Debate Live-Blog and Chat!
posted at 8:00 pm on October 7, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
The second John McCain/Barack Obama presidential debate will start at 9 PM ET, and Hot Air will be at the forefront of instant commentary! 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!
I believe that this embed will have the debate live, and you won’t need to go anywhere else to watch:
What keys should we keep in mind tonight?
- McCain – He gets his preferred town-hall format, but that really doesn’t mean much, since Tom Brokaw has already selected the questions. The format won’t allow for follow-up questions, either, which probably helps Obama more than McCain, who does a pretty good job counterpunching. Instead, McCain needs to hammer Obama on Fannie Mae, taxes, and spending, and paint him as a backbencher who has no accomplishments other than getting himself elected.
- Obama – He has an easier task tonight. Obama knows McCain will get aggressive, just as he does in every debate. He’ll do better to speak to general themes of discontent, ignore McCain, and stay positive while focusing on his own plans for government. Every time McCain forces him to defend himself, he plays more and more on McCain’s turf.
- Tom Brokaw – I’m more optimistic about Brokaw than some others, although I think I’d prefer Brit Hume or even Jim Lehrer. Brokaw has enjoyed his senior-statesman status at NBC, and I suspect he also enjoys being the anti-Olbermann there as well. Watch for bias in topics and question construction, but I predict that Brokaw will give a balanced performance tonight.
After the debate, I’ll talk with Hugh Hewitt to give my perspective, at around 10:30 pm CT. I’ll also work on a final summary of the debate, probably for posting tonight. Don’t miss a moment of it here at Hot Air!
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I may have to switch over to the WSOP, I can’t stomach much more of the Wizard of Uhhs.
fossten on October 7, 2008 at 9:10 PM
Obama; I’ll just look off McCain’s paper and say Warren Buffet too.
church on October 7, 2008 at 9:10 PM
Obama is bringing a gun to the knife fight. McCain brought a powder puff.
Star20 on October 7, 2008 at 9:10 PM
decent answer: perfect treasury sec would be Mitt but McCain can’t say that since he is seen as a rich snob.
lavell12 on October 7, 2008 at 9:11 PM
Upgrade your goddam server, HA, the refresh sucks.
Bishop on October 7, 2008 at 9:11 PM
Indeed, WTF is he thinking? You don’t leave the charge of him supporting the failed policies of the past 8 years unchallenged. WTFWTFWTFWTFWTF are Team McCain farking thinking? GFG
ninjapirate on October 7, 2008 at 9:11 PM
Great McCain lets not attack The Emperor on his regulation crap. Once again you missed a golden opportunity.
Lance Murdock on October 7, 2008 at 9:11 PM
Ed, can we get a different vendor for the live chat? This one is very hard to follow….
Thank you.
Mooseman
Mooseman on October 7, 2008 at 9:11 PM
He did it again. He said McCain is right! :)
Nelsa on October 7, 2008 at 9:11 PM
Sec Treasury….important selection well known…maybe Meg Whitman. Ok answer…not great from McCain.
Obama….Buffet good choice. Again on fnding middle class.95% tax cut lie…McCain should be able to slam this one but he has not so far.
Question shift
JIMV on October 7, 2008 at 9:11 PM
HIt him on the 95% tax cut. Not mathematically possible
church on October 7, 2008 at 9:11 PM
Obama made the first punch ….at McCain saying the stability in the economy was strong.
TheKernel on October 7, 2008 at 9:11 PM
So McCain’s just gonna pussy out and not challenge Obama’s version of history on this crisis?
D0WNT0WN on October 7, 2008 at 9:11 PM
Obama: Senator McCain is right count = 1
carbon_footprint on October 7, 2008 at 9:11 PM
McCain needs to get in there and say, “Oh no you di-int” and wipe the floor with Obama. Smack him around verbally PLEASE!!!!
Candy Slice on October 7, 2008 at 9:11 PM
Second stupid question
John Doe on October 7, 2008 at 9:12 PM
WTF kind of question was that???
fossten on October 7, 2008 at 9:12 PM
i hate Obama
jp on October 7, 2008 at 9:12 PM
its a rescue, not a bailout
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Roger Waters on October 7, 2008 at 9:12 PM
McCain better get stronger FAST
anniekc on October 7, 2008 at 9:12 PM
Here is his chance to name names
InTheBellyoftheBeast on October 7, 2008 at 9:12 PM
Second stupid question
John Doe on October 7, 2008 at 9:12 PM
Of course, I didn’t understand what he said.
John Doe on October 7, 2008 at 9:12 PM
Warren Buffet huh?
SaintOlaf on October 7, 2008 at 9:12 PM
I have a HDTV, but still can’t make out the lapel pin on Berry, is that a US flag or a Cuban?
Over.
