Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

This thread is exclusively devoted to chat about the presidential debate now beginning. (Note: you'll need to use your browser's Refresh button to see latest comments during this live chat)

Good evening Craig

Hello all. I met 5 people who are undecided today -- they are watching the debate tonight.

gee M acknowledged Obama by name!!!

McCain is tense and nervous. Constant blinking not good

Nancy Reagan doesn't like John McCain -- she disapproved of what he did to the 1st Mrs. McCain.

McCain just keeps saying the same thing over and over.

interesting that O is talking to the camera ...M replied to Bob, not looking into the camera

middle class rescue -- drink!

Health care SPIKE!

Talking to camera, C.Matthews says that makes you look like a dolt? Wonder if he comments the same tonight? Get after him Johnny Mac

so what if mccain blinks a lot.

fine, a president who doesn't blink, that'll save America

Canned stuff from stump speech - McCain can't just talk.

i think i'll write in Joe the Plumber. sounds like a smart dude

What, no flag pin for McCain?

obe is on target.....mccain is grasping strawmen

Craig,

I'm talking about the blinking as a symptom of his trying to remember all of his talking points. He messed up on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. There is no there there ... it's all memorization not position.

how does obama get away with claiming tax cuts for 95 percent of americans when so many of those folks don't pay any taxes. the truth is he would cut taxes for about 80 percent of actual taxpayers.

This spreading the wealth thing is a red herring. It's not the spreading, per se, as that's gonna happen. It's in what direction it's spread.

Poor Joe, did he realize he was about to become a hockey puck?

McCain just got under Obama's skin...

and Obama isn't regurgitating stump talk? ok fine, at least he can do it without blinking

my daughter just yelled at Mac....."omg shut up" over his bad interrupting joke.....

This is another piece of misinformation. McCain never mentions that 2/3 of American corporations pay no taxes, whatsoever, and haven't for ten consecutive years.

Wish I could do this and watch it at the same time.

But I always love reading the comments afterward and usually LMAO!

tt

What does a businessman growing his business do when he approaches $250 in revenue? Does he continue to grow? Probably not without a lot of consideration.

R Paul would say what are you both talking about, it can't be done, get real

good catch, ivy green. mccain no flag pin. heresy!

Craig,

Are you angry with me for some reason?

Obama has changed his tune on the 95%, saying now that they will not experience an increase. Not quite a total admission, but an acknowledgement, maybe, that many people pay no taxes.

isn't the $250k the income of the actual person, not the revenue of the business?

wow Craig, your bias is showing!

How long, if ever, will it take to get that money back???

Hmmm-- two more neighbors just stopped by to pick up their Obama lawn signs -- did I miss anything?

I think it is funny that BHO caved to the pressure and started wearing the flag pin.

Mac's trying to act mad

$250k on a schedule C of one's personal income tax...many small businesses run this way vs corporation status.

line item vetos have been part of the Repukes platform since Nixon.

Mike, that's a good question.
Wouldn't that $250K be the same thing for the plumber,
whether for the business or him?

I hope so Mike as a contractor i could not build any new homes maybe 1 and a half--------dog houses maybe $250 comes up awfuly fast in my line of work

Flag pin, Shmag pin -- the real question is who's wearing the french cuffs?

ha, good one.
4 years ago.

why would i would be angry at you, jamie? of couse not. i'm just tired of the mccain bashing around here. think the man deserves a hearing.

hey, if treating mccain fairly is bias, then fine, i'm biased

Flag pins? Really a small concession to the public's appetite for symbolism...just wear it.

why is that funny? maybe Obama learned that the flag pin meant a lot to those who have children serving in the US military? Maybe he actually listened and then made up his mind.

But McCain has been the "McCain" we all have known until last Friday....

Thing is, Craig, McCain keeps proffering these half-truths -- the taxing of those making as little as $42k, for example. He didn't vote on that bill, at all, I think. Finally, Obama calls him. And this other thing about not bucking his party. There's a reason for that. He's a Democrat!

obama says he "occasionaly mistakens" mccain policies for bush policies??? how phony

should of said... mccain HASN"T been

I like O more than i used to -------more fluent, more confident

ha ha.

yay schieffer

Yes Solar. He looks more sincere.

