Report: Cindy McCain Busted Cheating on John McCain
Several sources, headed up by The National Enquirer, are reporting that Cindy McCain has been cheating on former presidential candidate John McCain over the last couple of years.
The Enquirer is claiming the photo (above) is of Cindy and some rocker dude.
Read More About Cindy McCain’s Affair
Sphere: Related ContentPresident-Elect Barack Obama’s Acceptance Speech (Full Text)
Full Text of President-Elect Barack Obama’s Acceptance Speech from Chicago, Illinois on November 4, 2008
If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
It’s the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.
It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled - Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.
It’s the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.
It’s been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.
I just received a very gracious call from Senator McCain. He fought long and hard in this campaign, and he’s fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him and Governor Palin for all they have achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nation’s promise in the months ahead.
I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on that train home to Delaware, the Vice President-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.
I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last sixteen years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nation’s next First Lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that’s coming with us to the White House. And while she’s no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure.
To my campaign manager David Plouffe, my chief strategist David Axelrod, and the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics - you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you’ve sacrificed to get it done.
But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to - it belongs to you.
I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn’t start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington - it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.
It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give five dollars and ten dollars and twenty dollars to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation’s apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered, and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth. This is your victory.
I know you didn’t do this just to win an election and I know you didn’t do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime - two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they’ll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor’s bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.
The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America - I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you - we as a people will get there.
There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won’t agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government can’t solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it’s been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years - block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.
What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek - it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.
So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it’s that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers - in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.
Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House - a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity. Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, “We are not enemies, but friends…though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection.” And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn - I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too.
And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world - our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down - we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security - we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright - tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.
For that is the true genius of America - that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.
This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that’s on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She’s a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing - Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.
She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn’t vote for two reasons - because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.
And tonight, I think about all that she’s seen throughout her century in America - the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can’t, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.
At a time when women’s voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.
When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.
When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.
She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that “We Shall Overcome.” Yes we can.
A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.
America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves - if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?
This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time - to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth - that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:
Yes We Can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.
Sphere: Related ContentJohn McCain 2008 Presidential Concession Speech (Full Text)
Thank you. Thank you, my friends. Thank you for coming here on this beautiful Arizona evening.
My friends, we have we have come to the end of a long journey. The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clearly. A little while ago, I had the honour of calling Senator Barack Obama to congratulate him.
(Crowd boos)
Please.
To congratulate him on being elected the next president of the country that we both love.
In a contest as long and difficult as this campaign has been, his success alone commands my respect for his ability and perseverance. But that he managed to do so by inspiring the hopes of so many millions of Americans who had once wrongly believed that they had little at stake or little influence in the election of an American president is something I deeply admire and commend him for achieving.
This is an historic election, and I recognize the special significance it has for African-Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight.
I’ve always believed that America offers opportunities to all who have the industry and will to seize it. Senator Obama believes that, too.
But we both recognise that, though we have come a long way from the old injustices that once stained our nation’s reputation and denied some Americans the full blessings of American citizenship, the memory of them still had the power to wound.
A century ago, President Theodore Roosevelt’s invitation of Booker T Washington to dine at the White House was taken as an outrage in many quarters.
America today is a world away from the cruel and frightful bigotry of that time. There is no better evidence of this than the election of an African-American to the presidency of the United States.
Let there be no reason now … Let there be no reason now for any American to fail to cherish their citizenship in this, the greatest nation on Earth.
Senator Obama has achieved a great thing for himself and for his country. I applaud him for it, and offer him my sincere sympathy that his beloved grandmother did not live to see this day. Though our faith assures us she is at rest in the presence of her creator and so very proud of the good man she helped raise.
Senator Obama and I have had and argued our differences, and he has prevailed. No doubt many of those differences remain.
These are difficult times for our country. And I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face.
I urge all Americans … I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited.
Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans. And please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that.
It is natural. It’s natural, tonight, to feel some disappointment. But tomorrow, we must move beyond it and work together to get our country moving again.
We fought we fought as hard as we could. And though we fell short, the failure is mine, not yours.
(Crowd: “No!”)
I am so…
(Crowd begins chanting)
I am so deeply grateful to all of you for the great honour of your support and for all you have done for me. I wish the outcome had been different, my friends.
The road was a difficult one from the outset, but your support and friendship never wavered. I cannot adequately express how deeply indebted I am to you.
I’m especially grateful to my wife, Cindy, my children, my dear mother … my dear mother and all my family, and to the many old and dear friends who have stood by my side through the many ups and downs of this long campaign.
I have always been a fortunate man, and never more so for the love and encouragement you have given me.
You know, campaigns are often harder on a candidate’s family than on the candidate, and that’s been true in this campaign.
All I can offer in compensation is my love and gratitude and the promise of more peaceful years ahead.
I am also, I am also, of course, very thankful to governor Sarah Palin, one of the best campaigners I’ve ever seen … one of the best campaigners I have ever seen, and an impressive new voice in our party for reform and the principles that have always been our greatest strength … her husband Todd and their five beautiful children … for their tireless dedication to our cause, and the courage and grace they showed in the rough and tumble of a presidential campaign.
We can all look forward with great interest to her future service to Alaska, the Republican party and our country.
