ReasonTV: Healthcare

Here is an interesting video from ReasonTV about just who the uninsured are

[I couldn't figure out how to get the video to appear nicely on my blog (and I didn't want to learn CSS today) so just follow the link] -- Ed.

Question

When the Washington Post publishes an article titled "The End of America Capitalism", I wonder what exactly they are advocating to replace it with?

McCain Web ad

Here is McCain's latest ad:

Reporters on a Plane

Ht: Drudge

CBS reporter Dean Reynolds writes:

Obama's campaign schedule is fuller, more hectic and seemingly improvisational. The Obama aides who deal with the national reporters on the campaign plane are often overwhelmed, overworked and un-informed about where, when, why or how the candidate is moving about.

In contrast, McCain's campaign:

The McCain folks are more helpful and generally friendly. The schedules are printed on actual books you can hold in your hand, read, and then plan accordingly. The press aides are more knowledgeable and useful to us in the news media. The events are designed with a better eye, and for the simple needs of the press corps.

He ends:

Maybe none of this means much. Maybe a front-running campaign like Obama's that is focused solely on victory doesn't have the time to do the mundane things like print up schedules or attend to the needs of reporters.

But in politics, everything that goes around comes around.

What to make of this? I doubt many people will decide their vote based on how effectively a candidate liaisons with with the press, nor would many decide based on this article. It does, however, shed light on the organization that surrounds each candidate. At first glance it would seem to be a tale of organization and structure. Obama does not make it easy for this guy to do his job, while McCain does. Yet that analysis seems shallow to me. I think that it shows how each candidate values the press. John McCain can't seem to get a fair shake from the press. A Reuters piece here, says:

Down in the polls, Republican presidential nominee John McCain pressed his effort to sow doubts about Barack Obama's character on Thursday with a fresh attack on his Democratic rival's contacts with a former left-wing radical who is now a college professor.

With the first sentence the journalist has framed McCain's argument as weak. It downgrades Obama's association with Ayers to "contacts" and labels him a "former left-wing radical". The article continues by changing the subject to the economy, and repeats an Obama attack on a McCain proposal. Is this the writing of people who are upset with the way they are being treated? Has anyone seen an article, other then the CBS blog post, claiming that Obama's campaign is chaotic? It is clear that Obama can treat the press anyway he likes because they will not do anything about it, despite grumbles in a blog. If there is going to be a karmic backlash against Obama for this, I'm sure the press will reserve it for long after the election.

Or for the tell all campaign book that hardly anybody will read.

Summation

Might as well just watched the last one. No one helped themselves, but nobody hurt themselves either. Obama was incoherent at times on foreign policy and said all the Banks located themselves in his VP's state... McCain was his usual self, he really needed to hit Obama hard and make him play some defence, but didn't really...

All in all a waste of time imho, nothing new, nothing challenged the candidates.

Note to Obama

Musharref isn't in charge of Pakistan anymore...

Once again he almost sounds like he is going in to Pakistan

Really this debate is just like the last one.

Obama on Iraq

Spending 10 Billion dollars a month... yadda yadda

I've always wanted to reply:

Why? Victory.

Environmental question

McCain: Nuclear (yes!)

Obama: Green jobs

Obama & McCain on taxes & entitlements

McCain is just gonna give tax cuts to the rich.


McCain: fixing the problem is easy if we just all sit down

McCain on Small Business

Yea!

Somebody finally makes the dang point that its small businesses as subchapter S corps that get nailed by income tax increases....

Sacrifices

McCain: Cut spending
Eliminate earmarks (get rid of the projector)
Spending Freeze

Ugh, McCain missed a point to elaborate. Obama will call a freeze a cut.

Obama: Brings up 9/11...
Says we need a call to service.
Obama concedes oil drilling, clean coal, nuclear
Wants to incentivize energy conservation
National Service

Eh... still feels flat

What three to prioritize

McCain: We can handle all at once

Obama: Energy

We are going to the Energy moon? Eh....

Healthcare

Businesses less competative (ie socialized medicine)

Line by line? Heh, almost as if he is asking for a line item veto...

Both parties are at fault

Obama: Tries to tie McCain to deficits and budgets.

The energy seems to be so flat in the room for some reason.

I think who can kinda shake this thing up is going to get the accolades.

McCain: Look at our records, consult the watchdogs.

He is also getting into the crowd, he is positioning himself as one of the crowd.
This could be interesting to see how people viewing view that.

Brokaw interjects

Are things going to get worse?

Obama: No.... must reregulate markets and coordinate with other countries. Must aid families to help with bills etc, and change culture in Washington.

McCain: Depends on what we do (a good distinction imho to start)

-- Best workers in the world

Hrm still skirmishing at this point.

Freddie & Fannie @ Debate

Ah McCain finally brings out the 2nd highest recipeient of money from Freddie & Fannie... but he doesn't really link it into corruption.

Perhaps he is laying a foundation

Some who stood up against it, and some who didn't...

Obama responds:

I think he is trying to talk about the short term corporate paper market?

Tries to link McCain into deregulating things... and thus the problems

Once again this seems to be just a replay of the last one.

Live Blog

Might as well try this...

Obama is up first, and tries immediately starts with the theme that deregulation is bad and he is going to:
- Strong oversight of the bailout
- CEO Pay
- Tax cuts... Public works

Thinking about the middle class...

McCain up:
Responds with Energy Policy

Hrm, brings up debt & home value.

Wants to buy up all the bad debt & renegotiate contract

Not you Tom... heh. I think Brokaw reacted well to that.

Obama: Starts the good old wages are flat etc. I have heard that since the day I was old enough to understand it....

McCain: Greed & Corruption on Wallstreet

My thoughts: This feels a lot like the last debate between the two...

Oooh here comes Freddie & Fannie!

Another AMV

Debate is just about to start, but here is an AMV that seems to have caught the vibe of the past few days....

Cleaned up my side links

Cleaned up my sidelinks to reflect newer links....

A suggestion from the Anchoress

Here:

How McCain can win election tonight - UPDATED

Not my idea, but offered up in an email, by reader Gary S:

Promise the American people that if he is elected, he will appoint Rudy Giulliani as Attorney General and his first order of business will be to investigate, indict and prosecute all those involved in any wrong doing in the sub-prime mortgage debacle, from Wall Street, to K Street to Main Street.

Not a bad idea, at all. I’ve got more thoughts on McCain’s Do-or-Die below.

This idea went over amazingly well with me when I read it for the first time, it certainly would be interesting.

As seen on Ace of Spades HQ

Heh...