Blog Live.....Texas Debate

Let's see if I do better live blogging the debate. I wasn't too pleased with the results of doing it with the voting returns.

Hillary gets to lead off, starts elucidating how she got to know "Texas" - starts name dropping of all the famous Texas politicos she has known and learned from. She reviews her actions that have benefited Texas, like the S-Chip program that she mentions every time she gets a chance.She's hitting the usual buttons, take care of the veterans, her lifetime of experience, Everything tossed into the salad.

Barack thanks U/T for hosting them tonite. Starts reminding that the nation is at a defining moment in history....inserts story of people he has met in Texas while campaigning, that's usually effective, it the stories are new, he doesn't elaborate the detail, moves on to talk about waste of war, what the funds could do if not used there. Segues into his "good ideas" not the problem but they go to Washington to die. Quotes Barbara Jordon saying she wanted America to be as good as its promise and BO says that is why he is running for President, he wants to help make America as good as its promise.
That is why he is running for President, he says. (nice presentation, better than his last performance in the preambling.

Question now "would you meet with Cuba's next leader at least once?"-HC get first chance to answer, hedges about her reluctance to do so unless preconditioned.

Obama repeats that he is willing to meet. (This has been one point of difference between them for some time.) He stresses must talk to enemies as well as friends. Oops, Hillary counterattacking saying that his prior position wasn't that, Obama cut that short and her attack failed and Obama explains more what his policy towards Cuba would be. Applause for Barack's statements. Hillary now try to shore up her views, reviving the points about whether early meeting is wise. She stresses that she would vigorously pursue diplomacy - Obama now saying preparation is important of course, but feels the position as President requires more active role. He means directly in diplomacy, this seems a difference in how they see the role of President.

John King is going to discuss the economy issue with them. Says voters do not know the difference in their views on it. Obama points out the people don't need the Federal Reserve to tell them there are problems- that they have been living it for the last four years.He touches on his previous statements, eliminate the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, closing loopholes, especially for foreign operations of US corporations. Names the green economy offering opportunities to improve the economy, creating jobs with new energy approaches, etc. How to get it done? he asked the question and answers by saying the change in Washington must be broad in order to improve the economy, King points out Hillary''s claim that she is the one that can start on day one and Barack isn't - asking her to address why she claims this, she re-iterates that she would of course do the things he mentioned, and repeats some of that, however she would have a different approach to the foreclosure/housing problem, (I have heard BO address this issue too, so he isn't going to neglect that issue.) Switches to the clean, green jobs, and rebuild the infrastructure. Reverse Bush's attitude regarding science.

Jorge Ramos, (from UniVision) asks about immigration reform. stopping raids on undocumented workers. Hillary gets first crack at this issue. She want immigration reform that is comprehensive. Promises to introduce a path to citizenship in her first 100 days. Now Obama has his turn and talks about work on a Senate bill that he helped on but they could not get it passed. He says we need to reconcile being a country of laws, but also a country of immigrants.
He also stresses the LEGAL immigration system must also be fixed, states what enormous backlog exists.He lays some of the blame on the current administration by only tending to the Iraq situation and abandoning everything else. John King wants to get in on this, talks about the fence and problems with that. Hillary states there is a smart way and a dumb way to control immigration, says there may be a place for a physical barrier but wants review and also mentions control of the northern border. She says can develop way to control more with personnel etc and not impede family visitation etc. Now Obama emphasizes getting input from residents along both sides to gain more insight on solutions..he also brings up the problem of the 12 million estimated illegals from Mexico and how to deal with them. He wants children of illegals to be permitted educational opportunities. Jorge Ramos talks about the language barrier, talk turns into whether a downside to U.S. becoming a bilingual nation. (Hillary needs to quit leading with her chin--bad effect.) Obama says every student should be learning a second language. Hillary had remarked her regret at never learning a second language. Obama takes this opportunity t bring in the education issue, NCLB etc.

