uninteresting :: rich

NYTImes: interactive video & transcript of the VP debate / FactChecking Biden-Palin Debate

so Palin didn’t crash and burn, mostly because she was reading/regurgitating canned statements. she wins on style, but Biden wins on substance. it was truly a case of Republican’s putting “lipstick on a pig” - and if you have half a brain you know who’s the lipstick and who’s the pig.

On at least 10 occasions, Palin gave answers that were nonspecific, completely generic, pivoted away from the question at hand, or simply ignored it: on global warming, an Iraq exit strategy, Iran and Pakistan, Iranian diplomacy, Israel-Palestine (and a follow-up), the nuclear trigger, interventionism, Cheney’s vice presidency and her own greatest weakness. [Palin clears bar, still falls short]

in the end, people tuned in to see a trainwreck that didn’t happen. there probably won’t be much effect on the polls, though it seems Biden is ahead:

As with the Obama-McCain debate last Friday, the vast majority of the insta-polls went to the Democratic ticket. Biden won the CBS poll of undecideds 46-21, and the CNN poll of debate watchers 51-36. Independents in the large MediaCurves focus group panel went for Biden about 2:1. [Post-VP Debate Thoughts]

personally, i am much better off than i was 8 years ago. but Bush ain’t helpin…

The Bush Economy:

January 19, 2001: 10,587.59
September 29, 2008: 10,365.45

NASDAQ Jan 19, 2001 = 2770.38
NASDAQ September 29, 2008 = 1983.73

CPI, January 19, 2001: 175
CPI, September 29, 2008: 219

Dollar exchange with Euro, January 19, 2001: 1.068
Dollar exchange with Euro, September 29, 2008: .695

so the $700B bailout plan was rejected today and the street flipped out. the Dow closed 777 points down, and the leader unfortunately was AAPL (down 17.4% to 105.90). i’m heavily invested in Apple through work and even with my own money, but i have to say, i’m really not that worried about it. here’s a few reasons why:

1. i’m glad the bailout plan failed. one thing i’ve learned is that when Bush is on the telly urging America to act quickly to save ourselves from disaster, then our response should be to move slowly and with deliberation. [Jon Stewart: Bush Bailout Speech Just Like Iraq Speech]

2. i’m long on AAPL. i’d buy more now if i had the money. today’s price drop was caused by analysts revising their estimates and basically saying that Apple would be affected by the consumer slowdown (surprise!). the slowdown affects everyone (like say, Apple’s competition), so i see the macro-environment as increasing the opportunity for Apple to extend it’s lead in various efforts. we’ve got $20B of cash reserves in the bank, and investors have been questioning why Apple doesn’t go out and make some big acquisitions. well, this is why. i’m hoping the price will stay low through december, when we make our bi-annual ESPP purchases.

3. i’ve got 28 years until i’m 65. this is a big dip, thanks to shitty republican leadership, but over the long-haul it will smooth over.

factcheck.org: FactChecking Debate No. 1

the debates should be like trials, where evidence is submitted ahead of time. each candidate submits the facts they plan to use for their arguments, and they are independently verified and approved ahead of time. only then can they be referred to in the debate.

they spent too much time arguing over who said what and what it meant (e.g. what Kissinger said about talking to Iran without preconditions). it’s a complete waste of time to see them arguing over who’s telling them truth.

for what it’s worth, the Kissinger back & forth was comletely caused by McCain twisting Obama’s words. Kissinger did say that we should meet w/o preconditions (but not at the presidential level). McCain kept insisting that Obama meant presidential meetings.

[Disregarding Henry]

My take, in a nutshell: it was

• Intelligence vs. faith
• Logic vs. emotion
• Collaboration vs. isolation

CNN polls:

Regardless of which candidate you happen to support, who do you think did the best job in the debate — Barack Obama or John McCain?
Obama 51%
McCain 38%

Did _______ do a better or worse job than you expected?
Obama: Better 57%, Worse 20%, Same 23%
McCain: Better 60%, Worse 20%, Same 18%

Next, regardless of which presidential candidate you support, please tell me if you think Barack Obama or John McCain would better handle each of the following issues:

• The war in Iraq: Obama 52%, McCain 47%

• Terrorism: McCain 49%, Obama 45%

• The economy: Obama 58%, McCain 37%

• The current financial crisis: Obama 54%, McCain 36%

Thinking about the following characteristics and qualities, please say whether you think each one better described Barack Obama or John McCain during tonight’s debate:

• Was more intelligent: Obama 55%, McCain 30%

• Expressed his views more clearly: Obama 53%, McCain 36%

• Spent more time attacking his opponent: McCain 60%, Obama 23%

• Was more sincere and authentic: Obama 46%, McCain 38%

• Seemed to be the stronger leader: Obama 49%, McCain 43%

• Was more likeable: Obama 61%, McCain 26%

• Was more in touch with the needs and problems of people like you: Obama 62%, McCain 32%

Based on what _______ said and did in tonight’s debate, do you think he would be able to handle the job of president if he is elected?
Obama 69%-29%
McCain 68%-30%

[From TPM Election Central | Talking Points Memo | Initial Polls Show Obama Winning The Debate]