1st Presidential Debate Blog

[Shastafarian]

McCain pointed out, and rightly so, that Obama had stated that, as President, he would meet with Ahmadinejad, without preconditions.

Is that True or not? Did Obama at any point in this campaign say that he would sit down with Ahmadinejad, without preconditions?

Possibly. I don't have the quotes in front of me. I'd say yeah.

Second, in response to that specific assertion, Obama lied in using Henry Kissinger as cover by saying that Henry Kissinger agreed with him on the matter when, in fact, Henry Kissing said no such thing.

Is that True or not? Did or did not Henry Kissinger ever say that he supported the idea of the President of the United States sitting down with Ahmadinejad, without preconditions?

Try to stay on point now.

You think Kissinger meant he'd wanna see someone other than the President sit down with Ahmadinejad? I was on point. Kissinger said:

"He told us he supports talks, if not with Ahmadinejad, then with high level Iranian officials, without preconditions. "

Who would sit down with Ahmadinejad?

[ChumpDumper]

Probably because their internals suck...oversampled somebody.

You wouldn't be saying this if McCain did better.

[MannyIsGod]

Probably because their internals suck...oversampled somebody.

Its possible, but its not CNN conducting these polls but their usual pollster. I can't remember who does the CNN polls off the top of my head though.

I'll find out.

The internals will be out at some point though.

[MannyIsGod]

Manny, you said the CNN is reliable (+/-4).

If so, they just said the following demographics scored:

People aged 50+: 48-40 Obama
Men: 48-42 Men
Women: 58-40

If true, another coup.

One thing to note is I really hate when they use these internal demographic numbers because while the MOE of the entire poll maybe 4.5 points or so, these internals have a much higher MOE and may be completely unreliable. They likely show a general trend, but its hard to be entirely sure.

[ChumpDumper]

Im glad someone is bagging on Palin.

MIA

It's hilarious that she was scheduled to watch this in a ing bar.

[Crookshanks]

Im glad someone is bagging on Palin.

MIA

I agree that not having Palin on gives a negative perception. However, does anyone think the VP candidate would say anything other than their running mate won - their remarks are really irrelevent.

[Mr. Peabody]

Its possible, but its not CNN conducting these polls but their usual pollster. I can't remember who does the CNN polls off the top of my head though.

I'll find out.

The internals will be out at some point though.

It's Opinion Research.

[Yonivore]

Possibly. I don't have the quotes in front of me. I'd say yeah.

You think Kissinger meant he'd wanna see someone other than the President sit down with Ahmadinejad? I was on point. Kissinger said:

"He told us he supports talks, if not with Ahmadinejad, then with high level Iranian officials, without preconditions. "

Who would sit down with Ahmadinejad?

Well, as he said earlier in the quote you just excerpted...and, which I've already posted, twice now.

"I actually have preferred doing it at the secretary of state level"

[T Park]

Fox is such a joke. I don't know how anyone can watch them and claim not to be a lemming.

I watch and I'm not a lemming.

Sue me.

[baseline bum]

Probably the same could be said of those who watch CNN

Tell me when they push Obama winning at an 82/16 ratio. FoxNews never even tries to look like anything but right-wing fellators.

[Shastafarian]

Well, as he said earlier in the quote you just excerpted...and, which I've already posted, twice now.

I find it hard to believe Kissinger thinks Ahmadinejad would meet with the Secretary of State rather than our head of state.

[ChumpDumper]

I agree that not having Palin on gives a negative perception. However, does anyone think the VP candidate would say anything other than their running mate won - their remarks are really irrelevent.

Her absence from even the most basic press appearances is increasingly relevant.

[spurster]

You can't rely on MediaCurves results.

http://mediacurves.com/AboutUs.cfm

MediaCurves.com conducts national surveys online ...

[Spurminator]

I agree that not having Palin on gives a negative perception. However, does anyone think the VP candidate would say anything other than their running mate won - their remarks are really irrelevent.

Their ability or inability to remark intelligently is not irrelevant. The fact that she could not even be relied upon to parrot the points McCain made in the previous 2 hours is VERY telling.

[Yonivore]

I find it hard to believe Kissinger thinks Ahmadinejad would meet with the Secretary of State rather than our head of state.

I find it harder to believe that a sitting President of the United States would sit down with a madman without preconditions.

And, once again, you've missed Kissinger's point. I don't think he ever said who would be on the other side of the table, but he probably had in mind it would be an equivalent Iranian official.

[T Park]

Their ability or inability to remark intelligently is not irrelevant. The fact that she could not even be relied upon to parrot the points McCain made in the previous 2 hours is VERY telling.

They'd be reading off cue cards and campaign BS.

Whatever.

[spurster]

Her absence from even the most basic press appearances is increasingly relevant.

Yes, that is a coup for the Obama campaign. They'll probably make Biden available for any interview anytime, not that anybody will pay attention to them, but that Palin is MIA.

[baseline bum]

I find it harder to believe that a sitting President of the United States would sit down with a madman without preconditions.

And, once again, you've missed Kissinger's point. I don't think he ever said who would be on the other side of the table, but he probably had in mind it would be an equivalent Iranian official.

I just hope Palin never becomes president. She won't even meet with Wolf Blitzer.

[Spurminator]

They'd be reading off cue cards and campaign BS.

Whatever.

I know, easy right? Why can't the VP candidate do it?

[ChumpDumper]

They'd be reading off cue cards and campaign BS.

Whatever.

Biden wasn't doing that on CNN or MSNBC.

Was he doing so on Fox?

[Shastafarian]

And, once again, you've missed Kissinger's point. I don't think he ever said who would be on the other side of the table, but he probably had in mind it would be an equivalent Iranian official.

Then why did he say, "If not Ahmadinejad"? Just to throw his name out there?

[ElNono]

I agree that not having Palin on gives a negative perception. However, does anyone think the VP candidate would say anything other than their running mate won - their remarks are really irrelevent.

I agree that VP remarks are silly at this point. That said, it's only good when you can get free time campaigning on national TV.
This whole 'hide the VP' thing is starting to get really ridiculous.
I wonder if Biden is going to call her out on it next week.

[MannyIsGod]

Yeah but this wasn't open to the general public Spurster. It was a focus group. I'm not saying the Mediacurves stuff is completely accurate, but I'm not ready to dismiss it outright either.

We'll see.

[T Park]

I know, easy right? Why can't the VP candidate do it?

I odn't know.

it.

I'm tired of being attacked for supporting one side.

[ChumpDumper]

Yes, that is a coup for the Obama campaign. They'll probably make Biden available for any interview anytime, not that anybody will pay attention to them, but that Palin is MIA.

Nobody gives a about what the VP candidate has to say -- until (s)he refuses to say anything. All it does it make it more noteworthy when she actually does, and that has been a disaster so far.