The Official VP Debate Thread

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Who is this brave General Mcclellan leading us in Afghanistan?

It's a serious situation, a very hard struggle, particularly given the situation on the Afghanistan/Iraq border.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Wow. Who knew Mac and Palin were populists.

Let's see....average Americans vs. Elites, hmmmm, I guess everyone but you knew this.

Yeah, you are right. I'm sure the corp fat cats contributing to Mac are thrilled by this.

Do you live under a rock? Obama gets the Fat Cat money AND the Elite Hollywood money.

Right. The 160 plus lobbyist working for Mac came from Acorn!!

You might wanna check your facts. Top ceo's give 10x more to Mac.

from the Hill:

The top executives of America’s biggest companies are more willing to open their wallets for John McCain than his Democratic rival, donating 10 times as much to the Arizona senator’s campaign as to Barack Obama’s

.

From the WSJ (your bible):

According to an analysis of fund-raising data released Thursday by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, Sen. McCain raised more money in June and July from larger donors in 15 of the top-donating 25 industries than did Sen. Obama.

The Republican nominee drew more donations from executives at oil and gas, real-estate, securities and investment and insurance companies, the data showed. He raised $22.3 million from the top 25 industries in the two-month period, compared with Sen. Obama's $19.9 million.

Facts all come with points of view
Facts dont do what I want them to

[HowardRoark]

The Republican nominee drew more donations from executives at oil and gas, real-estate, securities and investment and insurance companies, the data showed. He raised $22.3 million from the top 25 industries in the two-month period, compared with Sen. Obama's $19.9 million.

Roughly 10% more....got me!

But let's focus on Fannie and Freddie, where Obama clearly has taken more. But wait, that's not enough! Let's get those crackerjack CEOs on my "Economic Team" too!

And when talking about Populism, I see that more of an Elitist of thought issue anyway.

That's all....I am going to go cling to my gun and Bible.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

The Republican nominee drew more donations from executives at oil and gas, real-estate, securities and investment and insurance companies, the data showed. He raised $22.3 million from the top 25 industries in the two-month period, compared with Sen. Obama's $19.9 million.

Roughly 10% more....got me!

But let's focus on Fannie and Freddie, where Obama clearly has taken more. But wait, that's not enough! Let's get those crackerjack CEOs on my "Economic Team" too!

And when talking about Populism, I see that more of an Elitist of thought issue anyway.

That's all....I am going to go cling to my gun and Bible.

It wasnt' a got me type..you just love to pretend.

Economics: Right. Mac doesnt' have a clue. And, he is relying on Gramm...who definitely contributed mightily to this problem. Yep, no vested interest by advising him and working at UBS.

Fannie/Freddie/lehman, etc.: This is the biggest joke of them all.

1. When they talk about big corporate donations, I realize a $500 or so contribution to the Obama campaign gets lumped in as "big corporate XXX (pick your choice) firms" since the donor puts down their employer. Funny to think they are trying to peddle influence in the next administration. The same goes for Lehman/Fanny/Freddy employees. They have money given the nature of their jobs and therefore they give in support of political views. Does this mean that each low level trader is buying influence? I'd like to know what goes through Lehman PACs or from the bigwigs as bundlers -- that is a completely different measurement and you're confusing apples and oranges.

2. Notice the investment banks are all largely (or used to be before the past few weeks and what will happen the next few) centered in NYC? The districts on the Upper West Side (many, many bankers) voted for Kerry about 90%-10%. It happens to be that these banks draw employees from some of the most liberal areas in the country. What a surprise..New Yorkers giving to a dem.

This does not equate to trying to buy influence.

3. Obama seriously outraised McCain, Clinton, etc. from almost all sectors. He reached 2,000,000 donors back on August 14th. His fundraising was simply amazing. Of course he'll have a money edge. But his policies clearly aim to disfavor those same wealthy interests. Go figure.

It's not the employer of his contributors I care about. It's their ability to influence the administration. And I just dont see it.

[Joemailman]

Wow. Who knew Mac and Palin were populists.

Let's see....average Americans vs. Elites, hmmmm, I guess everyone but you knew this.

Your comparison only makes sense if your are looking at intelligence. I'll take the elite brains of Obama and Biden over the average (or below) of McCain and Palin.

Every time I hear someone call Obama an elitist I'm thinking "Good! After 8 years of Bush, we could use one." This country was founded by elitists. Do people think Washington, Adams and Jefferson were millworkers? They were the elite of the elite. It will take someone of elite intelligence to fix the mess left behind by the guy who everybody wanted to have a beer with.

[Kiwon]

Wow. Who knew Mac and Palin were populists.

Let's see....average Americans vs. Elites, hmmmm, I guess everyone but you knew this.

Your comparison only makes sense if your are looking at intelligence. I'll take the elite brains of Obama and Biden over the average (or below) of McCain and Palin.

Every time I hear someone call Obama an elitist I'm thinking "Good! After 8 years of Bush, we could use one." This country was founded by elitists. Do people think Washington, Adams and Jefferson were millworkers? They were the elite of the elite. It will take someone of elite intelligence to fix the mess left behind by the guy who everybody wanted to have a beer with.

Well, at least you're being honest.

But Obama? Biden? Smartest people in the room?

