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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Screw the UN. I think I like this idea.
BuckeyeSam on September 26, 2008 at 10:06 PM
THAT’S what real foreign policy experience sounds like, Obambi.
Take note, O!bots. You’re boy just got PWN3D.
Good Lt on September 26, 2008 at 10:06 PM
League of Democracies!
+5 McCain
Maquis on September 26, 2008 at 10:06 PM
Oh Barry…they didn’t just start funding Hezbollah you dimwit.
Pilgrim on September 26, 2008 at 10:06 PM
Obama invoking Hezbollah. Chutzpah.
SouthernGent on September 26, 2008 at 10:07 PM
It should be clear to anyone that McCain knows the problems of the middle east better than Obama. McCain is winning in this area.
Wish he could get a “do over” on the first twenty minutes.
Star20 on September 26, 2008 at 10:07 PM
No. And he won’t. Next question.
ManlyRash on September 26, 2008 at 10:07 PM
Obama better be careful. He just used “game-changer.” That should cost him 10 points.
BuckeyeSam on September 26, 2008 at 10:07 PM
Obama avoids mentioning a Holocaust with regard to Israel. Is he a Holocaust denier?
indythinker on September 26, 2008 at 10:07 PM
But I want to sit down and talk with A=Jad. My friend.
HornetSting on September 26, 2008 at 10:07 PM
Obama: “McCain is absolutely right.” +6
carbon_footprint on September 26, 2008 at 10:07 PM
McCain just suggested the best idea of the night, form a league of democracies.
And Jeus, Obama just made a huge gaffe, he mistaken the Republican Guard with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
Cr4sh Dummy on September 26, 2008 at 10:07 PM
policy has not worked? the left talks only of sanctions, not action.
to them, the military option is off the table.
madmonkphotog on September 26, 2008 at 10:07 PM
Like Iran isn’t trying to instigate an arms race itself. I don’t think they need our help getting that started. But then again Obama believes everything is our fault
church on September 26, 2008 at 10:07 PM
Hey, I know. Let’s talk to Iran!!! We can invite the 12th Imam
Ordinary1 on September 26, 2008 at 10:08 PM
Barry thinks tougher sanctions will work… with cooperation with CHINA & RUSSIA… Yeah HOW’S THAT WORKIN’ SO FAR, BARRY?
NightmareOnKStreet on September 26, 2008 at 10:08 PM
Obama is deadly opposed to the League of Democracies. Naturally. He opposes democracy. All bow down to the great Obama. Any soldier that dies under Obama should be glad to die for Obama. Barf.
indythinker on September 26, 2008 at 10:08 PM
Preconditions. Giddyup.
BuckeyeSam on September 26, 2008 at 10:08 PM
Great catch!
carbon_footprint on September 26, 2008 at 10:08 PM
Obama’s answer on Iran is far more damaging to him than were mccain’s own comments.
now mac is zeroing in, since bama sort of reminded him how bad bama is on this issue
james23 on September 26, 2008 at 10:08 PM
Is it me, or would Obambi lose in a debate, not only to George Bush, but also to John Kerry?!?
Kai on September 26, 2008 at 10:08 PM
Barry barry barry…there is no way Russia is going to work against Iran…at least not seriously. A League of Democracies with their combined economic might could make it such that Iran couldn’t BUY anything from Russia and China.
stop remembering your talking points and THINK
Pilgrim on September 26, 2008 at 10:09 PM
Achmednijheade!
Ordinary1 on September 26, 2008 at 10:09 PM
Chavez, Ahmi….ZIIIIIIIIING!!!!!!
Here comes a lie, I can feel it!
Entelechy on September 26, 2008 at 10:09 PM
“Republican Guard with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.”
gaffetastic!
Buckaroo on September 26, 2008 at 10:09 PM
ouchie Barry you have been schooled on how to be Pres. tonight son.
tee866 on September 26, 2008 at 10:09 PM
You may want to start drinking when Barry says “John is right…….
IrishGirl17 on September 26, 2008 at 10:09 PM
School the tool!
HornetSting on September 26, 2008 at 10:09 PM
John, just call him Mahmoud “I need a dinner jacket”.
NightmareOnKStreet on September 26, 2008 at 10:09 PM
McCain throws the negotiation with tyrants in Obama’s face. Nice.
indythinker on September 26, 2008 at 10:09 PM
Obama is an effing psychopath! Plain and simple
John Doe on September 26, 2008 at 10:09 PM
if i’m getting robbed, i’m not talking my way out of it.