I'm sorry, but all that feverish note-taking instead of making eye contact is annoying...

Cheers to Bob to bringing up the mud slinging

C'mon -- blaming Obama's refusal to do his town halls for his own trashy ads is bunk.

This is a much better debate tonight.

Sorry if it came across as bashing. I admit that I wasn't all that fond of McCain years ago when he was getting all the favorable treatment from the press.

He seems like a reasonably nice man who has coasted along on his wife's wealth and his friends goodies. I just consider him totally unqualified for the office of President. When backed by Sarah Palin, it he is inconceivable.

Ya John, 1st time I've seen your heart! O camp could accuse Bill Clinton of being racist, yeah Bill Clinton! No way that is above the belt.

100% negative? come on O thats a good one.

even though im an indi----kind of feels good to see a black man in this last debate-----did not think about it before, in these terms

I'm with Craig on this one.
I couldn't care less.
Why vilify either side. Just vote the way you want and look at the best in each (and the worst)

Yeah, I agree chloe. This is much better than the others.

good for O bringing this back to the issues!!!

Craig -- You couldn't care less? Not your job? Wow. Bloodless tonight are we?

Yes Solar, it's a very good thing

It's so good to see McCain standing up for himself. He's actually showing some passion. I love it.

or another way of putting it, i wouldn't kill myself no matter who wins. they both represent the corporate status quo

McCain reminds me of the kid in the playground who punches some other kid, then cries to the teacher when he gets hit back.

UB...

Relax...(if you read my original post)...I don't think it is funny that BHO is wearing the flag pin...but rather that he caved in to the pressure.

Now, back to the debate...

O scores on "kill him"

Edgy tonight?

Relax folks.

This too will pass.

t

how about when obama's crowd uses the c-word against palin? on t-shirts they sell at his events for god's sake.

Craign -- Now you sound like Uncle Ralph.

Great debate!

"Poor Joe, did he realize he was about to become a hockey puck?"

Ha! I was wondering the same thing....

McCain has has lost this debate.

Craig, we love you.
You don't sound like anyone.

let's get reeeaaadddyyyyy 2 ruuummmbbbllleeeeee!!!

Chloe

i agree with jason about H clinton about the vp, but it would have been nice to see 2 1st's huh, a women and a black,

When did Obama's crowd use the c-word for Sarah? I thought that was their special word for Hillary.

He has has not.

Here's where McCain says he's heard the same kind of personal insults at Obama rallies, which is patently untrue.

It's all we are going to get. We just try to get close to doing something for the people. This time around, they might have to if only to preserve their own skin. If the middle class goes down, the country goes down and then the corporations fall.

oh..awkward pause

Yeah Solar
Wish we could have.

Mac's T-shirts comment caught O off guard.....

O, speechless! Nice call on tshirt Craig!

I'm kind of surprised. This is the first time I've seen any passion from either candidate.

Obama scares me more because I don't want him spreading around my finally realized hard earned money. I was poor for years and got nothing and now that I finally have a little more money, what Wall Street and our govenment hasn't taken, Obama wants to spread around.

People need to learn how to earn it and save their own money. I don't want to give them mine. Sorry if that sounds greedy.

Jamie -- I support you for Prez!

acorn!

I'm sick of ACORN getting a bum rap.

Oh God ACORN

Talking point lies straight off the FOX FRIENDS express.

He keeps saying this stuff about Ayers and Acorn, even though these things have been debunked repeatedly.

oh please, ACORN "destroying the fabric of democracy" cmon john, more than a bit over the top

John is grasping at straws... let's stick to issues

That doesn't sound greedy Carol.
Obama's going to win this election anyway.

O has to point out the republican nature of the Annenburg deal

he was waiting on that one......

Craig, they're connected to voter fraud - that does threaten democracy.

CArol -- Don't forget to mail me a check on Nov 5 -- I'll tell Obama that you already spread your money my way and to leave you alone. LOL.

ha! give him some more.

I think Mr Cool may be getting mad. I luv it.

