Welcome back, gentle readers. Because I know that my trifle of a 68-point list of reasons to vote for Senator Obama wasn't enough for you, I'm back to provide you with more up-to-date political insight. And away we go...
--> The big story of the day is Senator Ted Stevens' (R-AK) conviction on all 7 counts of corruption, due to his lying about receiving free renovations to his house. Stevens, the longest-serving Republican senator in history, was banking on being acquitted to have any chance of victory in a tight re-election campaign against Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich. Now, the U.S. Senate can most likely bid adieu to its ultimate coot.
Stevens faces up to 35 years in prison. He plans to appeal by email, putting his message into the tubes, so that it goes in and gets in line. Remember, the internet is NOT a truck that you can just dump things on, Senator Stevens. Perhaps, in your soon-to-be plenty of leisure time in Alaska, you can spend your golden years learning how to blog and using eBay.
--> Not to be outdone, Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) also managed to make the news today. The Democrats' contender for "ultimate coot" is apparently facing expulsion from his Chairmanship of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. Apparently, Majority Leader Harry Reid has decided that Byrd is past his prime (about 3 decades past his prime), and Reid will attempt to ease Byrd out of his leadership position. Honestly, Byrd could probably use the rest.
EDC would like to make a humble suggestion to all the TV programming directors who undoubtedly read this blog: create a sitcom about Robert Byrd and Ted Stevens. Byrd, a retired Senator, and Stevens, a convicted felon just released from prison, are forced to share an apartment in New York City. Together, they come to terms with their place in the modern world, and learn a thing or two about each other in the process. In the season finale, they decide to run for the White House together, to "get those kids off our lawn." It's the feel good story of the decade, and would be terrific for fall sweeps. I call it Senators in Paradise. Might be better as a made-for-TV movie.
In all seriousness, John McCain does actually benefit from all this. Byrd and Stevens certainly make McCain look like a spring chicken.
--> And speaking of "get off my lawn, you darn kids," a 50-year-old Ohio man reportedly shot a 17-year-old boy in the arm with a .22-caliber rifle for attempting to steal his John McCain lawn sign. Honestly, people take this election stuff way too seriously.
--> In real news, Governor Charlie Crist (R-FL) today attempted to hand Florida's crucial 27 electoral votes to Senator Barack Obama. With the Democrats already establishing a huge advantage across the country thanks to early voting, Crist moved today to expand Florida's early voting hours from 8 hours per day to 12.
Who would stand in line for 12 hours to vote, you ask? These people. So when you're in line on Election Day, waiting to vote, and consider complaining or even giving up because of the wait, consider how you'd like to compare to residents of Georgia.
--> John McCain, despite all his struggles, did receive a surprising, crucial endorsement today from the world-famous Joe the Plumber. Samuel Wurzelbacher agreed that "a vote for Obama is a vote for the death of Israel," clearly demonstrating why Ohio voters will have no problem electing him to Congress in two years. Also, let's note that this McCain rally took place at a "flag store." Now that's what I call manufactured patriotism.
--> You know that the election is a week away when the campaign's influence on professional sports is the subject of multiple news stories. First there is the controversy over Barack Obama's half-hour primetime special tomorrow night, which reportedly pushed the start of the World Series game back 15 minutes. It's even become a McCain talking point, trying to appeal to angry, undecided baseball fans of the ironically swing-state teams in the World Series. Unfortunately for him, a Fox executive today refuted that claim, explaining that the Obama TV buy will merely eliminate the (incredibly annoying) pregame show, not actually delay the start of the game. So I'm sorry, Joe Buck and Tim McCarver, but we won't get a chance to hear your amazing analysis on how the "keys to the game" are "playing better than the opponent."
Update: I've decided on the official mechanism for determining ifyou have been following the election too closely. I can spell Joe the Plumber's last name without looking it up. Now return to your business.
With one week left in this historic campaign, I felt that it was time for me to create the quintessential list of reasons to vote for Senator Barack Obama. For all the discontent and desire for change and frustration you may be feeling, there's still a decision to make when you step into that booth. This is merely a cheat-sheet to help express how you're feeling. I hope that my readers will pass this list along to their friends, because my reasons are not the only ones out there. I hope to hear why you, my loyal EDC readers, are going to pull that lever. What causes you to make your decision? Here are my reasons:
1. America deserves a leader with charisma, a leader that can inspire us to action in the face of so many great challenges that await our nation in the 21st century.
