POTUS Debate II

[viscousmemories]

I think Obama is kicking McCain's ass.

[ChuckF]

Does McCain know how to talk about anything other than spending cuts?

[viscousmemories]

"Some of this $700 billion ends up in the hands of terrorist organizations" -- John McCain.

[ChuckF]

Originally Posted by viscousmemories

"Some of this $700 billion ends up in the hands of terrorist organizations" -- John McCain.

I think he's talking about the $700 billion in foreign aid he wants to cut, not the $700 billion bailout.

[wei yau]

Originally Posted by ChuckF

I think he's talking about the $700 billion in foreign aid he wants to cut, not the $700 billion bailout.

I'm not sure if McCain is talking about foreign aid or money we pay foreign countries for oil. Either way, the $700bn isn't quite right

Originally Posted by factcheck.org

We found other exaggerations in McCain’s claims about his plan for energy independence:

McCain: We are going to stop sending $700 billion a year to countries that don't like us very much.

In fact, the U.S. doesn't pay nearly that much for oil from hostile nations. According to the Energy Information Administration, the U.S. imported 4.9 billion barrels of oil in 2007. At today’s prices, that works out to about $536 billion, still a hefty chunk of change, but considerably less than $700 billion. More important, that's what we pay to all exporting nations, not just those that “don’t like us very much.” We note that 32 percent of U.S. oil imports came from Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom.

Originally Posted by factcheck.org

McCain repeated an exaggerated claim that the U.S. is sending $700 billion per year to hostile countries.

McCain: Look, we are sending $700 billion a year overseas to countries that don't like us very much. Some of that money ends up in the hands of terrorist organizations.

That's not accurate. McCain also made this claim in his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention. He's referring to the amount of money the U.S. spends in importing oil. But the number is inflated. In fact, we actually pay more like $536 billion for the oil we need. And one-third of those payments go to Canada, Mexico and the U.K.

(Note: A few of our readers messaged us, after we first noted McCain's mistake, with the thought that he was referring to foreign aid and not to oil. If so he's even farther off than we supposed: The entire budget for the State Department and International Programs works out to just $51.3 billion.)

And now he's alluding to the wonders of HIPAA, but forgetting to mention what COBRA premiums actually run...

[Deadlokd]

Originally Posted by viscousmemories

Sorry, meant the POTUS debate. I changed the title.

I see what you did there.

[California Tanker]

Can I vote for Brokaw?

He's found some good questions. I like that one about expected sacrifices.

NTM

[ms_ann_thrope]

Well, at least McCain hasn't referred to himself as "a maverick." Yet.

Originally Posted by ms_ann_thrope

Well, at least McCain hasn't referred to himself as "a maverick." Yet.

After the Rolling Stone article, he really ought to shut up about that.

[ChuckF]

Eliminating earmarks = sacrifice.

[ChuckF]

Obama blathers "a lot of you remember the tragedy of 9/11."

First 9/11 for those of you playing at home.

[ms_ann_thrope]

Yeah, he loses points for 9/11.

[viscousmemories]

I like the sacrifices question too. McCain's response -- that Americans will have to sacrifice by accepting the cutting of funding for everything but defense, veteran affairs and select other programs -- was ridiculous.

And here goes Obama about 9/11.

I promise you, the people of (which, unfortunately, does not include yguy, Rocky or Norak, but the ASPCA is right there for ya!), when I am elected President, I'm going to have the Patriot Day un-holiday undeclared. And any politician who blahblahblah9/11blahblahs will be fed to alligators.

And I promise this "revolution" will be televised.

[ms_ann_thrope]

Burdenship? Oh, Obama!

[ChuckF]

Wow, people who make a lot of money live high on the hog and people who make $35k a year don't. Needs more 9/11.

Jell-O to wall analogy is fail.

Oh, and FEARFEARFEARFEARFEARFEARFEARFEAR!

[viscousmemories]

Hm, women don't seem to like McCain lying about Obama's tax policies.

Here's $5000 a year to pay for your $20000 a year insurance premiums!

[ChuckF]

Good for Tom Brokaw actually being a moderator. See what that's like, Lehrer?

Here's a hint to the Social Security problem resolution, Tom and Mr Dummy Internet:

Take the funding out of the general fund, where the bipartisan plundering for pork projects and, for example, military aggression against non-white people over in wherethefuckeveristan, has caused much of the shortfall.

[SharonDee]

Holy cow, look at them Ohio women!

[viscousmemories]

Social Security is easy to fix. Just be a maverick and reach across the aisle!