim on September 26, 2008 at 9:21 PM
my friends!! drink
carbon_footprint on September 26, 2008 at 9:21 PM
My Friends…Gulp.
Over.
1GooDDaDDy on September 26, 2008 at 9:22 PM
932 million! say it again and again
james23 on September 26, 2008 at 9:22 PM
To Democrats, this is irrelevant because the government is supposed to employ everyone.
BuckeyeSam on September 26, 2008 at 9:22 PM
McCain does look pretty relaxed I have to admit. Obama looks like someone just gave him a wedgie.
John Doe on September 26, 2008 at 9:22 PM
You’re not in class, Obama. You are not the only one on stage. Sit down and get educated.
HornetSting on September 26, 2008 at 9:22 PM
$932M – for what?
McCain’s plan sounds a hell of a lot better.
madmonkphotog on September 26, 2008 at 9:22 PM
McCain tax cuts Obama. Obama is lying! Who knew?
Ordinary1 on September 26, 2008 at 9:22 PM
They are BOTH still talking about give aways!! Where have they BEEN this week???
Star20 on September 26, 2008 at 9:22 PM
HA! Wouldn’t that be a hoot! McCain getting Obama in a rear naked choke and having Obama tapping out. THAT would be GRAND!
Pilgrim on September 26, 2008 at 9:22 PM
There’s that 95% figure again.
flyawaybird on September 26, 2008 at 9:22 PM
Obama starts stumbling, sounding like a used car salesman
indythinker on September 26, 2008 at 9:22 PM
UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Mattpat11 on September 26, 2008 at 9:22 PM
Please call Obama on the 95% percent tax cut. Not true. NOt only not true but impossible
church on September 26, 2008 at 9:22 PM
OK, This is now officially the economic debate.
John Doe on September 26, 2008 at 9:23 PM
Rangel is head of Ways and Means. Talk to him about loopholes.
BuckeyeSam on September 26, 2008 at 9:23 PM
God forbid..then why are they going overseas, dummy?
HornetSting on September 26, 2008 at 9:23 PM
So, Obama wants to close the loopholes so businesses will leave the country?
Ordinary1 on September 26, 2008 at 9:23 PM
Why is Obama looking at the floor so often?
flyawaybird on September 26, 2008 at 9:23 PM
Bambis mouth is running overtime.
Over.
1GooDDaDDy on September 26, 2008 at 9:24 PM
McCain wants to tax health care?
I would love to be able to buy my own health care and take it with me every where. Make it affordable.
________________________________________________
Here it goes! Energy bill!
Virginia Shanahan on September 26, 2008 at 9:24 PM
FESTOONED!!!!!!!!
carbon_footprint on September 26, 2008 at 9:24 PM
Right now, the average person needs to have $257 thousand saved for retirement. $250K is not a big salary.
Employers pay 75% of health benefits right now. Obama should know that.
madmonkphotog on September 26, 2008 at 9:24 PM
Obama is such an idiot. He sounds like he actually believes that you can target taxes to just the most productive. The people who pay the most are also the people that can pass those costs on to their employees and customers.
RBMN on September 26, 2008 at 9:24 PM
Festooned! Love it.
BuckeyeSam on September 26, 2008 at 9:24 PM
McCain pulling out the voting record of Obama. Nice.
Pilgrim on September 26, 2008 at 9:24 PM
He’s looking for his brain…
HornetSting on September 26, 2008 at 9:24 PM
Like his namesake in Top Gun, Maverick refuses to engage.
Valiant on September 26, 2008 at 9:24 PM
did mccain just call jim “pat”?
unmeritedfavor on September 26, 2008 at 9:24 PM
“You’ve got to look at our records”
Mattpat11 on September 26, 2008 at 9:24 PM
McCain has led Obama into his wheelhouse, spending, now he is kicking ass
indythinker on September 26, 2008 at 9:24 PM
ENERGY BILL with breaks for the oil companies. Obama for, McCain against. Walking the walk, big John with a roundhouse.
Ordinary1 on September 26, 2008 at 9:24 PM
Obama trying to interrupt and make McCain mad. Heh. Why is Barack on the right? Good lord.
SouthernGent on September 26, 2008 at 9:24 PM
LOL! Where’s my thesaurus?
Pilgrim on September 26, 2008 at 9:25 PM
what ?
custer on September 26, 2008 at 9:25 PM
Bambi, can’t shut up.
Over.
1GooDDaDDy on September 26, 2008 at 9:25 PM
Festooned…I think that deserves a shot.
HornetSting on September 26, 2008 at 9:25 PM
“Definition of rich” –
“95%” – lying again – McCain, nail the math – 40%…opportunity now, losing again.
Shifting is indignant.
Entelechy on September 26, 2008 at 9:25 PM
How are all these people getting tax cuts with the bailout and all the programs Obama says he is going to implement. God, McCain needs to get on this stuff. Start laying out the promises Obama has made and how much it is going to cost the taxpayer versus this supposed tax cuts we are all going to get.
church on September 26, 2008 at 9:25 PM
Who’s right?
Ordinary1 on September 26, 2008 at 9:25 PM
YEP, so far about what I expected. But not what I hoped for.
McCain won’t directly attack his fraternity brother; will let him lie with impunity.
Both spouting populist pap, with little basis in reality.
Beyond that, McCain is doing OK at best, when he COULD be wiping the floor with Obama if he really wanted to.
LegendHasIt on September 26, 2008 at 9:25 PM
why does bambi keep looking at Lehrer for help?
akerralls on September 26, 2008 at 9:25 PM
Oil companies really don’t make much profit.
madmonkphotog on September 26, 2008 at 9:25 PM
Okay, McCain is warming up. He can take Obama down. Will he?