Clearly, the ACORN controversy is nothing more than employees turning in bogus registrations to get paid. Nobody has tried to vote illegally. Also, ACORN is actually a network of many organizations. McCain is parsing in a misleading way.

Voter fraud charges = GOP vote suppression project

Can we hear Buffetts name some more?

Mac just won't give up-----he won't win but i remember the airport scene with him carrying his own guitar

cool, this is a real debate. shieffer lettin them go at it. sweet!

Oh this should be good about why John picked Sarah!!!!

BHO needs to cut this answer short, so JMc doesn't have too much time to think about his answer..HAHA

I think Schieffer's doing a pretty good job so far. I thought he'd be terrible.

oh cmon chloe, if ACORN can destroy our democracy, then it's not worth saving

Chloe

Acorn were the ones who reported the phony names. It isn't voter fraud, it is registration fraud. People getting paid for signatures falsified those registrations and were fired.

It happens constantly on the Republican side as well. When you pay for signatures, you get legitimate groups and alcoholics earning booze money. It is always something those paying have to keep an eye on.

Obama has gotten a lot lot better.

Biden....and stood up for credit card company to make harder on those folks who get in financial hardship with bankruptcy laws

and she can shoot a moose from 200yards!!

Sorry guys I have to start all over saving for my impending retirement. It is almost all gone.

energy!!! She didn't even know that there was a meeting in Alaska with Russians about energy issues!!!

I know Jamie.
But what McCain was talking about was the fact that fraud happened at all is threatening to democracy. I'm not accusing anyone of anything.

Bill Ayers RIP

Well there goes any proof of McCain's judgement

Palin is completely unqualified.

Carol, won't it come back when the market comes back?

obama......."capable politician..." I heard that one coming down the track

I actually think there are good things to say about Palin's record in Alaska. But from what I read, she's done so while being extremely opportunistic. There's just so much more to her that is beyond the pale.

I <3 Bob Schieffer 8~P

SoDak -- your comments about Biden and the credit card companies is totally valid. It's the one thing that bothers me about him.

Chloe

Fraud, deceit, and shenanigans are an absolute constant in ALL political campaigns. You get as close as you can to the ideal, but clean hands are virtually unknown anywhere.

" I think Schieffer's doing a pretty good job so far."

I think so too -- and I'm glad. I really like him.

ok Craig. I give up on that one. (I said threaten, McCain said destroy). But voter fraud is a serious problem if it happens.

Obama admits that nuclear plants can be safe. His big thing is disposal.

Craig------does schieffers age make mc age more acceptable
for viwers?

Obama should ask McCain if he'd vote to have the waste in his home state.

Craig,

Would Hillary represent the "corporate status quo?'

You're right Jjamie. But it doesn't stop me from hoping for more. I'm not nearly as naive as you think.

Palin makes McCain's age less acceptable.

" When you pay for signatures, you get legitimate groups and alcoholics earning booze money. It is always something those paying have to keep an eye on."

I heard the woman who's in charge of Acorn on c-span the other day -- she said that they don't pay for each name, just a flat fee. Have you heard any details about this, Jamie? Because I thought it was per name.

well, seems to me obama has an effective rejoinder for each of mccain's attacks. mccain searching for something obama isn't prepared to answer, but hasn't found it

BHO's speech patterns make me crazy...just like Bush's

I'd like to know if those already-leased fields are fertile, so to speak. The Dems always mention the number of acres, but never the projected quantity of the deposits.

Ha Solar.
I think McCains age is already acceptable.

the most bang I've seen so far from mac to Obe was the "T SHIRT" comment......

Yeah Linda, but he's getting better. (and he keeps his chin down now). :)

"Craig, Would Hillary represent the "corporate status quo?' -- Posted by: Jammers"

absolutely

This offshore thing is so irrelevant. And so is the kitchen sink solution to energy. Any good businessman knows that the smart way to attack the problem is to isolate the best solution and put all your eggs in one basket, and watch that basket.

Chloe -- I hope you are just as upset about vote suppression as you are about voter fraud.

How could he not be prepared Craig. He's been answering the same questions for a year now.

