| 10:34 p.m.: McCain closes with his country first line. Mediocre debate for McCain.
10:32 p.m.: Great closing by Obama. Great debate by Obama.
10:30 p.m.: "It's never the challenges that you expect, it's the challenges that you don't expect to get that take up most of your time." - Obama
10:29 p.m.: Must talk with allies and enemies, Obama argues. We need that "tough talk" with our enemies.
10:28 p.m.: We cannot allow Iran to get a nuclear weapon, Obama contends. It would threaten Israel, one of our strongest allies in the Middle East and one of our strongest allies in the world. We will never take military options off the table. It is important to use all tools at our disposal to prevent these situations, Obama says.
10:26 p.m.: Israel now the topic. McCain talks about Iran and how they are a threat to Israel, especially if Iran goes nuclear. McCain mentions that, without preconditions, Obama wants to sit down with the Iranians.
10:24 p.m.: Yes or no? Is Russia an evil empire? Obama says they have engaged in evil behavior. McCain says "maybe."
10:23 p.m.: Have to be much more strategic, Obama says. Energy will be key in addressing Russia.
10:22 p.m.: Obama says we need to provide moral support to former Soviet satellites (Poland, Estonia, etc.) and provide them with foreign aid. We have to anticipate these problems, Obama says. Obama mentions a statement in April he sent out about Georgia and how the situation there was unsustainable.
10:20 p.m.: Russia is wealthy, says McCain. McCain utters the same line again about Vladimir Putin ("I looked into his eyes and saw a K, G and B.") even though McCain says that there won't be another Cold War.
10:18 p.m.: Obama says we will have to put "some additional troops" in Afghanistan. McCain mentions Gen. David Petraeus again. He has mentioned Petraeus repeatedly tonight to defend his own foreign policy.
10:16 p.m.: Anyone else see the guy sleeping in the front row?
10:14 p.m.: A little battle over follow-ups and McCain interrupted Obama during Obama's follow-up. Obama says he will not invade Pakistan, but rather go after Bin Laden if Pakistan doesn't do it themselves.
10:13 p.m.: McCain says border areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan are critical. Need to help Pakistan and coordinate efforts together. Use force, talk softly, but carry a big stick.
10:11 p.m.: Obama says we will encourage peace in Pakistan, send non-military aid to Pakistan and insists that we must go after Bin Laden if we have him in our sights.
10:09 p.m.: Question about Pakistan. Obama mentions how we lost our way because of Iraq and that we took our eye off of Pakistan and what was going on in Afghanistan.
10:08 p.m.: "I'll bring them home with victory and honor," says McCain. I've been in those situations all my life, McCain argues, when talking about what his doctrine would be.
10:04 p.m.: Obama doesn't understand why we would attack Iraq when they had nothing to do with 9/11. That's the only thing he doesn't understand. Talks about the price of the war. Spending $10 billion a month in Iraq while Iraqis have a surplus. We need that money back here, Obama contends. Obama adds that this is the greatest nation on Earth and we are a force for good. Mentions failure to address Darfur. "It has not worked for America." - Obama on Bush/McCain foreign policy.
10:01 p.m.: McCain says Obama was wrong on Iraq, surge and says Obama doesn't understand challenges. "We don't have time for on-the-job training."
10:00 p.m.: McCain on America: "Greatest force for good in the history of the world." "We are peacemakers," he adds.
9:57 p.m.: Is health care a privilege, right or responsibility? McCain said it was a responsibility. McCain "a little nervous" about government mandates. Takes another shot at Obama, claims Obama will fine people if they don't get health insurance. Obama believes health care should be a right. Tells story about his mother. Reinforces his points about what his health care policy is, contrary to the false claims from McCain.
9:54 p.m.: Let's put health records online, McCain says. McCain attacks Obama for mentioning the government. Touts his plan of giving a tax credit ($5,000) to citizens.
9:52 p.m.: Do you believe health care should be treated as a commodity? Obama says issue of health care is the single-most talked about issue he hears when he talks to voters. "Crushing burden" on small businesses and a burden on citizens, Obama says. If you have health care already, you can keep your plan and he would work with employer to lower costs on premiums. If you don't have coverage, you will be able to buy the same plan that federal employees get.
9:48 p.m.: McCain refers to Obama as "that one." Wow.
