LIVEBLOG: Obama McCain Presidential Debate At Belmont University In Tennessee (October 7, 2008)

[All Times Are Central]

6:45: And we’re off.  Tonight is the second presidential debate between John McCain and Barack Obama.  It is scheduled to begin at 9pm eastern time.  It is being held at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.  The moderator will be Tom Brokaw.  The topics will focus on domestic issues.

6:53: Belmont’s mascot is “Bruiser the Bruin.”  He’s a bear! A very scary looking bear, I might add.  John McCain better watch out.  I’m not sure Bruiser would like to know about McCain’s criticism of the $3 million the government spends to study bear DNA in Montana.  Also, the university has lots of famous alumni who are country music singers - well done.

7:35: Pickens commercial on CNN.  I’m really getting sick of these natural gas commercials.

7:40: TPM issued a pre-debate post wondering out loud whether Brokaw is going to carry some water for McCain tonight.  My response: lame.

7:41: At the debate venue, Al Gore gets a standing ovation.  Awh.

7:43: One of the Co-Chairman of the Commission on Presidential Debates is telling the audience not to clap or create other types of interruptions during the debate.

7:49: Tom Brokaw takes the stage.  He tells the audience that they will not tolerate any outbursts.

7:52: Now, there is just dead silence in the venue.  Between all the warnings not to make any noise, and fear of being ravaged by a pack of wild boars, I suppose everyone is simply to afraid to speak, even in these pre-debate moments.

7:53: I just saw that Cindy McCain said that Obama has “waged the dirtiest campaign in American history,” and her husband Sen. John McCain will use tonight’s debate to correct the distortions.  I’m going to refrain from commenting on the degree of dirty tactics used by Obama, but what I can say with great confidence is that this is not the dirtiest campaign in history.  See my post on historical perspective here.  It really annoys me when people who have the potential to be the in such prominent positions of government either intentionally distort or simply do not know history.  Shame on you.  Yes, really.

8:00: And here we go.

8:03: First question: What is the fastest way to help people in these economic conditions?  Obama acknowledges that we’re in a recession.  Says that the economy is the verdict of economic policies of the last 8 years, ties McCain to them.  His prescription: no golden parachutes for corporate executives of these failing financial institutions (I really hate this metaphor, it just sounds silly).  Obama also says that middle class tax cuts also need to be enacted.

8:06: McCain talks about energy independence as a potential solution.  Also talks about the need to control spending and address the national debt.  McCain says that as president, he would purchase the bad mortgages and renegotiate them.  I’m not sure this would address the value of homes though

8:08: Brokaw asks McCain who he would appoint as Secretary of Treasury.  McCain suggests that someone like Meg Whitman has the qualities that he would consider.  Yeesh.  He probably should have picked a different person to discuss given that eBay just laid off almost 10% of its workforce (about 1,500 people).  Obama shamelessly name drops Buffet - “Warren.”  As if.

8:11: Second question: How will the fiscal recovery package help people?  McCain takes a jab at Obama and Democrats for not taking action on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac earlier.  Also, hits Obama on contributions from Fannie and Freddie.  McCain says that the bailout isn’t enough, talks about his mortgage plan again.  Obama talks about how recovery package is the beginning of the process and an important step in opening up credit.  Hits McCain on campaign staff that lobbied on behalf of Fannie and Freddie.

8:15: Follow-up: Will the economy get worse before it gets better? McCain references a letter that Senators wrote warning about this crisis, notes that Obama’s name isn’t on it.  Hmm, alright.  McCain also talks about how workers are the fundamental of the economy (clearly still doing damage control for his earlier statement about the fundamentals of the economy being strong.)

8:19: Next question: How can we trust either of you with our money, when both parties contributed to this crisis? Obama acknowledges frustration and cynicism.  He points to specific actions of the last 8 year that have uniquely contributed to the problem.  Obama also talks about how his policies would result in a net spending cut.