Drill baby drill won't do anyone any good if it can't be processed. The problem isn't the supply of raw goods it is the refineries that no one wants in their back yard.

It is also spending money on a regressive fuel that isn't good for the world.

of all the people who think McCain is too old....I wonder if, when they reach their 70's, they will consider themselves old?

(does that make sense...should I drink more wine...haha)

not following you Diva

There's a Bob Schieffer bobblehead but I don't see any currently available on eBay.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06171/698564-352.stm

McCain eyerolled Obama.

nice bringing it back to the energy question O

Lush.....I consider myself to old right now.......@61

oops. Faux Paux on enforcing unfair trade agreements.

Auto makers have it tough because of union agreements, won't do biz with Columbia cause of no union rep's. Can't have it both ways O

Quick poll -- how many people are wine-blogging?

No Linda. No one ever feels as old as they are.

John let's focus on the energy question.

did mac just say "shugo shavez"?

wine blogging??? yup!!

sturgeone...no way!! my goodness!!

McCain is not too old to be president...just like Obama is not too young.

Chloe -- The GOP does much better when turnout is low. Therefore, they regularly engage in voter suppression efforts in strong Dem areas, namely minority areas.

Could Grandpa be any more cranky? Get him some Metamucil quick!

If anyone has a Schieffer bobblehead, these guys will

http://www.bobbleheads.com/Home/tabid/54/Default.aspx

They also do special requests. You can get a YOU bobblehead, but it will cost you. :-)

Me, (Big House White) but I draw the line on a second bottle.

Diva,
Of course that bothers me too.
I interested in fairness and honesty all around.
I look at both sides objectively, and have no problem doing it.

Yes preventive care!!!!!!!!!!!!

No wine here Mike -- bourbon.

"Quick poll -- how many people are wine-blogging?"

Sonic diet cherry coke blogging for me.

$5000 tax credit isn't going to do squat!!!

Joe the Plumber. He's famous!

Back to Joe the Plumber. He must be a good friend of Joe Sixpack and all those hockey moms.

:Quick poll -- how many people are wine-blogging --Posted by: Mike Farrace"

does cheap RIoja count, mike?

Health care for everyone from the Gov't whooohooo Comrad!

Hospitals, Banks & Wallstreet what's next?

i propose Joe the Plumber for Treasury Secretary, no matter who wins

ROFL, Ivy -- you were so right about Joe the Plumber....McCain is now calling him "My friend."

I may have to have a glass of wine after all. On Joe's behalf.

Go Joe

You say cranky. I say passionate.

Joe the Plumber and friend.

http://www.globalgallery.com/prod_images/61012.jpg

Never heard of it, Craig. Is that like Boones Farm or Spinada? :)

I am so sick of this health insurance issue(promises, promises)....I voted for Clinton, back in '92, because my sister had insurance, through work, but had to "pay an arm and a leg" for it.

Sixteen years later...it is still an issue.

Nothing is ever going to change...

Politicians say what they have to say to get elected...blah, blah, blah...yada, yada, yada

Yes Craig. Treasury Sec. Maybe he'll be on the morning news tomorrow.

Im ok with va ins, if my wife gets sick before steady work comes in im screwed,,, can't even rob a bank,,,its already been robbed, I have to cut down on some of my employees ins also, if no $ coming in.

Craig. did you mean Rioja??

Y'know, the minute I heard about the plumber, I thought, "how in the hell did the only plumber in America that makes $250k find Obama?"

McCain is right on his game tonight.

BTW, the average salary of plumbers in the USA is around $37k.

Lush

I was four when Harry Truman proposed universal health care for US citizens. The rest of the western developed world got it, we didn't. Sixty years is a long time to wait for decent health care that real people can afford without going backrupt.

He doesn't make it yet Mike. And probably never will with that tax plan. It won't benefit him.

Did that old fool just liken getting a face lift to having a liver transplant?

A $5000 medical plan likely will have high deductibles and co-pays, no dental, no Rx...

under a republican admin it grew

This is cracking me up! Joe is a star! I wonder if he's down at the bar with his pals, yukking it up -- or home hiding. Either way, once somebody's in office, he ought to show up and demand tax breaks and health care.

