Left of College Station

On National Security…

McCain: “We don’t have time for on the job training.”

Obama: “Senator McCain and George Bush’s policy has not worked for America.”

On Doctrine on Military Intervention…

Obama: “We may not have national security issues at stake, but we may have moral issues at stake.”

McCain: “Senator Obama would have brought our troop hope in defeat, I will bring them home in victory with honor (as to date this undefined).”

Blogger’s Note: I’m not sure if John McCain understands that there is a difference between attacking terrorist and attacking a country.

The Overall View…

The initial impression I have of the debate is that the current course of the election has not changed. Barack Obama did not deliver a knockout blow, and John McCain did not deliver a game changing moment.

On economic issues I think that Obama was clearly ahead of McCain, and that McCain may have been stronger on national security issues. However, I think that this debate did not change the minds of voters that have already determined who they would vote for, and it may have help move undecided voters closer to Obama.

The overall view is that the view is the same, and Obama seems to be solidifying himself as Presidential.

On Energy…

McCain: “(On nuclear energy) Senator Obama says you have to clean it or store it or something like that…”

Obama: Senator McCain has said for thirty years there has been nothing done about energy, but he “has been there for twenty-six of them.”

Manhattan Project or 100,000 Garages?

McCain: The most incoherent answer of the night that did not even come close to answering the question.

Is health care as a commodity?

Obama: We will lower the cost of health care by “investing in prevention, and in technology.”

McCain: Health records online will “reduce errors, as they call them.”

Quick Math:

$5,000 Tax Credit -

Average Cost of Health Care: $12,100 =

$7,100 short?

Health Care: Privilege or a Right?

McCain: “Responsibility.”

Obama: “A Right. For every America, in a country as wealth as ours, for people to go without health care…there is something fundamentally wrong with that.”

Half way through the debate it seems that Obama is trying to connect to the average American and seems to continue to be cool, calm and collected. McCain looks very aggressive and is continuously attack Obama on his record.

On Sacrifices…

McCain: There should be a “spending freeze”, except for “national defense and veterans affairs.”

It is ironic that McCain would name veterans affair as something that would have to be an exception in spending cuts when he has a horrible record on veterans’ affairs. John McCain has supported veterans’ issues only 40.7% of the time while Barack Obama has supported veterans’ issues 86%. In fact McCain voted against Health Care for Veterans Amendment (HR 2863), a bill that Obama voted for.

On Spending…

Obama: “That’s using a hatching to cut the federal budget (referring to McCain’s spending freeze proposal), I want to use a scalpel.”

Best line of the night so far: “The straight talk express lost a wheel.” – Obama

Followed by the worst line of the night so far: “It’s not that hard to fix social security.” – McCain

On the Bail Out…

McCain: “I believe it is rescue.”

Obama: “Let me tell you what this rescue package means to you.”

McCain seems to be trying to bring the debate into a conversation about association, while Obama hitting back continues to try to focusing on saying what affect it will have on average Americans.

On Spending…

McCain: “Let’s look at our records, as well as our records.” (McCain then names three conservative “watch dog” organizations.)

On Priorities: Energy, Health Care, Entitlement Reform

McCain: “All three at once.”

Obama: “Energy we have to deal with today. You’re paying $3.80 here in Nashville.”

Obama named energy as priority number one and health care as priority number two.

Already?

You can already vote on who you think the winner of the Presidential Debate is at KBTX. Apparently 53% of respondents think that John McCain has already won the debate, and almost 15% have not watched the debate.

Obama won the coin toss.

 What is the best way to bail out ordinary Americans out of the current economic situation?

Obama: “The middle class need a rescue package.”

McCain: “I have a plan to fix this problem, and it has to do with energy independence.”

Obama looks comfortable, and is walking around comfortable and seems to be connecting with the audience.

McCain seems to be in a familiar environment, but it seems ironic that in this familiar environment that he is in unfamiliar political territory when it comes to his political ideology.

I think McCain made a mistake mentioning that Warren Buffet is an Obama supporter, and then mentioning that Meg Whitman is one of his, Warren Buffett being much more of a recognized name. Obama responded by continuing to his point of attack by focusing on the middle class.

The second Presidential Debate of 2008 is set to begin in fifteen minutes, and Democrats, Republicans and Independents are gathered around the country to listen to this debate.

Welcome to our democratic process…

For up to date debate information, video, and transcript visit C-SPAN’s Debate Hub.