Thursday, October 9, 2008

Second Newb Debate Coverage by Angela

The debate on Tuesday took place at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, and was moderated by Tom Brokaw. It was done in the “town hall style” which means the candidates are pretending to be Casual Cathy's. I'm very interested in seeing how both McCain and Obama deal with this.

My friend and I are playing a game in honor of the debate tonight. I think we said every time McCain tells an unnecessary story we have to drink.

The first question is from the audience. I didn’t really pay attention to the answer because I was trying to find a bottle opener for my beer. But I did notice that McCain was standing way too close for comfort while he answered. Also, McCain’s movements across the stage look choreographed while Obama glides.

With the economy on the downturn and retired and older citizens and workers losing their incomes, what's the fastest, most positive solution to bail these people out of the economic ruin?
Obama:
"The middle-class need a rescue package. And that means tax cuts for the middle-class. It means help for homeowners so that they can stay in their homes. It means that we are helping state and local governments set up road projects and bridge projects that keep people in their jobs.

And then long-term we've got to fix our health care system, we've got to fix our energy system that is putting such an enormous burden on families. You need somebody working for you and you've got to have somebody in Washington who is thinking about the middle class and not just those who can afford to hire lobbyists."
*Cough cough* McCain *cough.* Obama is all about helping the middle class. I don't understand why people think that Palin is the one who is down with the regular peeps. She was a fucking beauty queen! How un-down to earth can you be? And McCain, well Jesus he has like, 10 houses.

McCain:
“You know that home values of retirees continues to decline and people are no longer able to afford their mortgage payments. As president of the United States, Alan, I would order the secretary of the treasury to immediately buy up the bad home loan mortgages in America and renegotiate at the new value of those homes -- at the diminished value of those homes and let people be able to make those -- be able to make those payments and stay in their homes.”
I can't relate to this at all and therefore am not processing what he's talking about.

Bailout Package?
McCain: "It's a rescue not bailout." *Takes two steps, raises arm* it's electric-- boogie woogie woogie! McCain just used the word catalyst. I was once told by a teacher that I was the catalyst for the classrooms bad behavior. And I'm like, "I cant help it if people listen to what I have to say."

Obama why are you grinning / sitting like you’re well-hung?

Obama: "Small businesses and large businesses just can't get loans...they may have to shut their doors and lay people off."

I kind of like this debate setup, save for the awkward choreographed shuffle McCain is doing.

So wait, who is Franny and Freddy?

Is it just me, or is it an accepted thing that you never know what the hell politicians are talking about? Honestly, the people voting are the regular Joes. They don't understand bullshit and big words. Well I mean, I understand big words but you know. Just get to the point. That's what I like about Obama. He understands his audience and his voters.

Economy: worse before it gets better?
Obama: "No, I am confident about the American economy. But we are going to have to have some leadership from Washington that not only sets out much better regulations for the financial system."

Obama says that we need to make sure our voices aren't drowned out by congress. I do feel that the government is run by a bunch of rich cunts who just don’t get it. Not to be uber biased, but clearly Obama gets it. Or he's just doing a damn good job of pretending.

McCain: "The point is --" sweet, he's getting to the point! "The point is that we can fix our economy. Americans' workers are the best in the world. They're the fundamental aspect of America's economy. They're the most innovative. They're the best -- they're most -- have best -- we're the best exporters. We're the best importers. They're most effective. They are the best workers in the world."

There's no point in that answer! You lied!!! You lied to me, dammit!!!

Time passes, Obama says he wants priorities working for the people and to get rid of current lobbyists... McCain says that he's been a consistent reformer and tells a story about how great he is.

It seems like all McCain does is talk about something he has done in the past, diss Obama, and make one statement that is actually relevant to the question. "We need to reform." Obama diss Obama diss Obama diss. "I have fought to reduce earmarks!" Diss diss diss. *Shuffle shuffle slide, moves right arm.* Dude McCain is getting so close to these people asking questions it's uncomfortable for me and I'm not even there.