To all my campaign comrades, from Rick Davis and Steve Schmidt and Mark Salter, to every last volunteer who fought so hard and valiantly, month after month, in what at times seemed to be the most challenging campaign in modern times, thank you so much. A lost election will never mean more to me than the privilege of your faith and friendship.
I don’t know, I don’t know what more we could have done to try to win this election. I’ll leave that to others to determine. Every candidate makes mistakes, and I’m sure I made my share of them. But I won’t spend a moment of the future regretting what might have been.
This campaign was and will remain the great honour of my life, and my heart is filled with nothing but gratitude for the experience and to the American people for giving me a fair hearing before deciding that Senator Obama and my old friend Senator Joe Biden should have the honour of leading us for the next four years.
(Crowd boos)
Please. Please.
I would not, I would not be an American worthy of the name should I regret a fate that has allowed me the extraordinary privilege of serving this country for a half a century.
Today, I was a candidate for the highest office in the country I love so much. And tonight, I remain her servant. That is blessing enough for anyone, and I thank the people of Arizona for it.
Tonight, tonight, more than any night, I hold in my heart nothing but love for this country and for all its citizens, whether they supported me or Senator Obama, whether they supported me or Senator Obama.
I wish Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president. And I call on all Americans, as I have often in this campaign, to not despair of our present difficulties, but to believe, always, in the promise and greatness of America, because nothing is inevitable here.
Americans never quit. We never surrender.
We never hide from history. We make history.
Thank you, and God bless you, and God bless America. Thank you all very much.
-John McCain
November 4, 2008
2008 Early Voting Presidential Election Poll Results
Electoral Count
Barack Obama - 349 McCain - 161
———————————————
Update: 8:51am
- Barack Obama’s Acceptance Speech from Chicago, Illinois
- John McCain’s Concession Speech from Phoenix, Arizona
Update: 12:00am
- Barack Obama gives rousing acceptance speech where he makes an American hero out of Anne Nixon Cooper. Obama seems determined to try his best to attempt to lead from the middle.
Update: 11:30pm
- John McCain gives gracious concession speech from Phoenix, Arizona.
Update: 11:00pm
- CNN, MSNBC and Fox News call it for Barack Obama as the next President of the United States. Obama becomes the 44th President of the United States. Congratulations to Barack and Michelle!
Update: 10:40pm
- Obama wins Virginia
Update: 10:19pm
- McCain wins Mississippi, Nebraska
Update: 10:05pm
- McCain camp starting to state that it is looking impossible.
Update: 9:59pm
- McCain wins Kansas, Wyoming, North Dakota, Texas, Utah
- Obama wins Iowa
Update: 9:51pm
- Popular Vote Totals: Obama 19,921,627 - McCain 19,620,262
- Missouri 13% reporting: McCain 53% - Obama 45%
Update: 9:44pm
- Popular Vote Total: Obama 15,056,142 - McCain 14,788,905
Update: 9:35pm
- Obama wins Ohio
Update: 9:30pm
- Ohio reporting 15%: Obama 55% - McCain 43%
- McCain wins Louisiana
Update: 9:05pm
- Obama wins Wisconsin, New Mexico, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island, Michigan
- McCain wins North Dakota, Wyoming
Update: 8:54pm
- Popular Vote Total: Obama 8,855,246 - McCain 8,943,421
Update: 8:45pm
- Michigan reporting 1%: McCain 51% - Obama 47%
- North Carolina reporting 16%: Obama 54% - McCain 45%
- Ohio reporting 1%: Obama 63% - McCain 36%
Update: 8:42pm
- McCain wins Georgia (15 electoral votes)
Update: 8:38pm
- Virginia reporting 39%: McCain 55%- Obama 44%
- Florida reporting 36%: Obama 52% - McCain 47%
- Indiana reporting 46%: McCain 51% - Obama 48%
Update: 8:32pm
- Obama wins Pennsylvania (21 electoral votes)
- McCain wins Arkansas (6 electoral votes)
Update: 8:27pm
- Popular Vote Total: Obama 5,790,549 (51%) - McCain 5,522,286 (48%)
Update: 8:20pm
- Georgia 7% reporting: McCain 60% - Obama 39%
- Florida 30% reporting: Obama 53% - McCain 46%
- Obama camp thinks they will win Pennsylvania
Update: 8:15pm
- (D) Kay Hagan beats (R) Elizabeth Dole for North Carolina Senate seat.
- Obama wins New Hampshire
Update: 8:05pm
- McCain wins Tennessee
- Virginia 19% reporting: McCain 56% - Obama 43%
- Florida 15% reporting: Obama 55% - McCain 44%
- Joe Biden wins 7th term as Senator from Delaware.
