VBD Presidential Live-Blog: Hofstra University

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — Ah, Hofstra. When I was in seventh grade, the Hofstra computer camp decided to cut on costs and share the bus with a baseball camp that was also held on campus. I was fond of playing with my Star Trek tricorder that year, and decided to “scan” the baseball player in front of me with the toy. Thinking he didn’t hear me, I turned to my friend sitting next to me and said, “Hey Andrew! No intelligent life detected!” Then I got beaten up. I learned a good life lesson.

Hofstra isn’t just the host of my old computer camp, it’s also the host of tonight’s presidential debate. And as with the past debates, Mike Bietz — and guest Josh Anderson! — will be live blogging it.

5:58PM
We’re going to watch on CNN. We will have watched on FOX, MSNBC and now CNN. We will also switch between this and the Dodgers game. This debate will likely be boring.

6:13PM
There are way to many scorecards here. I don’t know how we can pay attention to everything that is said with all these charts and graphs. Who cares, though…

Wall Street New Plans:
McCain - High Def is not good for McCain. His answer is pretty good. It is a very populist answer.
Obama - The women seem to love Obama’s answer a lot more than the men do. He should do a little more to separate himself.

If this is supposed to be like CX… where’s McCain’s question? the UCO (uncommitted ohio voters) don’t seem to be impressed with this tangent.

Obama is much better at making his “attacks” against McCain be more against his policies… and making them into positives for himself than McCain is at doing it. McCain’s seem to come out of left field.

I do like this format much better.

6:20PM
I like Bob’s questions.

Obama - Dollar to dollar pay as you go programming needs to be explained a little bit better. I like how Obama is also including corporate tax giveaways as a “program.” Talking about investing seems to be favorable amongst the viewers - education, health care, etc.
McCain - Bob needs to step in here. What does this have to do with the question? Men are much more excited about what McCain has to say (not answering the question). Until the negatives came out…

Obama makes a smart retort about hatchet v. scalpel.

McCain makes a good, concise argument - he is not George W Bush.

Women seem to be really unconvinced by McCain.

Jokes don’t go over well. McCain has the scars to prove it.

6:25PM
Negative campaigning.

Yes!

McCain - Blames Obama for the fact that it has turned negative. The fact is, what is being said at rallies IS racist, and IS segregationist. For the most part, it goes ignored by whoever is speaking.
Obama - This is not answering the question. Are they willing to say to each other what is being said in their ads? That is the question.

McCain scores points for being specific about which ads are negative.

Joe Six Pack is yesterday’s news. Go Joe the Plumber!

I’m glad Obama is clarifying the race issue at the McCain/Palin rallies.

Obama is rambling.

McCain shouldn’t have said that he is so proud of the people that are coming to his rallies. It ignores the issue raised.

It’s painful to watch McCain sit through this clarification about ACORN and Ayers.

Why won’t McCain give it up… Didn’t he listen? Taxes Taxes… Wait, what?

6:47PM
Running Mate -

This question is like shooting fish in a barrel for Obama. The right is going to be PISSED about this question.

McCain answers well by being specific. I wonder why Obama didn’t decide to be comparative.

Wait, autism? Where did that come from?

Hm. Cockimamie idea? Will Obama decide to make Sarah Palin an issue? I didn’t realize spending was the opposite of transparency and accountability.

6:50PM
Energy

McCain is just saying stuff. How will McCain pay for all this? I thought no new spending? He just yelled at Obama for suggesting that we might spend money.

Here comes the flip-flopper charge because Obama said he might consider off-shore drilling.

I can almost not take this debate anymore. This is boring. Oh well, Dodgers are also losing…

People like giving incentives for fuel efficient cars/jobs.

7:04PM
This is the second time where it seems like Bob and Obama are laughing at McCain’s tangents.

Health Care.

Obama - All i’m going to say is McCain wants to yell “what’s the fine?” so bad!

McCain - Agrees that the costs are too high. The answer is more Phy Ed? It’s so awkward when McCain decides to talk directly to Joe the Plumber. YES! There’s the question about the fine. If you like that you’ll like Canada in England??

McCain is absolutely flabbergasted that Obama is repeating exactly what has been said OVER AND OVER.

Big picture item: This debate has allowed Obama to take on the lies of the McCain campaign about a lot of the things they have been attacking.

Man, McCain is falling off the deep end. He is just not listening. THIS IS NOT SOCIALIZED MEDICINE. At least the UOV’s are seeing through this.

“Senator Government.” Priceless.

Roe V. Wade

McCain - no litmus test. How did Obama vote against Justice Breyer? He’ll get the best person in the world? Huh.
Obama - Smart for Obama to bring up that the decision of RvW hangs in the balance - most polls show Americans believe abortion should be legal. The problem with this answer is that it is going to be turned into a litmus test.

McCain can just never believe that he might say something misleading regarding Obama’s votes and what he supports. Apparently Obama is not a terrorist, does not hate infants, and isn’t a socialist commie.

Health is a pro-abortion issue.

7:20PM
Education

They should both agree on some issues here. Both in favor of pay for performance and charter schools.

Obama - Very uncontroversial answer.
McCain - It’s a civil rights issue. That is a surprise to hear that… AHHH there is the link. Choice and competition = civil rights in schools.

McCain loves when Obama says that they agree on something… mostly because Obama will make the argument better than he can. :)

Good line: I don’t think America’s youth are an interest group.

Obama should have done more of “how are you going to pay for it, Sen. McCain?”

McCain can’t make a point without seeming like he’s talking down to Obama.

Where did this autism stuff come from? Why is that being put front and center as the special need?

Nice snort.

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