8:20: McCain also acknowledges frustration and cynicism.  Says that Obama hasn’t taken on his party, like he has done in the past.  Says that he has taken on his party and special interests.  Goes on to criticize Obama as the most liberal, big spending Senator.  I was right about McCain being afraid of Bruiser.  Instead of talking about bear DNA, McCain criticizes Obama for getting a $3 million earmark for a projector for a planetarium in Chicago.  Somewhere Neil Degrasse Tyson is weeping.

8:26: Brokaw asks what their highest legislative priorities would be.  I’m not blogging this.  Their answers are pure fluff.  If wishes and buts were clusters of nuts, then we’d all be squirrels…

8:28: Internet question: What sacrifices would you ask Americans to make?  McCain talks about cutting earmarks and instituting an across the board spending freeze.  This isn’t exactly a sacrifice that he is asking of all Americans, rather, it seems to a sacrifice that some Americans will deal with as a result of some of these freezes.  Further, earmarks are not always the answer.  Most Americans don’t even know what an earmark is.

8:31: Obama says that Americans are hungry for the type of leadership that will challenge them to sacrifice.  But don’t worry, he’s not going to issue that challenge.  Instead, he says that while he supports offshore drilling for oil, he also believes that Americans need to think of ways to cut back their energy use.  You know, things like weatherizing their houses or buying more efficient cars.  Uhm, this isn’t really a sacrifice.

8:36: Obama wants to respond to McCain’s answer about taxes.  But, Brokaw will not let him, he’s peeved.  And, somewhat understandably so.  The campaigns invest all kinds of time and energy into strict rules.  If the candidates wanted a more free form debate, they should have the courage to participate in a less structured debate.  But, neither of them, have demonstrated that courage so far, so now is a bad time to start whining about their own rules.

8:38: Next question: Would you give Congress a deadline to Reform Entitlements?  Both candidates really dodge the question about entitlements and instead talk more about taxes.  Oh well.  Part of me was secretly hoping that Al Gore would just scream out “lockbox!”

8:43: What would you do in the first two years on environmental issues?  McCain thinks we need to develop green technologies and alternative fuels, but he also thinks that nuclear energy is the answer.  Well shucks, that’s all we need to do is build a bunch of nuclear power plants?  That’s an awful lot of backyards that people aren’t going to want these facilities built in.

8:44: Obama hits McCain on voting against alternative fuels in the past.  Obama argues that we need to work with the private sector to develop alternatives.  There is a terrifying lack of specificity in both answers.

8:46: Brokaw scolds both candidates for violating time rules again.  He asks McCain if government should fund a Manhattan Project like program for alternative energy or invest in “100,000 garages” like was used in advancing computer technology.  It seems as though McCain supports the Manhattan like project, but his answer was somewhat incoherent.  McCain also practices talking to trick or treaters on Halloween when he jumps into a discussion about goodies and the energy bill that Obama voted for.

8:50: Should health care be treated as a commodity?  Obama: queue rhetoric on the importance of a unversal system of coverage.  McCain says that things need to be done to impose efficiencies, like putting health records online and having community health facilities.  McCain gets a little jittery..first points out the difference between him and Obama - that he believes government should give people choices, Obama doesn’t.  Notes how Obama wants to require mandates.  Then champions his $5,000 tax credit to purchase health insurance across state lines.

8:54: Follow up: Is healthcare a privilege, right or responsibility of the government?  McCain is not a huge fan of this question, he says that health care is a responsibility.  Goes on to talk about being wary of mandates.  Obama says that health care is a right.  Clarifies his position on mandates and explains why McCain’s plan will encourage employers to shop around for worse health care.  Overall, I think Obama may have won this point, at least in terms of how it was articulated.  McCain really needs to figure out a better way to talk about this issue.