Update: 8:01 pm
- Obama wins Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Delaware, DC, Conn., Maine, New Jersey
- McCain wins Oklahoma
Update: 7:48pm
- McCain wins South Carolina (8 Electoral Votes)
Update: 7:38pm
- Popular Vote: Obama 1,087,000 - McCain 1,022,000
Update: 7:27pm
- Obama wins Vermont, McCain wins Kentucky, West Virginia
Update: 7:15pm
- Virginia 1% - McCain 55% - Obama 44%
- Florida 1% - McCain 53% - Obama 46%
- Kentucky 11% - McCain 53% - Obama 46% DECLARED MCCAIN
- Indiana 8% - Obama 50% - McCain 49%
Update: 5:40pm
Late Deciders
- Virginia: McCain 55% - Obama 44%
- Ohio: Obama 54% - McCain 39%
- Indiana: Obama 52% - McCain 45%
- Indiana: Obama 73% - McCain 27%
- Ohio: Obama 69% - McCain 31%
- Virginia: Obama 63% - McCain 36%
- Indiana: McCain 54% - Obama 44%
- Ohio McCain 51% - Obama 47%
- Virginia: McCain 58% - Obama 39%
Electoral College (270 Votes Needed)
Barack Obama
John McCain
Sources: Fox News, CNN, Politico
Sphere: Related ContentBarack Obama Flips John McCain the Bird
Check Out the Video Here of Obama Flipping McCain the Bird
UPDATE: Obama Gave Hillary the Bird as Well (Video)
Sphere: Related ContentVideo: John McCain’s Appearance on ‘Saturday Night Live’
(Via Right Pundits) From introducing Saturday Night Live with Tina Fey as his running mate Sarah Palin next to him, to a fun skit selling stuff on QVC because it was the only channel he could afford to buy airtime on — an obvious poke at the Obama infomercial — John McCain was funny, relaxed, and self effacing.
Even his wife Cindy got in on the act. She was featured in a cameo playing a jewelry saleswoman for a line of “McCain Fine Gold”, an obvious reference to the Arizona senator’s 2002 campaign reform legislation passed along with co-sponsor Democratic Senator Russell Feingold of Wisconsin.
Tina Fey as Sarah Palin even hawked “Palin 2012” t-shirts, tellin everyone to “wait until after Tuesday to wear them!”
John McCain’s 5 Biggest Campaign Blunders
John McCain is an honorable man and deserves to be President as much as anyone who has run in the last half century. However, McCain and his campaign have made some really bad blunders during his 2008 campaign against Barack Obama. McCain could even still win the election on Tuesday but if he is defeated then here are the top five reasons why he lost to Obama.
John McCain’s 5 Biggest Campaign Blunders
5. Didn’t Have Anyone on Campaign as Smart as Joe the Plumber - Hundreds of high paid campaign staffers and it takes an unlicensed plumber from Ohio, the now famous ‘Joe the Plumber’, to point out to America that Obama want’s to take money from one economic class and ’spread the wealth’ to those of a lesser income class. Barack smartly repeated over and over “tax cuts for 95% of Americans” during every debate and campaign stop. It wasn’t John McCain but ‘Joe the Plumber’ that realized that “tax cuts for 95%” was Barack’s disguise for a new version of welfare and income redistribution. It still is mindblowing that neither McCain or anyone on his staff didn’t take the time to truly read and disect Obama’s 95% tax cut policy proposal. McCain was truly dead in the water until Barack showed up on Joe Wurzelbacher’s front yard where Joe asked the question that turned McCain’s campaign around and awoke America to Obama’s modernized welfare plan proposal.
4. Not Developing an Unstoppable Ground Game - It is hard to understand how McCain wrapped up the GOP nomination in March yet failed to develop an unstoppable ground game during the next three months while Hillary Clinton and Obama continued to battled it out against each other for the democrat nomination. Perhaps John was just napping up and preparing for the long and gruesome campaign trail. The more plausible answer is that a majority of conservatives and hard-right wing republicans were less than thrilled that he was the party’s nomination for President. Obama’s ground game is very similar to the one President George W. Bush had in 2004 that was near unstoppable despite being a very unpopular incumbant for re-election. Obama even has a freaking iPhone application to help supporters get out to vote and persuade others to do the same for Obama. With an unbalanced and biased media McCain needed to make up for it with a strong grass roots effort and he failed.
3. Not Attacking Obama on Reverend Wright - McCain is so afraid of being labeled a racist that he wouldn’t even bring up the controversial, anti-American pastor of Obama during the campaign. John was so visibly shaken at the third debate by Rep. John Lewis comparing him to the racist George Wallace that his blood was boiling. He demanded a repudiation from Barack, but Obama wouldn’t give it to him. Obama’s claims that he didn’t know that Rev. Jeremiah Wright had said so many hateful and anti-American things during his 20 years of attending the controversial Chicago church. A vast majority of Americans found Obama’s denials to be flimsy and not the truth. McCain could have gained as much as 5 percentage points by attacking Obama on Wright, but McCain stuck to his word that he wouldn’t bring Wright up (and we know he didn’t because he would unfairly have been branded a racist by team Obama).
2. Suspending Campaign to Return to D.C. to Work on Financial Bailout - It was a risky move that backfired on McCain. He had to take a chance at the time as the econmic crisis was hemmoroging his campaign to an early death. He went for it on 4th and 1 from the 2 yard line and came up 2 inches short. The best thing he could have done would have been to return to Washington and vote against the bailout. The bailout was proposed by President Bush and Barack voted for it along with almost every other democrat. If McCain had opposed the bill then he would have done what 80% of Americans were in favor of. In the process he would have voted against Obama and Bush at the same time. But to McCain’s credit he thought and thinks the bailout is the best thing for the American people. He does seem to almost always put country first even if it is damning to his own political aspirations.
