John McCain showed up, the cameras are ready and the nation is waiting to tune into what I'm guessing will be one of the most-watched presidential debates in our country's history. We're prepping in the virtual world as well, and come 7 p.m. we'll be here commenting on Obama vs. McCain: Round 1.
To join the fray, simply log in via the fields in the upper right-hand corner of this page and then place your comments in the box below. Feel free to start commenting now, and be sure to rejoin us at the magic hour.
If you don't have access to a TV, you can live-stream the debate at New Mexico In Focus.
Let the games begin.
But they're both wearing blue suits and red ties. Oh, and Obama has a flag pin. How many votes is that worth?
Stargate's on every channel not showing the debates!
Sorry. I'll pipe down.
Obama's already talking about the little guy vs. the monied class. He's going to nail McCain on his "I'm a deregulator" bit and his comments on the strength of the economy.
Has he really said anything? Nope. He's for goodness and light. But hasn't said squat. He supports the bush-Barney bailout but won't come out and say it because 80% of the voters hate it.
McCain's getting on-board with the bush-Barney bailout, too. He would score big if he came out as a maverick and opposed it.
Good, Jim Lehrer won't let them get away without committing one way or another.
Would be far more exciting than listening to McCain's monotone voice, like a gently blowing breeze laced with elephant stench.
And McCain has said....?
I mean aside from wishing Sen Kennedy well, that was sweet.
Is a slightly younger version of that dashing young gentleman in "Tales Of The Crypt."
This is frightening thinking this is the best we can do in leadership on this economic issue. Blah, blah, blah. Roll out the themes, the focus-group tested lines, and nothing has been said 13 minutes into the debate so far.
Nothing is ever said at these debates. This would be more entertaining if someone from the style channel was moderating.
Finally, some macho competition.
as the Kerry/Bush Debates. But cuter...
The pen is old, folks.
don't ask where he's been keeping it.
In Palin's cavernous vagina, I'm sure.
everytime McCain says corrupts or corruption I wish someone would yell out Keating Five.
would call out little john on the war spending and giving all of our $ to Haliburton
Obama has put in about $1 billion of earmarks in two years. McCain has never put in an earmark in his entire career. Just facts. Obama has been very weak on addressing these abuses.
are in the form of tax cuts for the rich. that's what Obama was pointing out.
They aren't debated. They're slipped in to irrelevant bills, with no debate, as particular favors for lobbyists. They are indefensible. Obama shouldn't be part of that sleaze.
In 1982, during McCain's first run for the House, Keating held a fund-raiser for him, collecting more than $11,000 from 40 employees of American Continental Corp. McCain would spend more than $550,000 to win the primary and the general election.
In 1983, as McCain contemplated his House re-election, Keating hosted a $1,000-a-plate dinner for him, even though McCain had no serious competition. When McCain pushed for the Senate in 1986, Keating was there with more than $50,000.
By 1987, McCain had received about $112,000 in political contributions from Keating and his associates.
McCain also had carried a little water for Keating in Washington. While in the House, McCain, along with a majority of representatives, co-sponsored a resolution to delay new regulations designed to curb risky investments by thrifts such as Lincoln.
From The Arizona Republic
I don't think earmarks are necessarily a bad thing. That's how towns get things like fire trucks and Native Americans get things like Indian Health Services.
McCain should reimburse the country for the 5 planes he crashed. The prices of which should be adjusted for inflation.
He's been a proponent of deregulation since forever...
Good on him. If Obama gives $700 B to Wall St. what does he give up? Same question to McCain. Good moderator.
we hate rich people and want them to suffer.
Who else is able to dine out and patronize those restaurants in The Alibi?
You shouldn't surround yourself with lobbyists.
to eat at any restaurant in the alibi! are you joking?
but we can't leave Iraq....no matter what the cost! It would be like losing.
For green energy to work it has to be affordable. Ethanol isn't and the only reason it's cheaper than gas is because of subsidies.
but we can't leave Iraq....no matter what the cost! It would be like losing.
we lost as soon as we went in. you cannot win an unjust war!
None of these yahoos are fit to lead the country. In all honesty.