I just think it's so BLATANT that McCain never answers his questions. He is CONSTANTLY bullshitting. Like I've said, I'm not super politically informed, but I've watched every debate this election and still I have no idea what McCain's stands for.

Like, even if Obama is lying about his plans, I have to respect the fact the he HAS plans. He is clear about what he wants to do:
"That's why I've called for an investment of $15 billion a year over 10 years. Our goal should be, in 10 year's time, we are free of dependence on Middle Eastern oil."

I feel like McCain thinks the country is dumb enough where he can just blab about nothing, but because he is a white republican he'll win. (The sad part is, that may be true. And our country is kinda dumb.)

"We're gonna have a larger deficit than the federal government if we don't get this under control." - Brokaw on going over the designated amount of time. Hahaha.

Question about making sacrifices?
Mccain:
Tries to rally everyone together by saying "We're Americans!" *Rolls eyes.* Don't act like you're some home town American boy. You're rich as hell. You don't relate to most Americans.

Obama:
WHAT? Off-shore drilling? I thought you didn't want off-shore drilling!??! Angie confused.
"How can we save energy in our homes, in our buildings?" Yes. So true. Ya know, the new WSC toilets are madd energy and water efficient. Ya boi!

"Wall street got drunk." - Brokaw *Drinks beer.*

Obama: Washington needs to have good habits to set a good example.
"It's important for the President to set a tone, all of us are going to blahblah..."

By the way-- What's an earmark? Seriously what is it.

Hatchet Scalpel metaphor. Damn good.

Jello metaphor. Not as good.

Obama has to say what he has to say. He gets shut down by Brokaw when he asks for time to make a rebuttal. Ouch. But he looked hot trying to take that stand. HE'S NOT AFRAID! Certainly not stifled.

Obama:
"We're not going to solve Social Security and Medicare unless we understand the rest of our tax policies. And you know, Sen. McCain, I think the 'Straight Talk Express' lost a wheel on that one." (BAHAHAHA.) "So let's be clear about my tax plan and Sen. McCain's, because we're not going to be able to deal with entitlements unless we understand the revenues coming in. I want to provide a tax cut for 95 percent of Americans, 95 percent."
McCain:
"My friends, what we have to do with Medicare is have a commission, have the smartest people in America come together, come up with recommendations, and then, like the base-closing commission idea we had, then we should have Congress vote up or down.

So let's look at our record. I've fought higher taxes. I have fought excess spending. I have fought to reform government. Let's look at our records, my friends, and then listen to my vision for the future of America. And we'll get our economy going again. And our best days are ahead of us."

*Jaw drops in disbelief at McCain's non-answer.*

How fast will Congress move for the environmental crisis in the next two years?
McCain: Instead of answering the question he just talks about what he did with Lieberman. I'M SO FILLED WITH RAGE. Just fucking answer the question. All he does is diss Obama. OMG HE IS TALKING ABOUT BEING ON A NAVY SHIP I'M GETTING SOO MAD.

Obama: He is making a lot of comparisons to computers and the environment. I don't quite get it. He's saying our solution to the environmental crisis is going to bring the country into the future the same way computers did. Kind of a lame comparison. Obama is pulling a McCain and just pointing fingers.

McCain grins very creepily and then refers to Obama as "that one" and points to him. NA NA NA NA *sticks tongue out.* McCain, in time of a national crisis are you gonna walk around pointing fingers or are you gonna take action.

Health care?
This is a big one. I immediately hear Obama talking about co-payments. I can relate to that shit.
"If you've got health care already, and probably the majority of you do, then you can keep your plan if you are satisfied with it. You can keep your choice of doctor. We're going to work with your employer to lower the cost of your premiums by up to $2,500 a year.

And we're going to do it by investing in prevention. We're going to do it by making sure that we use information technology so that medical records are actually on computers instead of you filling forms out in triplicate when you go to the hospital. That will reduce medical errors and reduce costs.