BTW, in Korea, the mailmen are the smartest people because most communities existed before city planning and mailmen are the only ones who know exactly where everyone lives.

[th87]

Wow. Who knew Mac and Palin were populists.

Let's see....average Americans vs. Elites, hmmmm, I guess everyone but you knew this.

Your comparison only makes sense if your are looking at intelligence. I'll take the elite brains of Obama and Biden over the average (or below) of McCain and Palin.

Every time I hear someone call Obama an elitist I'm thinking "Good! After 8 years of Bush, we could use one." This country was founded by elitists. Do people think Washington, Adams and Jefferson were millworkers? They were the elite of the elite. It will take someone of elite intelligence to fix the mess left behind by the guy who everybody wanted to have a beer with.

AMEN. I never get the mentality, "I love Palin/GWB! She/he's just like us!" Why would you want someone like you? Wouldn't you want someone with more expertise? What if I ran the Packers? The team would suck. So why would I want "someone like me" running the country?

[TheCheese]

Wow. Who knew Mac and Palin were populists.

Let's see....average Americans vs. Elites, hmmmm, I guess everyone but you knew this.

Your comparison only makes sense if your are looking at intelligence. I'll take the elite brains of Obama and Biden over the average (or below) of McCain and Palin.

Every time I hear someone call Obama an elitist I'm thinking "Good! After 8 years of Bush, we could use one." This country was founded by elitists. Do people think Washington, Adams and Jefferson were millworkers? They were the elite of the elite. It will take someone of elite intelligence to fix the mess left behind by the guy who everybody wanted to have a beer with.

It's funny you think being an "elitist" automatically means that person has "elite intelligence". Come on now, you know better than that.

Back to the debate, my favorite part was the very beginning where the two candidates shook hands, apparently this is the first time they have ever met, and Sarah said "Nice to meet you, is it okay if I call you Joe?" I don't know why but I got a kick out of it.

[HowardRoark]

Wow. Who knew Mac and Palin were populists.

Let's see....average Americans vs. Elites, hmmmm, I guess everyone but you knew this.

Your comparison only makes sense if your are looking at intelligence. I'll take the elite brains of Obama and Biden over the average (or below) of McCain and Palin.

Every time I hear someone call Obama an elitist I'm thinking "Good! After 8 years of Bush, we could use one." This country was founded by elitists. Do people think Washington, Adams and Jefferson were millworkers? They were the elite of the elite. It will take someone of elite intelligence to fix the mess left behind by the guy who everybody wanted to have a beer with.

It's funny you think being an "elitist" automatically means that person has "elite intelligence". Come on now, you know better than that.

Sorry if I ever gave the impression that "Elitist of thought" meant they were really smart people. It's that they THINK they are really smart people.

We are all but sheep who need the shepherd, The One who we have been waiting for....cue the choir.

[hoosier]

Sarah Palin was aiming at moderates and undecided voters. I guess that's a good thing. I'm just a little bit disappointed--like when it's 4th and 1 at mid field and the punter comes out.

Aiming at moderates? I think all she managed to do was appeal to her base. The punter analogy is brilliant, Tex. When does a coach do that? When he has no confidence in the offense.

[sheepshead]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOSvfh9q_NA

[Kiwon]

Back to the debate, my favorite part was the very beginning where the two candidates shook hands, apparently this is the first time they have ever met, and Sarah said "Nice to meet you, is it okay if I call you Joe?" I don't know why but I got a kick out of it.

I thought the same thing.

I don't know if she knew the mikes were on but it was a genuine moment. Very unpolitician-like

[HowardRoark]

Who is this brave General Mcclellan leading us in Afghanistan?

Not sure Ty, but I am sure Joe is checking this AM to see if he can help out the "Bosniacs."

[Cheesehead Craig]

Who is this brave General Mcclellan leading us in Afghanistan?

Not sure Ty, but I am sure Joe is checking this AM to see if he can help out the "Bosniacs."

I thought that was funny too. My first thought was if they were related to this guy:

[mraynrand]

AMEN. I never get the mentality, "I love Palin/GWB! She/he's just like us!" Why would you want someone like you? Wouldn't you want someone with more expertise? What if I ran the Packers? The team would suck. So why would I want "someone like me" running the country?

The "She's just like us" mentality comes from her background, which is much like that of a majority of Americans. Folks who went to prep schools over public schools and took the path through East Coast Universities on their way to getting that law degree tend to be more in the 'elitist' category than folks going through their local public schools and universities. Palin is anything but ordinary, though. Ordinary people don't become mayor and governors, and develop reputations as reformers.

I agree though TH87, that if you ran the Packers, they would suck, as they would if I ran them. If you're trying to equate that with Palin, then it's a bad analogy. She's like the successful NFL coach who wants to move up to be a GM, or like a winning college coach who wants to coach in the NFL. She's been great at everything she's done, and now she has to expand her knowledge base and take on a bigger challenge. But to try to suggest that she lacks experience or expertise, like a football fan to a GM is absurd. I wouldn't want 'someone like you' running the country either, but 1) hopefully Plain won't have to run the country until 2013 and 2) again she's someone like you in her 'working class' 'Average American' background and upbringing, but she's well above average in ability and accomplishment.