1. Running for President of the United States - Nobody can blame McCain for running for President of the United States. He has for sure earned the opportunity and frankly is within 2-3 percentage points of actually winning the nation’s highest office. But the GOP would almost for sure have guaranteed victory if they had nominated Mitt Romney. Romney is a smart businessman, good economic issues, and would have had a lot of right answers during the three week financial crisis where McCain’ campaign floundered. Romney is also young and attractive. Unfortunately to many religious right voters he is Mormon and that unfortunately kept him from beating McCain. A Romney/McCain or Romney/Guiliani ticket would have almost certainly led to a victory over the extremely liberal and inexperienced Barack Obama.
_______________________________________________________________________
Which blunder do you think was the worst campaign decision for John McCain? Do you have one that wasn’t mentioned? If so leave a comment below with your thoughts!
Sphere: Related ContentBarack Obama Kicks 3 Major Newspapers Off Campaign Plane
Barack Obama and and his campaign team have kicked three major newspapers (New York Post, Dallas Morning News and Washington Times) off of his campaign plane according to Drudge.
The Obama campaign has decided to heave out three newspapers from its plane for the final days of its blitz across battleground states — and all three endorsed Sen. John McCain for president!
The NY POST, WASHINGTON TIMES and DALLAS MORNING NEWS have all been told to move out by Sunday to make room for network bigwigs — and possibly for the inclusion of reporters from two black magazines, ESSENCE and JET, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.
Sphere: Related ContentDespite pleas from top editors of the three newspapers that have covered the campaign for months at extraordinary cost, the Obama campaign says their reporters — and possibly others — will have to vacate their coveted seats so more power players can document the final days of Sen. Barack Obama’s historic campaign to become the first black American president.
Live Blogging John McCain vs. Barack Obama #3
Live blogging of tonight’s third and final 2008 Presidential debate between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain. The debate will get started at 9:00pm EST and will be moderated by Bob Schieffer from Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York.
(Refresh Often for Updates)
10:30pm - The most lively debate so far. McCain landed a good bit of punches early on. Obama got into his talking points half way through the debate and was able to find a zone that seemed to do the same to McCain. Joe ‘The Plumber’ Wurzelbacher was a big star. He was mentioned initially by McCain and then Obama several times as well. Again the best debate so far. I think McCain won the first half and the second half was probably a draw with Obama maybe winning by a nose at the finish for the second half. Overall McCain’s best performance and Obama gave the same performance he has in all three debates which is mostly his talking points we are all well familiar with by now.
10:29pm - Obama’s closing statement: Worst economic crisis since the Great Depression….same polices of the last eight years…fundamental change…..brighter days still ahead….have to invest in the American people again….it’s not going to be easy or quick……convinced we can do…ask for your vote…..thank you very much!
10:27pm - McCain’s closing statement: America needs a new direction….I have a record of reform…..health care affordable for all…..quit the spending……examine my record and proposals for the future of this country….I would be honored and humbled to be your President.
10:23pm - McCain uses DC as example of where vouchers have worked. He says spending more money is not always the answer. That a lot of things need to be looked at and fixed. I agree! Most public schools are good at one thing and that is wasting money. Basically McCain is in favor of vouchers and Obama is against them.
10:17pm - Question: U.S. spends most on education but trails most countries in the world. Do you feel this threatens national security? Obama says it will take more money and reform to fix the U.S. school systems. Barack says college has to be affordable. He goes on to say that it is dependent upon parents as well. McCain says education is the civil rights issue of the 21st century. McCain says there must be choice and competition and that this has been proven in New Orleans and NYC with charter schools. He believes charter schools arent the only solution. Barack thinks the federal govt should become more involved with the public schools. Barack says he agrees with McCain on charter schools and booting bad teachers.
10:06pm - Roe v. Wade (abortion): McCain says he has never had a litmus test on who should be on the Supreme Court. He believes the issue of abortion should belong to the states not the government. He believes nominees should be nominated to the SC based on their merit not a litmus test. McCain believes a strict interpretation of the constitution. Obama agrees there should not be a litmus test. Obama believes Roe v. Wade was rightly decided and abortion is a moral issue.
10:03pm - Barack again comes across knowing the most about health care. I am not sure who to believe here, but I don’t trust the government with anything much less my health care. Barack responds by repeating his plan.
9:57pm - Health care premium freeze? Barack says this is the most important. Barack looks straight into the camera and goes into his health care talking points. He says with his plan you can keep your doctors and will pay less. If you don’t have health insurance then you can buy into the same federal pool that Obama and McCain use since they are Senators. If you want more about this then read my last two live blogs. It’s verbatim. McCain says health care records should be put on like the VA. He says there should be physical fitness and nutrition programs in the schools. McCain is basically reporting his same health care points as well. He does bring up Joe the Plumber again. Obama claims there will be no fines for not having insurance.
9:51pm - McCain says Obama is so smooth you have to look closely at his words and that we can drill now offshore…not just “look closely at it.”
9:47pm - How much can foreign oil imports be reduced in first term? McCain says we have to reduce imports not just from Middle East but from Venezuela as well. McCain says in 7-10 years. Obama says in 10 years we can have it where we no longer import oil from the Middle East. Obama 1. Expand domestic production, 2. well he never got to any more points I noticed. He mentioned the automobile industry.