If you don't have health insurance, you're going to be able to buy the same kind of insurance that Sen. McCain and I enjoy as federal employees. Because there's a huge pool, we can drop the costs. And nobody will be excluded for pre-existing conditions, which is a huge problem."
As a senior in college, health care is something that is going to directly affect me. Eek!

Obama drops the "M" bomb. Mammograms!-- THANK YOU.

Now McCain will ride on the coattails of Obama's answer:
"I want to give every American a $5,000 refundable tax credit. They can take it anywhere, across state lines. Why not? Don't we go across state lines when we purchase other things in America? Of course it's OK to go across state lines because in Arizona they may offer a better plan that suits you best than it does here in Tennessee.

And if you do the math, those people who have employer-based health benefits, if you put the tax on it and you have what's left over and you add $5,000 that you're going to get as a refundable tax credit, do the math, 95 percent of the American people will have increased funds to go out and buy the insurance of their choice and to shop around and to get -- all of those people will be covered except for those who have these gold-plated Cadillac kinds of policies."
McCain, hate to tell you, $5,000 in a failing economy aint shit.

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT:
“I've heard a lot of criticism about America, and our national security policy, and all that, and much of that criticism is justified. But the fact is, America is the greatest force for good in the history of the world. My friends, we have gone to all four corners of the Earth and shed American blood in defense, usually, of somebody else's freedom and our own.” - McCain

Uummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...yeaaa...

I think this debate is more interesting than the last one. Maybe it's the off-the-cuff (contrived as it may be) atmosphere, but I like it. I like the live audience.

"When we stand idly by, that diminishes us,” Obama. "There's a lot of cruelty around the world. We're not gonna be able to be there all the time. That's why it's so important to work with our allies."

Hm, is it too late to change the drinking game to take a drink every time the word "fundamental" is used?

"We will kill Bin Laden, we will crush Al Qaeda." OK OBAMA. WOAHHH.

McCain: “You know, my hero is a guy named Teddy Roosevelt. Teddy Roosevelt used to say walk softly -- talk softly, but carry a big stick. Sen. Obama likes to talk loudly.”

*Snorts.* Loud stick. He he he.

*To the tune of Barbara Ann by the Beach Boys*
Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran. BOMB BOMB BOMB, BOMB BOMB IRAN!

McCain:
"I was joking with a veteran friend who was joking with me..." "But the point is..." What IS the point? You went nowhere with that story, just wanted to remind everyone how tight you are with the vets. Ugh. *Fumes.*

Obama is very much into changing our image around the world. I think that's so key. Over the last eight years we really have turned into the smelly kids on the playground who act like bullies in a futile effort to hide their messed up home life.

The next question is from some dude named Terry Sherry. Weird:
“Senator, as a retired Navy chief, my thoughts are often with those who serve our country. I know both candidates, both of you, expressed support for Israel.”

McCain thanks him for his service. Now he's gonna slob on his nob for five minutes. Blah blah blah, McCain obvi thinks the entire voting population is made up of vets.

Obama:
“We cannot allow Iran to get a nuclear weapon. It would be a game-changer in the region. Not only would it threaten Israel, our strongest ally in the region and one of our strongest allies in the world, but it would also create a possibility of nuclear weapons falling into the hands of terrorists. And so it's unacceptable. And I will do everything that's required to prevent it.”

The last question asked is “What don’t you know, and how will you learn it?”
Both candidates answer the question in one cheesy line and then go into tangents about what they do know and how awesome they are.

Whatever.

*Fin*

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow... so did you at least get drunk? So that health plan stuff is pretty scary. I mean McCain is gonna tax my employer? Woah, my employer pays 100% of my medical and dental. If you start taxing I may lose that. $5000 is crapola when it comes to medicine. Just the co-pays can kill you. That $5000 is one emergency room visit sweetie. Do not like that plan AT All...

Anonymous said...

im voting for mccain! ange i started to read this then realized it is too long for me... sorry

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