Okay, next time I will not expect any fireworks. Despite all the trash talking on the campaign trail – the gloves totally stayed on during this matchup. But here is a DVR-delayed “live blog” of the exchange…
8min – McCain says “my friends” twice in his first answer to town hall member –count begins
9min – Tom asks who will be the new Paulson? McCain says not Tom but gives a few options – none of them from Wasilla, Alaska
10min – Obama out-mavericks the maverick by changing the topic Sarah Palin style to remind everyone that McCain called the “fundamentals of our economy” strong a few weeks ago… and then brought up people with kids --- another nod to Palin
14min – In response to Oliver Clark’s question about how the bailout will help him, Obama calls McCain a deregulator then waxes poetic – “Not the end of the process – the beginning of the process”
Obama’s pointer finger is getting a workout tonight.
23min – Question - why should we trust either of you after both of your parties screwed everything up. Obama knows there’s blame to go around but important to remember – blame the republicans. McCain adds another “My friends” –pro alliteration – “look at records as well as rhetoric” – calls himself consistant reformer, reacher across aisles… doesn’t use the M word.
24 min – Tom asks candidates to put 3 priorities in order – McCain asks for choices again and then writes them down, moves the order around a few times and settles on NO ORDER – let’s just do all three at once. This from the guy that suspended his campaign bc he could only focus on one thing at a time. "My friends" count rising rapidly. It is getting a little annoying.
26 min – Obama chooses to prioritize – like the way families prioritize. Okay, that is getting a little annoying too. O goes all over the place - from families to oil independence to JFK to education to earmarks to the moon… until he gets in TROUBLE....
28 min – Tom scolds candidates (Obama) re: time… Length of answers will cause us to end up in bigger deficit tonight…. A few polite chuckles but overall verdict on deficit jokes --- too soon
31min – Obama brings up 9/11 – remembering where you were etc… then says that Bush did smart things at first but then told people to go out and shop. Obama doesn’t like shopping. He likes American-made cars and young people joining the peace corps.
33min – Tom asks about Wall Street getting drunk… Obama talks about teachers – and I thought he may have come close to saying Joe Six Pack – maybe it was the alcohol reference… but O swerved to unfair burdenship and a hatchet vs scalpel approach to spending.
35min – Mccain says something about Obama’s tax plans being like jello and tells us his opponent has a secret we don’t know…oooh… is he giving away cars to everyone in the Town Hall?!?! No – the secret is about small business taxes, My Friends. McCain talks taxes and gets kind of excited. He seems really proud of this answer.
38 min – Obama asks to respond to the fact that his opponent just compared his tax plan to a jiggly dessert. Tom says no – talk about social security.
Obama says… Social security – blah blah… Okay, so I really am going to talk about taxes and refute all the crap McCain just threw out there… with a joke about how “the straight talk express lost a wheel there” – hardy har har.
41min: "My Friends" McCain brings alliteration back “Rhetoric v record.” Sob story about not always being the popular kid in congress. Cry me a river.
45min – Obama talks about how energy is the new computer. Fun fact: The computer was invented by a bunch of government scientists.
BIG BAM SLAM – John talks about how congress has done nothing for 30 years but John doesn’t mention that he’s been there 26 years.
48min – Tom scolds on time – Obama says I’m just trying to keep up with John here… Maybe no one else noticed but I thought this sounded bad. I bet it is ignored though.
49min – MAC ATTACK
McCain: Who has 2 thumbs and voted for a Bush/Cheney bill that I opposed? (pointing thumbs at Obama) That one!
50min – Healthcare conversation giveth and taketh away. McCain says scary Barack’s plan will impose scary mandates – Obama in the background getting annoyed thinking: Brokaw better let me respond to this…
53min – McCain makes awkward hair transplant joke that gets NO Laughs… good try though.
55min: Tom asks a multiple choice question.
Is healthcare:
a) a privilege
b) a right
c) a responsibility
d) a subtle reference to Hillary Clinton
McCain says: c. responsibility . Obama is pissed that he has to take a multiple choice test when he needs to tell his side of the mandates story but chooses b) a right.
59min: Private joke b/w Mac and Tom – what’s up with freezing Barack out?
1hr: McCain gets back into his war/comfort zone – and goes back to his record rhetoric, and what O didn’t understand. Obama says he doesn’t understand some things --- ouch --- but oh…. Sarcastic – snap!
Obama: Yeah I don’t understand why we would go to Iraq when terrorists are in Afghanistan. I don’t understand why all your decisions suck McCain. Damn straight I don’t understand! But you know what? America rocks! Change change change.
1h4min – Tom asks about Mccain and Obama doctrines. Is this like their worldviews?
