There is some charity deal (why do charity deals always involve tuxes and expensive meals?) where both of the candidates get up and try to crack jokes. It looks like the idea behind it is a roast of sorts. Perhaps a chance for both candidates to make fun of themselves and lighten the mood a little bit. There must be a TON of money in the room for two people who will stop at nothing to win the presidency crack jokes at their own expense.
Why did everyone after the debates last night say the two candidates won't meet face to face until the election? This charity soiree has been going on for 60 some years. And it had to be on both of their schedules. The "news" dropped the ball, but I bet the Guardian was on it.
Barack Obama sucked, sucked, sucked! McCain cut me up. Examples of each.
That was pretty funny up until the last minute or so. Let's see Barack. In this clip, he's introduced by Rachel Maddow of CNBC (where did she come from?).
Uh, he stunk. McCain mostly made fun of himself. Obama was pretty much bringing attention to Obama. Seriously, couldn't Obama get Jon Stewart to write some jokes? That Yankee Stadium joke was terrible and the greek column joke bombed.
CNN showed more, and Obama sucked more. There was a terrible, repeat terrible, cross-dressing joke about Rudy Guiliani. I don't like Guiliani very much, but that was a little too much. Obama espounds about Tim Russert, which was very, very odd for this format and audience. Then he pounces into something of a stump speech. So much for politics as usual.
Considering the crowd (probably Democrats from New York (the AIG joke didn't go over very well)), McCain had a much better response, hands down. There was a lot of untimely laughter for McCain, which was akward, but his joke writer was fantastic. The joke about "Joe the plumber" working for a wealthy couple on all their seven houses was great. Everything McCain said was deferential. The Hillary joke was great, even if his timing was off. It showed that the McCain campaign watches the news and the opinion columns.
I loved the quip about strict-constructionists. That's heady. Pretty much from there on out, he lost me.
The youtube clip cuts out a great line by McCain about ACORN. McCain's closing remarks were cut out as well, which is unfortunate. CNN showed a the entirety of McCain's speech and it was fantastic. He was incredibly deferential to Obama, basically saying that the fact he is black and running for president is a testiment to the greatness to our country. McCain was very gracious to his opponent, stating that he can't wish Obama luck, but can wish him well. It was really great to hear a candidate speak about the historical ramifications of a (half) black president.
Watching both in their entirety, I wouldn't be able to tell that the crowd was leaning Democrat.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Third 2008 Presidential Debate - McCain v. Obama
Third and final debate. We're sitting down this time! Totally different format than when they stood behind the podiums.
McCain starts off the debate by reaffirming his wish to buy out and forgive sections of mortgages. I do not think this goes over very well with anyone. McCain says it benefits people who've paid for their house because the house next door won't be empty. I guess I wouldn't really care, because I'd have my house paid for and declining value of my house means I pay less taxes. Seems like pick and choose Socialism to me.
Both these guys are left-handed. Seems odd.
Obama said him and McCain voted for the "economic recovery plan." That is a loose interpretation of the bill that Congress passed. They gave a TON of money to one guy, and told him to fix it. I guess that's what they consider a plan in Washington.
"Joe the Plumber" - this seems slightly demeaning. It's a cheap attempt at a sound bite by the McCain campaign. I hear he used this phrase 20 times. About someone the Obama had met at a campaign stop.
Taxes are only paid on profits, right? I wouldn't think that the tax rate would have anything to do with whether Joe the Plumber can buy his plumbing business. If it takes 100k to run, and he makes 200k, the other 100k (minus taxes) goes into his pocket. Lower taxes, it looks like to me, would go into his pocket. If someone has another take, I'd like to hear it.
McCain reminds me of Powder.
Obama looks like he's wearing the same suit as the last debate.
Schieffer is asking what programs they will cut, and neither of them want to give specifics. McCain says energy independence will create millions of jobs. Energy independence will be a great thing for America when we get there - in 30+ years.
McCain doesn't support subsidies for ethanol because he thinks it distorts the market. Uh, and 700 billion dollars of government intervention won't?
McCain with another zinger. Obama, if you wanted to run against Bush, you should have run 4 years ago. McCain ran against Bush 8 years ago, and lost.
"Clean coal technology" is probably 5-10 years away from being commercially viable, so don't get too excited about Obama's support for that.
McCain seems spiteful. And right after that Schieffer calls both candidates out about saying they would run high road campaigns. Sweet question from the moderator. Crappy answers. McCain answers this question by tying Obama to someone who said McCain was racist. This question turned out terrible. Both bash each other and then complain that the other one is running negative ads.