Especially from Fannie Mae. He was #2 in dollars received from Fannie Mae insiders. Both campaigns are heavy with lobbyists. Some register and comply with ethics laws, some don't. Sorry, that's a different race a little closer to home.
but neither do you have a time machine. Unlike on stargate.
Three Mile Island extend across the entire eastern seaboard.
McCain's a maverick and now for the POW story, that has to be coming up soon.
you should read some of the scientific discourse on our blog. Knee jerk is not appropriate anymore. Educated caution is the call or our kids will all freeze to death.
of keeping a huge residual force in Iraq indefinitely.
Got it. You were right 6 years ago. What do we do now? Deatils, please.
As the Washington Monthly's Steve Benen wrote last week, "one of McCain's top policy advisers, Charlie Black, was lobbyist for Freddie Mac for 10 years, while his campaign manager, Rick Davis, lobbied to help Fannie and Freddie steer clear of additional federal regulations [and earned $2 million in the process]... Tom Loeffler, who serves McCain's campaign co-chairman, also lobbied for Fannie Mae. Aquiles Suarez, a McCain economic adviser, was a Fannie Mae executive. Dan Crippen, a McCain adviser who helped craft the campaign's health-care policy, lobbied for Fannie Mae (and Merrill Lynch). Arthur B. Culvahouse, who helped lead McCain's VP search committee, also lobbied for Fannie Mae." According to former Fannie Mae executive William Maloni, "photographs of Sen. McCain's staff... loo[k] to me like the team of lobbyists who used to report to me."
Said he was disappointed we didn't find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Just a contrast to this evening.
I wish my 92 year old grandpa rambled half as much as McCain.
and he is being advised by Raines, who got $54 million from Fannie Mae. The former CEO of Countrywide is also on Obama's team. Both teams are rife with lobbyists. Obama is like the rest of them. No better, despite his self-righteous attitude.
The American public has no idea what the difference is either
There's been more cross talk between Obama and McCain than a newcomers meeting at AA.
An hour after the McCain ad was released to the press, the Obama campaign pushed back with a statement from Raines himself.
"I am not an advisor to Barack Obama, nor have I provided his campaign with advice on housing or economic matters," said Raines in a statement released by Obama's campaign.
From ABC News, not a campaign ad.
The American public has no idea what the difference is either
I meant this one. Forgive me. Buttons.
An hour after the McCain ad was released to the press, the Obama campaign pushed back with a statement from Raines himself.
"I am not an advisor to Barack Obama, nor have I provided his campaign with advice on housing or economic matters," said Raines in a statement released by Obama's campaign.
From ABC News, not a campaign ad.
Got it. You were right 6 years ago. What do we do now? Deatils, please.
who took economics in college? who took sociology? who thought economics was a more exact science than sociology? who thinks the emergency bailout was conceived by people with less understanding of economics than themselves? Or by crooks with disregard to any economic crisis either real or imagined.
I think we're in deep shit, personally, but that's just my gut.
I never knew hearing a politician admit his mistakes could be so therapeutic.
Raines was laying major cash on him for years, and was cozy as can be with Obama and much of the rest of the Democratic leadership (particularly Barney Frank). Fannie Mae blows up, and all the Dems start running from him. It is indisputable that Obama was the second largest recipient of Fannie Mae largesse in his very short time in the Senate. The GOP had oil. Dems had the finance industry. Neither is clean in this.
Soaks up unpleasant terrorists, with or without an applicator.
More troops to Afghanistan. Going into Pakistan if they don't get Bin Laden. Who's going? Anyone here?
I've been looking for your source on this
Especially from Fannie Mae. He was #2 in dollars received from Fannie Mae insiders. Both campaigns are heavy with lobbyists. Some register and comply with ethics laws, some don't. Sorry, that's a different race a little closer to home.
Could you point one out, like a respected news organization? I seek enlightenment. And number 2, in the Senate, at an office party? I'm cruising followthemoney.org right now, but if you had a link, it'd be much faster.
with a blue star sticker. Never came home that I know of.
not talking to your enemies does not help
I'm voting for the guy who doesn't slaughter other nations' leaders' names.
By meeting with someone without precondition, you condone their words? B.S.
