First Debate Liveblog
1:21: From 538: [Nate] The media who wants to cop out from picking a winner will probably just say “Obama wins first half, McCain wins second half”. But the first half is likely to matter more because (i) it was about the economy and (ii) this was a boring debate that will have a lot of people zoning out by the end.
I think that’s true- because there was so much hype that everyone would have tuned in just to see if McCain turned up. The 1st half was definitely the strongest part and Obama did better.
1:10 - My post-debate activity? Dancing to Los Campesinos! in my loungeroom.
12:37 - Aww, SBS even wrapped it up pretty quick. We get no spin room here. Boo. That’s it for me.
12:35 - Anyway, nothing horrible happened. But I think McCain didn’t do himself any favors. And now onto the Veep debate!
12:34 - Nothing really major. Obviously, I think Obama won. The Aussies are talking about how - despite the format - this didn’t resemble Question Time at all. Duh.
12:33: I love watching the debates on SBS. The recap is so posh.
12:32 - AND POW!!!!!! Snap! Way to end the debate, McCain! How did the foreign policy debate wind up ending on the topic of veterans. Oh yeah - McCain is in it! I’m cracking another beer for the POW reference.
12:31 - Kenya wrap up.
12:30 - The reason I’ve voting for Obama? We both just cracked up together on McCain’s comparison of his stubbornness to Bush’s.
12:29: Jim Lehrer just gave McCain the blankest look ever. He so wants this shit over, too.
12:27 - McCain said we’d given a ‘fragile sacrifice’ in Iraq. What does that mean?
12:26 - ‘Senator Obama doesn’t understand or doesn’t get it.’ Is there a way to sue to stealing talking points?
12:23: Everyone’s doing a great job, but we’ll never be safe from teh terrorists. Amen.
12:22: The ‘families of 9/11 descended’ on Washington’. They sound terrifying. Seriously - what is this 9/11 question?
12:20 - McCain has been in the Senate forever and remembers most votes apparently. It’s a shame he hasn’t been there for the last six months.
12:19: Both candidates have said, “Walk the walk, instead of talk the talk” - does that mean it’s a draw and we can all go home?
12:18: More Spain jokes! I never thought I’d say this, but I miss the economic discussion.
12:17: We’re friends with the Ukrainians. Great! The hour devoted to Russia means everyone just went to bed.
12:16: McCain on Georgia: “By the way, I went there once…”
12:14: “I looked into Mr Putin’s eyes and I saw three letters: a K, a G and a B”. NO JOKES, WALNUTS.
12:13 - Obama made fun of Bush. He’s much with the zingers today. Also, I am drinking Polish (Chicago) beer rather than Australian beer in honor of this event. If I run out, though, I’m switching to my backup Melbourne Bitter. (Yeah, I prefer Melb Bitter to Carlton - I’m happy with my life choices!)
12:12 - We’re onto Russia now. Here’s the best way this could go: ‘As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States…’
12:11 - Ugg. Awkward. I wish Obama had been able to break in there.
12:08 - I wish the camera would cut to more Obama head shaking. Also, McCain’s really trying to rock the ‘Obama doesn’t understand’ meme, re: the Democratic convention.
12:08 - And McCain/Spain thing. Followed by another awkward joke.
12:05 - There it is! Kissinger- called out as one of McCain’s advisers and willing to meet with Iran with no preconditions.
12:03 - Holy shit. McCain just did the ‘I can’t pronounce Ahmadinejad thing’. And just brought up Kissinger. Will Obama pounce?
12:00 - Will the Iran question allow Obama to run the ‘Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran’ comment again? Because that would be awesome.
11:59 - Is McCain re-proposing the League of Nations?
11:59 - ‘Straight talk’! Drink!
11:56 - Obama: “I have a bracelet, too. It’s for… um, hang on his name’s right here. Oh, his mom’s name.’
11:54 - OMGWTF. What are you talking about? Ugg. Bracelets for New Hampshire. Four electoral votes - come on, baby. NO PERSONAL NARRATIVES!