1GooDDaDDy on October 7, 2008 at 9:12 PM
He’s doing it!
capitalist piglet on October 7, 2008 at 9:12 PM
Let’s go MAC!
Let’s GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
ex-Democrat on October 7, 2008 at 9:13 PM
It’s ON baby! Obama and his cronies….that might leave a mark
Pilgrim on October 7, 2008 at 9:13 PM
Yeah!!!!!!!!!! Finally!!!!!!!!!! Hitting obama and fannie and freddie!!!!!!!!
IrishGirl17 on October 7, 2008 at 9:13 PM
Fannie and Freddie!
pugwriter on October 7, 2008 at 9:13 PM
BLAMMO! Go Johnny Mac!
fossten on October 7, 2008 at 9:13 PM
here we go fannie and freddy!!1
lavell12 on October 7, 2008 at 9:13 PM
Finally !!!! Obama and his cronies.
jencab on October 7, 2008 at 9:13 PM
Thank G-D!!! ATTACK ATTACK ATTTACK McCAIN.
Lance Murdock on October 7, 2008 at 9:13 PM
Racist!!!! Black man can’t know who Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are?
carbon_footprint on October 7, 2008 at 9:13 PM
Tom Brokaw…scumbag.
SaintOlaf on October 7, 2008 at 9:13 PM
Fluck. Wasn’t there a way they could have made Palin look like Mac and put her in there instead? Cheese and rice…WTF Mac??
Bishop on October 7, 2008 at 9:13 PM
Campaign contributions!!! Well done John!!!
IrishGirl17 on October 7, 2008 at 9:13 PM
McCain slamming Obama on freddie and Fannie. Noting McCains recrd on fixing this and noting the dems resistance to change. Noting who got the lot in Congress.
JIMV on October 7, 2008 at 9:13 PM
Attack!
baldilocks on October 7, 2008 at 9:13 PM
hit’em hard mac, don’t let up
jp on October 7, 2008 at 9:13 PM
Got him on FAnnie, Freddie, contributions. Love it.
church on October 7, 2008 at 9:13 PM
ZIIING! FREDIE, FANNIE AND DEMS GET THE BLAME FOR STARTING THIS MESS!! YEEEEES!
electric-rascal on October 7, 2008 at 9:14 PM
YES. Finally he mentions The Emperors tied to those evil lobbyists.
Lance Murdock on October 7, 2008 at 9:14 PM
Bambi’s smiiing ’cause he knows he can lie in his response to McCain and no one anywhere will call him on it nor care…..carry on.
ex-Democrat on October 7, 2008 at 9:14 PM
for those interested…Nikkei down almost 4% at the moment.
Pilgrim on October 7, 2008 at 9:14 PM
wowwww!. Go McCain!
ConservativePartyNow on October 7, 2008 at 9:14 PM
I can hear McCain inhaling and it sounds breathless.
Candy Slice on October 7, 2008 at 9:14 PM
BOOM!!! He just smacked Obama! Round two will be fun!
Nelsa on October 7, 2008 at 9:14 PM
take a hike!
common sensineer on October 7, 2008 at 9:14 PM
McCain needs to point at Barry when he strikes at him.
Less abstract, more attack!
profitsbeard on October 7, 2008 at 9:14 PM
Obama the doomsayer…
fossten on October 7, 2008 at 9:14 PM
Ok better now
Bishop on October 7, 2008 at 9:14 PM
Credit is not frozen unless you’ve got back credit…
theeyeman3410 on October 7, 2008 at 9:14 PM
I hate this format.
dmarie on October 7, 2008 at 9:14 PM
He might as well be speaking Greek to old Alan
anniekc on October 7, 2008 at 9:14 PM
zinner from Husain
theeyeman3410 on October 7, 2008 at 9:14 PM
Others took a hike! – Nice McCain.
jencab on October 7, 2008 at 9:15 PM
Barry has NEVER owned a business in his life…and there are not MILLIONS of businesses not making payroll.
ex-Democrat on October 7, 2008 at 9:15 PM
LIAR
InTheBellyoftheBeast on October 7, 2008 at 9:15 PM
Uhh…uhh…uhhh…uhh…
fossten on October 7, 2008 at 9:15 PM
Arrogant man.
carbon_footprint on October 7, 2008 at 9:15 PM
He’s a lying sack!
baldilocks on October 7, 2008 at 9:15 PM
I hate this format too, but I do enjoy hearing Obama stutter
anniekc on October 7, 2008 at 9:15 PM
Still, McCain didn’t answer the question.
Deregulation? WTF.
Get him McCain. Gloves off, let’s have an offer of proof.
BuckeyeSam on October 7, 2008 at 9:15 PM
HOw is it that we are just now hearing about Obama and these calls for regulation
church on October 7, 2008 at 9:15 PM
Show us the letters Bambi.
Over.
