Obama Makes Economic Case Against Iraq War
An interesting dynamic: The heavy focus on economics tonight allows Obama to more directly criticize the Iraq War in economic terms, focusing on the huge amount of money we're spending on it, something that is probably way more vivid given the economic meltdown than it once might have been.
Obama, in the context of the night's argument about the economy, made the case against the war as a strain on our economy, pointing out that we're spending $10 billion a month and are on track to spending over a trillion dollars overall.
Notably, CNN's dial charts were soaring during that stretch.
Right now, Obama seems to be winning, and even if he does prevail by a modest margin, it's a huge loss for McCain.
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If he "seems" to be winning now, when in a previous debate McCain seemed to be winning...
Does that mean he is crushing?
October 7, 2008 10:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Town Hall style was suppose to be McCain's strength, but BO is more than holding his own.
I dont know if its the lighting there, but McCain looks old. The contrast is startling.
October 7, 2008 10:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not his stength anymore.
October 7, 2008 10:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
He's fighting with his "filthy rape and Janet Reno jokes" hand tied behind his back.
October 7, 2008 10:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
But my grandpappy was an Admiral!
October 7, 2008 10:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hardly-
I keep saying this cause it's obviously true - Obama in person is just killer - this really is a format that lets his ability to connect with people shine.
October 7, 2008 10:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Right. Obama clearly won this debate. On policy substance, rebuttals/defense, and projecting confidence and fluidity.
The idea this was McCain's format... Stiff as a board. Stumbling a bit, and kind of cranky.
McCain good in town halls? Maybe. Maybe TV could have been Nixon's preferred format too... if not for comparison with JFK.
On policy matters, McCain loses. It's not even close and he knows it. Especially the economy where his entire record is of deregulation and supply-side trickle down. His record on Iraq, surge or no, is of backing GW Bush and Cheney with rosey predictions fed them by the same neocon advisers.
In regards to character attacks and "taking the gloves off" I knew it wouldn't happen. Not even McCain is that dumb and he knows Obama could take him apart if he goes there. Ayers? how about Palin's wingnut family and Alaskan secession? Pastors? How about McCain denouncing the religious right in 2000 only to kiss the ring in 2008? Does McCain really want to discuss the Keating Five on National TV?
For all McCain's bluster, he doesn't want to invite Obama to deconstruct him before a national audience.
McCain should be happy Obama is a pragmatist and smart enough to realize it ultimately benefits Obama to let McCain lose gracefully. A lesser candidate would demolish McCain.
October 7, 2008 11:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
It was his strength when it was Republican audiences that appreciated his rightwing talking points.
You know "drill baby drill"
October 7, 2008 10:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain: I agree with Obama but I don't think we should say it.... Though I just agreed with him so iam really saying that i would do it as well... sooo ummmm yeah, Obama sucks.
October 7, 2008 10:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain is so screwing up the "Pakistan talking points."TM
October 7, 2008 10:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain's jokes are meh but they're really murdered on the delivery.
October 7, 2008 10:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, just horrible.
October 7, 2008 10:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
He really really shouldn't. Ever.
October 7, 2008 10:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I may need hair plugs. heh...heh... errm.. uh....
(ouch)
October 7, 2008 11:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, this is a key exchange. This is McCain's turf, and if Obama can prove that he's comfortable talking about topics like this in an informal setting, it'll go a long way toward solidifying his support.
Uhh oh. McCain just stepped in it by bringing up "announcing" targets. I sense a bomb bomb bomb ditty coming up soon.
October 7, 2008 10:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
BAM!
October 7, 2008 10:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
speak softly... expect when talking about other countries like Iran.
October 7, 2008 10:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
KILLED him on the "speaking softly" bullshit.
That shut McCain up cold.
October 7, 2008 10:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Put him on ice, baby.
October 7, 2008 10:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Damn! Obama hit McCain hard! He'll feel that one in the morning!
October 7, 2008 10:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
That'll leave a mark, as they say.
October 7, 2008 10:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hammered him on Bomb bomb bomb Iran...
October 7, 2008 10:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Holy Hell, Obama is spanking McCain HARD on Pakistan.
October 7, 2008 10:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, very good.
October 7, 2008 10:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, he looked at Obama.
October 7, 2008 10:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain looks hot.....he could bull-rush Obama
October 7, 2008 10:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
He just keeps saying this BS, I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW. Don't say I KNOW tell us WHAT YOU KNOW. stupid lier.
October 7, 2008 10:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain is coming off as real whiny about this equal time responses.
And the "the Iran comment was a joke" is not a good defense.
