The First Debate Live Thread (and Review)-9/26/08

From Reuters' Larry Downing

Are you ready for it? (And hoepfully the end of McSlime's campaign?)

The Updates (and Please refresh the page if you have to)
8 :40 PM-All the highlights down here, when the action starts in 20 minutes

From Reuters' Jason Reed

The stage is set. Literally.

(AFP/Getty Images/File/Win Mcnamee)

9:02PM- Jim Lehrer of PBS opens up.
9:03 PM- The fakest handshake ever, and here's the first question.
About the economy.
9:05 PM- Obama opens up about his economic policy in terms of the bailout
9:06 PM- McCain throws love to Kennedy, abeit, it is more political than really genuine from my perspective, but he did it though.
9:08 PM-McCain desn't even talk about his plan. Sadly, because he doesn't even have one. And Lehrer doesn't notice McCain's virtual non-answer.
9:10 PM- McCain now trying to go through history. He is already BS'ing, and I think the temper tantrum will come out soon. Especially over him saying he "saw this mess coming."
9:12 PM- First funny moment but it is an attack: Obama mentions "Fundamentals" quote of McCain.McSad gets snarky but cool heads prevail so far.
9:13 PM- McCain has still not said his economic plan at all.
9:15 PM- McCain says his tired line again about "The Bear Bill", when HE VOTED FOR IT! Obama will have to hit him hard here.
9:16 PM- Obama mentioning McCain's ridiculous tax plan and sets the record on earmarkers. But no hit on him voting for the bear bill.
9:18 PM- McCain strating to get his temper with irrelavnt distortions of earmarks. And he is bragging about himself again with his banal "Miss Congeniality" line.
9:19 PM- Obama cuts McCain off by saying, "I don't know where John is getting his info from." First nice hit back at McLiar.
9:21 PM- McCain still continues to wallow on his stupid $18 million bill. He is basically reiterating Bush policies once again.
9:23 PM- Obama is mentioning the health care nuttiness that is McCain's plan, nice.
9:25 PM- They are really stating to attack each other, and McCain is getting heated

9:28 PM- Obama is laying out his priorities, and McCain is once again talking about wasteful spending. He has no damn ideas and it is embarrassing. And Lehrer is letting this go.

9:32 PM- Jim Lehrer is getting in the damn way here, and it is unfortunate.And McCan says a whopper just now about "spending fees."
9:35 PM- Now the difference come even clearr with regards to the economy having an impact on their plans as president.
9:36 PM- For the millionth time, McCain mentions "spending" again. Geesh, he is so clueless.

9:38 PM Obama slams Bush's twin. He can't outrun his history.
9:41 PM- The Iraq attacks are now happening. Obama exposes McCain as McCain mentions victor. Tell that to Gen. Petarus, who said he could never claim victory in Iraq.

9:45 PM- Obama: "John, you are wrong."
9:46 PM- McLiar lies again with BS. Typical.
9:48 PM- Obama fires back and slams McCain on Afghanistan.
9:50 PM- Obama breaks it done with Afghanistan. And yes, he has focused on Afghanistan for a while, unlike McCain. And in addition, mentions McCain's support with Bus.
9: 54 PM -McCain distorts Pakistan position of Obama.Obama wants to hit Bin Laden there, not the country recklessly. McCain is such a cock of you know what.
9:57 PM- McCain brings up his past to hide his present again.

10:01 PM- Obama continues to slam McCain's record hard on Afghanistan.
10:02 PM- McCain is condescending to Obama again.
10:04 PM- League of Democracies? You have got to be kidding me McStupid.
10:10 PM- Obama being so rational on Iran, McCain Being More of the Same as Usual.And Obama is showing his judgement again. He is also undercutting McCain message of Henry Kissinger and attacking him on his Spain flob. Classic.

10:16 PM- McCain tries to make Obama looks "dangerous" as he said, but the damage has been done. McCain has undercut his adviser, Henry Kissinger, and he looks silly and angry right now.

10:18PM McScary does it again. He lies about the truth. Georgia got emboldened and started it first. And they were wrong too, just like Russia.

10:28 PM- McTesty rambles on, and Obama begins his talk about the possibility of preventing another 9/11. The indepndents on CNN are overwhelmingly for Obama by the way.

10:32 PM- "Bin Laden is still out there." The quote and theme of the night from the Democratic nominee.
10:34 PM- What a condescending a--hole that McCain is. McBasty, add that to the nicknames.

10:36 PM- The POW mention. Can't have a McSad session without it.
And that closes it.

And that ends it: McNasty was grumbly, contentious, and downright pissy. Obama made him look stupid and Obama was classy and Presidential.

From the mind of Mr. Moulitsas:

And given where McCain is in the polls (lagging and getting worse), this wasn't what he needed tonight.

And given that the status quo probably remains, in a debate that was supposed to focus more on McCain's "strength" (national security), Obama wins.

----

One other point -- Lehrer was the best moderator, BY FAR, of any debate this season. And the audience was perfectly behaved. A triumphal debate. Perfect. Kudos to everyone involved in making it happen.

::

Check this site,Obama is getting the love:
http://jeffblack.newsvine.com/_question/2008/09/26/1919787-who-won-the-presidential-debate

Andrea Michell on MSNBC about Obama: "Boy, did he show a handle on foriegn policy."

Keith Olbermann on MSNBC: McCain just admitted to torture by the Bush administration. Great stuff from him yet again.

Obama:"You were wrong."

Obama: So John, you like to pretend like the war started in 2007. You talk about the "surge," the war started in 2003. At the time, when the war started, you said it was going to be quick and easy. You said you knew where the weapons of mass destruction were -- and you were wrong. You said we were going to be greeted as liberators -- you were wrong. You said that there was no history of violence between Shi'a and Sunni, and you were wrong. ...if the question is, who is best equipped as the next president to make good decisions about how we use our military, how we make sure we are prepared and ready for the next conflict, then I think we can take a look at our judgment.

Stupid McGaffe Gaffe. Got Pakistan's president wrong. And for being the damn foreign policy stalwart, goodness gracious:

Major Gaffe: McCain said Pakistan was a failed state
Posted by Max Bergmann

McCain just badly misstated the history of Pakistan. For someone claiming extensive foreign policy knowledge, this is simply not acceptable. McCain said Pakistan was a failed state before President Musharraf came to power. That is not true.

Musharraf took power in a military coup in 1999 when he diposed Nawaz Sharif - who recently participated in the latest election. The coup followed the 1999 war in Kashmir with India and was due to a power struggle with Sharif, not due to Pakistan being a "failed state." The United States did not welcome the Musharraf coup. Instead the government of the United States imposed sanctions against this action.

Remember Pakistan had nuclear weapons in 1999. Did McCain believe that there was a failed state that possessed nuclear weapons? If he did he showed no concern at the time. The fact is McCain made a huge gaffe and demonstrated he has little understanding if the region.