First Principles

And it’s in the books.

I think McCain decisively whupped up on Obama on this one, especially on the issues.  It’s clear why Obama didn’t want to do any more of these.  The questions, though, seemed pretty pedestrian.  I wish Brokaw hadn’t filtered them first – it would have been much better had people been chosen randomly and allowed to ask whatever they wanted.

But it wasn’t the slam dunk I was hoping for. McCain did well enough to stay in it, but not well enough to claw back where he was before the market blew up.

But it’s not too late.  The only issue now is the economy.  The next debate will tell it.

7:33:  McCain answers the first part squarely.  “We don’t know what challenges will face.  What the unexpected will be.”  Talks about relying on others in tough times.  A good closing argument, but doesn’t really answer the second part of the question.

7:29 “What don’t you know, and how will you learn it?”  I like this question.  Obama’s answr about asking his wife is a GREAT line – disarming, humble, and universal.  But then he gives his resume instead of answering the question, and talks about how no one can be successful any more without Socialism and “fundamental change” in our country.

7:28:  Obama:  A nuclear Iran is unacceptable.  Well, good for him.  But he’s going to stop it by working “more effectively” with other countries.  Maybe he can write some really sweet letters, like he did to Secretary Paulson to solve the economic problems.  ‘Cause that worked out well.  Direct talks to Iran again.  I can’t believe he’s falling back into this trap again.  McCain’s about to pounce.  Obama lies about Bush not talking to Iran at all.

7:26:  Another question to McCain specifically.  Nice inside Navy line about Chiefs.  “Will you commit US troops to defend Israel?”  McCain’s answer – that an attack on Israel will not be limited to Israel – is an excellent one.  I’m not sure that he’s actually answering the question, though.  Wait, there it is.  At the end of the day, “We can never allow another Holocaust.”  Strong.

7:24:  Is Russia an Evil Empire?  No, Tom, that’s not a yes or no question.  McCain’s answer is a good one – “Maybe.”  McCain understands that energy is at the core of the Russia problem.  Great answer to Obama’s total incoherence.

7:21 “Naked aggression” into Georgia.  Strong language on Russia, but no new Cold War.  Obama:  “One of the central issues we’re going to have to deal with.”  “I agree with Senator McCain” again.  Obama tries to look knowledgable by naming former Soviet Republics.  “I put out a statement that said the situation was unsustainable.”  Actually, what you did was to draw a moral equivilance, which you had to retreat on.  He’s totally incoherent on this answer.  He stumbled around and then seized back on Iraq talking point.

7:20:  Did I miss it, or have there been three questions specifically aimed at McCain, and none at Obama?  I feel like this debate is a lot about McCain, and much less about Obama.

7:18: McCain hits exactly my last point.  Very nice.

7:17: I actually agree with Obama on wrapping up Iraq and moving into Afghanistan.  Thankfully, he didn’t get his way in the opposition of the surge, so now that’s possible.  Obama thinks if we have a democracy in Afghanistan, people will like us more.  Then why isn’t he supporting the Bush doctrine in Iraq?  I wonder if Obama even knows that his principles completely flip flop the second the name of the country changes.

7:15:  “The popular opinion of America in Pakistan” was hurt because we supported Musharrif?  Lame.  As if you can even do a poll about the US in a place where the wrong answer could get you killed.  Good response on the “Bomb bomb bomb Iran” joke.  Anyone who watches it on YouTube can see that clearly.

7:14: Obama wants another rebuttal.  McCain’s response was pitch perfect.

7:13:  McCain understands that Pakistan is not a homogenous state in the way that Obama does not.  He understands that local, tribal support is important.

7:09: “Respect of Pakistani sovereignty?”  Very interesting question.  Whines about Iraq again.  He REALLY doesn’t want to answer this question.  Still not answering it.  Still not answering it.  “We need to change our policies with respect to Pakistan.”  Still not answering the question.  “Give them more money.”  Still not answering the question.  Finally, he admits that “if” he sees Osama, he’ll go in.  That’s quite the out.  And I HATE his pronunciation of “PakEE-stAHn”.

7:08: “We need to know how we can beneficially affect the situation.”  That’s good, and speaks to the otherwise conservative opponents of the Iraq war.

7:06: McCain points out that Obama’s retreat option in Iraq would have been bad – but he missed a chance to point out that it would have prevented mass killings and genocide, too.

7:05: “We have moral issues at stake” WRT genocide.  I agree.  So isn’t that justification enough to have gone into Iraq, WMDs or no?

7:04: “We need the Iraq money to put people back to work.”  How does that work, Obama?  I’d rather spend money on Iraq than allow it to get in the hands of government bureaucrats trying to manhandle the economy a la the frickin’ bailout.

7:01: McCain talking about Russia and the surge.  I’m not sure McCain ever made that liberator line about Iraq.  In fact, he was an early critic of Rummy’s handling of it.

7:00:  “How can we be peacemakers?”  Oh, lord – that’s a hippified question if ever there was one.  But I like McCain’s answer.  Peace is achieved through strength, unless it is the peace of slavery.