4. Sixty years from now, when we sit by our (possibly atomic) fireplaces and explain American history to our grandchildren, let's be able to say the phrase, "Ted Kennedy lived to see the day when all Americans would have healthcare coverage."
5. Three of the most liberal Supreme Court justices are going to retire in the next four years. They need to be replaced by young, liberal lions in order to merely keep the current balance of the court.
15. Joe Biden understands the conflict in Iraq, understands the need to balance civil liberties with respect for the law, knows how to work the DC legislative process, and is ready to serve as President, should anything happen (God forbid).
16. President McCain means at least a decent chance that America will wake up to find itself ruled by President Palin.
17. A bipartisan commission found that Governor Palin used the powers of her office to settle a personal score. With the Bush Administration, the Vice-President would just shoot people in the face. Palin might actually tell other people to do it for her.
18. After months of using "the experience argument," McCain picked a running mate who was the mayor of 5,000 people just two years ago.
19. Two years ago, Barack Obama was a United States Senator.
20. Six years ago, Barack Obama was an Illinois State Senator, representing a district larger than Alaska.
21. Shooting animals from helicopters is wrong. Period.
22. The selection of a running mate with no foreign policy experience, very little domestic policy experience, and no understanding of national political debate demonstrates that John McCain has no respect for the American people, and believed that Hillary Clinton supporters could be duped into believing that Sarah Palin was just one of them.
23. Divided government over the last two years has sucked. I want Washington to actually start accomplishing things for the American people.
26. Because, like Aaron Sorkin, I want to take back the word "elite."
27. As demonstrated by his stunt-tastic decision to "suspend his campaign," John McCain cares considerably more about political appearances than real policy results.
28. As demonstrated by his ability to win over several crucial swing votes in the U.S. House of Representatives in order to pass the bailout bill on its second try, Barack Obama demonstrated that he both is able to and wants to get things done.
29. I am sick of hearing the word "socialism" thrown around by Republicans like a football. A Republican administration just became the most socialist regime in American history, so you can stop pinning that tail on the donkeys.
32. We are not a nation of whiners. It's time for us to rise up and be a nation of winners once more. I also don't want a President who thinks that we're just whining when something goes wrong.
33. In the midst of the greatest financial crisis of our lifetime, I'd prefer to not have a president who "don't know much about the economy."
34. Community organizers deserve respect, because they work hard for low wages to try to improve the lives of the disenfranchised and the underprivileged.
35. When he got his law degree, Barack Obama could have gotten a high-paying job on Wall Street. Instead, he went back to Chicago and helped disenfranchised workers.
36. John McCain already has nine houses; I merely want to give the Obamas their second.
37. The second presidential debate.
38. I'd like a little bit of international diplomacy, please. With a side of respect.
39. Colin Powell says you should.
40. Barack Obama will follow Osama bin Laden to the cave where he lives.
41. Hillary Clinton says you should.
42. Senator Casey (D-PA): "John McCain calls himself a maverick, but he votes with George Bush more than 90% of the time. That's not a maverick, that's a sidekick."
43. Governor Paterson (D-NY): "If [McCain is] the answer, then the question must be ridiculous."
44. You can make less than $5 million in one year, and still be rich. It'd be nice to have a president who gets that.
45. Senator Obama is extremely popular with our crucial allies overseas.
49. From now on, let's just invade countries that actually threaten our national security, or if it's a humanitarian crisis where military force is required.
56. Let's be honest, regardless of your political affiliation, Inauguration Day will be really amazing with the first African-American President of the United States being sworn in, and then giving the brilliant speech that we all know is coming.
66. I'd like to spend the next four years with my president calling me "my fellow Americans," not "my friends." I'm not his friend and I don't want to be.
67. Senator Obama is the only candidate in this race with a degree in constitutional law.
68. Growing up raised by a single mother on the south side of Chicago, Senator Obama has a personal understanding of both the underprivileged and privileged sides of our society, and how to balance their interests.
69. Senator Obama is the only person in this race to offer a legitimate proposal on how to deal with rising education costs.
70. Senator McCAin says that he "shares a common philosophy" with George W. Bush.
71. With a large Democratic majority in both the House and Senate, a Democratic president could actually pass significant legislation, and could immediately start working to dig us out of this hole.