Apparently McCain made Obama pinky-swear that they would both use public financing, but Obama had his fingers crossed.
ACORN is responsible for "possibly the greatest fraud in voter history." "destroy the very fabric of democracy" That might be an overstatement.
"Repudiate" - I don't think I'd heard that word before McCain used it a couple weeks ago. Is it even a really word?
"worst financial crisis since the great depression" - Obama has used this twice now. I don't care much for politics of fear.
Obama is doing a nice job of using numbers and percentages. He's doing some name-dropping, too. It is an effective way of showing that McCain doesn't seem to consult with advisers when coming up with foreign and domestic policy ideas.
Obama - "Eight years of failed policies"
McCain is slipping up quite a bit tonight. The natural gas pipeline from Alaska probably won't "solve the energy needs of the lower 48."
Biden voted against the first Iraq war, which we needed so that Saddam wouldn't take over the mid-east oil supply. That doesn't seem like a very noble reason to start a war. I figured it had something to do with the oppression of Kuwaiti citizens. Maybe if the mid-east oil supply was cut off, we'd be energy independent now!
Clean coal technology is a key for energy independence - BUT IT DOESN'T EXIST YET! Best bet is 2020 before it is commercially viable.
Obama says borrowing hundreds of billions from China and sending it to Saudi Arabia for oil "is mortgaging our future." Maybe sometime down the road, China will let us renegotiate and make 30% of the principle disappear like McCain wants to do with home mortgages, but I wouldn't bet on it.
Note - Offshore drilling won't add to the oil supply for about 10 years, but everyone is pushing for it. The best way to lower the price and overall usage is lowering demand. The demand is relatively inelastic. For a given change in price, demand is affected minimally. Conversely, a small change in demand would result in a large change in price. Our resources are limited, and would not support our current usage. Oil independence will require efficiencies.
McCain looks like crap. His eyes are all red and watering. He's getting old, and I think he might have pink eye.
McCain is hung up on "spreading the wealth." It's not okay for rich people to pay more taxes because they can afford it, but it's okay to use my tax money to pay for my neighbor's ill-advised mortgage. Pick and choose socialism.
Palin's kid is autistic, too? McCain made it sound like that.
Schieffer: "How would you reform education" Candidates: "Well, we have to reform it! Vouchers, blah, blah, blah, charters, blah, transparency, blah, blah, get rid of bad teachers, blah, blah. But education should be handled at the local level."
McCain is going crazy. I think this is it for his campaign. Obama will roll in November.
McCain starts off the debate by reaffirming his wish to buy out and forgive sections of mortgages. I do not think this goes over very well with anyone. McCain says it benefits people who've paid for their house because the house next door won't be empty. I guess I wouldn't really care, because I'd have my house paid for and declining value of my house means I pay less taxes. Seems like pick and choose Socialism to me.
Both these guys are left-handed. Seems odd.
Obama said him and McCain voted for the "economic recovery plan." That is a loose interpretation of the bill that Congress passed. They gave a TON of money to one guy, and told him to fix it. I guess that's what they consider a plan in Washington.
"Joe the Plumber" - this seems slightly demeaning. It's a cheap attempt at a sound bite by the McCain campaign. I hear he used this phrase 20 times. About someone the Obama had met at a campaign stop.
Taxes are only paid on profits, right? I wouldn't think that the tax rate would have anything to do with whether Joe the Plumber can buy his plumbing business. If it takes 100k to run, and he makes 200k, the other 100k (minus taxes) goes into his pocket. Lower taxes, it looks like to me, would go into his pocket. If someone has another take, I'd like to hear it.
McCain reminds me of Powder.
Obama looks like he's wearing the same suit as the last debate.
Schieffer is asking what programs they will cut, and neither of them want to give specifics. McCain says energy independence will create millions of jobs. Energy independence will be a great thing for America when we get there - in 30+ years.
McCain doesn't support subsidies for ethanol because he thinks it distorts the market. Uh, and 700 billion dollars of government intervention won't?
McCain with another zinger. Obama, if you wanted to run against Bush, you should have run 4 years ago. McCain ran against Bush 8 years ago, and lost.
"Clean coal technology" is probably 5-10 years away from being commercially viable, so don't get too excited about Obama's support for that.
McCain seems spiteful. And right after that Schieffer calls both candidates out about saying they would run high road campaigns. Sweet question from the moderator. Crappy answers. McCain answers this question by tying Obama to someone who said McCain was racist. This question turned out terrible. Both bash each other and then complain that the other one is running negative ads.
