Earmarks! Everywhere, Earmarks!

I don't love 'em, but I don't think they're the only economic problem we face. McCain's clinging to them like a favorite teddy bear. Sure enough, it gives Obama the chance to finally bring up his Coburn BFFism.

McCain does seem to be controlling the debate, parrying Obama's challenge that he supports Bush 9/10 of the time (a hit on the campaign trail) by dryly reciting how many times he's shoved Bush's face in the dirt.

Finally, finally, the Iraq portion. It's been a long time since we've talked about this, so I feel like we're being hurtled back to July: McCain was right on the surge! Obama was right in 2002! Obama doesn't know the difference between a tactic and a strategy! The winner of this is decided outside the room, I think, by people who are deciding how much they want to go out versus how much they don't trust Obama.

Both of them sound pretty on their game on the wider war outside Iraq, probably because, well, Obama was planning for this all week (as opposed to the economics) and McCain thinks about nothing but this and spending.

Interesting exchange on the bracelet story. Obama is clearly ready (here and surely in the town hall debate) for McCain to yank at heartstrings with tales of his military service, his connection to vets. (Probably why Obama doesn't tag him on his vote against the new GI Bill.)

Both men are comically full of themselves. The McCain history of the world, as we know, is of him summoning the wisdom of the great men and spider-sensing his way out of problems. Obama remembers every personal insult: "I was called naive!" for wanting to meet with foreign no-goodniks.

"The average South Korean is three inches taller than the average North Korean!" is one of the best things that's ever been said in a debate. Overall McCain sounds conversant and Obama sounds like an analyst. Exactly what you'd expect.

I get the feeling the inside of McCain's head looks like the inside of Napoleon's circa 1812.

If your drinking game code words were "doesn't understand," please see a doctor.

Comments

[Paul]

I've heard a shift in rhetoric since this afternoon. The word 'bailout' is being avoided, and now Bush is referring to it as a $700 billion 'rescue'. I have another suggestion, why don't they pass an amended appropriations bill, and refer to this bailout as a mere $700 billion earmark.

[Smappy]

McCain does seem to be controlling the debate, parrying Obama's challenge that he supports Bush 9/10 of the time (a hit on the campaign trail) by dryly reciting how many times he's shoved Bush's face in the dirt.

Yeah, funny how everybody seems to be down on Bush publicly, even Republicans. My wife loved W and I didn't see her flinch once when either candidate dissed him.

[dpsc]

That is fairly funny. I find it particularly funny because I happen to frequent a number of internet boards that are mainly meant for Asians. This works well if the boards are meant for just Chinese, or just Koreans, or just Japanese.

But if someone sets up a board for "Asian Unity" (tm) it almost always devolves into debates about which nationality has, on average, smaller penises. I'm actually not joking about this- it's true. Many young Asian men spend a lot of their time accusing other young Asian men of having small penises, because... they are Asian. Then they start citing scientific studies about it.. I am not making this up.

I learned a few lessons from that- mainly that if Asians think it is OK to disparage each other's penises, I shouldn't hold back. Now when I meet an Asian for the first time I say "Yoroshiku [which pisses the Chinese off], too bad about your penis. I'm from the West, and my Penis is mighty. Do you have sisters who would appreciate my enormous penis? I could bring large penis genetics into your family so your descendants could thoroughly overcome the Koreans."

I agree that it's true that a genius is often not recognized in his own nation, but I have to add that he is also often not recognized in foreign countries. Unless they are Thailand, where they take what they can get.

[brad]

I liked McCain's "snatch defeat from the jaws of victory" line.

[Why Certainly]

David, I drank a few while watching the debate, but how many did you have? You are much more capable than this . . .

[D.A. Ridgely]

"The average South Korean is three inches taller than the average North Korean!" is one of the best things that's ever been said in a debate.

Apropos of dpsc's comment, it would have been even better if he'd said they're three inches longer.

[joe]

Dwight Eisenhower's second letter on D-Day wasn't a resignation letter. Where did McCain get that?

[CN]

of course earmark reforms have reared their heads before...