9:42pm - Next: Why is your running mate better than the others? Obama says Joe Biden is one of the most Patriotic and respected Americans. He mentions Joe’s Violence Against Women’s act. He believes Biden will make a great President. McCain says that Sarah Palin is a reformer and mover. She gave money back to the tax payers of Alaska. McCain calls Palin “a breath of fresh air,” and will do so much for special needs kids. McCain goes on to say that Biden has been wrong time and time again on foreign policy.
9:39pm - This debate is almost too entertaining to blog. McCain fires back that Ayers and Obama gave $230,000 to ACORN and started his political career in Ayers living room.
9:36pm - Barack finally answers about Bill Ayers. Obama says Ayers is a professor. Barack again says he was 8 years old when Ayers bombed the Capital and Pentagon. Barack says he will not accept advice from Ayers. He then addresses ACORN and says he is not involved with them. He only says he represented them 10+ years ago.
9:25pm - The next question is about the nasty ads and campaigns so far. Wow! McCain just unleashed one of the best things I have ever heard. He just went off on Obama for lying about accepting public campaign financing. He brought up Congressman John Lewis and the nasty words Lewis used to compare McCain to George Wallace. Obama basically says thats part of the game and brings up economics once again. He claims McCain went negative to change the topic off the economy. McCain is mad but he is funneling it into great lines. McCain again points out that Obama didn’t apologize for Lewis’ words. McCain continues to hammer at Barack and Barack continues to not repudiate Lewis’ remarks. Obama goes straight back into his talking points.
9:18pm - McCain responds to Barack’s Bush comparison by saying he is not Bush and if he wanted to run against Bush he should have run four years ago. Barack responds by comparing McCain to Bush once again. Barack has been knocked a bit off balance so far by McCain. McCain responds with about 10 instances of his fighting against the Republican party.
9:14pm - The next question is about the federal deficit and how each candidates plans will add $200 billion to the deficit. Won’t some things have to be trimmed/eliminated? Barack says he is pledging to pay as he goes with his programs. Isn’t that what those cheap pay cell phones at Target are like? McCain so far has skirted the answer and responded about going energy independent. McCain says he would have a spending freeze which is a hatchet then he would get out a scapel. McCain says he would fight for a line item veto. Obama responds that he is against a spending freeze and a scapel is needed.
9:10pm - McCain fires right back with Joe the Plumber and how Barack wants to ’spread the wealth around.’ McCain says he wants Joe to spread the wealth around not Barack (govt.). Barack again goes into 95% of people getting tax cut. McCain is sharp so far tonight. Hopefully he has a couple of Red Bulls ready.
9:05pm - McCain responds to Obama by bringing up Joe the Plumber and his question to Barack yesterday where Barack answered he planned to redistribute wealth. Barack responds with his talking points and that 95% will get a tax cut (again 95% don’t pay taxes). Barack claims 98% of small businesses make less than $250k.
9:00pm EST - And here we go! Moderator Bob Schieffer is telling us the rules for tonight’s showdown. Both men have entered the stage. The first question is about each man’s new financial proposals this week. McCain is big on helping home owner’s out. And my connection goes out. Looks like I am going to have to wrestle this internet again tonight.
Sphere: Related ContentLive Blogging: McCain vs. Obama Round 2
Live blogging of the second Presidential debate from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain.
(Refresh Often for Updates)
10:35pm - Quick Recap: It was a good debate. It wasn’t that exciting but there were good points made by both candidates. I believe McCain was better than he was in the first debate. Obama, to me, seemed about the same and reiterated most of the same talking points from the first debate. McCain did a much better job of answering the questions posed. Obama did a better job in dominating the time of possession. If you watched or listened to the debate then you will very likely know who won or lost it in your opinion. I believe one network will say candidate X won and another will say candidate Y won. I would say McCain did better with the economy tonight and might have won it on his closing remarks regarding just that. There were no knockout punches.
10:30pm - What don’t you know and how will you learn it? Obama says his wife can give a much longer list (few laughs). He says its the challenges you don’t expect. He totally dodges the question and goes into a stump speech about, you guessed it, CHANGE, fundamental change!! McCain says he doesn’t know what is going to happen here and abroad about the economy. McCain says he doesn’t know what the unexpected will be but he is prepared for it. Strong finish by McCain trying to make the claim that he understands what most Americans are going through. He says he wants the honor to be President and that he will always put his country first.
And that concludes this second Presidential debate of 2008.
10:26pm - Terry asks, as a retired Navy officer, if Iran attacks Israel would you pledge troops to defend Israel or would you attack without UN approval? McCain says he would not wait for the UN Security Council. He says that Russia and China would be huge hurdles with the Security Council. I have to say the UN does remind me a lot of the IRS. Obama pledges as McCain that Iran can’t get a nuclear weapon. Barack is not saying it directly but it seems he believes in going through the UN Security Council.
10:21pm - How do you monitor Russia without starting another cold war? McCain doesn’t believe there would be another cold war. Believes in showing moral support for Georgia and Ukraine and help them get into NATO (I once learned about NATO in 3rd grade, free info). McCain is very jagged in his answer and says Russia is a challenge. Obama says that the resurgence of Russia is a central issue for the next President and that he agrees mostly with McCain. In a mind blowing statement he says we have to help finance in rebuilding Georgia’s economy. Don’t we need to get our own economy going first?