Apparently McCain made Obama pinky-swear that they would both use public financing, but Obama had his fingers crossed.
ACORN is responsible for "possibly the greatest fraud in voter history." "destroy the very fabric of democracy" That might be an overstatement.
"Repudiate" - I don't think I'd heard that word before McCain used it a couple weeks ago. Is it even a really word?
"worst financial crisis since the great depression" - Obama has used this twice now. I don't care much for politics of fear.
Obama is doing a nice job of using numbers and percentages. He's doing some name-dropping, too. It is an effective way of showing that McCain doesn't seem to consult with advisers when coming up with foreign and domestic policy ideas.
Obama - "Eight years of failed policies"
McCain is slipping up quite a bit tonight. The natural gas pipeline from Alaska probably won't "solve the energy needs of the lower 48."
Biden voted against the first Iraq war, which we needed so that Saddam wouldn't take over the mid-east oil supply. That doesn't seem like a very noble reason to start a war. I figured it had something to do with the oppression of Kuwaiti citizens. Maybe if the mid-east oil supply was cut off, we'd be energy independent now!
Clean coal technology is a key for energy independence - BUT IT DOESN'T EXIST YET! Best bet is 2020 before it is commercially viable.
Obama says borrowing hundreds of billions from China and sending it to Saudi Arabia for oil "is mortgaging our future." Maybe sometime down the road, China will let us renegotiate and make 30% of the principle disappear like McCain wants to do with home mortgages, but I wouldn't bet on it.
Note - Offshore drilling won't add to the oil supply for about 10 years, but everyone is pushing for it. The best way to lower the price and overall usage is lowering demand. The demand is relatively inelastic. For a given change in price, demand is affected minimally. Conversely, a small change in demand would result in a large change in price. Our resources are limited, and would not support our current usage. Oil independence will require efficiencies.
McCain looks like crap. His eyes are all red and watering. He's getting old, and I think he might have pink eye.
McCain is hung up on "spreading the wealth." It's not okay for rich people to pay more taxes because they can afford it, but it's okay to use my tax money to pay for my neighbor's ill-advised mortgage. Pick and choose socialism.
Palin's kid is autistic, too? McCain made it sound like that.
Schieffer: "How would you reform education" Candidates: "Well, we have to reform it! Vouchers, blah, blah, blah, charters, blah, transparency, blah, blah, get rid of bad teachers, blah, blah. But education should be handled at the local level."
McCain is going crazy. I think this is it for his campaign. Obama will roll in November.
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Presidential Debate #2
I'm getting a late start on this. But I've got to say a couple things. Warning! This post contains an excessive use of parentheses!
Also, the debate is being aired again. Any additions that I've seen from the second airing, are in blue.
Both candidates talk of keeping people in their homes. Both also spoke of declining house values. At least one of them made it seem like this makes it difficult for people to pay their mortgages. McCain says the government should buy up these mortgages and reissue them at the current value of the home. A couple questions:
Ron Paul voted against the bailout.
If McCain knows how to get Bin Laden. If he will get Bin Laden, why does he need to wait until he becomes president? Why doesn't he share this knowledge with the ground forces in Afghanistan? Why can he keep saying this and not get called on it?
Also, John McCain says the solution to Social Security is "easy." He says he's watched other people "do it." Why hasn't he, as a senior member of the Senate, fixed it already? Fixing Social Security (if such is possible) would be handled by the Senate, not the President. There isn't much the executive branch can do to change a legislative issue. McCain trivialized the Social Security issue. Probably because to him, and old people (babyboomers included) who might vote for McCain, Social Security isn't an issue for them. They'll get their money, and we (as young taxpayers) will be paying for it.
Health care. McCain thinks it's a responsibility. Obama thinks it's a right. Obama says in a country as wealthy as ours, everyone should have health care. Unfortunately, I don't think our country is as wealthy as Obama and others would have us believe. This should be painfully obvious over the last few weeks. There is a better way for Americans to get health care than through the emergency room, but I don't think either candidate has articulated this. As an aside, those without health care (illegals, etc.) will continue to use emergency rooms, which is a waste of specialized services and a drain on taxpayers. A more moderate stance on illegal immigrant health care (clinics or something) would ease the strain on taxpayers and make all of our health care cheaper and more efficient.
What the F. is Waziristan? I've heard McCain say three times or more that he's been to Waziristan, and I've never heard about this place. Turns out, Waziristan is a part of Pakistan. Why is he going to Pakistan? Last time I checked, we aren't at war with Pakistan. Who was he visiting there? Better yet, who paid for that trip? (U.S. taxpayers)
Neither of these people answer any of the questions directly. What's the point of taking questions from the crowd and the internet if neither will answer them?