6:59: An hour in, and I’m VERY happy with McCain.  “Before we leave that, did we hear the size of the fine?”  Good.

6:55: “Health Care:  A privilege, a right, or a responsibility?”  All of the above.  But just like my right to own a printing press doesn’t require the gov’t to buy me one, my right to health care doesn’t require my neighbor to pay for it.  Obama thinks it’s a right, and thinks “right” means “something someone else should pay for.”  But again, Obama is talking about plans instead of principles.  He admits people will be fined for not having health insurance.  That’s not Freedom.

6:53: And McCain talks about principles, and government mandates!  Awesome.  “If you don’t do this, Senator Obama will fine you.”  Good.  I’m afraid of government control, and people should be.  McCain’s talking past the light.  I like that, too.

6:50: “Do you believe health care should be treated as a commodity?”  It IS a commodity.  That’s immutable.  All goods and services are commodities.  Ignoring that fact is why socialism doesn’t work.  This is a great question to discuss principles behind plans, instead of trying to thumbnail the plan itself.  Obama is trying to do the later, and is just rolling back into stump mode.  Surprisingly slow on his feet to address specifics.

6:49:  “Who voted for it?  That one.”  Damn.  I’m glad he’s hitting Obama on voting against nuclear power.

6:48:  Brokaw:  “Should we fund a centralized alt eergy project, or subsidize many little ones?”  I reject the premise of this question.

6:47:  “The government is working with the private sector.”  Let’s just trust the private sector, dude.

6:46: Climate change “one of the biggest challenges of our time” from Obama.  Again, we don’t need the government to invest in “green jobs.”  If those technologies are profitable, then the market will reward them!!!!!!  Of all the investors out there, the Feds are the LAST I trust with my money.

6:44:  Climate change.  Gah.  Oh, well – at least he’s talking about nuclear power, and relates it nicely to the Navy experience.

6:43:  “Obama has never proposed legislation that would cut middle class taxes since he got here from Illinois.”  YES!!!! HIT THIS ALWAYS AND FOREVER!!!  It’s not like Obama has been powerless to start “changing” before he was in the White House.

6:42: “Senator Obama has never taken his party leaders on on a single issue.”  Good.  I like his analogizing the approach to spending like the BRAC base closing commission.  That’s the right method.  I’d support a Constitutional amendment that mandated such a spending review.

6:38: Brokaw talking about the ticking time bomb of Social security and Medicare.  Awesome.  “Are you going to set a date certain for fixing it?”  Obama TOTALLY dodges this question, and goes back to his tax cuts.  Demonizing “large corporations” again, as if they don’t keep more people on payrolls if they keep more of their money.  My wife:  McCain needs to say, “Clearly Obama isn’t able to answer this question.”  And he listens to her, too!

6:36: McCain hits him on wanting to raise taxes.  Awesome.  Then he compares Obama to Hoover.  And he’s not wrong.  Unfortunately, voting for that bailout put you uncomfortably close, too, McCain.  Reminds people Obama would “forgo” tax “raises” if the economy was bad.  “I have news for you Seantor” as he looks right at him.  GOOD!!!  And he finally sluffs off the class warfare.  Brokaw cuts off Obama for wanting the last word.  Awesome!!!

6:35:  “All of us are going to contribute.”  Does that mean his middle class tax cut is off the table?

6:34:  “How would you as President break those bad habits” of individual bad spending?  Uh….  By NOT Bailing them out and teaching them there are no consequences to bad choices?  Jeez.

6:30:  “A lot of you remember the tragedy of 9/11.”  “A lot of you”?  Uh, I think we ALL remember.  Obama hits Bush on not calling Americans to service after 9/11, which if he’s only talking about military enlistment, I agree with. But more community organizers and peace corps volunteers?  Yeah, THAT would have made the GWOT more successful.

Now he’s hitting oil companies for not “using” the leases they have.  THAT’S NOT WHERE THE OIL IS, YOU FOOL!!!!!  Gah!!!

6:29: “What sacrifices?”  I like McCain’s answer of investigating every government program and seeing if it’s wasteful or working.  And he took on DoD first.  Back to the overhead projector, mocking.  Excellent.  Recommends a spending freeze.  I like it.

6:27: An “investment” of $15 Billion.  Actually, we DID know how to get to the moon – the technology already largely existed, it was a matter of solving engineering problems that were tough.  Completely new technology in terms of energy independence is not analogous.  Besides, capitalism already HAS an incentive to produce that stuff!!  Why do we need federal “investments?”

6:25: “All of the above” energy.  Maybe Obama will hand out another, “I agree with McCain” soundbite.  He’s already given one tonight.  Brokaw whining about them not “playing by the rules.”  Shut up and let them talk.  Depth is better than breadth, I think.

6:24:  “Entitlement reform” in Brokaw’s question.  Well, that’s a start.  I like that McCain didn’t buy into the premise of having to work on these things one at a time, though.  He should have made a joke about doing more that one thing at once.