After a week of non-posting, I'm sure all of you are at a point of near-desperation for political news, being that this is surely your only news source. Well, I don't want to keep you waiting any longer.
--> The electoral math of this race is looking more and more painful for Senator McCain and his slim hopes to pull this one out of the bag. Let's look at where some of the key states are for the Republican ticket:
--> Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa - basically given up, as recent polls all confirm a double-digit lead for Obama. --> New Mexico - given up. --> Colorado - still hoping but many campaign officials are acting like this one is already over.
That's right, ABOVE the threshold for winning the presidency.
Thus, with those expected losses ALONE, even if McCain takes every swing state (many of which show Obama with moderate leads anyway), Obama wins.
--> It is with this in mind that McCain's campaign has decided to go for the Hail Mary pass as their only option (thankfully they have John Elway with them on the campaign trail today). John McCain and Sarah Palin's ONLY HOPE for victory now rests in Pennsylvania. Even Tom Ridge today affirmed that McCain needs PA to have any hope. A surprise, comeback victory here, to capture its 21 electoral votes, might actually give them a chance on election night if all other swing states go their way. And by swing states, I don't just mean Ohio and Florida anymore. This list also includes Montana, North Dakota, Missouri, Indiana, Georgia, North Carolina, West Virginia, Nevada and Virginia.
Turns out that Obama's expand-the-map strategy worked.
--> And speaking of Tom Ridge, former Republican governor of Pennsylvania and prospective running mate, he also went on to suggest fairly explicitly that McCain would be in better shape had he picked Ridge instead of Palin. The finger-pointing and blaming has already started in full force within the Republican ranks, and this is merely the most recent, notable example.
--> Of course, Pennsylvania is in some ways still a battleground. I don't mean in the sense that McCain really has a chance here. I mean that it's really violent. On Wednesday night, a 20 year old woman volunteering in Pittsburgh for the GOP reported being attacked by an enraged Obama supporter. She claimed that the man punched her in the head, robbed her at the ATM< href="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/p_136090.html">carved a "B" into her face to "teach her a lesson for supporting John McCain." This horrifying news captured both campaigns' attentions, as Senator Obama expressed concern for the victim while both McCain and Palin called to check on her.
Unfortunately, this turned out to be a scary example of a person whose lie spiraled out of control. Earlier today, the woman admitted to having made the entire story up; she was neither robbed nor attacked, and the wound may have actually been self-inflicted.
I would like to remind all political junkies: Halloween may be coming up, but your face is not a pumpkin.
--> Just one week after I warned Congressman John Murtha (D-PA) about the wisdom of calling all of his constituents "racist," it appears that the veteran legislator has gotten his comeuppance. A new poll released today shows him facing a startling 13-point deficit in a race that was supposed to be a blowout in the other direction. Murtha has served his district for 38 years, and to see him as likely the only incumbent Democrat to lose their seat in Congress this year will be relatively depressing.
--> On the brighter side (and by bright I mean depressing for Republicans), Alan Greenspan announced yesterday that his free-market ideology was flawed. Dear God we really are in a changed world. Alan Greenspan just claimed that capitalism isn't perfect.
--> Another really weird story that isn't getting noticed by the mainstream media but once more makes John McCain look like a liar: in 1985, Senator McCain sat down WITHOUT PRECONDITIONS with General Augusto Pinochet, the brutal dictator of Chile and "one of the world's most notorious violators of human rights." I think you know what it's time for:
--> Senator Barack Obama is actually in Hawaii right now, visiting his ailing grandmother. We wish her a speedy recovery.
--> And finally, one of the best SNL sketches in quite some time:
"We believe that the best of America is not all in Washington, D.C. We believe" -- here the audience interrupted Palin with applause and cheers -- "We believe that the best of America is in these small towns that we get to visit, and in these wonderful little pockets of what I call the real America,being here with all of you hard working very patriotic, um, very, um, pro-America areas of this great nation. This is where we find the kindness and the goodness and the courage of everyday Americans. Those who are running our factories and teaching our kids and growing our food and are fighting our wars for us. Those who are protecting us in uniform. Those who are protecting the virtues of freedom."
- Governor Sarah Palin, 2 days ago
Do we need leadership in this country that distinguishes between "real" Americans and "fake" Americans? Between parts of the country that are "anti-American?" I cannot begin to describe how offensive I find these comments. How do you define what pro-American is? These talking heads seem to identify "Republican" with "American," and frankly there are two sides of the political debate here in the United States.