Is a "petrodollar" different from a regular dollar? ("petrodollar" courtesy of Obama and McCain, incidentally)
McCain again brings up this notion of a "league of democracies." What, exactly, is the difference between this and the United Nations? Obama's terminology is "community of nations." I wish these two would speak in terms of what we already have.
Also, the debate is being aired again. Any additions that I've seen from the second airing, are in blue.
Both candidates talk of keeping people in their homes. Both also spoke of declining house values. At least one of them made it seem like this makes it difficult for people to pay their mortgages. McCain says the government should buy up these mortgages and reissue them at the current value of the home. A couple questions:
- What does the house value have anything to do with what you pay in mortgage payments? If you paid too much for your house, uh, tough cookies. (Likely neither candidate have to worry about mortgage payments.)
- $800 Bil for a bailout, but we need more money to buy these loans? We (Americans) are buying the loans on the back end and on the front end. Seems like we'll be paying for all this twice.
- Everybody wants their money. If someone buys a house from a builder for $200k, it's actually the bank that pays the builder. US buys the mortgage from the bank (at $200k) and reissues the mortgage at the "value" of the house (say $150k). Someone has to eat that $50k. Me, as an American taxpayer? No thanks.
Ron Paul voted against the bailout.
If McCain knows how to get Bin Laden. If he will get Bin Laden, why does he need to wait until he becomes president? Why doesn't he share this knowledge with the ground forces in Afghanistan? Why can he keep saying this and not get called on it?
Also, John McCain says the solution to Social Security is "easy." He says he's watched other people "do it." Why hasn't he, as a senior member of the Senate, fixed it already? Fixing Social Security (if such is possible) would be handled by the Senate, not the President. There isn't much the executive branch can do to change a legislative issue. McCain trivialized the Social Security issue. Probably because to him, and old people (babyboomers included) who might vote for McCain, Social Security isn't an issue for them. They'll get their money, and we (as young taxpayers) will be paying for it.
Health care. McCain thinks it's a responsibility. Obama thinks it's a right. Obama says in a country as wealthy as ours, everyone should have health care. Unfortunately, I don't think our country is as wealthy as Obama and others would have us believe. This should be painfully obvious over the last few weeks. There is a better way for Americans to get health care than through the emergency room, but I don't think either candidate has articulated this. As an aside, those without health care (illegals, etc.) will continue to use emergency rooms, which is a waste of specialized services and a drain on taxpayers. A more moderate stance on illegal immigrant health care (clinics or something) would ease the strain on taxpayers and make all of our health care cheaper and more efficient.
What the F. is Waziristan? I've heard McCain say three times or more that he's been to Waziristan, and I've never heard about this place. Turns out, Waziristan is a part of Pakistan. Why is he going to Pakistan? Last time I checked, we aren't at war with Pakistan. Who was he visiting there? Better yet, who paid for that trip? (U.S. taxpayers)
Neither of these people answer any of the questions directly. What's the point of taking questions from the crowd and the internet if neither will answer them?
Is a "petrodollar" different from a regular dollar? ("petrodollar" courtesy of Obama and McCain, incidentally)
McCain again brings up this notion of a "league of democracies." What, exactly, is the difference between this and the United Nations? Obama's terminology is "community of nations." I wish these two would speak in terms of what we already have.
The final question was, more or less, "What don't you know?" Obama makes a joke, and then says what he does know is that his mother was on food stamps but he could still go to Harvard, I guess. Indicidive of how this debate has gone. Nobody answers the questions. McCain tried to answer this question, but still didn't do much with it.
I wonder what Ron Paul thinks when he watches these debates? He should have run a third-party candidacy and demanded to take part in the debates. If nothing else, it would have kept the other two honest. My coworker Jonathon brought up a good point. With two candidates, they can't talk about what the other has done or won't do. Three candidates forces each candidate to talk about themselves and what they'll do.
My feelings of this debate, and the first one for that matter, are best summed up by American commentator Jay-Z. No video for it, so you'll just have to listen.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
VP Debate - Live Blogging
Full disclosure: I'm looking for Biden to own during this debate. I think this could be entertaining, and I'm hoping for a little substance (out of Biden, I mean. I don't think Palin is capable of substance)
Debates might be as well be two stump speeches given in 90 second parts. Three questions in and they've given half an answer between the two of them.
When John McCain said the fundamentals of the economy were strong, he was talking about the American workforce? Uh, that doesn't make sense.
