10.08.08
Probably as much liveblogging as I’m going to do
What is there to say? McCain is saying the good stuff where the good stuff needs to be said. Low taxes for everybody. Awful where you’d expect him to be. Global warming is real. Reach across the aisle and get things done.
Obama is being his Stalinist, redistributionist self.
No surprises as of 9:47, which means I’m not too encouraged.
Tom Brokaw is kind of fun to watch with this “gentlemen, I’m just trying to adhere to time rules you both signed off on” thing he’s got going.
UPDATE: Turns out I do have more to say. The Chicago Marxist is saying health care is a right. Can’t say how he’s going to pay for the “lowering of costs” for small businesses’ health benefits for employees.
The Chicago Marxist is standing by his opposition to the Iraq invasion. Oh, jeez, here comes the diminished-respect-in-the-world crud.
Now, I’m getting bugged at Tom Brokaw. He comes up with his own question about “non-combat use of military forces.” What a nonsensical distraction. For God’s sake, everybody, Iran is weeks away from having a deliverable nuke. Russia is collaborating militarily with Venezuela. Can we leave the “humanitarian” stuff to the packers of boxes of powdered milk?
Intelligent audience question about Pakistan’s sovereignty. The Chicago Marxist begins his response with that eye-off-the-ball-by-getting-preoccupied-with-Iraq meme. He says a few things – help the new government of Pakistan, etc. – and winds up saying that should push come to shove, yes, you go in after al-Qaeda.
Actually, that is indeed the deal, but McCain is right that it’s a bit premature to bluster about it.
I’m so often wrong about how these debates are going when I make my real-time assessments, given that I generally have a snoot full of cocktails and dinner wine by the time they get going, but this looks like less than the degree of decisiveness McCain needs tonight.
Well, now, hold on. McCain is getting into Petraeus’s success and The Chicago Marxist’s refusal to admit being wrong about the surge. Maybe Mav is kicking more ass than I’m taking into account. NATO membership for Georgia and Ukraine.
THe Chicago Marxist gives a pretty doo-dah response. “We need to see these challenges before they happen.” Kind of like the warnings Clinton and Gore issued about Saddam Hussen ten years ago, Senator?
Tom asks, “Is Russia today an evi empire?” A doo-dah waste of debate minutes if I ever heard one. I do like McCain’s answer: “Maybe.”
Oooh, good question. Navy guy asks about supporting Israel if it has to go after Iran. Mccain stalls, treads water saying “Iran is a threat with its nuclear program.” Well, duh. Tough sanctions to modify Iran’s behavior. We can never allow a second holocaust. Nothing substantive in the way of an answer to the Navy guy’s questions.
Ditto the Chicago Marxist. Blah blah blah.
Talk to the bad guys.
Ah, I see there’s still a half bottle of that California zinfandel left.
It was such a great 230-year run.
POST MORTEM: John McCain is a tired old has-been with a half-baked, weirdo worldview who probably isn’t up to saving America from an interim period of Stalinism, followed by defeat at the hands of ourenemies.
Mr. Dings said,
October 9, 2008 at 1:51 am
Jumping ship? Giving up the ghost? Great 230 year run. Righto! Until the economic chickens came home to roost. Many of us who had little faith are proven right, damn right. Greed has ruled the day and now we all have to pay. Yet you bemoan as weakness an unwillingness to kill some more. For what?
Administrator said,
October 9, 2008 at 3:23 am
“An unwillingness to kill some more.” I’m lost here. Kill what or whom? What are we talking about?