10:19pm - Sorry too much tea! Missed that last question about Afghanistan. One too many Middle East questions in my opinion.
10:09pm - Katie asks about respecting Pakistan sovereignty in tracking al Quada into Pakistan? Obama believes we have to change our policies with Pakistan. He says he will encourage democracy there and insist upon them going after this militants. He then basically says if bin Laden is there that he won’t respect that sovereignty. McCain says Barack talks loudly (carries small stick). JM believes in getting the support of the peole in Pakistan to turn around the Taliban not by attacking them but by working with them. There should never be follow-up questions. Its just more of the original answer. Although BO might have scored a couple of points in his follow-up here. McCain kind of made BO look like a kid in his rebuttal as all. The best follow-ups of the night. I knew I could jinx them into saying something worthwhile.
10:05pm - Brokaw asks for an explanation of the Obama Doctrine and McCain Doctrine in using force? Obama believes in working on concert with allies. McCain goes back to Iraq and calling Obama on the carpet about not supporting the surge that worked. McCain believes we have to do what we can to help others but only to the beneficial of our abilities. McCain is now scoring points as his experience is shining through about the “precious asset” that is American blood into dangerous situations.
9:59pm - Phil Elliot asks the boys how the economic stress will affect U.S. ability to be peace maker in the world? McCain is patriotic in his answer but I am not sure what is answer to the exact question is. Barack responds by bringing up Iraq again and not understanding why we attacked a country that didn’t attack us (Iraq). He says it was the wrong judgment. Obama believes Iraq has put an enormous strain on our troops and budget. Obama is doing a really good job answering this question and likely scoring points with voters.
9:50pm - Lindsay asks about the selling of health care as a commodity? Obama pledges to work with employer to lower costs of premium up to $2,500 a year. He pledges that if you don’t have insurance he will make it available for those to get the same insurance that he and McCain get as federal employers. McCain is standing up as BO speaks. Maybe he will stiff up if he sits too long. Maybe he wants to stay on the ball. McCain makes the claim that Obama will fine you if you don’t have insurance or your employer will be fined if he doesn’t provide it. He also believes you should be able to travel across state lines for health care. McCain believes health care in America is a responsibility. Obama thinks it should be a right to have health care insurance. Barack can’t see those lights that tell him to stop. He is controlling the stage as far as time goes.
9:47pm - Should we fund a Manhattan project to fund new energy? McCain says the government should help in early stages then turn it over to the private sector once it goes into the production stages.
9:43pm - Ingrid Jackson asks the two men what they would do to make sure Congress acts fast on economic crisis and green jobs. McCain goes first states that he disagreed with Bush firmly on the environment. McCain says nuclear power must be pretty safe because it powered the navy ships he was on. His 96-year-old mom must have drank it as well. Obama says that he is in favor of nuclear power as well. He believes that new energy can create millions of jobs to help fuel the American economy much like the computer did the past two decades.
9:39pm - Obama avoids pledge to fix social security in two years, but says he would like to in his first term. He goes back to taxes and tries to explain his position and pledge to give 95% of Americans a tax cut. Obama is scoring some points with several body shots in a row about average CEO getting a $700k tax cut under McCain’s plan. McCain says he will answer the question and that he will fix social security. He says medicare will be tougher to figure out. He wants Congress to get out of it, too many special interests there, etc.
9:36pm - McCain hits Obama on taxes and how it will kill the already dead horse economy. He makes it clear that he plans to add major double tax exemptions for children, etc.
9:34pm - Still a rather lame debate so far. Hopefully there will be some cussing and punching at some point.
9:29pm - What sacrifice would you ask of Americans to restore the American dream? McCain says he would ask Americans to eliminate some programs. Kind of the same answer Barack gave to the last question. He then singles out defense spending. He reiterates that he is in favor of a spending freeze across the board. Senator Obama brings up 9/11 and the sacrifices we made then. He is kind of stumbling around. He finally fingers energy but mentions increased oil production not any sacrifice. He kinda of sums it up in Americans serving in different services.
9:23pm - McCain believes that alternative energy, health care, and social security can all be worked on at the same time. Obama responds that we have to prioritize and puts energy at #1. He is really stealing this issue from McCain and Johnny is letting him. Health care is his #2. He then puts education at #3. No mention of social security. BO steals more of McCain’s thunder claiming he wants to look at the budget and eliminate programs one by one that aren’t working.
9:19pm - Teresa asks how we can trust either “of you with our money?” Barack continues to hit away at George W. but is not really laying out any plans. Barack is sounding more and more like McCain the past two weeks. He is even using some of lines about ceasing sending funds to the Middle East. McCain tells Teresa to look at their records and tells her that he is the biggest fighter against earmarks and spending. Overall this debate is pretty lame so far. I think its better when the candidates are having to stare each other down.
9:17pm - Obama says the economy is not going to get worse before it gets better. He says we need regulations, regulations and more regulations. He wants, as McCain, to help Americans stay in their homes. McCain says he is not sure the economy will get better before it gets worse. He thinks it depends on what we do.
9:12pm - Obama’s turn to explain the rescue package to Oliver. Great question from Oliver by the way. Neither candidate has done a good job of explaining what the plan actually does. Obama is claiming that he was warning everyone two years ago as well and painting John as “John the Maniac Deregulator.” He is prepared for this attack from McCain and attacks him right back. It is going to be fun tonight.
