Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid this afternoon made a second pass at starting debate on financial reregulation but to no avail: the vote ended exactly as it did yesterday 57-41, mostly along party lines. The scene is starting to feel a bit like Groundhog Day: isn’t doing the same thing repeatedly expecting different results the …
debate
2nd Prime Ministerial Debate
It’s about to start in a matter of moments. I’m at a pub, The Red Lion, across from 10 Downing Street — just about the only pub in London that’s broadcasting the debate so far as I can tell. CNN also found it extraordinarily difficult to find a pub willing to switch from the big Spanish soccer match to the debate, they’re doing stand …
A Historic Event: Britain’s First Televised Campaign Debate
From Catherine Mayer, TIME’s London Bureau Chief:
On one topic at least there was a perfect consensus when the leaders of Britain’s three largest political parties faced each other in a 90-minute televised debate this evening, ahead of elections on May 6. This was the first ever such contest, and everyone – the protagonists Prime …
Who is Joe the Plumber?
Any one watching tonight’s debate is surely wondering: Who the heck is this Joe-the-Plumber that both candidates keep talking about?
Turns out, he’s a real guy. Obama met Joe Wurzelbacher in Ohio a couple of days ago. Here’s an interview with him by a conservative group.
Update:
Here’s a video link of the encounter.
Pre-Debate Thoughts
Some arm-chair quarterbacking before the final debate.
Obama’s mission is simple. Kill the clock. Act Presidential. Hope nothing happens. He’s winning.
McCain’s job is harder. He’s up against the wall and time is quickly running out. My advice, as usual, is probably the opposite of what his people are advising him. I say ignore …
Dial Group Madness
I was doing some cable TV duty last night and had the bad luck to follow a segment about a focus group of voters being dial tested during the debate. Dial groups are bad enough, but actually putting this madness on television as a verdict of some kind is reckless. I said as much at the beginning of my segment. First, the sample from …
Debate thoughts…
No game-changer; the debate essentially a tie. Maybe a slight edge on points to McCain as he did put Obama on the defensive quite a few times although at the price of a crusty tone. Both campaigns will now employ first-rate funhouse mirror logic to claim smashing victories. McCain will say this puts him back in the race. They won’t …
Debate Watch List…
Things to watch for tonight:
1.) Will McCain project a sense of steadiness and cool control. His operatic campaign of the last two weeks has undercut this and he needs to undo the damage.
2.) Will Obama speak in the clear, direct sentences of man ready to be in command.
3.) Will McCain emerge from the debate with a clear and crisp …
More Hot Air
A webstory today about all the hot air in the energy debate. Also, interestingly, a scoop from Politico’s Martin Kady II and Patrick O’Connor about how Pelosi behind the scenes is encouraging her members to defect, banking on passing legislation next year. Dana Milbank has loads more color on the House protest. And here’s a little …
Not to Flog a Dead Horse…
But I found it a glaring omission in last night’s debate that trade was not addressed at all. The moderators managed to dwell on why Obama doesn’t wear a lapel pin but there was nary a mention of the collapse of Columbian Colombian Free Trade deal in Congress (or the fact that Mark Penn had to resign after he met with the Colombian …
Tonight’s Debate
A walk-up for tonight’s debate.
Care For a Mint With That Pillow?
Anyone wondering if tonight’s debate between Obama and Clinton would be sugar or spice you got your answer 16 minutes in: SPICE!
After a 16 minute somewhat testy but nicely substantive exchange on healthcare – Obama challenged HRC to lay out how she’d enforce her mandate and she accused him of leaving 50 million people out in the …