1h6min – Mac reminds us the surge was great. Adds another “My Friends” to the count. By the way, McCain is a war hero
1h9min – Obama talks about crushing Al Qaeda – killing Osama bin Laden and taking them all out. McCain thinks that Teddy “walk-no talk- softly but carry a big stick” Roosevelt would not like Obama because he talks loudly. (Really? No he doesn’t. He keeps his tone pretty even and just pouts a little when he gets annoyed)
1hr13 – Tom/Mac/O fight over follow ups – Obama wins a follow up and uses it to say what Mccain thinks of the candidates. McCain thanks Obama for kind words and BAM SLAM ---Obama: McCain's was the guy who sang "Bomb bomb bomb Iran" to the tune of a Beach Boys song.
1h15 – McCain crawls up Brokaw’s ass a little more and asks permission for fair follow up.
McCain: I was totally kidding about that whole Iran thing. I like coming up with funny song parodies with my buddies….my friends.
1h17 – Overall Obama has been fumbling around tonight a bit more than usual. Seems a little less polished.
Anyway, re: Afghanistan etc... McCain begs Obama to just admit the surge worked – get over it McCain, he’s not giving it to you.
1h19 –McCain on Russia: We’re not having another cold war but Russia is a little nuts. Mac looked into Putin’s magic 8 ball eyes and saw three letters – K-G-B. (Cool – McCain can read evil in Putin’s eyes and Palin can see Russia from her house. What a team!) Obama can’t read eyes or see Russia from his house but admits we have to deal with them too… (sigh)
1h25 –Question from town hall member Terry Shirey re: Israel gives McCain nice TV moment with military hero like himself. Legitimately nice moment as they shake hands.
1h27 – Obama thanks Terry for military service – sounds kind of flip about it. Maybe he knows it was a nice TV moment for McCain. Obama answers question by admitting that he likes to talk…. diplomatic talking, talking with friedns and enemies, talking with anyone who will listen, talking until Tom Brokaw cuts him off with the last question
1h30 – Zen-like last question – from zen state of New Hampshire – What don’t you know and how will you learn it? Obama says to ask his wife and then says he doesn’t know what the presidency holds. Closing speech references modest upbringing, scrimpin’ (no G) grandma, living the American Dream and passing it on. Need fundamental change. Need Obama on extraordinary journey we call America.
McCain’s closing remarks – What he doesn’t know – how about the future? (Aw! That would have been good!) McCain also doesn’t know the “unexpected” – probably because if he did, it would be the “expected” – but he does know service, a million years of experience, and country first.
The END. Obama and McCain block prompter.
MY FRIENDS COUNT – 18
Wives come out and everyone mills around among the town hall folks. Or as they are more commonly known – the studio audience.
BURNING QUESTION – Why did Cindy and Michelle trade colors? Did they coordinate their outfits? Or was it just a coincidence? I have a hunch it was the former.
8min – McCain says “my friends” twice in his first answer to town hall member –count begins
9min – Tom asks who will be the new Paulson? McCain says not Tom but gives a few options – none of them from Wasilla, Alaska
10min – Obama out-mavericks the maverick by changing the topic Sarah Palin style to remind everyone that McCain called the “fundamentals of our economy” strong a few weeks ago… and then brought up people with kids --- another nod to Palin
14min – In response to Oliver Clark’s question about how the bailout will help him, Obama calls McCain a deregulator then waxes poetic – “Not the end of the process – the beginning of the process”
Obama’s pointer finger is getting a workout tonight.
23min – Question - why should we trust either of you after both of your parties screwed everything up. Obama knows there’s blame to go around but important to remember – blame the republicans. McCain adds another “My friends” –pro alliteration – “look at records as well as rhetoric” – calls himself consistant reformer, reacher across aisles… doesn’t use the M word.
24 min – Tom asks candidates to put 3 priorities in order – McCain asks for choices again and then writes them down, moves the order around a few times and settles on NO ORDER – let’s just do all three at once. This from the guy that suspended his campaign bc he could only focus on one thing at a time. "My friends" count rising rapidly. It is getting a little annoying.
26 min – Obama chooses to prioritize – like the way families prioritize. Okay, that is getting a little annoying too. O goes all over the place - from families to oil independence to JFK to education to earmarks to the moon… until he gets in TROUBLE....
28 min – Tom scolds candidates (Obama) re: time… Length of answers will cause us to end up in bigger deficit tonight…. A few polite chuckles but overall verdict on deficit jokes --- too soon
31min – Obama brings up 9/11 – remembering where you were etc… then says that Bush did smart things at first but then told people to go out and shop. Obama doesn’t like shopping. He likes American-made cars and young people joining the peace corps.
33min – Tom asks about Wall Street getting drunk… Obama talks about teachers – and I thought he may have come close to saying Joe Six Pack – maybe it was the alcohol reference… but O swerved to unfair burdenship and a hatchet vs scalpel approach to spending.
35min – Mccain says something about Obama’s tax plans being like jello and tells us his opponent has a secret we don’t know…oooh… is he giving away cars to everyone in the Town Hall?!?! No – the secret is about small business taxes, My Friends. McCain talks taxes and gets kind of excited. He seems really proud of this answer.
