Ramblings of a Constipated Mind

Here we go again! Below is a video of the second presidential debate, followed by a transcript of my thoughts, in order by issue and candidate speaking.


Part 1 of the debate.


Part 2 of the debate.

What's the fastest solution to bail out retirees and senior citizens losing their money?

Obama: I like how you're going step-by-step... it looks like you learned from Biden. Your plan for the middle class sounds good, though part of me still wonders why if we're in an economic depression and a war we're not raising taxes.

McCain: Not raise taxes on anybody? You're dreaming if you think that will help. At least tax the rich more. That's a nice technique, walking very close to the guy who asked the question.

Appointing Secretary to the Treasury:

McCain: Nice joke about Brokaw. Is Meg Whitman the person who invented ebay? Um... okay... I guess...

Obama: I agree with your economic policy, but you didn't really focus on the question.

How, amidst the bailout, will you help people economically?

McCain: Good attack on Obama's link to Fannie and Freddie.

Obama: Good job defending yourself. I like how you stayed focused on the question.

Is the economy going to get much worse?

Obama: An okay answer.

McCain: You started out good, but you lost me when went into your "American workers are the best" rhetoric that you and Palin keep throwing out. I'm not a fan of blind nationalism and a superiority complex.

How can we trust either of you with our money when both parties are to blame?

Obama: Good job linking McCain to Bush. I like how you talk about your plans for health care and energy, and say that amidst it all you're going to cut more than you spend.

McCain: Oh, come on, you're not a reformer, at least not as much as Obama. If the situation cries out for bi-partisanship, why are you only dealing with people and talking policies that mainly appeal to one party? Maybe if you hadn't picked Ms. Conservative as your VP, I could believe you. You're right, we do have to look at your records and your plans for the economy. Unfortunately for you, Obama's is better.

What will be your priorities your first year in office?

McCain: There you go playing politics again - "We can work on all three at once." Of course we need "all of the above", but answer the question. What is the most important to you? How can we do all of them at once when we're in the middle of a huge economic crisis?

Obama: Good analogy to the family. I like how energy independence is a top priority of yours, followed by health care and education. I like how you say you'll go "line by line" through the budget to eliminate unnecessary spending.

What sacrifices will you ask every American to make to help the economic crisis?

McCain: I like how you want to cut defense spending and earmarks. More appeal to Americanism and "we can do everything" (we can't), though.

Obama: Good energy plan.

How will we break the habit of too much credit and debt?

Obama: I wasn't a big fan of this answer, but you picked up near the end.

McCain: Good Jello joke. But when did Obama say anything about increasing taxes? It wouldn't surprise me if he did that (and I'm not sure it would be a bad thing), but don't put words in his mouth.

Would you give Congress a date to reform social security within 2 years?

Obama: I like how you're honest that it might take four years instead of two. Good job transitioning into tax policy and clarifying McCain's mistake. You're right, the current tax policy, and the one McCain wants to continue, simply is not fair.

McCain: If fixing social security isn't hard, why haven't you done it? Obama's record with taxes may not be great, but at least he knows when to change ideas, which is more than I can say for you.

What would you do to make sure Congress moves fast to fix the environmental crisis within the next 2 years?

McCain: Nuclear power could help. But what else? Ugh, more "Americans are the best" rhetoric. Stop trying to butter me up.

Obama: Good answer, you specifically mentioned what you would invest in. Good point about how we can't drill our way out of the problem.

Should we fund a single Manhattan-like project or a bunch of garages to deal with energy?

McCain: I like how you're so against earmarks, but you didn't really focus on the question. And no, offshore drilling will not solve the problem.

Er... why didn't Obama get to answer this question?

Do you believe health care should be treated as a commodity?

Obama: I like your health care plan.

McCain: In this case, I think government regulation is necessary. Access to health care is a basic resource that everyone should be able to have.

Is health care a privilege, a right or a responsibility?

McCain: It's not a responsibility, it's a right.

Obama: You are correct, sir. It's a right. You're right, government does need to intervene in situations when corporations can screw people over.

How will all the recent economic stress affect our ability to act as a peacemaker in the world?

McCain: "America is the greatest force for good in the history of the world." STOP. PLAYING. THE. NATIONALISM. AND. PATRIOTISM. CARD.

Obama: You're right, you may not have McCain's experience, but he has been misguided about the war in Iraq, so maybe that's a good thing. Good point about all the money spent on the war. This is a huge contributing factor to our current economic situation. Ugh, why did you have to jump on the "greatest nation" train?

What about situations where military action would be for humanitarian reasons rather than national security?

Obama: You're right, we do have a moral responsibility to intervene in some situations. Working with allies is important. Good example with Darfur.

McCain: Obama didn't want to set a date (he wants to do that now, though), he didn't want to go into Iraq to begin with. The situation is such that we can't bring our troops home with "victory and honor"! We can't win a war on a noun, especially when we are an occupying force! Evidently the security of Americans isn't your top priority, victory is.

Should we respect Pakistan's sovereignty or ignore it to pursue al-Quaeda?

Obama: Good answer, though I'm not a fan of your determination to kill bin Laden no matter what.

McCain: I think your spinning Obama's words again. Last time I checked, you were the warmonger, not him. Stop acting like the strategy in Iraq has worked. It hasn't. I like how you say we're not going to force Pakistan to do anything, though.

Obama: Good job calling out McCain on his support of extreme force in many countries.

McCain: You supported what you thought was right and opposed what you didn't? Really? That's your answer? That's just stating the obvious. The question is whether or not what you thought was the right course of action was in fact the right course of action.

How do you reorganize the strategy in Afghanistan?

Obama: Good answer about not wanting a dictator but the need for a response by the Afghan people.

McCain: No, you're the one that won't admit you're wrong about Iraq. Every time you bring up the I-word you are hurting yourself.

How can we apply pressure on Russia for humanitarian issues without starting another Cold War?

McCain: This was a pretty good answer.

Obama: We need to fix our economic problems before we fix Georgia's. Good point about strategy, though, and the need for energy reform.

Is Russia an evil empire?

Obama: Good middle-of-the-road answer. I'm glad you're not looking at it in black-and-white.

McCain: I'm glad you agree with Obama.

Would you be willing to commit troops to defend Israel if they were attacked by Iran, or would you wait for the UN Security Council?

McCain: Good point about the danger of Iran and nukes. However, what's the big deal about negotiating without pre-conditions? Isn't the bottom line just that we need to negotiate, period? We need to work out these problems as soon as possible, before they get worse.

Obama: I like how you're leaving military action on the table but not completely supporting it. You're right, preventative measures are key, and we need to talk to our enemies.

What don't you know and how will you learn it?

Obama: You completely ignored the question in favor of an inspirational closing statement. I wish you had answered it.

McCain: You didn't really answer the question either. Blegh. Shame on both of you.

Overall, this was an okay debate. I think it was overall a tie, but because I agree much more with Obama, obviously I think he came out the stronger candidate. This debate went better than their first one in the sense that they didn't seem to skirt around the questions and the issues as much (though they still did that a little). McCain's appeal to nationalism still irritates me to no end, though. Would it be too much to ask for a candidate that rather than saying America is the best said that America is only one of many great nations? We're not perfect. There are plenty of other countries that are better than us in certain ways. An attitude of humility would go a long way to improving our nation.