LOTUS blog

So, I’m live-blogging the debate tonight.  The rhetoric has been so hot on the campaign trail that I’m thinking tonight will actually be sort of tame in comparison.

First, the opening statements:

Obama: I’ve talked to Pennsylvanians, etc., etc.,   Now he says their bitterness (though that word will never be used again) is because they don’t have gas money to go look for a job. 

Clinton: Health care, go to my website!

8:08 PM — Charlie Gibson says that each segment will start with a quote from the Constitution.

Gibson asks about Sen. Cuomo’s idea that both fight it to the death and then pledge that the winner will ask the loser to be the running mate. 

Silence…. Obama is the first to speak.  Says it’s too early (i.e., I know they still have more dirt they’re going to bring up on me)

Clinton: I’m going to do everything I can do to make sure one of us takes the oath of office in January.  “I’ve seen the damage of the Bush years… Those that have lost sons and daughters in Iraq and those that have lost sons or daughters that didn’t have health insurance.”

8:12 PM — Oh snap, Gibson asks Obama about the bitter-clinging-to guns and religion quote!  Obama says there is no doubt that he can see how people would be offended by that.  He’s tap-dancing now! 

Clinton — I’m the granddaughter of a factory worker from Scranton.   (No doubt people are already checking this out.)

8:16 PM — George Stephanapolous asks Clinton if Obama can beat McCain.  Clinton says we have to beat McCain.  Says McCain “has the wrong idea about America.”   George S. (I can’t type the last name all night) pushes again on whether Obama can win.  Clinton says, “Yes, yes, yes.  But, I think that I can do a better job.”  Obama repeats and then brings up the elitism issue.

8:22 PM — Gibson asks Obama about Rev. Wright and why he rescinded his invitation to him saying he “gets rough” while denying that he’s heard controversial comments.  Obama talks about the “good works” of the church.  So, apparently you can say whatever you want as long as you throw a few bucks to HIV/AIDS research.  Obama also says that the YouTube clips were not representative of Rev. Wright’s entire career.  This is retarded.  When someone on the Right says something “controversial” the Left sure isn’t asking whether it’s representative of their career. 

George S. asks, “Do you think Rev. Wright loves America as much as you do?”  Gag.  Obama says, “I believe he loves this country but because of the experiences he’s had, he’s angry at the injustices in this country.”

To be fair, George S. acts Clinton about her “mispeak” on her trip to Bosnia.  I actually feel kind of sorry for her.  Obama has been giving the same non-apology answer on Rev. Wright for weeks and weeks.  Meahwhile, Clinton is being asked to apologize on the Bosnia story at every turn.

8:37 PM — Viewer asks Obama why he doesn’t wear the American flag.  Obama: I revere the American flag.  There is no other country where my story is even possible… I show my patriotism by how I treat veterans… speaking forcefully on ending the war in Iraq… I will continue to fight for those issues.  I’m confident that when I’m in a debate with John McCain people will not be questioning my patriotism.  Whether I wear a flag pin is a “manufactured issue.”

Now George S. asks aboutabout Obama supporter William Ayers, who was part of the underground Weathermen.   Holy shit, Obama says that he’s also friendly with Sen. Tom Coburn.  “Do I need to apologize for his statements, too?”  After comparing Coburn to Ayers, I don’t think they’ll be friendly anymore.

Clinton: Brings up Obama serving on a board with Airs…. I wish the Republicans would apologize for the Bush/Cheney years and not run anyone this time around. 

Obama: Clinton wouldn’t pass her own vetting process.  Her husband pardoned two members of the Weathermen.  Zing!

So far this has been a debate on campaign controversy rather than issues.  Keep it coming!

8:52 PM — Now the questions on who can get out of Iraw faster. If on day one, the commanding generals advise you not to withdraw, would you still withdraw troops?

Clinton: Yes.  Thankfully we live in a country with a military that’s commanded by civilians. 

Gibson: Are you saying that you know better than the military leaders?

Clinton: No [Yes].  We need to be paying attention to other problems, like Afghanistan.

Obama: The commander-in-chief sets the mission. The generals and the troops are there to carry out the mission.  The current President has used “I’m just listening to Petraeus” as an excuse.  I will always listen to commanders on the ground in respect to tactics.  I will take their recommendations into consideration.

I’ve come to the conclusion that the MSM is so bored with the primary season that they are manufacturing that it’s even a contest between Obama and Clinton.  The longer they go at one another, the longer the MSM can avoid issues.  The last thing they want is for liberals to start talking about what they believe.  So, I’m switching over to a real contest for now — American Idol!

Tonight’s Democratic Debate (most answers are paraphrased)

Also check out ACU Intern Andrew Breza’s live-blogging here.

9:20 p.m. Question about NAFTA

Clinton: I’d like to talk about health care.  I’m not complaining, but it’s interesting that I’ve been getting the first question.  If you saw Saturday Night Live, perhaps we should ask Barack if he’s comfortable and wants another pillow.  [Watch SNL sketch here.]

Obama: Doesn’t respond to Clinton’s whining, says NAFTA has hurt American jobs and that Clinton has flip-flopped on the issue.