8:10PM Sarah Palin isn't going to answer the questions the way the moderator wants her to. Probably because she's a maverick!
8:20P At the beginning of this, Biden almost seems like he's sad, but he's starting to warm up now. He's dropped "the ultimate bridge to nowhere." I don't think it really fit there, but he probably wanted to get to it before Palin.
8:24PM Palin claims to be an energy expert. Joke!
8:30PM Palin is also a meterologist apparently. She doesn't believe that every action by man affects climate change. But she thinks we should do more to positively affect the climate? Joe Biden belives that the warming is man-made. He makes a good point that we can't fix something that we don't know the cause.
8:35 Biden hasn't been funny yet. He's fumbled some words, but I think it's because he's into what he's saying. Nothing too damaging yet.
8:40 Iraq: Biden says "I didn't hear a plan!" He called her on not answering the question!
8:53 Palin [hearts] Petraus and Israel!
8:56 Biden does a good job of tying McCain to George Bush's policies. He said that he hasn't heard how McCain's policies would be any different.
8:56 Palin uses cliches to talk about nuclear weapons. And then comes back to Afganistan. And somehow tries to tie it to the Iraq surge.
9:05 Palin [hearts] the pundits who will tomorrow talk about who said what. She must have gotten over that "gotcha" journalism.
9:07 Biden might have overstated the importance of this election. "The most important any of you have voted in, since maybe 1932"
9:13 Palin not knowing what the VP does was a joke? She must not have learned that from her brother, "the best teacher of the year." She's the joke. Now she knows that the VP presides over the Senate. Good job!
9:16 Biden educates Palin about the role of the VP, according to the constitution. VP only participates in the Senate when there is a tie.
9:28 Palin said she wants to answer the tough questions without the "filter of the mainstream media." I guess direct quotes from televised interviews are pretty biased. She'd rather have pundits assume what her policies are and how she'd act and fill an hour and a half without any substance. Kind of like what she did during this debate!
Quotes
"Darn right." (2)
"Joe six-pack"
"Hockey mom"
"East-coast politicians"
"The chant is "Drill, baby, drill"'
"back ya up, there"
"Americans are cravin' that straight talk"
"Wasilla main street"
Debates might be as well be two stump speeches given in 90 second parts. Three questions in and they've given half an answer between the two of them.
When John McCain said the fundamentals of the economy were strong, he was talking about the American workforce? Uh, that doesn't make sense.
8:10PM Sarah Palin isn't going to answer the questions the way the moderator wants her to. Probably because she's a maverick!
8:20P At the beginning of this, Biden almost seems like he's sad, but he's starting to warm up now. He's dropped "the ultimate bridge to nowhere." I don't think it really fit there, but he probably wanted to get to it before Palin.
8:24PM Palin claims to be an energy expert. Joke!
8:30PM Palin is also a meterologist apparently. She doesn't believe that every action by man affects climate change. But she thinks we should do more to positively affect the climate? Joe Biden belives that the warming is man-made. He makes a good point that we can't fix something that we don't know the cause.
8:35 Biden hasn't been funny yet. He's fumbled some words, but I think it's because he's into what he's saying. Nothing too damaging yet.
8:40 Iraq: Biden says "I didn't hear a plan!" He called her on not answering the question!
8:53 Palin [hearts] Petraus and Israel!
8:56 Biden does a good job of tying McCain to George Bush's policies. He said that he hasn't heard how McCain's policies would be any different.
8:56 Palin uses cliches to talk about nuclear weapons. And then comes back to Afganistan. And somehow tries to tie it to the Iraq surge.
9:05 Palin [hearts] the pundits who will tomorrow talk about who said what. She must have gotten over that "gotcha" journalism.
9:07 Biden might have overstated the importance of this election. "The most important any of you have voted in, since maybe 1932"
9:13 Palin not knowing what the VP does was a joke? She must not have learned that from her brother, "the best teacher of the year." She's the joke. Now she knows that the VP presides over the Senate. Good job!
9:16 Biden educates Palin about the role of the VP, according to the constitution. VP only participates in the Senate when there is a tie.
9:28 Palin said she wants to answer the tough questions without the "filter of the mainstream media." I guess direct quotes from televised interviews are pretty biased. She'd rather have pundits assume what her policies are and how she'd act and fill an hour and a half without any substance. Kind of like what she did during this debate!
Quotes
"Darn right." (2)
"Joe six-pack"
"Hockey mom"
"East-coast politicians"
"The chant is "Drill, baby, drill"'
"back ya up, there"
"Americans are cravin' that straight talk"
"Wasilla main street"
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