38 min – Obama asks to respond to the fact that his opponent just compared his tax plan to a jiggly dessert. Tom says no – talk about social security.
Obama says… Social security – blah blah… Okay, so I really am going to talk about taxes and refute all the crap McCain just threw out there… with a joke about how “the straight talk express lost a wheel there” – hardy har har.
41min: "My Friends" McCain brings alliteration back “Rhetoric v record.” Sob story about not always being the popular kid in congress. Cry me a river.
45min – Obama talks about how energy is the new computer. Fun fact: The computer was invented by a bunch of government scientists.
BIG BAM SLAM – John talks about how congress has done nothing for 30 years but John doesn’t mention that he’s been there 26 years.
48min – Tom scolds on time – Obama says I’m just trying to keep up with John here… Maybe no one else noticed but I thought this sounded bad. I bet it is ignored though.
49min – MAC ATTACK
McCain: Who has 2 thumbs and voted for a Bush/Cheney bill that I opposed? (pointing thumbs at Obama) That one!
50min – Healthcare conversation giveth and taketh away. McCain says scary Barack’s plan will impose scary mandates – Obama in the background getting annoyed thinking: Brokaw better let me respond to this…
53min – McCain makes awkward hair transplant joke that gets NO Laughs… good try though.
55min: Tom asks a multiple choice question.
Is healthcare:
a) a privilege
b) a right
c) a responsibility
d) a subtle reference to Hillary Clinton
McCain says: c. responsibility . Obama is pissed that he has to take a multiple choice test when he needs to tell his side of the mandates story but chooses b) a right.
59min: Private joke b/w Mac and Tom – what’s up with freezing Barack out?
1hr: McCain gets back into his war/comfort zone – and goes back to his record rhetoric, and what O didn’t understand. Obama says he doesn’t understand some things --- ouch --- but oh…. Sarcastic – snap!
Obama: Yeah I don’t understand why we would go to Iraq when terrorists are in Afghanistan. I don’t understand why all your decisions suck McCain. Damn straight I don’t understand! But you know what? America rocks! Change change change.
1h4min – Tom asks about Mccain and Obama doctrines. Is this like their worldviews?
1h6min – Mac reminds us the surge was great. Adds another “My Friends” to the count. By the way, McCain is a war hero
1h9min – Obama talks about crushing Al Qaeda – killing Osama bin Laden and taking them all out. McCain thinks that Teddy “walk-no talk- softly but carry a big stick” Roosevelt would not like Obama because he talks loudly. (Really? No he doesn’t. He keeps his tone pretty even and just pouts a little when he gets annoyed)
1hr13 – Tom/Mac/O fight over follow ups – Obama wins a follow up and uses it to say what Mccain thinks of the candidates. McCain thanks Obama for kind words and BAM SLAM ---Obama: McCain's was the guy who sang "Bomb bomb bomb Iran" to the tune of a Beach Boys song.
1h15 – McCain crawls up Brokaw’s ass a little more and asks permission for fair follow up.
McCain: I was totally kidding about that whole Iran thing. I like coming up with funny song parodies with my buddies….my friends.
1h17 – Overall Obama has been fumbling around tonight a bit more than usual. Seems a little less polished.
Anyway, re: Afghanistan etc... McCain begs Obama to just admit the surge worked – get over it McCain, he’s not giving it to you.
1h19 –McCain on Russia: We’re not having another cold war but Russia is a little nuts. Mac looked into Putin’s magic 8 ball eyes and saw three letters – K-G-B. (Cool – McCain can read evil in Putin’s eyes and Palin can see Russia from her house. What a team!) Obama can’t read eyes or see Russia from his house but admits we have to deal with them too… (sigh)
1h25 –Question from town hall member Terry Shirey re: Israel gives McCain nice TV moment with military hero like himself. Legitimately nice moment as they shake hands.
1h27 – Obama thanks Terry for military service – sounds kind of flip about it. Maybe he knows it was a nice TV moment for McCain. Obama answers question by admitting that he likes to talk…. diplomatic talking, talking with friedns and enemies, talking with anyone who will listen, talking until Tom Brokaw cuts him off with the last question
1h30 – Zen-like last question – from zen state of New Hampshire – What don’t you know and how will you learn it? Obama says to ask his wife and then says he doesn’t know what the presidency holds. Closing speech references modest upbringing, scrimpin’ (no G) grandma, living the American Dream and passing it on. Need fundamental change. Need Obama on extraordinary journey we call America.
McCain’s closing remarks – What he doesn’t know – how about the future? (Aw! That would have been good!) McCain also doesn’t know the “unexpected” – probably because if he did, it would be the “expected” – but he does know service, a million years of experience, and country first.
The END. Obama and McCain block prompter.
MY FRIENDS COUNT – 18
Wives come out and everyone mills around among the town hall folks. Or as they are more commonly known – the studio audience.
BURNING QUESTION – Why did Cindy and Michelle trade colors? Did they coordinate their outfits? Or was it just a coincidence? I have a hunch it was the former.
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