Although, after listening to what the other side has to offer over the past few months, I'm starting to feel like there's two sides to this debate in the same way that there were two sides of the McCarthy hearings.
Longer post coming in the next two days. I just thought that it would be nice to share my disgust. This election is no longer an argument between two competing viewpoints on what direction to take this nation. The very fiber of our nation's morality is at stake. I want moral issues to start becoming part of this race again - moral issues like how people get away with saying things like this, here in what is supposed to be a beacon of freedom and democracy? Because I seem to be on a Sorkin binge lately, I must note that comments like Palin's really sound a lot like the crazy conservative talk show hosts featured in the penultimate episode of Studio 60. Does "treason jingle" ring any bells?
But first, a debate recap: Yes, I swear it's unaltered. But we're not done with our post-debate roundup.
--> One small detail that I missed from Wednesday's electrifying policy showdown was John McCain's discussion of small business taxes. Thankfully, Michael Kinsley caught it for us:
“Fifty percent of small business income taxes are paid by small business.”
— Senator John McCain, during the third presidential debate, October 15
Kinsley goes on to argue against the basic premise of helping small businesses so much, but I'll leave that one to the economists. This is a political blog, and we are not in the business of real world problems here.
--> Also, the "Joe the Plumber" phenomenon simply won't die. He was on the cover of the New York Times today. And it turns out that his characterization at the debate wasn't all that accurate. Well, for starters, his name isn't Joe. And he's not a plumber. So right off the bat, the nickname isn't all that fitting. Plus, he owes over $1000 in back taxes. He's registered under the wrong last name. And, to top it all off, he's related to Charles Keating.
This was still a fairly interesting example of how both candidates shamelessly flaunt themselves as friends of blue-collar folk. It's odd that, if you judged solely based on presidential campaigns, you'd think that every American drank a six-pack every night, owned a rifle, sat at the dining room table with their spouse and talked about their financial troubles, struggled to put their kids through college, and had some sort of medical condition that wouldn't be covered by their health insurance. Those are the people that every bit of this campaign (on both sides) has been directed towards. And while those categories may be large, and certainly needing help from the government, they're not the only people in the country. I'd love to hear more from either side about what they're going to do for blue-collar Americans, white-collar Americans, collarless Americans, rich, poor, healthy, sick. Our campaign has become an empathy contest, instead of a discussion of concrete policies and what their impacts will be.
--> Meanwhile, on the business of connecting with Americans, Sarah Palin will join her alter-ego on SNL this Saturday. It's truly going to be a must-see cameo, followed by a must-change-the-channel poorly-written episode. Why do people actually watch that show anymore?
--> United States Congressman John Murtha (D-PA), however, truly seems to understand his constituents. Representing an older, more traditional district in Western Pennsylvania, one would assume that he would be...evasive of the issue that some of his constituents remain hesitant to vote for a black candidate, or at least apologetic. Instead, Murtha gives the media some good old fashioned straight talk:
"There's no question Western Pennsylvania is a racist area."
The first step is admitting you have a problem...
Kudos for Murtha for pointing out the moral failings of the voters that keep electing him, and good luck on Election Day!
--> Of course, fear certainly trumps empathy (and even race) in today's political culture, and no one plays with fear better than the Republican National Committee. They sent this mailing into North Carolina and Nevada in an effort to get McCain into the White House before anyone notices that their pants are on fire.
--> However, in today's edition of EDC, Senator Barack Obama is the obvious winner of Empathy Champion (otherwise known as President-Elect). A few weeks ago, I was rather startled to find an email in my college mail account from Barack Obama entitled, "It's Time for the Talk." Well, despite my confidence in the existence of a stork and my confusion as to why an elected official would take such an interest in one's personal life, I decided to click the email and discover what Barack had to say. Luckily, the message was about politics, not sex. The campaign is urging college students (already well-informed and decisively pro-Obama) to sit down with their ignorant, uneducated family members and explain to them the facts of life, or at least political life. More specifically, you should talk to any older relatives who aren't already on the Democratic bandwagon, hit them with a sledgehammer, then take their identification and pose as them at their polling place in a crucial swing state on Election Day. At least, that's what I think the message was; I got bored after I lost hope that Senator Obama would explain to me where babies come from.