9:46 p.m.: New energy economy could create five million jobs, Obama says. Obama believes in investing in solar, wind, geothermal, etc. Also says he supports nuclear energy, contrary to McCain's claims. Nice jab at McCain by mentioning his voting record on alternative energy in Congress.
9:45 p.m.: What is it with Republicans thinking that Joe Lieberman working with them means that they are working in a "bi-partisan" manner? McCain is talking about addressing our global climate crisis. Talks about alternative energy, among other solutions.
9:43 p.m.: John McCain is spouting the same lies when he says that Obama has voted 94 times for tax increases (that's false - more on that later).
9:41 p.m.: John McCain says Social Security is not that tough to address. Really? If it isn't, why hasn't it been addressed already?
9:40 p.m.: Obama also talks about a credit for small businesses to pay for health care, as well as tax cuts for small businesses. This, Obama believes, would help lead us into addressing entitlements.
9:39 p.m.: Obama wants to provide tax cut for 95 percent of Americans. If you make less than $250,000, you will not see a tax hike.
9:37 p.m.: McCain talks about Obama raising taxes. Not answering the question again, but rather going on the attack. "I'm not in favor of tax cuts for the wealthy."
9:33 p.m.: Obama talks about a real call to service with citizens doing their part while so many of our soldiers go to war.
9:31 p.m.: Obama reminisces about 9/11 and when Bush said go out and shop. Obama said that was "not a call to service" we were looking for.
9:29 p.m.: What sacrifices are we going to have to make? McCain says we will have to examine each agency and department, take on defense contractors and eliminate earmarks. McCain recommends spending freeze except on defense (go figure) and veterans affairs, among others.
9:27 p.m.: Other priorities for Obama include health care (number two priority, according to Obama) and education was number three. He also is talking about member item reform.
9:26 p.m.: Nice play by Obama. "You're paying $3.80 here in Nashville." He says we need to address energy issues now. Unlike McCain, he says we need to prioritize.
9:25 p.m.: When asked to prioritize economic, health care and entitlement reform, McCain says you can work on all three. McCain (again) brags about his bi-partisan efforts with "Joe Lieberman, Russ Feingold, Ted Kennedy and others."
9:23 p.m.: McCain is in attack mode tonight. Any bets on when William Aires will be mentioned?
9:21 p.m.: McCain touts his bi-partisanship on campaign finance reform and his work with Joe Lieberman (if that counts for anything). Takes shot at Obama for not taking on his own party.
9:20 p.m.: Obama talks about the national debt and the surplus that existed prior to the Bush administration. Obama is emphasizing health care tonight.
9:18 p.m.: McCain's answers on these economic questions have been weak. You can tell he doesn't know what he's talking about.
9:17 p.m.: Obama confident about economy, but says we need leadership from Washington D.C. Says we need to coordinate with other countries, help ordinary families who need to pay their bills and change culture in Washington.
9:16 p.m.: "You're not interested in politicians pointing fingers." - Barack Obama
9:15 p.m.: Obama tells Oliver what is in the bailout package for him. Mentions the credit markets being frozen. Goes after McCain for being a deregulator.
9:13 p.m.: Obama should answer the question. McCain didn't, and Obama could really take the high road here by just brushing off McCain's attack.
9:12 p.m.: Next question: What in this bailout is going to help these people out? McCain brags about suspending his campaign to go back to Washington D.C. McCain talks about Obama and his cronies. Keating Five, anyone?
9:11 p.m.: Obama mentions Warren Buffett as a good choice for Treasury Secretary, but also wouldn't say who would be his Treasury Secretary. He takes a slight jab at McCain for saying that the "fundamentals of the economy are strong." Nice poke.
9:09 p.m.: Who would be your Treasury Secretary? McCain doesn't really say. He does mention Meg Whitman, but doesn't go out on that limb to say who would be his Treasury Secretary.
9:08 p.m.: Is it me or did McCain just dodge that first question in Palin-like form? Energy independence to address the economy? Interesting.
9:06 p.m.: Brokaw says that most of the questions are about the economy. The first question focuses on the bailout. Obama believes that the rescue package needs to be watched to make sure it works and adds that the middle class needs a rescue package.
9:04 p.m.: Talk about a chilly greeting. Barack Obama shakes hands with John McCain and they can't get away from each other fast enough.
9:01 p.m.: Tom Brokaw should be a great moderator for this. He's got the charisma and guts. He won't let anything slide. |
