Comments on the 2nd Presidential debate

The second Presidential debate just ended. You can read my thought/comments as I kept as I was watching below.

My thoughts?

Well, ... I'm not sure. It didn't change anything for me.

I do think McCain was very strong. He was obviously in his element and quite comfortable, but he's still saying the same things he's been saying for months, the same talking points and rhetoric... the same false attacks. There was nothing new said for me to say, "Hey, I didn't know that!" Well, except for him saying Obama's health plan would fine small businesses and people with children for not providing health benefits. I'm sure there's more to it than that. But there was nothing new for me to say I'd consider him now.

I thought Obama did well in making himself look thoughtful and contemplative. He gave good answers but nothing earth shattering. I thought he made a few good points at McCain's expense. A solid performance.

I was disappointed that nothing was brought up about the recent attacks regarding character. I was really hoping that would be brought up. I think that would have been interesting. I really thought the two guys were too civil with each other. I mean, they did their usual attacks, but nothing harsh. Oh well. Maybe next week.

The winner? Well, not because he did anything especially special, but Barack Obama only because John McCain didn't do anything to swing it his way and turn things in his favor. So that makes Obama the winner in my book. It keeps moving in his favor.

One more debate next week. These first two have been rather snoozers. Let's hope for some fireworks next week.
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- Well, Obama just answered the first question about the economy and what we need to do. I thought it was brilliant. To the point. He gave ideas on what we can do. McCain answers and talked about energy independence, debt to China.... and just said something about buying up bad home mortgages and repackaging them at current values to people so they can stay in their homes. So let me get this straight... to people who made bad loans, didn't make their payments, they now get to refinance at less than what they agreed to pay for them? While people like me, who did the right thing and got a fixed rate loan and make my payments on time, I get nothing? Does that seem right?

- Brokaw asked about who they would pick for Treasury Secretary. Obama didn't have an answer. Hasn't he thought about that?

- Oh! Brokaw getting tough, getting on them for the length of their answers and staying on topic. Way to go, Tom!

- Now McCain's blaming Obama and his "cronies" for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Will the smearing never end? And we're just getting started... He just took the opportunity to slam Obama instead of explaining to the questioner how the bailout helps him, which was the question. So now Obama's answering it with a good answer about how it will work for him. Good.

- Uh oh. Obama said he believes in the American economy. That could come back to haunt him.

- McCain got up while Obama is talking and was walking around. Isn't that rather disrespectful?

- Now they are both taking credit for warning about the sub-prime loan problems. Jeez!

- Obama's answering a question about how we can trust either party since they both got us into this mess. He's pointing out how the deficit has doubled under Bush and McCain voted for his plans 4 out of 5 times. And McCain's still wandering around in the background...

McCain again pointing out how Obama doesn't go against his party... if they have the correct ideas, why would he vote against them? McCain's also talking about Obama's new spending plans, but again conveniently forgetting about his spending cuts. Accusing Obama of supporting earmarks while he's a maverick, he's gone against his party, he's fought special interests... blah, blah, blah... sorry if this is unfair, but it's more of the same rhetoric I've been hearing for quite a while.

- Brokaw asks them to put energy, health benefits, and entitlements in order of importance. Of course McCain avoids prioritizing them by saying they can work on all three. Way to answer like a politician!

- Brokaw again getting on them on their length of responses.

- Obama says energy's at the top of the list. Health care is #2. #3 is education. At least he gave an answer and gave the items priority instead of not taking a stand, which you know whoever wins is going to have to do.

- Brokaw again with a time reminder. Yikes! He's being tough.

- McCain says there are programs we might have to eliminate. He says defense spending isn't working. He's saying he helped save $6.8 billion dollars on a tanker project, which was previously proven false. Bringing up the spending freeze again. Cutting budgets and worthless programs is the answer, not a complete spending freeze. Then some rhetoric... blah, blah, blah.

Oh! Obama's bringing up 9/11. Let's see where this goes... talking about how it unified us and got everyone on the same page about doing something. Talked about how Bush said to go out and shop. Says that's not the kind of service we need. Talking about everyone saving energy... is this the kind of service that was being questioned? I'm not so sure...

- Question about debt and easy credit and Obama says it starts in Washington. I hope he means that.

McCain's still standing up, wandering around while Obama's speaking. It's like he's trying to steal Obama's spotlight. That's not right.

- McCain again accusing Obama of wanting to raise taxes. How can they keep saying that? It's NOT TRUE! Now he was condescending to Obama telling him that the economy was bad? Oh! Does McCain actually know that now?

- Obama wanted to respond to McCain's accusations but Brokaw wouldn't allow it. Dang! He's controlling things, isn't he? Shame, too. I wanted Obama to respond to that.

- I missed the question Brokaw was asking, but Obama started talking about entitlements but changed it to what he wanted to talk about, which was his tax cut plan that McCain was attacking for the last question. Interesting... he's trying to tie it back to the topic Brokaw brought up, but I'm not sure if it is working or is just not answering the question at hand and talking about what he wanted to talk about...