9:10pm - Oliver asks what in the bailout package will help Americans out? McCain goes first and makes the point that he suspended his campaign (good point?). He then goes straight to Fannie Mae and ties Barack to them. McCain makes sure to point out that he stood up two years ago to change Freddie/Fannie. He states that Obama got the second most money in “history” from Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac.
9:06pm - McCain responds that Americans are angry, upset and fearful and that he has a plan to fix this problem with energy independence. Plans to keep taxes low for all. He wants to do something about prices of homes. He wants to help people make their payments and stay in their homes. My dad has been preaching a version of this instead of the Wall Street bailout. Pledges that he knows how to get the economy working again. Barack responds then McCain does again with his crush on Meg Whitman of eBay for Treasury Secretary. Barack recommends Warren Buffet, who is one of his supporters. Obama pledges tax cuts for 95% of Americans again (only about 65% even pay taxes).
9:04pm - Barack won the coin toss and gets to go first. I missed the question but it is about the economy. BO blames it on the Bush admin and tags McCain to that as well. Step 1: Rescue package, Step 2: Rescue package for middle class to stay in their homes. Fix health care system, etc.
9:03pm - Are both candidates lefties? Lot of white baldies in the audience…could be bad news for Obama.
9:00pm EST - Looks like we are ready to begin. Welcome to all of those tuning in here tonight. Moderator Tom Brokaw announces that tonight is in fact a town hall debate. Two minutes to respond with one minute follow-ups.
Sphere: Related ContentLive Blogging VP Debate: Sarah Palin vs. Joe Biden
Live Blogging of tonight’s Vice Presidential debate between Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Sarah Palin from St. Louis, Missouri. The debate is being moderated by PBS host Gwen Ifill.
REFRESH FOR UPDATES
10:35pm - Both candidates seemed overall to do a great job and get in points at each times. I think Palin won the debate and that might be in part that expectations were so low for her coming in. Joe came across as a politican. Sarah came across as someone learning and challenging. I think she won for the same reason most people said Barack won last week….that being they are the new kid on the block. She more than held her own. Biden is hard to dislike. If he was my uncle I would mow his yard for free and let him tell me stories about growing up in Scranton.
10:32pm - Gwen closes the debate and it’s over. Joe and Sarah shake hands and Joe looks like he tries to feel her up. The open mic leaves Gwen heaping praise on Biden. She nearly jumped out of her seat onto her broke ankle. The open mic couldn’t catch what she and Palin said to each other…but it did catch Palin thanking her.
10:29pm - Closing Statements: Palin starts by saying she wishes she had more debates and didn’t have the mainstream media filtering and changing what she says. She like the opportunity to talk directly to the American people. Biden starts by reaching back and bringing up Bush and the past eight years and a need for fundamental change. It is about the 10th time he has said “fundamental.” He also brings up the neighborhood he grew up in again!! Joe closes in blessing us all and our troops. Amen!!
10:26pm - Joe says fundamental change is not questioning other people’s motive. Palin says you do what she did and appoint people of both parties to your administration.
10:24pm - I didn’t understand the question but it was something about what is something that has changed in your political policy. Biden mentions the appointment of judges. Palin mentions “quasi-caving” on a couple of budgets.
10:20pm - 10 minutes to go! And its a good thing because Palin and Biden are starting to cause server problems for PK.
10:14pm - The question asks Biden about him saying he didn’t want the job of Vice President and Palin about saying she didn’t know what the job entailed before she was nominated in the spring. She says she was kidding and assumes Joe was too. She says she will work on energy and towards children and special needs. Biden says he would be Obama’s point person in dealing with the legislature. Biden says he will be in the room for every decision Obama makes. We will see about that Joe. I think Barack might banish you to the VP house.
10:11pm - Palin is pretty personable whether you like her or want to kill her. She gives shouts out to her family of teachers. And to her brother, who is a teacher, and tells the kids from his class watching that they get extra credit for watching.
10:08pm - How would Biden admin. be different from Obama tragedy? Biden says he would carry out Obama’s policies and make sure everyone gets a fair break. I think this is a sly attempt by moderator Gwen Ifill to put the thought in viewers minds about McCain dying early and Palin taking over. Palin says she won’t agree 100% with McCain but as a team of Mavericks things would keep on for the most part if she became President. She says she would continue the good work of JM and put government back on the side of the people.
10:06pm - Genocide in Darfur? Biden goes back into Iraq and tying McCain to Dick Cheney. I am not sure he is connecting. Maybe he is. Palin responds again that she watched the debates and Biden’s opposition to Obama.
10:05pm - 25 minutes to go! Oh wait Palin is speaking. Let me see if my southern upbringing can help me interpret.
10:03pm - I think Biden is tuning people out. I really can’t remember the last time Palin spoke or the last thing Biden said (and he is speaking).
10:01pm - I think Biden got about .10mm too much of botox in his forehead tonight. Does anyone else notice that? It is smoother than a baby’s butt until it meets his hairline on the sides where it wrinkles up in a weird way.
10:00pm - 30 minutes to go…who is winning? I think both are in different ways!
9:56pm - Nuclear Weapons? Palin says it will be the end-all and kill way too many people for it to be in the hands of evil people. She brings up Afghanistan and using a surge like strategy there. Biden responds surge won’t work according to generals and that the infrastructure must be build up. Biden seems to know John McCain’s record better than his own.