6:22: Don’t talk about campaign finance!  Hit Obama on his absurd spending!  Never mind – here it comes.  Obama is smirking.  “$3 million for an overhead projector in Chicago.”  “$860 Billion in new spending.”  I LOVE these specifics.

6:20:  I want to know one, specific thing Obama will NOT spend money on.  Ah, though.  He’s cutting more than he’s spending.  Once again, name one thing.  He doesn’t.

6:19: “How can we trust EITHER of you with our money?”  You can’t!!!  That’s why we ought to have a smaller government that can’t do as many damages.  Obama’s talking about belt tightening, but didn’t he say just a few days ago that we didn’t need to back off on our bold social programs just because we were in a downtime economically?

6:17: Ugh.  Now McCain’s talking about his own letter.  BTW, when Obama “corrected” McCain’s history, he didn’t rebut a single specific allegation – because he can’t.

6:16:  “I am confident about the American economy.”  Well, Obama, I’m glad someone is.  Isn’t that the same “gaffe” you accused McCain of making?  And now he’s going to “change the culture in Washington.”

6:14: “Let me tell you what’s in it with you.”  At least he admits business aren;t evil, but actually keep people employed.  “I need to correct a little bit of McCain’s history.”  Back to deregulation.  LAME.  Oooooo!  And now he’s talking about the LETTER he wrote to Sec. Paulson!  He wrote a LETTER!!!!!   That’s leadership you can believe in.  Jesus Flippin’ Christ.  But then, of course, “you don’t want to hear politicans pointing fingers.”

6:13:  McCain, calling out Obama on taking the FM money.  AWESOME!!!  ‘Bout time.  ANd good for him for finally taking credit for “standing up against it.”

6:12: McCain:  “It’s a rescue, not a bailout.”  Ugh.  At least he’s not shying away from the campaign suspension.  Now talking about FM and FM.  “Senator Obama and his cronies.”  YES!!!!!!!   It’s like he read my blog!

6:11:  “Who will be the Treasury Secretary?”  Interesting question.  Warren Buffet?  At least he’s talking about private sector capitalists who know how this kind of thing works.  Obama doesn’t even hazard a guess to name a name – like so much of his campaign, it’s all bromides, and no specifics.  Once again, he’s talking about the past and the problems.  Goes to the tax cut, which he proposed months ago.  He has NO idea what’s going on, or what to do about it.  Terrifying.

6:07:  Less spending, and dealing with debt.  Good, McCain.  Obama just talked about more handouts.  But I still don’t like the Feds “buying up” bad mortgages.  It’s not like people have a right to live in a house they can’t afford.  This is the McCain that voted for the bailout.  Gross.

6:06:  If Obama honestly thinks the bailout bill involves any kind of actual oversight, he’s dreaming.  Oversight by who?  Congress?  Barney Frank?  The guys that did this in the first place?  Lord.

6:05:  STRIP AWAY REGULATIONS?!?!?!?!??!?!  NAME ONE, DAMNIT!!!!!   NAME ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

6:05: “What’s the fastest way to bailout retirees?”  Or, “Where’s MY handout?”  I hate the concept of the question, but given the past policies, hard to blame him.

6:03:  Obama looks less comfortable.  McCain looks ready to rumble.  Let’s hope that’s not wishful thinking…

6:01:  80 uncommitted voters.  I really, really wonder about that.

6:00:  And so it begins.  I do wish Obama would have taken McCain up on his offer to do a ton more of these.

5:55:  McCain needs to bring it tonight, and bring it hard.  He needs to name names just like he’s promised to do, and point out that those names are Democrats.  I will always believe that McCain could have won this election on a single vote, simply by voting against the bailout which has so spectacularly failed (and continues to do so).  It would have allowed him to run against Obama, Congress, the bad economy, corruption, and President Bush.  It would have politically brilliant and the right thing to do to boot.

Alas, he didn’t.  But he still can point out that now that it’s a done deal, there is a blank check – and the guys Obama would give that check to are the ones who helped create this mess in the first place.  If you have to simply trust a government official with $700 Billion, at least trust the guy who doesn’t do earmarks and who was speaking out and voting on legislation on the problems with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac 3 years ago.

I also wish he’d bring up Obama’s waste of $100 Million when he was on the board of the Anenberg Challenge, every last cent of which was wasted on radical programs that produced no benefit.  Economics, education, and William Ayers, all in one fell swoop.

5:45:  I’ve been out knocking on a lot of doors over the last few days, and so I’ve been sorely short on blogging time.  I figure liveblogging is a great way to multi-task and do a couple things at once.

The polls since the last presidential debate have been frustrating.  The fact that Democrats can shield Fannie Mae and Freddie Mack from regulation, take tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from those orginizations, hire FM and FM’s former CEOs (who ran those organizations into the ground) as economic advisors, and then blame it all on the Republicans drives me crazy, but not as crazy as the fact that the press allows them to get away with it, and that people who ought to know better just stick their fingers in their ears and ignore it while they chant about “change.”

But hope springs eternal (the real kind, not the slogan kind), and so here I am, and I’m not done knocking on doors.