DEBATE: QUESTION BY QUESTION

The debate begins...

QUESTION: Where do you stand on the bailout plan?

Obama: Fails to answer the question. Fails to mention any specifics of his plan. Instead gives Democrat talking points and blames Bush.

McCain: Gives a shout out to Teddy Kennedy. Talks about Bi-partisanship. Fails to answer the question.

On Follow up:

Obama: Still fails to answer the question. Claims he warned everyone it was going to happen. Blames Bush.

McCain: Says he'll vote for the plan. References Eisenhower and speaks to accountability being non-existent in Washington.

At this point, in my opinion, both of these guys, seem clueless on the financial crisis. Obama, never answered the question.

McCain: Hammers Obama on his nearly billion dollars in earmarks. Obama responds with the standby McCain wants to cut taxes for corporations and blames Bush.

Question: What do you intend to give up in your administration due to the lost revenue from the bailout costs?

Obama: Totally dodges question. Offers a bunch of platitudes about energy independence and education that had nothing to do with the question.

McCain: Do away with wasteful spending, cost plus contracts. Examine every agency of government and eliminate those that suck.

Follow up: Dude's, what are you going to do in a major way? What are you going to give up if you're President?

Obama: Again doesn't answer question, says we need energy independence, and then adopts McCain's answer regarding cutting spending as his own.

McCain: Proffers spending freeze.

Obama: Get out of Iraq.

McCain: Go with nuclear power.

Follow up: How is the financial crisis going to effect your presidency? Answer the damn question!

Obama: There's going to be less tax revenue, and I'm going to have make tough decisions. But doesn't say what they're going to be.

McCain: Cancel Obama's spending programs. Grow the economy, with lower taxes.

Obama: Blames Bush.

McCain: Speaks to his record of bi-partisanship. I'm a maverick.

Question: What are the lessons are Iraq?

McCain: You cannot have a failed strategy that will lead to defeat. Takes credit for the surge. We will come home with honor and victory. We now have an ally in the Middle East.

Obama: I opposed this war. Should have finished the job in Afghanistan. I was right and everyone else was wrong. Says Al Qaeda stronger now than ever. We should take Iraq's money. Use military wisely.

Follow Up: What about what Obama said McCain?

McCain: Hammers Obama for being wrong on the surge. Just hammers him.

Obama: The surge was nothing but a tactic to hide failure.

McCain: Obama refuses to acknowledge that we are winning on Iraq. Calls out Obama for voting to cut troop funding.

Question: Do we need more troops in Afghanistan?

Obama: Yes. As quickly as possible. Talks about poppy trade. Have to deal with Pakistan. Says we need to strike Pakistan.

McCain: We won't abandon Afghanistan as we did after Russia was forced out. I'm not going to threaten Pakistan. Says Obama is a fool for saying out loud that he will attack Pakistan.

Obama: We will take out Al Qeada in Pakistan if they don't. Willing to risk a war with Pakistan.

Question: What is your reading of the threat from Iran to the United States?

McCain: We cannot allow Iran to have nukes. Sanctions need to be stepped up. Make no doubt that Iran is a threat to the world.

Obama: Thinks Iran's Republican Guard is a terrorist organization. Iraq strengthened Iran. Israel is our ally. We need tougher sanctions.

McCain: Hammers Obama for wanting to talk to dictators without preconditions.

Obama: I would sit down with Iran's mullahs cause they have all the powers. I never meant preconditions, I meant we would have preparations before talks.

McCain: Calls Obama on lies about meeting without preconditions. Trust but verify.

Obama: Says he never said with preconditions without preparations. This is not true. We've reported on this before here at The Big Feed.

Question: How do see relationship with Russia?

Obama: Russian approach needs to be re-evaluated. Georgia actions unacceptable. Must adhere to ceasefire. Can't return to Cold War posture. Goes into no detail about the region.

McCain: Hammers Obama for saying both sides need to show restraint. Russia is nothing but a KGB state. Georgia conflict about energy. Obama didn't know that. He's naive. Russia has to understand the inclusion of Georgia and Ukraine is American policy. I've been to Georgia. Obama hasn't. We will work with Russia but they have to respect international values. Goes into great detail about the situation in the Caucuses.

Obama: Agrees with everything McCain said. Claims he warned administration about Russian peace keepers in Georgian territory. Must increase domestic energy independence. Says he has a plan. Doesn't say what it is.

McCain: Democrats have blocked off shore drilling for years.

Question: What is possibility of another 9-11 attack in the US.

McCain: Less likely. Human intelligence needs to be sharpened. Work closer with allies. Safer, but we have a long way to go. Increase border security.

Obama: Safer in some ways. Guard chemical sites and ports. Suitcase bombs a threat. Need missile defense. Have to be perceived in the world better. Credits McCain on torture issue.

McCain: We don't need a president getting on the job training in office.

Obama: My father was from Kenya, in the 60s he thought America was great, it's not so great anymore. Americans suck. I can make it great. (Asshole!).

END OF DEBATE

McCain showed superior command of the details on all issues. Details Obama seemed incapable of speaking to. McCain gets the importance of energy security, Obama seems to not think it's even an issue. Obama spent most of the night speaking in broad platitudes. McCain impressed me a great deal by calling Russia exactly what it is, a KGB apparatus. That was a real blockbuster regarding the most central foreign policy issue in play. No doubt he carried this debate. Made Obama look like the foreign policy neophyte he is.

McCain got under Obama's skin and got him flustered several times. Obama seemed to agree with McCain an awful lot (8 times officially). Obama looked like an idiot with all the smirking and huffing and puffing and interrupting of McCain.

UPDATE:

Here's the truth about what Obama said about meeting with Iranian president without preconditions. Obama lied several times. Read.