9:51pm - I am bored! The question is about Israel and Palestine. Palin says she will support Israel on a two-state solution. Biden attacks Bush and the administration for the current situation in Israel. Biden says he will change the policy and back Israel and let them negotiate with them. Palin is snippy and hits Biden across his botoxed forehead about looking backwards and pointing fingers at the Bush administration.
9:45pm - Greatest Threat: Nuclear Iraq or Unstable Iran? Biden says both are a grave concern. He goes on to say Iran is not close to getting a nuclear weapon. Biden has rambled on so far on his answer that I lost the main point of what he was saying. Palin says both are dangerous as well. She then says the central front on terror is in Iraq per al Quada and Peatrus. Palin is a bit too mechanical and quotes McCain several times from last weeks debate about preconditions and Iran.
9:40pm - Withdrawal from Iraq? Palin calls out Barack for not funding and supporting the troops. She then uses Biden’s words againt Obama where Biden called Obama out on it during the democratic primaries. Biden promises to end this war. Palin calls Biden out again for saying “Obama wasn’t ready to be commander in chief.” She also reminds Biden that he said he would love running with John McCain before he got the VP nomination.
9:36pm - Same sex benefits to couples? Biden says absolutely! Palin says she is fine with it as well as long as it doesn’t grow to infringe upon the traditional definition of marriage. Palin agrees with Biden but says she doesn’t support gay marriage. Biden responds that him and Obama don’t support gay marriage.
9:30pm - Climate change? Palin is struggling hard with this answer. She used about 13 big words too many in a row. She goes on to say reduce emissions and that she was first state to put committee together to address climate change. She uses the question to slip back into energy and an ‘all of the above’ solution. Biden responds that the climate change is completely due to man made causes. She calls Biden on not supporting clean coal technology.
9:27pm - Biden brings up again that Obama was warning of subprime lending crisis two years ago. He goes on to claim McCain was clueless. Biden seems to be making up a good number of facts. Palin responds in 3 seconds that she disagrees and uses the remainder of her time to talk about energy and how they differe from Obama/Biden on energy. Palin is using tonight to say whatever the hell she wants to the shagrin of Gwen.
9:25pm - I am starting to have a hard time keeping up. It will be interesting to see the fact check on both candidates tonight.
9:22pm - Biden is now saying they will cut wasteful spending, stealing one of McCain’s loudest mantras. Palin brings up energy and Barack voting for tax decreases for big oil companies and how she didn’t stand for that in Alaska and gave the tax break money to the citizens. Biden attacks McCain but then says he and Barack want to do what she did in Alaska with windfall taxes.
9:20pm - Biden is getting wound up a bit. He responds saying the health care tax incentive proposed by McCain is made up for by a tax on businesses.
9:18pm - Palin hits Biden with his “paying taxes is patriotic,” saying her and Todd are middle class and paying more taxes is not patriotic. The first landed jab of the night. She scores a few more points about Barack wanting to nationalize health care stating that nobody she knows wants Washington managing anything much less health care.
9:14pm - Palin says she is going to correct Biden as much as it takes. She says she is going to talk to the American people and let them know her track record. Ifill’s next question is a different question for each candidate. I am scratching my head about it. Oh well I am just glad I am not having to answer either question.
9:11pm - Sub-prime lending fault? Biden again says McCain is a good man and puts the fault on McCain and deregulation. Biden says that Obama was warning everyone about the sub-prime lending problems. Biden also brings up that McCain was recently quoted about deregulating health care. Palin responds by telling that Barack had 94x to vote against tax increases or for a tax cut and voted against it 94x. Biden says its not true.
9:09pm - Sub-prime lending fault? SP blames the predatory lenders for talking Americans into buying $300k house when they could only afford $100k house. She says there must be strict oversight and reform in D.C. and on Wall Street. And that we must also take personal responsibility.
9:07pm - Joe is claiming that he can reach across the aisle and has as many Republican friends as Democrat friends. LOL! Small points for Palin in rebutting Biden’s attack on McCain’s “fundamentals of the economy are strong,” stating that McCain was talking about the American working people.
9:05pm - Palin responds breaking it down into asking a parent at a soccer game on Saturday. SP must be one nervous person tonight. It has to make her wish she was shooting caribou in Alaska. We will see if she is a true fighter tonight or if she folds.
9:03pm - First question goes to Trader Joe about how well did Congress handle the bailout bill. He passes the blame on the Bush administration. Anyone taking bets on the over/under of Biden gaffes? Joe has the script memorized pretty well so far. Hopefully Palin will be a bit more personal.
9:00pm EST - Gwin Ifill is giving her introduction and making it clear all the questions were prepared by her and nobody else has seen them.
Sphere: Related ContentMcCain Releases ‘Obama the Sexiest’ Ad (Video)
John McCain’s team was quit to respond to Barack Obama’s statement of Sarah Palin being a pig with an ad calling him a sexist. In the ad they use Palin’s hockey mom/pitbull joke from the RNC and follow it with Obama’s, “You can put lipstick on a pig, it’s still a pig,” comment he made at a campaign rally yesterday. The video concludes with Katie Couric talking about how sexism is alive and well in this campaign.
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