--> Meanwhile, the Obama campaign, apparently convinced of their lead in national and battleground state polls, has decided to start expanding into non-traditional battlegrounds like West Virginia, Georgia, North Dakota, and Kentucky. Of course, the Kentucky and Georgia buys are more likely directed towards propping up Democratic Senate candidates Bruce Lunsford and Jim Martin than actually winning the states' electoral votes. However, the move represents a large degree of confidence that we are headed for an Election Night landslide.
Reportedly, in the final 10 days before the election, after confirming the likelihood of winning all 50 states, Barack Obama will utilize his massive campaign war chest and begin running ads in Canada, Spain, and Pakistan, mostly as a way of mocking his opponent. The campaign also considered dropping leaflets about the candidate on Cuba, but decided that the move might accidentally spark a panic of an impending invasion (no reason to give that away just yet).
--> And speaking of mocking, EDC would like to leave you in a lighter note today, urging you to watch the videos of Senators Obama and McCain, face to face for the last time before the election, speaking at the historic Al Smith Dinner in New York City last night. West Wing fans will recognize the dinner as the title/subject of a season 7 episode, and wonder whether Obama and McCain had a showdown in the kitchen before heading on stage. Non-Sorkinites will have to be content with enjoying the surprisingly hilarious comedy stylings of the next President of the United States and the next still-just-a-senator-from Arizona of the United States.
--> Also, you might appreciate this news about Will Ferrell apparently being inspired by Josh Brolin. $5 says that the show starts, "My fellow Americans. can I please have your attention. I've just been handed an urgent and horrifying news story. I need all of you, to stop what you're doing and listen."
I am pumped for this. This is McCain's last chance to change this race. Unfortunately, the format of this debate doesn't lend itself to a game-changer. He could try to be nasty and call Obama out on the Ayers stuff, but being angry and aggressive to a person sitting at a table right next to you tends to not play well with independents. Regardless, I'd expect McCain to throw everything but the kitchen sink at Obama tonight. If we see the kitchen sink - Ayers and Wright - we'll know how desperate Senator McCain truly is. It'll be a sign of how negative he'll be willing to go in these final weeks.
9:01: Oh, Bob Schieffer. So clearly the best of the moderators. Throwing down the gauntlet early, as he promises that if the candidates don't ask each other follow up questions, "I will."
9:03: And once more, unsurprisingly, we start on Wall Street. McCain has said that people are angry 4 times in the last minute, possibly as a subtle defense of his vocally racist rally attendees.
After Obama's well-detailed remarks, McCain overtly refuses to ask Obama a question, and goes instead into an anecdote about Obama meeting "Joe the Plumber." Obama counters that Joe's misconceptions about his tax plan probably come from a McCain campaign ad. Bam. So far, both candidates are coming across as extremely well-prepared and much more intelligent than past debates.
McCain continues to insist that Senator Obama is going to take "Joe the Plumber's" money. He also doesn't understand why Obama wants to raise anyone's taxes right now. One wonders if McCain understands the relationship between tax revenues and government spending...we could be in for quite a deficit under President McCain.
Much like the last debate, McCain suggests that businesses will outsource jobs to Ireland with its 11% business tax rate. Move over, India and China. Fear the Irish!
9:14 Bob Schieffer takes both candidates to task on deficit spending, demanding that the answer to the reality of their proposals. Obama takes the debate towards the ideological difference between his and McCain's opinions on "investing in the American people."
McCain takes a page out of Sarah Palin's book and blatantly refuses to answer the question, going back to the last question. And you thought we had nothing to learn from her...
He also replays some more of his greatest hits, referring to that DoD deal on a jet that he stopped (and mentioned in every debate).
9:21 McCain gives an incredibly snappy answer directly to Obama, declaring, "I am not President Bush; if you wanted to run against him, you should have done it 4 years ago."
He also asserts (again) that he is aiming for a "new direction." Then Obama talks about his maverick tendencies in breaking with the Democratic Party. Is it just me or did the campaign roles just reverse?
Nope, back to reality - Obama takes a jab at Fox News. And then calls McCain out on being a "vigorous supporter" of President Bush on core policies.
McCain has "the scars to prove" that he stood against his own party. He then smiles eerily at Senator Obama, and asks, "You wanna know how I got these scars?"
9:26 Schieffer is the best moderator ever. Once again he demands that the candidates answer for their negative campaigning, right here, face to face.
