Jackson Jambalaya

Debate about to start. I expect a little bit tougher exchanges and sharper reponses than last time as is usually the case. McCain needs to point out that Clinton made the same promises in 92 and was forced by the Democrat Congress to abandon them. He also needs to run against the Congressional Democrats more than he does Obama. People like Obama. He is more personable and has a better delivery. Attack the Barney Franks and Chris Dodd's who got sweetheart loans from Countrywide and put us in this housing mess. If Obama starts hitting him on hiring Davis, he needs to point out that Davis was a hired gun who is no different than any other lawyer who represents his client and point out that Pfitzker and Johnson are two people who WERE the lenders who drove us into the ditch and attack Obama's judgement for hiring them. Obama should stay calm, play it safe, jab, and link McCain as much as possible to Bush and Wall Street, tapping into the country's anger.

Here we go. First question about getting us out of this financial mess. Obama response predictable. Nice. Attacking AIG. Good move. Rescue package for middle class. How do you pay for it? Road projects? Bridge projects? Clinton's old "rebuild the infrastructure campaign promise. HOW do we pay for it? How? McCain, look at Obama. McCain responds with energy independence, lowering taxes, the debt. Discussing home values and doing something about them. How? Advocates buying up the bad mortgages. Um, didn't we pass that bill last week? Did he learn nothing from 1990's Japan? Dumb question by Brokaw about who he would hire to run Treasury. No serious candidate is going to announce who he will appoint to a cabinet position. Classy move by McCain to note Buffet and his tie-in to McCain. Obama had a better answer on this question.

Bailout question. Oooohhhh... McCain hitting Democrats on their protecting Fannie and Freddie. Obama personalizing the Bacardi Bailout bill, tying in the frozen credit markets to the average guy on the street. Obama stressing he warned about subprime mess. Hits McCain for hiring Davis. Wonder if McCain will make the appropriate response and tie in Dodd and Frank to this. Should not have attacked Obama specifically on that one but the Democrats instead. McCain needs to hit him on hiring Pfitzker and Johnson. Slight edge to Obama on this question.

So far, the difference between the two is Obama is offering more specific details on what he plans to do, making sound more of an authority on the economy. He is giving McCain openings but McCain is missing them. He is attacking McCain for not cutting taxes on corporations. McCain should mention it is corporations who do the hiring and give the middle class their jobs and retirement plans, not the government and that Obama will cause unemployment to rise as they are burdened by more taxes required by increased government spending. McCain needs to wake up. Obama is uh'ing and oh'ing a good bit.

Damn. Didn't McCain study the Clinton/Bush debates? Obama is making many of the same arguments that Clinton made then. Didn't the Republicans learn anything? OK, McCain, Obama rejected an across the board spending freeze. Wow. Worked for Reagan. Wait a second McCain, Bush raised taxes during a recession in the early 90's. Nice job. He is hitting Obama for raising taxes on small businesses. Little secret about personal income tax rates: Small businesses file on personal tax returns and they do most of the hiring in any economy. They also have a higher tax rate than do corporations. Brokaw nutting up and saying nope when Obama wants special treatment to respond to McCain.

Nice trap here by Brokaw. Social security reform. Nice barb by Obama. "Straight Talk Express lost a wheel on that one". Obama claiming his taxes will go up on those making over $250,000 a year. McCain once again needs to point out that those are the small businesses who do most of the hiring. McCain has an opening here as Obama attacks him for wanting to cut corporate income taxes. McCain needs to give him a lesson in Econ 101. Romney would be toasting Obama on this subject right now. Both avoid mentioning privatizing Social Security or how they would reform it. Vagueness seems to be the response for both candidates.

Dammit, Direct TV just went out and its clear outside. Thank you CSPAN online.

So far McCain is missing openings and looking weaker than Obama.

Brokaw asks about the economy affecting our foreign policy. Obama hits McCain hard on Iraq, saying he was all for a misguided war and how much money it is costing us. McCain is giving him a pass. McCain should have stated that he told the Bush administration they didn't have a large enough military force for the invasion and advised against fighting the war on the cheap. Truth is Bush administration came around to McCain's position after badly bungling the war. McCain keeps giving him a pass on this.

Damn. Lady just asked if we should pursue Al Qaida into Pakistan. Obama setting up a softball here, saying we lost focus on Afghanistan because of Iraq. McCain should mention we fought Japan and Germany at the same time yet we can't focus on those two countries at the same time? Eliminate the drug trade funding terrorism? Um, Senator Obama, it was the Taliban that wiped out the drug trade. Nice. McCain is sound more of an authority than Obama on this question. Points out how saying we will invade Pakistan galvanizes the Pakistan population against us and shows a better knowledge of counter-insurgency doctrine. Obama wants the rules changed for him so asks for the rules to change for him. McCain should not let these remarks about bombing Iran and North Korea as well as going to Bagdhad unchallenged. Well, they go unchallenged. Nice line about why we should not telegraph our punches to the enemy.

Brokaw asks how to reform Afghanistan strategy. Obama is predictable, smoothly states how he would draw down troop level in Iraq and put pressure on Karzain. Um, is he aware of the assassination attempts on his life? Can you imagine any greater pressure to stabilize the country than THAT? Slight edge to McCain on these two questions.

Russia. Moral support? Senator Obama, we gave moral support to Eastern Europe for 50 years. It took a president calling the Soviets an evil empire and standing up to them to bring them down. Obama advocating a thoughtful approach to dealing with Russia.

Dumb question by Brokaw: Is Russia under Vladamir Putin an evil empire? Irresponsible question as they are both going to say no since they will have to deal with Putin one on one.

Question about Israel. McCain says he won't wait for UN approval to defend Israel and brings up Iran. Both say they will defend Israel and Iran should not get nukes.

What don't you know and how will you learn it? Interesting. Obama speaks about opportunity and value of family sacrifice. Young people don't have the money for college? Um, Pell Grants, student loans, the military. They have plenty of options if they work for them. McCain discusses the challenges we face.

One thing I noticed: Not one word by either candidate about freedom and liberty. Sad. Very sad.
My verdict: Both candidates looked like they sleepwalked for the most part. Obama was predictable and good in his delivery. Someone like Romney would have capitalized on the openings Obama left for McCain. McCain needed a solid win tonight. Unfortunately, the solid win went to Obama.