Break time.....(me too) no sparks flying, mostly level demeaners, only that one attempt by Hillary to take aim. Apparently the low punching is going to happen somewhere other than on this debate. Obama much more at ease than before, Hillary still too shrill - sounding more like it is she who is the necessity whereas Obama doesn't seem so "SELF-centered" but gives impression it is the concerns of the people that he has more on his mind.

Obama does more note writing when HC is making her statements, she doesn't do much, I assume she thinks it gives the impression that she has it all at hand. She brings up the episode on Hardball where a Texas legislator could not name Obama's accomplishments politically.

(Obama has a cold - but hasn't had to blow his nose yet....there was a sound bite on CNN about that today citing the crowd for applauding during the "blow")

In this segment they are trying to define their leadership differences. (HIllary making a note now.) Obama saying it takes a leader that can involve a wide range of people and bring them together or nothing will get done. He receives huge applause.

Now the "plagiarism" charges are brought up. (personally I see this as nitpicking)He tags this as getting into the silly season. Moves on to his plan to change higher education financing etc.

Hillary is getting booed. She is on the attack on this. Can't type fast enough to keep up with her rat-a-tat delivery now that she got the opening. Now she's on to the charge that his health care plan leaves out x number of people. Blah Blah. Barack signals the moderators that he wants to speak, she goes on and on......finally the moderator(Campbell Brown/CNN) steps in late and stops HC. Obama then gives more health plan details. Naming his plan to reduce cost for those that already have health care.

Obama got the last word before another short break declared, he did quite a good job in wiping out her stabs at his plan.


Jorge Ramos asks a question about who's is ready to be Commander-In-Chief. Hillary insists on dragging the subject back to the insurance differences, the Moderators do not shift her back on the subject of the question.Obama is allowed some response time and makes good points. Hillary wants to continue the subject. The back and forth went on, finally Jorge Ramos presses Hillary on why she doesn't think Obama can handle being C-I-C. so she names all the stuff she has done that qualifes her. ( this is more of her self-asserting but is not necessarily broadly shared view among the electorate.)

Obama states he would not be running if he didn't think he would be capable as C-I-C and he cites the initial positions about Iraq as demonstrating that he had effectively demonstrated he
could act best there by showing better judgment.

Campbell Brown moves the debate on calling on John King. He wants them to address their support for the "surge" - It's Hillary's turn to address this first. She will request Chief of Staff to give a plan for withdrawal. Thinks the surge served the purpose of allowing the Iraqi to "take care of their end of the stick. .....I am riveted now to listening and not typing, I want to hear every single bit of this, because I have been vehemently opposed to the pre-emptive attack on Iraq and abusing the military by many mistakes, elevating the loss of lives by all.

Obama is also using this subject to deflect attention away from Hillary by introducing McCain's hundred year remarks about staying in Iraq. This is going to ease the tension that has built up when discussing the insurance issues. Smart move.....demonstrates his ability to sail well in rough seas. (Another break)

One interesting thing about trying to blog live, is that later I have a big laugh when hearing the cable channels pundits dissect it all from there all too well known biases.

And even to go to a political forum where I hang out and see the posts there from members.

John King now asking about the secrecy in government. And folds this into the earmark hisotry of each. Obama first up on this and mentions his attempt to establish a "Google for Government" so everyone could go to a computer and find out who gets earmarks, and the details. Does McCain have more credibility than Clinton on wasteful spending?

When Hillary gets her turn she brings up that the return to the practices of her husband'[s administration to solve the deficit will solve today's problem.

Final question from Campbell Brown, wants to know what moment tested them in their life.

Obama talks again about his early life - this final question is just recap of what they are each saying in the stump speaking out on the road. Does not have only one moment that demonstates his "trial by fire" but rather his whole life.

Hillary alludes to here personal baggage that everyone knows about. Then moves to witnessing the impact of seeing the condition of returning veterans of war. Mentions it motivates her.

Conclusion friendly, standing ovation. Handshakes for the moderators. Campbell Brown winds it up with CNN plug.


graysmoke


Happy to say there is only one more debate, not sure it moved either candidate to any stronger position.

The parsing now begins with Anderson Cooper.