11:53 - McCain is now talking about how he’s had the best judgment on military matters, even when disagreeing with a president he liked. So… kind of like Obama disagreeing with the Iraq War?
11:52 - McCain’s a lefty. And is now defending Musharraf. Yeah! Bring it back to the 80s, McCain!
11:50 - Can I just say that my dedication to US politics includes getting not a little bit tipsy at 11am on a Saturday morning?
11:48 - McCain wants to work with the Pakistani government instead of launching attacks. I guess he… doesn’t believe in the Bush Doctrine? Maybe Sarah Palin can help him out on that one.
11:45 - Thanks, Jim Lehrer! We solved Iraq! I love that got a chuckle….
11:44 - If Obama doesn’t get a huge bump out of this, I’m going to be amazed. They haven’t even worked out a new set of talking points for McCain.
11:41 - McCain says Obama refuses to acknowledge something he literally just said.
11:41 - And now another long story about McCain’s trips to Iraq. Zzzzzzzz.
11:39 - Nice. Obama’s talking directly to McCain and nailing him on the Iraq War.
11:36 - McCain talks about Petraeus- Drink.
11:34 - McCain had to look down at his notes to see when he disagreed with Bush - MAVRICK! - DRINK! Bonus drink for mention of ‘other Maverick’.
11:33 - When there is a transcript of this, I’m doing a word count on how many times McCain said the word ’spending’. Oh my crap.
11:31 - McCain just tried to call Obama’s healthcare plan socialismo. Stopped short. Then talks about how HE CUTS SPENDING ALL THE TIME, AGAIN…
11:30 - Aww, Jim Lehrer keeps holding out for a straight answer.
11:29 - God. Shut up McCain. All your talking points are boring and your tie is poorly tied. 700,000 jobs for nuclear plants? Remember what happened to Vinick?
11:28 - Do you think either one of these guys just wishes they’d stayed in the Senate and didn’t sign up for this crap? McCain just asked for a spending freeze except for defense and veterans. Obama replies, ‘You’re using a hatchet when you need a scalpel.
11:27 - Heh. Obama just said that he looks liberal because he opposes George Bush.
11:24 - Well McCain’s just conceded Iowa to Obama - he came out against ethanol. WALNUTS - stop talking about individual earmarks that you hate. No one gives a crap about that ship.
11:21 - Jim Lehrer’s all about the segues. Ooch - and he’s asked Obama about what he’s going to have to cut from his budget. Obama’s said energy stays. But only says we have to fix health care. And wants education. Okay, wait this list is getting pretty long.
11:21 - McCain’s creepy laugh sounds even creepier when he laughs alone into his mic.
11:20 - McCain thinks bills come with Christmas ornaments.
11:16 - ‘My Friends’! Drink! Um, aren’t we supposed to talk about foreign policy?
11:14 - Obama interrupted McCain. Nice.
11:13 - McCain complaining about increase of earmarks and corruption in the last five years. Please let Obama mention Stevens. Oh… and the Republican congress.
11:10 - Wow. McCain is in trouble. He sounds really nervous and just keeps parroting tired talking points. “Washington changed us”, he believes in American workers, ‘I will make them famous; you will know their names’, etc.
11:08 - Jim Lehrer’s gone for ‘folksy charm’. He just referred to the candidates as ‘y’all’.
11:05 - Why is McCain talking about Normandy? Oh, McCain’s going to resign!
11:04 - McCain just said a whole lot of nothing. Unfortunately, I don’t think this debate is going to be very amusing. Just watching McCain try not go get his ass handed to him.
11:01 - McCain’s dragging out the opener. Really? He’s the one who wants to bring up Kennedy? [Oh ha, CNN (via Wonkette) says Kennedy's already home and watching the debate.]
11:01 - Obama’s actually laid it out in numbered points. McCain is screwed.
11:00- Wow. Straight out of the box, Jim. Making McCain answer the economic question. Let’s see how he gets around that, shall we?
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