It’s odd to me that Hillary wants to keep talking about health care.  It just reminds people of why they dislike her.  It’s like McCain saying, “Hold up everyone, can we get back to McCain-Feingold or McCain-Kennedy?”

Russert to Clinton: I’ve looked through your plan and you say you will add 5 million U.S. jobs in the first year of your administration.  During your Senate election, you told my hometown of Buffalo [Drink because it’s shocking that he didn’t say “Go Bills”] that you would add 5,000 new jobs to the area.  You later told the Buffalo newspaper that you may have overestimated.  Is your current plan of 5 million also overestimating?

Clinton: Nah.  My husband did it, so can I!

[Warning: I’m eating an ice cream cone, so the “live” blogging ain’t so live.]

9:40 p.m. Russert to Obama: Clinton has said you don’t have adequate foreign policy experience.  In the general election, you would be going up against someone with considerable foreign policy experience.

Obama: McCain has the same policies as Bush and Cheney. Clinton would not be able to debate McCain because her positions are virtually the same. 

9:45 p.m. Russert: Do you reserve the right to go back into Iraq after withdrawal if needed?

Clinton: You ask too many hypothetical questions.

Duh, the whole damn debate is a hypothetical question that hinders on whether or not you’re president!  Spoiler alert: Clinton won’t be president.

Obama: Yes, if attacks are planned like what happen on 9/11, it’s my responsibility to stop it.

Clinton: Oh wait, I want to change my answer!

Brian Williams gives Clinton the hand and MSNBC goes to a hard break and says they’ll give her an opportunity when they come back.  Hee hee, they don’t.

9:52 p.m. Williams asks Obama to look at the monitor.  Video plays of bumble bee Clinton being sarcastic about the skies opening, angels singing for Obama.

Clinton cackles (drink).

Obama said it’s kind of humorous and understands the point Clinton has been trying to make about “speeches vs. solutions.”  Obama says he’s been offering solutions for 20 years.

Williams to Clinton: What point were you trying to make in that comment?

Clinton: I was having fun on the campaign trail, which is hard to do.   Then she rattles off a list of buzz phrases: health care, middle class, oil company profits,  caps on credit card rates, Dick Cheney’s energy bill, student loans, names of cities in Ohio, etc.

In some room somewhere, Frank Luntz is high-fiving himself.

10:00 p.m. Williams plays clip of Obama saying Clinton is trying to capitalize on her husband’s administration and acting as co-president.

Obama: It’s wrong to take credit for good things, but shirk responsibility on the bad things.

10:05 p.m. Russert asks Clinton why she hasn’t released her (and her husband’s)  joint tax return.  Mentions that Clinton loaned her campaign $5 million.  Russert also points out that President Clinton (the first one) has made a lot of money from foreign companies and the American people would like to know who is bankrolling her campaign.

Clinton: The American people that support me are bankrolling this campaign.  Says she’ll release tax return before the general election, maybe earlier.

10:08 p.m. Russert asks Obama if he supports Louis Farrakhan’s endorsement.  Obama says no and that his comments against Jews are reprehensible.  Russert continues to push.  Reminds him that his book title “The Audacity of Hope,” comes from a sermon from a minister that traveled with Farrakhan to Libya to meet with Khadafi. 

Obama: I wouldn’t be sitting here tonight if it wasn’t for the Jewish community who adamently supported civil rights.

Clinton interjects and says she rejecting isn’t as strong as denouncing support.  I renounced support from anti-semetics in NY’s Independence Party.

Obama: Ok, fine.  I reject and denounce.  I can haz presidency now?

Russert has had some good questions tonight.  PJB must have helped.

10:22 p.m. Pop Quiz!  Russert asks Clinton to tell him about Putin’s recently elected successor.

Clinton: He’s handpicked by Putin.  We may be meeting with the President, but Putin will still be making the decisions.

Russert:  Who is he?  What’s his name?

Clinton: Meda-meda-veda (mumble mumble)

10:25 p.m. Russert asks last question, are there any words or vote you would take back?

Clinton: The 2002 resolution on Iraq is a vote I would like to take back.  However, election is about the future. 

Obama: Would take back vote on allowing Congress to intervene on Terry Schiavo.  “As a constitutual law professor, I knew better.”  Good answer.

Obama ends by complimenting Clinton.  Says people are modest and don’t expect much from government.  They are looking for a hand-up, not a hand out. 

10:30 p.m. Williams asks Obama: What is the fundamental question that Clinton needs to answer to the voters? 

Obama: Clinton would be a better president than John McCain and has tethered himself to Bush on foreign policy.  I don’t think Clinton needs to answer a question on whether she can be the standard bearer.  I’m better though because I can unite people in a unique way.

Same question to Clinton.

Clinton: It’s been an honor to campaign, but I still intend to win.  I am the first woman running and it will be an enormous sea-change. The question I would pose is “Who can actually change the country?”

It’s over.   Chelsea is first to greet Clinton.  Obama and Clinton signs autographs. 

Olbermann and Matthews: Was a debate of field goals rather than touchdowns.

