8:30 - Writing Off Wright
Obama is quizzed about the Reverend Jeremiah Wright. He brushes the constant video play of Wright's "God damn America" comments off- if it's not this, there'll be something else, and there are some mighty unflattering videos of Mrs. Clinton, too.
When asked if he thinks Wright is patriotic, Obama brings up the Reverend's marine service, but doesn't mention the incident where Jeremiah Wright as a Marine Medic tended to former President Lydon Baines Johnson. Wonder why Obama has never played that card? I'd be ashamed to be caught questioning the patriotism of a man who received a personal thank you letter from LBJ, wouldn't you?
8:57 P.M It's my ball and I'll run home with it if I want-
"The President sets the mission," says Obama, making it clear that he won't let Petraeus call the shots. Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton both make it clear that they'll pull out troops regardless of what happens before they take office.
Aside: whose tie is better? Stephanopoulos' (blue) or Gibson's (red)?
8:59 – Anti- Iran War Stance: 404 File Not Found
Obama comes down hard on Iran, saying he will “take no options off the table when it comes down to preventing them from using nuclear weapons,” including preventing attacks on Israel. He also proposes a system of carrots and sticks to keep Iran in line.
Clinton promises “massive retaliation” for any attack by Iran on any country in the region, and proposes “skillful diplomacy” to enlist the region in a security agreement, and offers an umbrella of security for other countries in the region that agree to abandon their own nuclear programs.
9:04- Tax This
McCain takes a shot at Mr. Obama in a clever pun that accuses the Illinois Senator of being a tax-raiser. But Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama shoot back with a firm commitment not to raise the taxes of the middle-class, in fact they declare that they’ll cut them. “Pain trickles up,” says Obama, taking a clever jab at McCain and supply-side economics.
9:10 – Who’s Afraid of the Capital Gains Tax?
Obama is queried about the capital gains tax by Gibson, who demands to know why Obama would consider raising the capital gains tax, and points out that lowering it has increased government revenues. Obama calls into play the recent report on the obscene earnings of top hedge fund managers, and plays the fairness card. “I believe in pay as you go.”
Charlie further pressures Obama about the threat of a drop in revenue if the capital gains tax is raised, and Obama effectively redirects to the housing crisis.
Clinton replies, “I don’t want to take one more penny of tax money from anybody,” but proposes investing in infrastructure and thus putting 3 million Americans to work. Clinton promises not to raise capital gains tax over 20%, but dodges Charlie’s request that she promise not to raise that tax at all- “Charlie, I’d have to look at the revenue situation.”
What happened to the Obama who promised to raise his own taxes in a previous debate?
Moments later, there he is!
“Right now, millionaires and billionaires don’t have to pay over $97,000 a year,” says Obama of the payroll tax cap, which he proposes raising. “We’re going to have to capture some revenue in order to stabilize the social security system. You don’t get something for nothing.”
Did either of the candidates even answer the question about capital gains tax?
9:15 pm - Social Security, and Every Confidence that We can Make it Happen.
Is it just me, or does it seem like everyone is concerned about Social Security? Another recurring theme: no one ever does anything about it.
9:20 PM-Time to Bring Out the Big Guns
ABC has just shown the text of the 2nd amendment and Charles Gibson is going after the candidates for not being strong enough on guns. Hillary Clinton is stoked to ban assault weapons and Barack Obama is stoked to protect the right to hunt. Word on the street is that Obama carries a 357 Magnum in a side holster during the debates in case Hillary gets frisky.
Clinton side-steps and talks about 100,000 cops and reinstating an assault weapons ban. She says she wants to bridge a polarizing gap that does not reflect the common sense of the American people. What? Is it logically possible for the American people as a whole actually to have a common-sense idea of gun control if it also is simultaneously a hotly contested 'polarizing gap?'
"...Vice-President Cheney who we all know is a 4th special branch of the government all to himself." - Hillary Clinton, 9:30pm
9:34 - Affirmative Camera Angles
Question to Obama: As President, how would you change policies to make sure affluent blacks are not given preferential treatment and disadvantaged whites are?
Obama responds with canned rhetoric about "making sure every child in America has a chance to pursue their dreams."
ABC cuts to a black woman in the audience. Anyone surprised?
9:36 - Playing Reruns
Senator Clinton believes that market manipulation is affecting gas prices, and promises an investigation. "We've seen this movie before, with Enron." She also promises to stop putting oil in the US Petroleum Reserve and to release some of the reserves to give relief from high gas prices.
Obama calls for a windfall profits tax on gas companies, raising fuel efficiency standards on cars, reducing the demand for gas- "The long term trajectory is, we're going to have to get serious about increasing our fuel efficiency standards and investing in alternative energy."
9:39 - A Dartboard?
Senator Clinton, who's said she believes in using former presidents, is asked how she'd use George W. Bush.
8:46 P.M.- Charles Gibson asks an outrageous softball.
Gibson asks the candidates how they would make their case in front of undecided super-delegates. Hillary calls herself a fighter, says she will fix Iraq, restore prosperity, and makes sure everyone knows that Wesley Clark digs her style. Barry takes us back to his key themes, and cites the need for “change from the top-down.” He wants to form coalitions, liberate the nation from special interests, quash the partisan divide, and subject us all to his silky smooth jumper for the next four years.
Clinton: we need a fighter and someone who is against special interests, wants to take away 55 million dollars of red tape and wants to give it back to the invisible people. It takes a village to raise a child and we want everyone to feel 'a part of the American family again." "I've spent a lifetime trying to empower people," declares Clinton.
The army likes me, says Clinton, while secretly thinking that if this was ancient Rome then she'd have it in the bag...
Obama: campaign based off of several defining principles--economy sucks, government isn't trusted, and we're mired in war. Obama thinks we want positive thinking and no more spin (what a great spin on things...). Also declares that special interests will have no play. Wants to form 'a new political coalition in America."
10:01 - It's All Over But the Crying (Foul)
As the debate wound down, I found myself wondering, "Is it just me, or was this the worst debate ever?"
It's not just me.
