I had noticed this moment during the broadcast, but had not quite realized how very nuts McCain looked. (As George who sent me this put it, still photography can be so cruel.)
Also, now that I have a post on the debate going, can I just say that if you’re a Presidential candidate trying to nail down the soccer/hockey/whatever mom vote, “women’s health” is probably not the best phrase to put in sarcastic SCARE QUOTES. Really could not believe he did that — one of those mask-slipping moments.
9:12 p.m. We hear noises upstairs (girls went to bed by 8:30). We each stall and try to wait to see if the other guy will go deal with it. Finally when the steps creak on the basement stairs I go and find the girls, who report that we didn’t snuggle on the couch on the porch as we’d said we would. I hustle them upstairs and tell them we’ll have to do it tomorrow. Sobbing. Finally Sarah comes up. I go down and pause the debate. We end up losing 7 minutes which we never make up, meaning we’re stuck with the infuriating “Audience Reaction” graph on CNN.
9:29 p.m. Is it really wise for Sarah Palin’s running mate to say “I’m not Miss Congeniality” so often?
9:39 p.m. Sarah declares that she’s feeling nervous and jittery and wants to make some popcorn to soothe her nerves. This powdered cheese topping is surprisingly good. Lose 8 more minutes.
9:52 p.m. Pot Luck comes down the stairs! Up from his evening nap and ready to party. Sarah makes me give up one of my Crocs for him to play with.
10:04 p.m. Cannot stop myself from tracking the Audience Reaction although the graph does not seem to make sense — the colors don’t match up right. It annoys me to no end that people are sitting there going “oh now Lehrer’s talking, I don’t feel as excited, let me turn this dial down.” Or is like some kind of lie-detector test where it’s strapped to their chests?
10:12 p.m. It strikes me that Obama is completely holding his own and seeming deeply and precisely informed about all the foreign policy issues.
10:34 p.m. Our minds are blown that McCain tried to insult Obama by comparing him to Bush. (???!!?)
10:41 Pot Luck’s foreign policy is becoming alarmingly aggressive. Someone needs to explain to this kitten that liveblogging is not a game of hunt the fingers.
10:48 p.m. Sarah points out that McCain gives the impression that he really only cares about veterans. Freeze ALL spending except for veterans.
11:05 Watching the post-debate talking heads. Sarah is worried Pot Luck’s legs are too short. “I think we may have a midget cat here.” I’m feeling pretty good about the debate. Did not expect Obama to win big on this one, but he seemed well-informed, authoritative/Presidential, and quite hawkish.
Ivan Kreilkamp 