Grecian formula? Where did all the grey go?
you just can't see it in stark contrast to mccain
awesome.
Because his chief foreign advisory is a top lobbyist for Georgia.
Advantage McCain.
does the advantage go to McCain. That's just bad standup.
While Obama's thinking about rebuilding. I guess it would be advantageous to spend your time staring into those big peepers while someone else fixes stuff.
How many people do you think he's killed with his own hands? I know that's a creepy thought, but, seriously, this guy is scary.
when its not their turn to speak, don't you think?
The idea of him in charge freaks some folks out.
How do you feel about that, real Jim?
err, I mean, Mayor. I had a private meeting with McCain once. I have to be honest. I was very impressed.
and that alone is a tremendous relief.
I was having nightmares about Bush being elected. I think either of these guys would be a lot better than Bush, and maybe even do the nation proud.
Did you have enough time to really get to talk to him about policy, or does he just have a really good handshake?
we talked for about 90 minutes, mostly about environmental policy and energy issues. And Teddy Roosevelt. He's likes Teddy.
Did you have enough time to really get to talk to him about policy, or does he just have a really good handshake?
What about what you spoke about impressed you. And how will he help the environment?
Oooh, I want to hear the Vet's issues.
We can grab a beer sometime. Or coffee.
did McCain just call someone else stubborn?
And didn't he recently vote against the expansion of education benefits in the GI Bill?
but mccain did a good job. wait until next week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
a First Lady evening wear show-down.
These are two class acts. Good, honorable men. I'm not losing any sleep over the outcome of this election.
you CAN'T feel comfortable with Palin on the ticket!!!
I just think McCain's an idiot and if you don't agree with me that's too bad because I can't discuss this with you unless you agree to my precondition of thinking he's an idiot too.
where the hell were they when he picked Palin?
Obama keeps calling McCain Jim
he was trying to get the moderator to intervene
how far into the debate it will be when Biden makes Palin burst into tears....
can be so emotional. Especially, you know, when it's "that time of the month."
it's not because she's a woman... she is a pit bull after all.... being in a debate with Biden would have me burst into tears... he is mean.
She'll start crying when she's told she isn't allowed to tell any jokes that uses the word lipstick or the term "thanks but no thanks" as a response to serious questions.
Obama was fair, if he agreed with something he agreed they got to argue enough. Obama is just tactful. We don't all of a sudden want to watch Obama unfold into an asshole. He is tough but he is no asshole.
Can we get a count on how many times Mccain said "reagan"? Do we like Reagan that much?
Maverick. Sorry I had a glass of wine.
called McCain out on all the lies, the corruption, the misinformation, the hypocrisy the Bush administration and the Republican party has put us through for the last 8 years.
I don't think it was a very good debate for either one of them.
However I was creeped out by McCain's constant snearing grin and his absolute refusal to look at Obama.
I was at the bar and I didn't leave until 7:00 am. I live in New Orleans now, drinking until the sun come up is a precondition I must accept. They also forced me to smoke inside.
This may Work, what if homeowners
printed up Ornate & Fancy Certificates
------------------------------
Transfer of Deed
The property , insert legal description or address,
is now owned by AmsterKong Investment Group,
AmsterKong Property Investment Group
Hong Kong Amsterdam Cayman Islands
-----------------------------
then just stop making payments and claim
that you are now making your payments on time
to the new owners. If you get collection
calls just yell back at them for not
understanding complex financial Globalization
trends. I would only recommend this strategy if you
are upside down in your home loan, it may buy
you 8 months of FREE RENT.
RE debate, both sides are claiming a victory, whatever, the last 8 years have been excruciating
and devastating.
I just dont understand why DEMS are not more specific
in hanging "Keating 5" on McCain as this was a similar unpopular bailout where deregulation led to a monstrous wall st. debacle forcing the middle class to shoulder the debt.
I was doing my laundry. Was there some sort of debate or something? Somebody please fill me in.
this time, hotrod. but you'll be expected to attend the vp debate this week.
my vintage and patinated green leather armchair waxed and polished and a fresh bottle of fine single-malt picked out for the occasion. Should be the more interesting of the two debates anyway. See you there old chap.
ronald regan was mccain's hero... not teddy rosevelt???