October 7, 2008 10:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you know how to do it, why haven't you did it yet.
Acted responsibly his whole military career??
October 7, 2008 10:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
That is always my thought, if he knows how to fix it, WTF, why hasn't he help do so?
October 7, 2008 10:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
What? It's not like Obama's going to drop leaflets that say, "OSAMA, RUN!"
October 7, 2008 10:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I must say, that as much as I enjoy mocking McCain, I find him much easier on the ears than Sarah Palin. For one, he pronounces words like nuclear and Taliban correctly.
Palin is like nails scraping down a blackboard. Deliberately showing off your ignorance is something I find really obnoxious.
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p.s. McCain: "I know how to get [Osama bin Laden]" Really?
October 7, 2008 10:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't get the "I know how to get Osama bin Laden"...you gonna put a trail of Reese's Pieces leading to a hole in the ground on the Afghanistan side of the border? Gonna have to go over to Pakistan, buddy.
October 7, 2008 10:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Watch him mention the surge.
October 7, 2008 10:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep called it, even though the commander in Afgan said you cant use that start in Afgan.
October 7, 2008 10:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Brokaw is wrong! Nader will be our next president.
October 7, 2008 10:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Best McCain gag line of the night: "I'll act responsibly as I did throughout my entire military career."
What a cut-up.
October 7, 2008 10:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL
October 7, 2008 10:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, act is right, and responsibly is a real cut up, best one liner of the night.
October 7, 2008 11:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Another observation:
Anyone notice how this time, McCain and Obama are essentially equals on the FP issues. The first time, Obama had to show he was McCain's equal. This time, it is obvious and a non-issue.
I find it amazing that McCain is unable to win the FP part of the debate. It's not just his strong suit, it's his only one.
October 7, 2008 10:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
And McWar is still does not get it, and he is losing even more...
Obama is amazing, flawless...
October 7, 2008 10:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
You guys -
nobody called new thread.
October 7, 2008 10:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
new thread...
October 7, 2008 10:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seriously. There's a New thred.
October 7, 2008 10:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Boooyahhhh!
October 7, 2008 10:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
okay, he's right about putin. but he got his ass kicked on pakistan.
October 7, 2008 10:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thus far McCain has said, "I know how to..."
Fix the economy
End the war with victory
Catch Osama bin Laden
Solve our energy crisis
Work in a non-partisan way
Give everyone tax cuts
October 7, 2008 10:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
it's a secret plan. McCain doesn't even know it--that's how secret it is.
October 7, 2008 10:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
ALL SIX pundits on CNN are giving the victory to Obama so far.
October 7, 2008 10:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the update!
October 7, 2008 10:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
It looks like CNN's John King is the current pundit outlier as he is on the fence so far. The other five indicate Obama is winning, in their opinion.
October 7, 2008 10:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Even Bennett and Castellanos, both Republicans, called it for Obama.
October 7, 2008 10:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
KGB, Putin, looked into his eyes? This guy is whacked.
October 7, 2008 10:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
He made a funny once, at a Georgetown cocktail party, and he won't let it go.
October 7, 2008 10:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think it's a little weird.
Sure, Putin is a bad guy. But doesn't make it any easier to deal with Russia when you badmouth their leader.
October 7, 2008 10:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
No - the more he talks about Russia, the older he seems - I swear to god I saw the audience thinking: What is this, 1963?
October 7, 2008 10:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tena did you catch the lines "cool hands at the tiller" and "steady hands at the tiller"? So good he used them twice.
October 7, 2008 10:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Has it become clear to anyone esle that McCain's answer to every foreign policy question is "General Patraeus says"?
October 7, 2008 10:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
except those that have the word "surge" in them. Bonus points for a sentence with both.
October 7, 2008 10:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Triple for my friends.
October 7, 2008 10:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Begging for Obama to reply, "Well why don't you just MARRY GENERAL PETRAEUS?!"
October 7, 2008 10:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
new thread up
October 7, 2008 10:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
strong tie-in between russia and energy.
October 7, 2008 10:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just say No.
October 7, 2008 10:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've been waiting my whole life for this. Maybe I will go turn the set on. But no sound!
October 7, 2008 10:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm so glad the media has played up the townhall debate as McLame's strength because he looks absolutely horrible there. If this is his strong suit, we've been sorely mislead. Obama just looks so damn cool and comfortable in this setting.
BTW, why does McCain have a mic if he doesn't use it?
October 7, 2008 10:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I begin to think that McCain has a little crush going on for GENERAL PETRAEUS. Those seem to be his two favorite words after MY FRIENDS, that is.
October 7, 2008 10:25 PM | Reply | Permalink