Debate Liveblogging, Round 2

9:30  McCain’s Big Suit makes a comeback!!  (Pach)

9:30  McCain looks like a little robot when he says "we’re Americans" and flaps his arms  (Siun)

9:29  McCain says eliminating earmarks will save us!  Cutting earmarks is like drinking Diet Coke with your 4-pound steak.  (Eli)

9:28  What sacrifices are we going to have to make?  Interesting that this is the third question the audience has asked about what will be asked of the American people.  Neither candidate has responded.  McCain talks about spending freeze; Obama about budget cuts, but it’s all unspecified.  (Scarecrow)

9:26  Obama answers the question – McCain just proposes "reforming entitlements" – that means social security, medicare, medicaid, what little safety net we have.  (Siun)

9:24  If you run this with the sound off, which is how most of the debate impressions effectively get formed, Obama looks much better, more comfortable, etc.  (Pach)

9:23  Word has been that McCain’s staff has been drilling him all week on how to talk about the economy without droning on and on and on about earmarks.  Epic fail.  (Christy)

9:23  McSame is absolutely tanking with CNN’s uncommitted dialers in Ohio. No one’s buying.  (Blue Texan)

9:22  what’s with the weird breathing by McCain?  (Siun)

9:18  McCain just brought up Obama’s cronies with Freddie and Fannie.  Amusing, coming from a man whose Senate office chief of staff and his campaign manager both lobbied for them, as well as the man helming his transition team.  (Buse in the Senate, Davis at the campaign, and Timmons on transition.)  All hired by Freddie Mac for their connections to McCain, btw — especially Davis and Buse.   (Christy)

9:18  Both decline to admit that the economy is likely to get worse before it gets better.  It was a missed opportunity for both.  (Scarecrow)

9:17  McCain is wearing the bracelet (lalisa)

9:17  Obama is rather well body language coached/prepared.  But his responses lack focus.  (Pach)

9:16  Oh, bless his heart, Obama is talking about companies making payroll.  Obama: I have to correct a little of Senator McCain’s history, not
surprisingly.  Wow.  (Julia)

9:15 Obama just turned Fannie & Freddie back on McCain and his pet lobbyists.  (Eli)

[awesome graphic by twolf]

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4. Liveblogging the House Rules Committee: HR 3962 (Part 2)
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