Episode 8: The Second Presidential Debate – Talk Amongst Yourselves

With a debate that lacked policy specifics and, well, kind of boring, our hosts channel the humor of some great comedians (or at least they though they did), and aggressively dive into some deep policy discussions in the 8th episode of PoliTalk.

• What is the nature of life?
• Is health care a right or a responsibility? To Whom?
• Why aren’t Jeff and Glenn hosting a morning show on MSNBC?

These are the vital questions debated this week in a show that’s sure to generate a lot of buzz.

Audience participation…

Leave comments on the following (or anything you want):

1. Find out who sponsored the pork that was added to the Bailout Bill
2. Check out the Palin/Cameron video and tell us what you think
3. Check out the O’Reilly/Frank video and tell us what you think
4. Name 10 things that you think the candidates were doing on their notepads during the debate

Listen to this podcast and spread the word… tell two friends, and so on and so on…

You can get the PoliTalk Podcast from Podcast.com and iTunes.

Episode 7: Please Pass the $700 Billion

If only it were just Grey Poupon, but no, the US Government wants to spend $700 billion to prop up the economy. In this episode, you’ll (finally) get a plain English description of the enormously confusing, and enormously important, proposed bailout package. And in their review of the debate they explain why John McCain won’t be invited to play in Barack Obama’s sandbox anymore. We end on our take on the latest adventure in the world of Sarah Palin. The latest episode of Politalk is up! Give it a listen — you won’t be disappointed.

You can get the PoliTalk Podcast from Podcast.com and iTunes.

Last Shot Questions – at the end of every episode, we end with a couple of questions for our listeners to ponder and give us their thoughts. This week:

Jeff asks – “Do you think there is a free market for healthcare?”

Glenn asks – “Do you think we will have any money left over to do anything after this bailout bill?”

Please add your answers and comments on the show below.

If you want to send us a private email, send it to politalk@turnitonprod.com.

Frank Luntz Scores First Debate

This is a FOX News video with Frank Luntz, who was an aide to former Speaker of the House Gingrich, scoring the first presidential debate with a mixed panel of voters. Luntz is a republican and a well respected pollster.

John McCain, What Happened to You?

Source: Jim Bourg / Reuters

In the first Presidential Debate you seem to controdict yourself with statements made less than ten days ago. To say the least, as a fiscal conservative, I am greatly troubled by this. Tonight, you were asked by Jim Leher as to whether you would support the current bailout plan. You said:

Sure. But — but let me — let me point out, I also
warned about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and warned about corporate
greed and excess, and CEO pay, and all that. A lot of us saw this
train wreck coming.

Well for the sake of our vey future, if you saw this train wreck coming, where the hell were you to change this? Why were you saying on September 15, 2008 that:

The fundamentals of our economy are strong.

Please Senator McCain, get back on the “Straight Talk Express” and get your positions straight. – Glenn

Kennedy-Nixon: Take 2

I’m struck by history repeating itself.  What strikes me substantively is how little time they spent discussing the most pressing issue of the day — The Bailout (talking about cutting spending was a smart anecdote, but not a serious policy discussion). I also think it will be impossible to credibly say that Obama doesn’t have command of foreign policy. He more than held his ground.

It will be shocking to see the difference between the initial reaction and the impression that settles over time. I strongly urge everyone to read the transcript Glenn posted and watch the debate. Like Kennedy-Nixon, I think most people reading the transcript will say that McCain held his ground, like Nixon did. If you listen, you may say it’s a draw. But if you watch with the sound off, or put another way, once you get past what you intellectualize and take in what you “feel” about the candidates, there’s no way you can ignore McCain’s fascinating body language. Even Nixon had the intutive smarts to look Kennedy in the eye — something McCain amazingly couldn’t do. McCain’s anger and Obama’s relative calm under pressure, his firm yet steady demeanor, will win voters over.

I don’t know much, but I’m willing to bet the farm on this one: the analysts will initially call this a draw — McCain seizing ground on the economy, Obama more effective on foreign policy, but the delayed reaction, and history, will view Obama as the clear winner.

– Jeff

P.S. If McCain thinks Obama doesn’t “understand,” and can’t appreciate things because he hasn’t traveled places, what in the world is he going to say about his running mate’s fitness for office now?

Video of the First Presidential Debate – September 27, 2008

Source: C-SPAN.org

Watch the first Presidential Debate in its entirety by clicking here. You will need the Real Player to view this. This debate took place on September 27, 2008 at 9:00PM EST.

John McCain 0, Barack Obama 0, Jim Leher 1

Source: ABCNews.com

What is most desturbing about the first Presidential Campaign that included the two major party nominees is that neither one of then got into details about the current financial crisis. Both reverted back to core messaging platforms but avoided any detailed analysis or recommended solutions.

To say the least, I am most disappointed withy both candidates. I have the President of the United States telling me that unless we pass this bailout bill, we face grave economic problems. Either both candidates are too afraid to address the specifics head on or they are waiting to take a final position. Either way, neither candidate stepped up to the plate and gained my confidence on this issue.

On a positive note, Jim Leher knocked this debate out of the park, He moderated a very effective debate that allowed each candidate an opportunity to promote their ideas. The fact that neither candidate took the opportunity to discuss the financial peril we face in detail is a great disappointment.

The full debate transcript can be found here.

Presidential Debate – Mid-Debate Thoughts

Source: CNN.com

OMG! John McCain, please, please look at Barack Obama. How can I expect you to be able to sit across from Putin and stare him down if you won’t look at Obama!!!!

You remind me of a school kid who won’t look at the teacher because you know you are lying. Please look your opponent in the eye and deliver your message! – Glenn