McCain gives the excuse that Obama refused his town hall request. To paraphrase Jon Stewart, Obama didn't want to play Monopoly, and so McCain punched him in the crotch. McCain asks why Obama didn't repudiate Congressman Lewis' remarks, and why he gave up on public financing.
This is it. Showdown time.
Obama cites McCain's 100% negative ads. And then pivots BEAUTIFULLY, towards the need to not worry about "candidates' hurt feelings" and that candidates "should be made of" the legitimate issues and policy debates. He sneaks in a hit on McCain's desire to "change the subject," and portrays himself as the guy that cares about the issues that matter to people. Well done, Senator.
McCain counters with Obama's "unprecedented" amounts of money in negative attack ads, and pretends that his campaign has been about real issues.
OBAMA CALLS THEM OUT! He defends Lewis, and wonders why Palin didn't ask those at her rallies to stop. It was an "inappropriate comparison," to be sure. But once again, Obama pivots towards the "serious differences" in their policies.
McCain is "proud of the people who come to our rallies." And seems to accuse Obama of discounting the patriotism of veterans at McCain's rallies, though I'm not sure what that has to do with anything.
Obama once again calls for vigorous debates, but warns against calling each other "bad people." McCain brings up Ayers, and says we need to know the facts. Also brings up ACORN, and I wonder how a REPUBLICAN gets off accusing a DEMOCRAT of the greatest voter fraud in history????
Obama wonders why Bill Ayers, Professor of Education, has become the centerpiece of McCain's campaign. Explains very carefully how he and Ayers ended up on the same committee, and declares decisively that Ayers has nothing to do with him or his political career.
Moving on to ACORN. Says it was the fault of volunteers who forged names, having nothing to do with his campaign.
Now we look at the larger issues of who he surrounds himself with. One thinks of his respect for the Lincoln biography, "Team of Rivals," as he talks about the bright legislators and advisors who have shaped his thinking.
McCain continues to harp on the "started his campaign in his living room" nonsense. He sounds more and more non-grammatical as this debate goes along.
9:40 Bob Schieffer deserves a medal. Asking about the choices of running mates, and how those decisions demonstrate certain characteristics. Great, great question.
Biden versus Palin? I wonder who wins this debate... Biden fights on the side of working families, shares our core values, is a great legislator with a long list of accomplishments.
I can't wait to hear how McCain thinks that we've "gotten to know Sarah Palin." She saw corruption and she resigned? Why didn't she do something about it instead. McCain insists that she's a reformer, a "breath of fresh air." Riiiiiight... "Oh, and by the way..." Great segue into special needs children, McCain. Didn't see that one coming.
Obama dodges the question of whether or not Palin is ready to be Commander-in-Chief. He does, however, point out that McCain's spending freeze wouldn't allow for increased funding of research into Autism.
McCain insists that "spending more" isn't the answer; instead, we need transparency, accountability, and reform. Because all of those things will help fight autism, right? ...Right?
9:47 Schieffer! I hope he runs for President. A great question on the empty promises of "ending our dependence on foreign oil."
McCain ignores the climate-change side of the issue, and focuses entirely on the national security side.
Obama focuses us on the future of our economy. Borrowing money from China to buy oil from Saudi Arabia isn't a workable economic model. Growing the auto industry and growing solar, wind, and geothermal energies is the way to go.
McCain asserts that we must drill now. Doesn't really explain why, other than that we can. He also attempts to accuse Obama of not understanding the Latin American labor situation, and Obama promptly calls him out on it, showing off his Columbia education by discussing the details of Colombia.
9:56 And once more, McCain decides that his best strategy to win this debate is to repeat all the talking points that lost him and Palin the last 3. Now he's riffing (briefly) on sitting down with Chavez without pre-conditions.
Now we move on to healthcare. Obama claims the ability to lower costs and expand coverage. Thankfully, he's not lying, because it's entirely feasible.
Obama announces, "0," as "Joe" comes up again. Not a bit of taxes on healthcare benefits. McCain has been staring at Obama, mouth agape in surprise, for upwards of 20 seconds. Obama even offers him a 50% rebate if Joe offers his employees healthcare. Now he digs back into his bag of old tricks, and hits McCain again on his $5000 tax credit versus taxing healthcare benefits.
