Up Next

Campaign Calendar

Vice Presidential debate ---- 10/02 - Thursday
Second Presidential debate - 10/07 - Tuesday
Final Presidential debate --- 10/15 - Wednesday
Election Day ------------------11/04 - Tuesday

What If Obama Had Said "Horse Sh*T" Like McCain Last Night

If Barack Obama has muttered "horseshit" twice as McCain did at four minutes, 30 seconds (see clock at lower-right of video), you can bet you would hear howls from rightwingers saying: 'The man lost his cool on a nationally televised debate in front on millions of American families.'

But it's okay for McCain.



OBAMA: He even said the other day that he would not meet potentially with the prime minister of Spain because he wasn't sure whether they were aligned with us. I mean, Spain. Spain is a NATO ally.

MCCAIN: Horseshit, horseshit.

OBAMA: If we can't meet with our friends, I don't know how we are going to lead the world in terms of dealing with critical issues like terrorism.

MCCAIN: I am not going to set the White House visitors schedule before I'm President of the United States. I do not even have a seal yet.

Obama Understands

From Jonathan Chait:

John McCain’s mantra tonight was simple: Barack Obama 'doesn’t understand.' He repeated this line over and over, and at one point directly said that Obama 'lacks the knowledge' to be president. But Obama demonstrated over and over that he does understand foreign policy. He has a better command of foreign policy issues than most presidential candidates (as does McCain.) McCain tried – and, I think, needed – to disqualify Obama as a foreign policy president, and I think he failed. McCain did land some blows, but Obama easily cleared the bar.

Obama Won't Back Down, Debate One: Obama

Update: No doubt about it: Obama won the debate
The political assessment of the show:

A condescending, patronizing, old man insulted a younger, smarter, more knowledgeable candidate whose respectful nature and command of the issues saw Obama stand his ground and become the change candidate surpassing the commander-in-chief barrier many causal voters have been waiting for.

McCain used the terms doesn’t “understand” repeatedly, but the facts aside, McCain came across as ungraceful and arrogant, even a bitter man seeing his self-perpetuating myth dissipate.

We’ll see if this assessment is reflected empirically in the coming days.

Obama Moves Forward on Debate

Breaking: "(S)ome House Republicans are saying privately that they'd rather 'let the markets crash' than sign on to a massive bailout." and GOP kills Bush bailout plan and GOP Scuttles Bailout Talks as Disbelieving Dems and Bush Keep Pressure on

From an Obama blast e-mail:

Barack is moving ahead with plans for Friday's debate. The election is less than 40 days away, and the American people deserve to hear directly from the candidates about how they intend to lead our country.

Many voters will be learning about Barack and his vision for change for the first time, and this is a crucial opportunity to talk to potential supporters.

McCain's Desperate Pass to Nowhere

Rep. Barney Frank told a group of reporters outside the House chamber:
"It's the longest Hail Mary pass in the history of either football or Marys," reacting to John McCain's announcement that he is suspending his campaign and calling for a postponement of Friday's debate.

Bob Cesca: "Expecting a workable solution to this economic meltdown from a man as knee-jerk, dishonest and incomprehensible as John McCain would be an exercise in national self-destruction."

Even the GOP line that this shows-McCain's-a-maverick, committed-to-solving- problems-as-a-great-leader must be drawing smiles among GOP politicos not enamored of the old bastard.

Change Pres Debate to Wall Street Bailout

Newt Gingrich is calling for Friday's debate to changed from national security to the economy.

Good idea, Newt.