1GooDDaDDy on October 7, 2008 at 9:15 PM
Did I hear a old age jab towards McCain…racist.
Lance Murdock on October 7, 2008 at 9:15 PM
Obama is lieing through his teeth
theeyeman3410 on October 7, 2008 at 9:15 PM
Deregulation?
Derugalation of loans to people who can’t afford their mortgages maybe.
SaintOlaf on October 7, 2008 at 9:15 PM
What a liar about deregulation.
eaglewingz08 on October 7, 2008 at 9:15 PM
CNN Opinion line appears to be a bit biased for Obama.
Typhonsentra on October 7, 2008 at 9:15 PM
He wrote to Paulson tow years ago. He was not even tres. sec then?
ConservativePartyNow on October 7, 2008 at 9:16 PM
Wahhh!! Wahhh!! “I wrote……”
Mac wanted legislation….
Jerk….
IrishGirl17 on October 7, 2008 at 9:16 PM
for those interested…Nikkei down almost 4% at the moment.
Pilgrim on October 7, 2008 at 9:14 PM
That was supposed to be one to weather the storm. Great.
Bishop on October 7, 2008 at 9:16 PM
Barak: I wrote a letter!
McCain: I sponsored a legislative proposal.
common sensineer on October 7, 2008 at 9:16 PM
No but Fannie Mae promoted you!!! Go get him John!
carbon_footprint on October 7, 2008 at 9:16 PM
“You’re not interested in hearing politicians pointing fingers…”
LMAO
fossten on October 7, 2008 at 9:16 PM
Yeah, he’s lying, but no one will ever call him on it
anniekc on October 7, 2008 at 9:16 PM
Yo Yo YO, can you split a debate thread with none of that fancy graphic crap ..just text ..this refresh is unacceptable.
no? why not ?
redrock on October 7, 2008 at 9:16 PM
No, Obama. I don’t want your middle class handout.
I want heads rolling.
BuckeyeSam on October 7, 2008 at 9:16 PM
obama wrote a letter, oh my god!
lavell12 on October 7, 2008 at 9:16 PM
Can we please take Obama’s own words about the poor small businesses, and remind him that his imposing higher income taxes on them (since they make over $250,000, or want to) will do the same thing — adversely affect millions of small business employers, and thus Americans!!!
eucher on October 7, 2008 at 9:16 PM
No BO. We are waiting for the Ayers question!
Nelsa on October 7, 2008 at 9:16 PM
Obama had a stongly worded letter..what more could he do?…He should have sent his teleprompter (his most valuable asset) to help Freddie Mac.
TheKernel on October 7, 2008 at 9:16 PM
Obama: No, but yes…
fossten on October 7, 2008 at 9:16 PM
I hate the format here! It’s too slow!
IrishGirl17 on October 7, 2008 at 9:17 PM
umm, I think the Dems are the one’s against Regulation and the Repubs are for it…in the Case of Fannie/Freddie
jp on October 7, 2008 at 9:17 PM
Oh man I wish he had turned to the smirking Obama and asked him to pledge to stop supporting the dangerous scam and apologize to America. “This is your chance Senator. Look em in the eye.”
econavenger on October 7, 2008 at 9:17 PM
BS.
SaintOlaf on October 7, 2008 at 9:17 PM
Oh brother- tell the truth, Bambi! it’s going to get A LOT worse before it gets better
anniekc on October 7, 2008 at 9:17 PM
uh, he’s confident on the US economy…… uh, then, we’re fundamentally sound.
Over30 on October 7, 2008 at 9:17 PM
Barack Obama writes letters and books but does nothing else.
lavell12 on October 7, 2008 at 9:17 PM
He’s confident about the economy, but I thought he complained when McCain said that.
Connie on October 7, 2008 at 9:17 PM
What a moron! McCain wants to socialize housing, our castles, to stabilize home prices. I want home values to fall back to reasonable levels so that I can buy a decent house someday without having to take out an irresponsible sub-prime loan myself.
I hope that both these dumbships lose!
FloatingRock on October 7, 2008 at 9:17 PM
how is it going? i can’t watch or I’ll have a heart attack
Ropera on October 7, 2008 at 9:17 PM
Anyone having trouble with health care? Didn’t think that was a driving issue
InTheBellyoftheBeast on October 7, 2008 at 9:17 PM
What is the server at HA, a goddam PONG machine?
Bishop on October 7, 2008 at 9:17 PM
zinner? is that a Muslim term? Will BHO have to take a time out to bray to Mecca or did they time it right?
bill30097 on October 7, 2008 at 9:17 PM
For get the buying mortgages and talk Franklin Raynes…
TheKernel on October 7, 2008 at 9:18 PM
Mac should just say, “If you elect Obama, it will get worse!”
fossten on October 7, 2008 at 9:18 PM
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