Best moment of the debate:
This has been the best debate so far, by far. Both these guys bought their game, but while Obama's game has become increasingly presidential throughout this race, McCain sounds dottering and bitter. He also won't let this idea of Obama "spreading the wealth" go quietly into the night. Nor will he retire his really awkward "gold-plated Cadillac insurance policies" phrasing, which obviously won him so much support in the last debates. He's also completely lying about the realities of healthcare coverage.
McCain still tries to frame this debate as government getting in the way of you doing it yourself. Classic ideology clash, but it's not gonna help McCain as long as Obama explains his stance carefully. Obama quotes the Chamber of Commerce as he undermines McCain's logic.
10:07 Schieffer brings up the under-appreciated issue of the Supreme Court (gotta love this guy). McCain refuses a litmus test, even on the Roe v. Wade issue. He also ABSOLUTELY 100% DISTORTS THE FACTS ON HIS GANG OF 14 ACCOMPLISHMENTS! Hold on, before I get to that, McCain just claimed that Obama voted not to confirm Justice Breyer, when Obama was 33 and still in Illinois. I think he meant Alito, or maybe this is just another one of Grampa Simpson's history lessons. McCain clearly pieced his history together "mostly from sugar packets." Now, as for the bi-partisan compromise, Republicans were trying to outlandishly end the ability of the Senate minority party to filibuster, and Democrats wanted to stop them. 14 members of the Senate avoided this showdown, but the Republicans were completely in the wrong on that issue, and McCain has no right to claim that the Democrats were trying to merely "block a majority vote."
Also, if anyone noticed, McCain just called Obama "Senator Government."
Obama, roughly agreeing with McCain, demands that his Supreme Court appointments be intelligent and thoughtful people, because there can be moral people on both sides of the abortion debate.
As the debate shifts to abortion, McCain calls out Obama for voting "present," and for standing in favor of partial-birth abortion. McCain's eyes go wide as Obama disagrees and tries to tell the truth. Obama voted against "life-saving treatment for infants" because there was already a law on the books, and it was because the bill contained no provisions in cases to save the mother's life that Obama voted against banning partial-birth.
McCain continues to use Obama's "eloquence" as an attack against him. I hate that sounding smart seems to connote lying in his eyes.
10:16 Schieffer, asking the last of his great line of questioning, wonders how our massive spending has failed to improve our quality of education.
Obama gives a history lesson, a classic Democratic talking point, looking to the need to invest in education in order to grow the economy in order to keep our nation strong and safe. And stressing the "safe" side of that, Obama calls for "an army of new teachers."
Ah, but just in case he sounded like he was erring on the side of government, Obama throws in a reference to parental responsibility.
But just in case anyone missed Obama's education platform, McCain is going to repeat it for him, stressing the need for charter schools and merit pay for teachers (exactly what Obama said 40 minutes ago). McCain, of course, accuses Obama of wanting to "throw money at the problem."
So, let me get this straight. McCain just said that he wants to increase education quality by doing away with qualifications and certifications for teachers? "Hey you! Want to teach? Here's a ruler, have fun."
Obama reprises his role as friend of the little guy and friend of local needs, focusing on the importance of local control of local school districts. He also reminds everyone that McCain completely agrees with him on two main points (probably because of the ear-piece that Obama's wearing that connects directly to my microphone...don't you see that hump on his back?).
And just in case Obama hadn't won the vote of every last college student yet, he hits McCain on believing that affordable college is a "special interest."
For the second time in this debate, McCain seems to suggest that Palin's child has Autism. Unfortunately, it's Downs Syndrome, but hey, it's not like the difference makes any difference to Senator McCain.
10:28 Now, we get our final statements (following a creepy, over-extended McCain laugh). McCain sounds tired and drained in this final statement, almost beaten. He doesn't have the feeling behind these words that he's had in the past, just like he's going through the motions.
Still, this was easily his best debate so far. It's a shame he lost it anyway.
Obama focuses the "risk" on embracing the same failed policies of the last 8 years, not any suspicion of his character and background. Also emphasizes "coming together," and echoes McCain by expressing the honor of serving.
I lied, Bob Schieffer's mom is the coolest. McCain is quite the jokester, faking to go around the table the wrong way (I thought he was falling at first).
Tom Brokaw declares "Joe the Plumber" is the winner. Great free advertising (assuming that's the name of his business, that is).
Terrific debate; McCain failed to change people's minds about Obama (although he started very strong), but both candidates looked much stronger than they had in their past two encounters.
