Jonathan's Debate Thread

by Jonathan Singer [courtesy of MyDD]

Here we go...

• Going back a second, Ambinder catches one of the key contrasts of this election: "McCain: Health care is a privilege. Obama: health care is a right."
• I have to think that McCain is the first ever presidential candidate to talk about his need for hair plugs...
• Now McCain is lurking in the background -- Cheney-like, in fact. I feel a major aspect of the SNL debate skit coming on...
• "That one"? Really. There's a point at which a candidate's lack of respect for his opponent becomes a real detriment to that first candidate -- and the fact that McCain can't look at Obama, he can't sit still while Obama speaks, and now can't even say his name, just calling him "that one," says to me that he has clearly crossed that line.

Previous updates below the fold...

• I had thought that Obama had missed an opportunity to hit McCain on entitlements -- both because of McCain's calls for cuts and for his calls for privatization -- but McCain demagoguing the issue opens him big time to a response from Obama.
• Another failed joke from McCain. He is just not connecting, either with the audience in the hall or on television. And trying to tie Obama to Herbert Hoover just doesn't pass the smell test, either.
• Per Marc Ambinder, McCain still won't look at Obama. This is a major problem, a potential President unable to even look at a competitor for the office. Really?
• I've got to wonder how well McCain calling for entitlement cuts -- at a time of economic downturn -- will play in places like Florida and Pennsylvania, both of which have enormous elderly populations.
• McCain standing up during Obama's answer... can't stand still. Last debate it was McCain not being able to look at Obama. Tonight will it be McCain unable or unwilling to show Obama the respect of remaining seated and listening to his answers?
• McCain takes a big swing at Obama over Fannie and Freddie. Doesn't seem to have landed either -- and the problem with taking a big swing is that you leave yourself open to a counter-punch, which McCain did as his staff is made up of lobbyists, including those for Fannie and Freddie.
• Oof. McCain swings and misses on his first attempted joke, responding to Brokaw's question as to whom he would appoint as Treasury Secretary, saying, "Not you, Tom." That did not even come close to landing, and came off as a stall tactic to figure out a name other than Phil Gramm.
• Obama delivers a strong response on middle class tax cuts, but I can't help but feel it would have worked better coming at the beginning rather than the end of the answer.
• McCain already writing down notes? He doesn't trust himself to remember his zingers?