Virginia Shanahan on September 26, 2008 at 9:26 PM
You can’t smart bomb with taxes. Taxes hurt everybody. Say it, John!
indythinker on September 26, 2008 at 9:26 PM
I’ll check here from time to time. I will not be watching the debate because the thought of listening to Osama Obama speaking makes me physically ill. The sheer number of people I know on Facebook who gush over him is staggering. Maybe I need better friends :-(
Mooseman on September 26, 2008 at 9:26 PM
this is a LIE FEST
Lehrer has lost control
james23 on September 26, 2008 at 9:26 PM
Debunk the oil company myth.
BuckeyeSam on September 26, 2008 at 9:26 PM
Obama, “Look…”
I’m wondering if the Team Obama plan of dragging out the Mean Mac might just be turned upside down…
Pilgrim on September 26, 2008 at 9:26 PM
McCain calls him “Sen. Obama”, and Jesus calls him “John”.
What a brat.
Entelechy on September 26, 2008 at 9:26 PM
McCain needs to call him on the OIl Company tax cuts. It’s not only for oil corporations. He needs to beat him over the head with the lie he is telling
church on September 26, 2008 at 9:26 PM
“Fact of the matter” is Obamaspeak for “I’m about to lie now.”
RBMN on September 26, 2008 at 9:26 PM
When do we get to the foreign affairs part of this debate?
FalseProfit on September 26, 2008 at 9:26 PM
I was watching the first ten minutes on TV and thought Obama was prevailing easily, but now that I’m in my bedroom on the computer and I can only hear the audio, it seems more even to me.
radjah shelduck on September 26, 2008 at 9:26 PM
McCain gets points for “festooned” but I don’t see him pulling ahead yet. Stay on him John, and emphasize your superior record with specifics not generalities.
Spirit of 1776 on September 26, 2008 at 9:26 PM
I was opposed to it before I voted for it.
HornetSting on September 26, 2008 at 9:26 PM
Agreed.
BuckeyeSam on September 26, 2008 at 9:26 PM
Yes, actually less than the business profit margin average.
carbon_footprint on September 26, 2008 at 9:26 PM
Energy Bill on the floor right now is crap! And wouldn’t produce one frop of offshore oil. Lie like a rug Obama.
Ordinary1 on September 26, 2008 at 9:26 PM
Because he’s *hic* bi-partisan.
Heh.
Mac is toast. Oh well.
ManlyRash on September 26, 2008 at 9:27 PM
McCain looks comfortable. Obama seems defensive. Wise_Men remains a worthless troll for his rabid partisanship.
highhopes on September 26, 2008 at 9:27 PM
Barry is on the defense -
UHHHH count is 95
iam7545 on September 26, 2008 at 9:27 PM
uh uh uh uh
custer on September 26, 2008 at 9:27 PM
This is a good question.
CanadianGuy on September 26, 2008 at 9:27 PM
well uh uhm uh uh er uh uhm ah er uh ah
Mattpat11 on September 26, 2008 at 9:27 PM
Oh man, Air Obama, crash and burn.
HornetSting on September 26, 2008 at 9:27 PM
The Mav is doing very well
ConservativePartyNow on September 26, 2008 at 9:27 PM
I unhappily agree. But Obama is starting to interrupt which makes him look bad.
Spirit of 1776 on September 26, 2008 at 9:27 PM
Alternative energy for Obama–two sticks.
BuckeyeSam on September 26, 2008 at 9:27 PM
Ten years time to be energy independent; all we need is windmills and solar cells. Right Barry.
FalseProfit on September 26, 2008 at 9:27 PM
McWimp! Beat the ObumBa like a rented mule, you kitty cat!
SunSword on September 26, 2008 at 9:27 PM
Can’t do everything he wants? What’s Obama going to sacrifice?
Man, he sounds more conservative every time I hear him. He KNOWS he can’t win selling his socialism.
Virginia Shanahan on September 26, 2008 at 9:28 PM
There is a candidate discussion section built into every topic section.
RBMN on September 26, 2008 at 9:28 PM
hey i can moon walk
custer on September 26, 2008 at 9:28 PM
The black dude loves to hear his own voice. Blah, blah, blah, blah.
SouthernGent on September 26, 2008 at 9:28 PM
hey…baraky, what are you going to give up?
Chudi on September 26, 2008 at 9:28 PM
Call the ObumBa on his LIES! And bring up ACORN! You wittle kitty!
SunSword on September 26, 2008 at 9:28 PM
good question. Obama again voting “present”.
he’s saying socialism will have to wait.
he’s still driving an SUV for events.
people demand more of healthcare – healthcare needs to do R&D – so it’ll cost more.
madmonkphotog on September 26, 2008 at 9:28 PM
Have we heard any sacrifices yet?
Pilgrim on September 26, 2008 at 9:28 PM
OH, here we go with China again…our children are free..can you say the same for Chinese children????
HornetSting on September 26, 2008 at 9:28 PM
We need smarter kids! Vitamins for everyone!
Ordinary1 on September 26, 2008 at 9:28 PM
I can’t believe Obama is still pushing universal health care and pushing a $1 Trillion bailout.
Star20 on September 26, 2008 at 9:28 PM
The O is sounding mad I thought he was supposed to make Mac lose his temper not the other way around
tee866 on September 26, 2008 at 9:28 PM
Obama is promising things that he can’t deliver.
BuckeyeSam on September 26, 2008 at 9:28 PM
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