- Oh! Zinger by McCain! "I'll answer the question." That was actually good. Brought up that McCain tried to tie his comments to the question, but I'm not sure that he completely did.

- But then McCain start back again with how "mavericky" he is by taking on his own party. Ugh.

- McCain again bringing up the 94 times Obama supposedly voted against tax cuts, which has been proven to not be true.

- Question from the crowd about environmental issues. McCain says he's disagreed with the Bush Administration about the environment. Says nuclear power is the best way to fix it. It's safe and clean. Says Obama has opposed this. Talking about hybrids, battery power cars... then goes into his whole how-great-America-is spiel.

Obama says the environment is a national security issue? Okay... Points out that McCain has voted 23 times against alternative fuels. Nice! He also pointed out that the government hasn't done anything for 30 years and McCain was there for 26 of them. Hee hee!

- Brokaw again on them about going on too long. Even said there are lights. Haha! Brokaw's too much.

- McCain again talking about how he's voted against earmarks on an energy question. He can't get off that, can he?

- The question is should health care be treated as a commodity? Huh? I don't understand that. Anyway... Obama says he's going to work with employers to lower premiums by $2500 a year. Does that benefit us or our employers? Now talking about McCain's $5000 health care credit but how he wants to tax benefits. I think that plan is terrible.

McCain talking about community health centers and clinics... huh? Talking about how Obama will fine small companies and people looking for care for their children will be fined under Obama's plan. Really? Talking about giving people choice in plans, but when the average health plan costs $12000 a year, how does $5000 help?

Obama says it's every American's right to health care. He says small business will not have a mandate. Pointed out how McCain voted against a child health care plan. He spouted a lot there in support of his plan... I'm sorry I didn't get it all, but it was pretty good. Watch a replay!

- A question about how the economy will affect our ability to be a peacemaker in the world. Who thought of these questions? Can anyone ask them a tough one or ask about the attack ads/character issues?

McCain suggested how Obama doesn't understand our security issues. Obama says he's right ... he doesn't understand... how we invaded Iraq. Ha! Talking about how that's put enormous strain on our budget. How we need to spend the billions being spent in Iraq here. Hallelujah! Says how our current foreign policy has not allowed us to help in places like Darfur. Sweet. Well done, I think.

- Question about intervening in other countries when our security is not threatened. Obama say there's moral issues there that we can't stand idly by for. Says we need to work with our allies on these issues. Says he'll mobilize the international efforts to make those efforts happen. Very nice.

McCain again saying Obama will bring our troops home in defeat from Iraq. I'm so sick of hearing that. It's so not true.

- Question about moving into Pakistan to chase terrorists. Obama talking about moving to Iraq instead of finishing in Afghanistan. Talking about how we coddled Musharraf and gave Pakistan billions while he was working on peace treaties with the Taliban. Says we will act if Pakistan will not.

McCain says Obama is saying he is going to attack Pakistan. What!?!? He did not! URGH! He doesn't want to attack the Pakistanis. Oh, that's low. He's saying that they need to use the strategy from Iraq of getting the support of the people... because that worked so well in Iraq with all the insurgencies.

Obama asks for a followup and McCain says that's fine, he'll do the same. Obama wants to clarify: If Pakistan is unwilling or unable to find bin Laden, we should. Talks about how McCain talked about bombing Iran and annihilating North Korea.

McCain wants his chance to respond. Says he knows how to handle these crises. He says he won't telegraph his punches like Obama did.

- Brokaw bring up that we are failing in Afghanistan. How do reorganize the Afghanistan situation? Obama says we need to make the Iraqis take responsibility for their own country so we can start withdrawing troops, work with the Karzai government in getting his people's support.

McCain says Patreaus is taking over command and will use the same overall strategy as Iraq... and again says Obama has not said the Iraq surge worked. He did! URGH!!!! "... succeeded beyond our wildest dreams." That's what Obama said.

- McCain says we won't have another Cold War with Russia. Says he warned about Putin and his efforts in Georgia and Ukraine. Make Russia understand there are penalties for aggression. McCain just filibustered about it for quite a while...

Obama says he agrees with many of the points McCain made, but makes points about helping satellite states in their economy and anticipating issues with Russia ahead of time. I feel like he's fumbling this question a little bit... I have to give McCain the win on this question.

- Interesting question from the crowd about what we would do if Iran attacked Israel. Would we defend Israel immediately or wait for UN support? McCain says we'd support Israel. Talking about Iran's nuclear ambitions. Mentions how Obama says he'd meet with the Iranians without preconditions... "a matter of record".

Obama says we cannot allow Iran to get a nuclear weapon. Talking about imposing sanctions on Iran on reduce their funds. Says talking gives the chance for better outcomes. Very right.

- The question: What don't you know and how will you learn it? Obama talking about how it's not the challenge you expect, it's the ones you don't expect. Talking about his life and how being in this country gave him great opportunity and we need to give that to our children. We need change to do that.

McCain talking about how he knows what everyone is going through. He knows what it is like. Talking about how proud he is of the country.

- And that's the end.