Senator Gov't was more on the mark!

I provide health care at our local jail/prison and you wouldn't believe how many people call to get their warrants called in just to come in and get a medical problem addressed. Guy came in today who have wires for a fractured jaw in his mouth for over 3 months because he couldn't get transportation out of town to the charity oral surgeon.

LOL @ wine blogging!!

next...drunk dialing..HAHA!!

Now, back to the debate... 8~D

Thing is, people want government help now. McCain's health care tax credit is weak because it does nothing to control costs, does not expand the pool, and contains no pre-existing condition adjustments.

In Houston it's a lot more than 37k mike

Sad thing is, I have no hopes for any real health care fix to happen no matter who is president.

Ooopsie! Pinocchio nose for McCain on Roe v. Wade!

That's sad Carol

Duh. It's exactly how we should judge these supreme court nominees.

Chloe -- actually, my number is the median across the entire US.

etiology or ideology???? John get it right

Finally, Obama got the last word on a topic.

Patsi, maybe Joe will change jobs. He's famous!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/10/our-refreshing-debate-chat.html#comment-159452

Jamie--that is so depressing...

Speaking of wine blogging -- at what point does it become drunk blogging, which is an entirely different beast?

Do u suppose the $37k median means that the owner is probably an plumber and can afford to pay $37k per year salaries? Wonder how many he can afford with tax hikes? He is surely making more than $250k...

Lillie Ledbetter didn't work for Joe the plumber

Mike,

I think the median household income is now about $49,000 so if Joe is at $37,000 his wife must be working part time. :-)

I know Mike. I was just struck by the difference.

Mike, I think once you open that second bottle

Obama basically advised women to consult with their religious advisors about abortion. ROFL....don't think he really meant to say that. Yeah -- go talk to your priest....

Obama smack-down in 3-2-1...

Is McCain going to dredge up every single right wing talking point. He must have memorized World Net

I don't see either health care idea working out and I have been in the healthcare industry for 37 years. I would like to be wrong.

obama as the smacker or the smackee?

Smacker.

Joe the plumber makes a lot of side jobs money-----plumbers that i know also do sewer work, they do pretty good

We'll have to settle for 'improvement' Carol.

Sorry I am late with my comments. I have been using the pause button to get a drink.

Some even do some Air Conditioning work solar

BHO is looking a little worn out...McCain is still grinning.

It's a sign.

I'M PRESENT TOO!! What a joke.

"Patsi, maybe Joe will change jobs. He's famous!"

Joe should run for office.

"Smacker"
--Mike Farrace

you are cut off

Jihn brings up the "health of the mother" but leaves that point out in space and heads to how he supports adoption

Sorry Johnny Mac -- the last person I want to hear talking about helping those poor pregnant girls line up adoptions is an old white man.

my daughter.....college graduate, now in grad school......"I really hate him." referring to McCain.

just an isolated observation....

Actually -- and this is an old argument -- Republicans are by nature more concerned about the unborn than the already born. It's the fatal flaw in their abortion argument.

LushisLinda -- HAHAHA!!! Good one.

LOL Why not Patsi. Good idea!.

Don't ever see abortion being eliminated. Most people think it should be an option. It is just pandering.

more concerned about the unborn than the already born."

You're right Mike.

Rioja, yes we can.

McCain tried every tool in the box. Nothin worked for him.

Good choice Craig... Lovely area of Spain!!!!!

The funny thing is that Obama and Ayers were on the board that helped create "choice" with charter schools in Chicago on the Annenburg Foundation dime.

McCain Talks. Obama Did.

No teacher certification?

plumber only has to know 3 things......payday on friday, feces runs downhill, and dont chew your fingernails.

(lol)

Mike, Totally disagree...we believe in both as each having unlimited potential and not a needing the gov't to care for them.

Kitchen table decisions should stay that way -- not fodder for politicians. I have a good friend who is getting a second trimester abortion this week -- it was a highly anticipated and welcomed pregnancy -- but the fetus is severely hydrocephalic and brain damaged -- not expected to survive after birth. Very sad all around -- but terminating this pregnancy will allow my friend greater chance of having a healthy baby later on. McCain would make this woman and her family suffer even more.