Obama is FLAT WRONG.
madmonkphotog on September 26, 2008 at 10:09 PM
OMG…Obama…lol. A’mad not most powerful man in Iran.
SouthernGent on September 26, 2008 at 10:10 PM
Obama trying to talk tough. What a laugh.
BuckeyeSam on September 26, 2008 at 10:10 PM
Heard that. I wasn’t looking – did Obama actually have to look at his bracelet to remember the name of the person whose name was on it? Saw that on LGF.
capitalist piglet on September 26, 2008 at 10:10 PM
McCain is now winning this debate. On foreign policy, Obama does not know what he is doing and saying.
To win the economic debate, McCain will need to go after the Democrats. McCain has not lost the economic debate; he is just not winning that one, unlike the foreign policy debate. It is just that McCain is wiping out Obama on foreign policy.
Phil Byler on September 26, 2008 at 10:10 PM
Kissinger card played!
Typhonsentra on September 26, 2008 at 10:10 PM
Barry Alinsky: Is a very arrogant man.
carbon_footprint on September 26, 2008 at 10:10 PM
Obama’s “no preconditions” have conditions? What an imbecile!
dugan on September 26, 2008 at 10:11 PM
Preconditions with the history to back it up. Bummer for you Barry.
I reserve the right! As President of the United States. At a place and time of my choosing. Sounds like a Van Damn movie.
Naive.
Ordinary1 on September 26, 2008 at 10:11 PM
“I reserve the right as president of the U.S. to…” Keep dreamin’ B.O., you arrogant pr*ck.
NightmareOnKStreet on September 26, 2008 at 10:11 PM
“I was called naive” – and you still are naive. But the fools don’t know the real you.
Entelechy on September 26, 2008 at 10:11 PM
Can Obama just vote present for the rest of the debate? He would do less damage to himself that way.
indythinker on September 26, 2008 at 10:11 PM
More great answers from McCain. Boy he’s heating up.
Spirit of 1776 on September 26, 2008 at 10:11 PM
That gaffe will live and die in the blogosphere. It will never see the light of day in mainstream America.
ManlyRash on September 26, 2008 at 10:11 PM
So, now Barry agrees with Bush? Which is it, Barry?
SouthernGent on September 26, 2008 at 10:11 PM
Obama is making Obama look like a child. He needs no help from McCain.
Kevin71 on September 26, 2008 at 10:11 PM
We already have low level talks with Iran, in Switzerland, right?
HornetSting on September 26, 2008 at 10:11 PM
McCain is loading up. Grinnin’ ear to ear
Ordinary1 on September 26, 2008 at 10:12 PM
But but but I have a bracelet too!
carbon_footprint on September 26, 2008 at 10:12 PM
Bambi rewrites history. I guess he needed to revise and extend his remarks about his position on negotiation in the Dem debates.
joeinmo on September 26, 2008 at 10:12 PM
I’m tired of hearing Barry say “When I am President…..”
IrishGirl17 on September 26, 2008 at 10:12 PM
Jesue Christ…this guy drones on and on.
John Doe on September 26, 2008 at 10:12 PM
I lost bladder control.
BuckeyeSam on September 26, 2008 at 10:12 PM
murderers don’t play by rules. Obama is clueless.
dictators were not created under President Bush. they already existed.
madmonkphotog on September 26, 2008 at 10:12 PM
“ManlyRash on September 26, 2008 at 10:11 PM”
4 years ago — prolly. today — we’ll see …
Buckaroo on September 26, 2008 at 10:12 PM
I won’t meet with the President of Spain. He smells funny
Ordinary1 on September 26, 2008 at 10:13 PM
I don’t even have a seal yet!!!
indythinker on September 26, 2008 at 10:13 PM
LOL! I don’t even have a seal yet.
Love that
Pilgrim on September 26, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Love the I don’t even have a seal yet remark
church on September 26, 2008 at 10:13 PM
You were called naive because you are naive. Just sayin’
Spirit of 1776 on September 26, 2008 at 10:13 PM
He mentioned the seal. Tits.