--> Yesterday, the Dow continued its magical mystery tour by confounding all experts. After the biggest slump in the history of the stock market, the Dow climbed 936 points on Monday - its largest increase in history. This comes after the international community has announced increased cooperation in heading off this crisis. The stock market rally comes as great news to American investors, terrific news for American workers and their bosses, and fantastic news for John McCain. In the same way that the GOP has made its living off of fear-mongering about terrorism, the Democratic brand has thrived this election year thanks to fears of global depression. The less people are thinking about how to pay their bills instead of how Osama bin Laden is going to get them, the better McCain will do in the polls.
--> To be fair to Senator McCain, he apparently "loves being the underdog." The problem, of course, is that if you're still the underdog on November 5th, that means that the other guy already won. At a certain point, you can't remain the underdog and still win. Let's hope that Obama has some fear of the underdog, otherwise he will not survive (enter catchy trumpet part).
--> His 2nd place status certainly hasn't lowered McCain's spirits (at least not publicly). Foregoing the pre-debate tradition of lowering expectations, McCain forcefully declared, "I'll whip Obama's you-know-what!" I must say, it might just be a Freudian thing, but seeing the words "whip" and "Obama" come out of McCain's mouth so close together made me do a double-take upon my first glance at the article. Anyone who read my last entry might not be too surprised at my (sub)conscious association of McCain's campaign and racism.
--> On the bright side, McCain revealed today that he actually doesn't care about the Ayers issue. Funny, neither do any other Americans - maybe McCain can relate to the middle class after all. Of course, the Senator insisted on stating his position in classic Gone With the Wind form: “Very frankly, Dana, I don’t give a damn about an old unrepentant terrorist." I'm pretty sure that's how that movie ended, but I did fall asleep in the middle of the film - the South losing the Civil War isn't really an M. Night Shyamalan-level twist.
--> For anyone who's spent the last few weeks living in a cave (lookin at you, Osama), McCain's campaign is sort of floundering. That reality was no more apparent than in today's announcement that the campaign plans to offer extra incentive to Florida volunteers (because apparently merely getting McCain elected isn't good enough - talk about an enthusiasm gap). The Florida GOP is offering a chance to meet McCain or Palin to their best phone bankers and canvassers, and gas gift cards to any particularly eager supporters (or desperate people who are willing to sacrifice political ethics for filling up their SUV).
It looks like you can count Republican Governor Charlie Crist out of the competition. He doesn't even plan on doing much at all for McCain between now and Election Day - quite a sign of confidence.
--> It's also increasingly obvious that the GOP is concerned about their chances of holding any seats in the United States Congress. The RNC is considering tapping a $5 million line of credit in order to help save some of its incumbents who haven't quite drowned yet. Although they insist that money won't be pulled from the presidential efforts, Republican leaders have to think very hard about who is beyond help, and who might actually survive thanks to a timely influx of cash.
--> As it turns out, there might be one Democrat that a Republican candidate can beat this year. One would have thought that when Florida voters replaced disgraced Congressman Mark Foley (R-FL), they might have brought a bit of moral integrity to the state's 16th Congressional District. And while I suppose an extramarital affair is farther up the morality scale than pedophilia, I'm not sure how much comfort Florida voters will find in that fact.
Congressman Tim Mahoney (D-FL) reportedly agreed to pay $121,000 to a former mistress, as well as offering her a $50,000 per year job, in order to prevent her from suing him. This allegation certainly puts his political career in jeopardy. We'll see how this one plays out, but in this anti-Republican national climate, even an affair might not be enough to defeat a Democratic incumbent.
--> Meanwhile, Senator Barack Obama continues to utilize his campaign as a way of reaching out to young voters. And even Senator Obama knows that the best way to connect with college students is through video games (I'm sure he would receive confirmation were he to visit his alma mater now). With this in mind, the Obama Campaign has purchased advertising space within the Xbox 360 racing game Burnout Paradise. So as gamers race their cars through cities, they may very well pass billboards like this one:
I'd imagine that the Obama campaign's next move will be to start inserting Obama as a promising QB to be drafted in Madden NFL 2009.
A college sophomore, I've been following politics religiously for the last 4 years. I do not mean these posts to come across as anything other than somewhat informative, but mostly entertaining. I'm like Jon Stewart but without the nice suits. Or the production value.