All aboard the Straight Talk Express! 

9 :10 p.m. After they’re done asking the candidates about whether we’re headed for a recession, let’s ask Greenspan about shaking hands and kissing babies.

IOTUS adds to the Debate Drinking Game this rule: Drink when an issue group is mentioned, i.e. Club for Growth.

9:16 p.m.  Oh yeah, Fred Thompson is still in it.  He just stood up for Giuliani.  Take that McCain lovers!  I’m not necessarily a Thompson supporter, but I do admire anyone that doesn’t want to run for president. 

LOTUS Drinking Game Rule: Finish your drink when Reagan is mentioned.

9:18 p.m. Carl Cameron reminds us that no Republican has ever won the nomination without winning South Carolina.  Cameron asks Huckabee about the Reagan Coaltion and whether he’s distanced himself from it.  It sounds like Huckabee just gave the working definition for “compassionate conservatism.”

9:25 p.m. Romney: Knowing how America works is more important than knowing how Washington works.

9:26 p.m. Thompson puts the smack-down on Huckabee.  Hot!  Thompson says: That’s not the model of the Reagan revolution. That’s the model of the Democrat party.

It’s possible that Thompson is strong enough a candidate to wake up a dead campaign with one answer.

9:29 p.m. Giuliani says the Reagan revolution was about being inclusive. Tear down this wall and give me a hug!

Here come the foreign policy questions.  McCain is getting antsy.

9:43 p.m. Romney accuses Paul of reading Ahmadinejad’s press releases.  Cheers and Jeers.  Paul appears to make some response and I’d love to know what it was.

9:45 p.m.  McCain defends the surge.  “Bringing the troops home is not going to be decided by any politician.  It’s going to be decided by the man that should have been Time magazine’s Man of the Year, General David Petraeus.”  McCain also claims to be the only one on the stage to support the surge.  Giuliani calls him on it and says many of the people on the stage supported the surge.  McCain counterpoint: Nuh uhhh!

LOTUS wonders how PJB would answer some of these questions.  Time for the IOTUS and LOTUS’s texting comedy pyramid!

IOTUS: What would Patrick J. Buchanan Do?

LOTUS: PJB is my homeboy.

IOTUS: PJB is my copilot.

LOTUS: PJB loves me this I know, ’cause the Bible tells me so.

IOTUS: What a friend we have in PJB. He walks with me. He talks with me and tells me I am his own.

LOTUS: When you saw only one set of footprints in the sand it is when PJB carried you.

IOTUS concedes, LOTUS wins.

10:15 p.m. Oh, these guys are still talking. Giuliani just listed his foreign policy credentials.  McCain answers: I did it not for profit, for patriotism.

Giuliani did it all for the nookie.  (That could be the wine talking.)

Lightening Round!

10:25 p.m.  McCain says his immigration bill failed because it was so awesome that the American people were afraid that it wouldn’t be enforced.  McCain recalls a serviceman’s wife who was in endangered of being deported.  Uh, if they’re married, why is she in danger of being deported?  I’ve heard McCain bring this up before.  This is akin to the pro-abortion people that talk about the 11-year-old girl who was raped by her father and then became pregnant. What about her?!?!?!?  Ugh…

It’s over.  I think the edge goes to Fred Thompson.  What are your thoughts?

Sometimes I don’t mind having divorced parents because the gift-giving can last for days.   The eating also doesn’t stop.

Dec. 24, 9 p.m., Miss Bunny (my dad’s girlfriend)

EAT: Crabcakes, pecan-crusted grouper, potatoes, rolls, rum cake

GET: Sweater, pajama set, shirt, necklace and earrings.  BONUS: Gift certificate for my birthday that was sent to her house by mistake.

GIVE: Necklace, Harley pajama bottoms, earrings, Man & Machine calendar, and cookbook

Dec. 25, 10 a.m., Daddy and Jennifer (my sister)

EAT: Diet Coke and leftover corn muffin (they can’t all be gourmet meals)

GET: Flagler College sweatshirt, license plate frame, and ornament, pajamas, Bluetooth thingy, pajama set, The Simpsons Movie (woohoo!), makeup bag, girly stuff, stuff for my new car, and a bunch of other stuff

GIVE: Harley Davidson stuff, Nick and Nora pajamas, signed Ann Coulter books, Vinnie’s Tampon Case (Know your flow!), sheepskin slippers, misc. books, Lladro panda, scarf, Muhammad the Teddy Bear (great gift to yourself after Christmas), Chick-fil-a calendars and gift cards, and a bunch of other stuff.

BAKE: Two apple pies (served with Haagen Dazs)

Dec. 25, 6 p.m.

EAT: Daddy’s spaghetti, braciole and turkey meatballs

GET: Stocking stuffers — Reese’s Elvis Edition peanut butter and banana cups, travel-size stuff, more candy

Dec. 26, 11 a.m.

EAT: Diet Coke and stocking candy

POSTPONED GIVE AND GET: I decided to change my flight, so Christmas with my mom, stepdad and BOTUS will have to wait until tomorrow.  I miss BOTUS!