8:59: Next question: How will the economy affect U.S. ability to achieve peace in the world?  McCain dodges the question completely.  Instead talks about how the U.S. is a force for good.  Adds that Obama doesn’t understand and now is not the time for on the job training.

9:01: Canned response alert!  Obama says that he doesn’t understand…he doesn’t understand how he ended up Iraq.  Some staffer, somewhere is really proud of himself.  Obama sort of dodges the question, he notes that the strained foreign policy and weakened economic and diplomatic positions have hindered our ability to act in some instances, like Darfur.

9:03: Brokaw followup: When would you use forces for humanitarian reasons when U.S. security is not at stake?  Obama acknowledges that forces does not necessarily mean combat troops, it could also include things like logistical support and no-fly zones.  He thinks that when there is a genocide, at least something should be done.  This is an enormously complicated subject that depends very much on the specifics of the situation, so Obama’s clumsy answer is somewhat forgivable.

9:05: McCain pounces on Obama’s position and Iraq.  Says that if we had listened to Obama, we would have left Iraq in defeat and not victory.  Says that we must never allow another holocaust to happen again, but that if we intervene, we can’t make it worse. Eh.

9:08: Next question: Should the U.S. pursue al-Qaeda inside Pakistan?  Short answer, Obama will go into Pakistan to pursue Bin Laden, even if the Pakistan government will not support the action.  McCain quotes Teddy Roosevelt, “speak softly and carry and big stick.”  Argues that Obama’s position does not help international relations nor does it help the Pakistani government.

9:13: After some more senseless haggling over whether or not to have a follow up, Obama challenges McCain’s position by citing the instances when McCain sang “bomb, bomb, bomb Iran” or called for the anhiliation of N. Korea.  McCain says that Obama is telegraphing his positions, and that a president shouldn’t.

9:18: There’s a debate over strategy in Afghanistan.  Again, I simply refuse to blog this topic because both candidates are butchering the kind of discussion that this topic requires.

9:19: Next question: How can the U.S. pressure Russia on humanitarian issues? McCain says that he warned about Putin years ago, suggests that Russia is looking towards the Ukraine and that we must support Georgia.  Says that we need to make it clear that there are penalties for this kind of action.  Obama says that we can see challenges ahead of time, and notes that he saw the problem in Georgia coming back in April.  He doesn’t suggest how we to pressure Russia on this answer.

9:23: Is Russia, under Putin, an evil empire?  Obama says they do evil things.  McCain grins and says that it depends on how we respond, notes that if he says yes, it will reignite the cold war, if he says no then it doesn’t acknowledge their behavior.  Overall, McCain really shined during the discussion on Russia.  Obama’s first answer was a bit clumsy and didn’t didn’t address the question.

9:24: If Iran attacks Israel, would you send U.S. troops to respond?  McCain notes that there would be obstacles to Iran taking such an aggressive action from China and Russia. Then launches into a discussion about how we must prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.  Finishes by saying that we cannot let another holocaust happen.  Obama starts off by also saying that we must prevent Iran from getting a nuclear device.  Adds in a confusing line about not giving the UN veto power against actions we believe our in our interest.  Obama says that military options must remain on the table, but we have to try diplomacy.

9:29: Last question: What don’t you know, and how will you learn it?  No, this isn’t the last question, the Israel one was.  Come on, this isn’t a question for a presidential debate.  There’s just no way to answer this question.  It’s like engaging in a zenos paradox thought experiment.  First off, if you don’t know it, how do you know you don’t know it?  Secondly, assuming you can know what you don’t know and you still don’t know it, then doesn’t that mean you flatly ignored learning something you should have known?  Oh well. [Update: John points out, that my zenos paradox quip ignored the better comparison, which was that there are known knowns and unknown unknowns.  I agree, this quip would have been better.]

9:30: Done.  We’ll be recording a post-debate podcast now, so be sure to check back a little later or take this opportunity to subscribe to our podcast.

11:00: Our post-debate podcast is now up, have a listen, if you like…