BuckeyeSam on September 26, 2008 at 10:13 PM
OOF!!!!! “I don’t even have a seal yet.”
capitalist piglet on September 26, 2008 at 10:13 PM
“I don’t even have a seal yet”
HHAHAAHAHA BUUUURRRNN!
lobstress on September 26, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Zing! I don’t even have a seal yet.
carbon_footprint on September 26, 2008 at 10:13 PM
I don’t even have a Seal yet!! hah
james23 on September 26, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Did Obama just defend meeting with Dinner Jacket? Speechless….
Weasel Zipper on September 26, 2008 at 10:13 PM
I don’t even have a seal yet. GOOD ONE JOHN!
NightmareOnKStreet on September 26, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Oh, wow… +1 McCain on the seal. LMAO.
SouthernGent on September 26, 2008 at 10:13 PM
ROFL… “I don’t even have a seal yet.”
tickleddragon on September 26, 2008 at 10:13 PM
OMG, I don’t even have a seal yet!
CookeyD on September 26, 2008 at 10:13 PM
McCain needs to realize this is a contest, not a joint press conference.
Micheal on September 26, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Naive!
dugan on September 26, 2008 at 10:13 PM
SMACKDOWN ON THE SEAL COMMENT!!!!!
madmonkphotog on September 26, 2008 at 10:13 PM
I don’t even have a seal yet HA!!!
macblanegirl on September 26, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Yeah…he wears his bracelet when he wears his American flag lapel pin…when it’s convenient for him.
uncivilized on September 26, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Seal yet…Bueitiful!
Over.
1GooDDaDDy on September 26, 2008 at 10:14 PM
I don’t even have a seal yet ouch that had to hurt
tee866 on September 26, 2008 at 10:14 PM
“I’m not going to set the WH schedule before I’m president”.
Inevitability isn’t what they think it is – ask Hillary.
Entelechy on September 26, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Yeah, Blubber Butt Bill Richardson did a GREAT job in N. Korea…they’re starting their nukes up again.
HornetSting on September 26, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Thanks.
Obama/Biden 08, gaffes we can believe in…
I loved how McCain threw a little jab at Obam by saying he doesn’t even have a seal yet.
Cr4sh Dummy on September 26, 2008 at 10:14 PM
And and and…I gotta look down to read the name, cause I don’t remember the name!!!
What a tool.
joeinmo on September 26, 2008 at 10:14 PM
not just naive, dangerous
james23 on September 26, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Obama, peed your pants yet?
indythinker on September 26, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Is the crowd allowed to laugh? That ‘seal’ dig shoulda’ caused some kind of a chuckle ..
cgoode777 on September 26, 2008 at 10:14 PM
I must be watching a different debate then some of you. It isn’t the messages, it’s the delivery.
Go ahead and call me Eeyore.
Limerick on September 26, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Classic President Reagan: Trust but Verify.
madmonkphotog on September 26, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Miscarroterazation of my position
Ordinary1 on September 26, 2008 at 10:15 PM
He’s clubbing him over the head.
“It’s a mmmmmischaracterization of my position.”
BuckeyeSam on September 26, 2008 at 10:15 PM
Bull! That’s just what you said! No preconditions. You’re the president and can do what you want.
Virginia Shanahan on September 26, 2008 at 10:15 PM
I don’t have a presidential seal yet!!!!!!!
Mcguyver on September 26, 2008 at 10:15 PM
McCain starts every response with “What Senator Obama doesn’t understand…”
I love it! School the man-child, Johnny Mac. School him! Rap him with the ruler!
Rational Thought on September 26, 2008 at 10:15 PM
John is killing him now -
The ummmmmm count is through the roof
iam7545 on September 26, 2008 at 10:15 PM
Barry can’t rewrite the previous debates, they are on video. He didn’t say he would meet without preconditions once but twice. That dog don’thunt
church on September 26, 2008 at 10:15 PM
McCain just blew away Obama. McCain knows his stuff on foreign policy. Nice touch in invoking Ronald Reagan.
Phil Byler on September 26, 2008 at 10:15 PM
the seal sealed the deal!
ConservativePartyNow on September 26, 2008 at 10:15 PM
Please keep it up, I can’t watch, I can’t stand it. I want so much for McCain to do well. I’m just very, very nervous.
Good luck John!
Bambi on September 26, 2008 at 10:15 PM
I like this format. I wish they would turn Governor Palin loose on Biden like this.
Pilgrim on September 26, 2008 at 10:15 PM
Slam him John!
conservnut on September 26, 2008 at 10:15 PM
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