I think Joe will have his own media empire very soon. Talk show, books, guest appearances on "This Old House." Meeting Obama was his lucky day.

SoDak -- I don't understand. What do you mean by "both?"

John can not acknowledge common ground...

Mac running this condescending attitude.....not good.....arrogant and old white man lecturing the youngster.......

What happens to the school that's "left behind" after all the motivated students leave?

born and unborn

I must say(and this is probably the wine talking)...speaking as a childless woman, abortion makes me sad. 8~(

OMG, he's gonna cry now.

Teacher should get paid well,,,but should not be able to roll over 20-30sick days per year, it adds up after 15-20 yrs, if you are sick use them---no roll over

Trig has autism? I didn't know...

so autism will get earmarked for more funding...
what about diabetes and other diseases???

Sarah Palin knows autism? How?

I know I'm in the minority on this, but I see charter schools as the beginning of the end of decent public education. The public schools will be dumping grounds for the poor in another generation.

John is one amazing platitude after another.

sadder than abortions would be what it used to be......back room "coathanger" abortions......because abortion is a fact of life.....legal or illegal......and the rich pay for nice clean ones, the poor go to the back rooms .....but they still go and get them.

LushisLinda -- Absolutely. No one is in favor of abortions and this is where I think liberals have let the parameters of the argument get out of hand.

closing statements..FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Community Colleges...education's unsung hero.

And ending by being rude and sarcastic.

sadder than abortions would be what it used to be......back room "coathanger" abortions......because abortion is a fact of life.....legal or illegal......and the rich pay for nice clean ones, the poor go to the back rooms .....but they still go and get them.

Posted by: sturgeone
*************
good point!!!!

"Joe the Plumbers Election"
Drudge already made that the headline.
Picture and all.
http://www.drudgereport.com/

Patsi -- You're not in the minority. Public schools can be great and many are. Parents are the key, not government. A little shaming of moms and dads might help. How? It happens in our school district, but that's because some moms have balls and aren't shy.

There he goes with the innuendo again...

Jamie McCain said people coming right out of the military should be able to teach without certification.

Hey Champ,

Not a game Changer.:-)

Jamie -- I believe that parents can teach their own children without a supervisor. That's homeschooling and it's legal in all states. (Alicia -- the radical unschooler who supports public schools and doesn't want a goverment tax credit or government supervision.)

I'll bet polls say this debate was a draw, but that's OK. It was pretty good, all told. I wish they all were as revealing.

McCain attended 3 of these things and didn't wear a flag pin to one of them.

it was a change gamer

bob is the winner tonight

Sturgeone -- also lots more abandoned babies and foundlng homes where babies die of hospitalization syndrome.

Really Craig?

That was a nice debate... 8~)

NEW THREAD

Going to look for my Bob Schieffer bobblehead now - thanks, Jamie...

for whom?

" but the fetus is severely hydrocephalic and brain damaged -- not expected to survive after birth. Very sad all around -- but terminating this pregnancy will allow my friend greater chance of having a healthy baby later on."

I had a similar situation within my family. Very sad time. But absolutely necessary. And it was a third trimester one.

Oh no, Craig...how so????

Fery vunny Craig!

guess we need to go see what Craig has written on his blog

New Thread

Chuck has been showing his ass lately, I think.

Yes, better pay will get better teachers. I finally had to get out of education so I could start making the good money. I actually waited way too long. Tripled my income after leaving education but I did love teaching.
I still teach, but now I teach the patient and not the nurse. It is just as important.

".speaking as a childless woman, abortion makes me sad. 8~("

Lush -- Yes....I think they are sad and trying times for most.

New Thread

Fun time tonight. Thank you all for that!

Obama's just a better debater than McCain. He's a smooth talker. Sadly, I don't believe a single word he says and I don't agree with most of McCain's positions. This will be another choice between the lesser of two evils.

Craig, while I agree that Hillary is also too connected to coporate interests, she also cares about women and children in a way than neither of these jokers do. She also actually comprehends the policy that she discusses.

Marlowe - absolutely.