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John_Schwada's Blog

by John_Schwada from Los Angeles

Last Post 7 days, 3 hours Ago


After tonight’s debate I can say without fear of contradiction that while both of our presidential nominees oppose waterboarding they don’t practice what they preach. Tonight was torture. In fact, the Geneva Conventions ought to be amended to explicitly ban re-broadcasting that debate as a form of cruel and unusual punishment.

Don’t be surprised if some enterprising personal injury attorney starts advertising for clients among debate-viewers. “Were you the victim of the Sept. 26 presidential debate? After watching it have you suffered from a deepening despair about our country’s future? Do you have troubling doubts about the leadership choices? Do you want a re-do on the entire primary season? You may be suffering from post-debate syndrome. If so, call 1 800-NoVotes for a free legal consultation.”

The only thing that kept me watching tonight’s listless matchup was the prospect that someone would call 911 and a paramedic crew would rush onto the stage and seek to revive McCain and Obama with electro-shock therapy.

Uninspired. McCain droning on about ancient history. Vietnam. D-Day. Dwight Eisenhower. Obama sounding like an earnest undergrad.

McCain arrogant, refusing to look at Obama. Obama doing his me-too routine.

Both men treated the big issue of the day – the proposed bail-out plan – like teenage boys who’ve been forced to dance with their great aunt at a church social. They were polite, flat-footed and dispassionate.

Did anyone come away at the end of the economy segment of the debate with any new information about the bail-out? What an anti-climax.

Why couldn’t they just say: "Look, the American public is skeptical about this bail-out, and I share their concerns. The same folks who failed to forestall this debacle – may have even contributed to it – are now saying they’ve got a $700 billion solution. I’m a U.S. Senator, I’m not going to just rubber-stamp the Bush-Paulson-Bernacke plan – which is also being embraced by leading congressional Democrats. I want to take a closer look at this monster and compare to other possible solutions. Isn’t it possible that there’s more than one way to skin this cat? And don’t tell me that if we don’t act now the sky will fall down. It didn’t. Friday, the stock market went up.”

Did we hear any signs of independent, enterprising, outside-the-box thinking from these guys? No way. It was all gutless generalities and platitudes.

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Member Comments Total Comments: 12
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mystere read my blog view my photos
Sep 27, 2008 | 6:32 AM

John,

I'm going to be very blunt about this: It looked like they were shooting off loose cannons at each other! This debate was nothing more than a huge disaster! Are there any tomatoes left from the tomato throwing ceremonies in Europe? We could have used a bunch of them!

statueman read my blog view my photos
Sep 27, 2008 | 10:45 AM

"McCain arrogant, refusing to look at Obama. Obama doing his me-too routine."

OH man... you just took away my strong sense that Senator Obama had won the debate. I think that there was a strong sense of this for me particularly because I watched the debate with one very enthusiastic Obama supporter and on the CNN version they had a graph running throughout the debate showing how independent undecideds felt during each remark. I was pretty sure debate polls would favor Obama... and they did a few hours later.

But in retrospect... I think as you say that the debate was like being in hell... extremely hard to watch making me wonder how we got here. But I'm not ready to dial 1-800-NoVotes yet.

"Did we hear any signs of independent, enterprising, outside-the-box thinking from these guys? No way. It was all gutless generalities and platitudes."

For the most part I believe you're right... but I really felt Obama's answers had a much more hopeful and workable tone. But I will admit that at one point I looked at Obama and said "What are you waiting for man? Hit Him back!" So McCains show I don't want to watch anymore and Obama's reminding me of a not ready for prime time player.

DfDeportation read my blog view my photos
Sep 27, 2008 | 11:37 AM

Dems Bailout Proposal Redirects
'Paulson's Profits' To Left-Wing Groups...
Will Media Notice?


Warner Todd Huston -- Newsbusters -- September 26
Zedillo Declares War on the U.S.

Bush told the country that we are in an economic crisis and his Treasury Secretary, Henry Paulson, came up with an idea that would, it is claimed, end up actually making money for the U.S. Treasury in the long run. That's all well and good, but the Democrats already have a plan to siphon off any repayment of the people's money back to the treasury by adding one little line to the agreement that would end up stealing money from any repayments and giving it to left-wing political advocacy groups like ACORN, the National Urban League and the Hispanic group La Raza. Instead of trying to help the economy, the Democrats just want more money for their left-wing political constituents. It's business as usual for the Democrats, of course, but a bigger question is will the media let them get away with it?

dasvics read my blog view my photos
Sep 27, 2008 | 12:11 PM

"the Geneva Conventions ought to be amended to explicitly ban re-broadcasting that debate as a form of cruel and unusual punishment."

YES! Ban it, burn it, and forget it ever happened. It was mind numbingly lame. The only thing I got out of it, was that John’s always right, and Obama doesn’t understand crap. But we already knew that.

craftyguy read my blog
Sep 27, 2008 | 1:14 PM

McCain came across like someones grandfather who has been through a war with a lot of stories and life experiences who seems a safe bet but maybe a little out of time ..Obama came across as a snot nosed know everything yet never did anything college kid pampas disrespectful but once he faces the real world will change his mind about a lot of things ...in other words it was like watching a re-run of all in the family except this isnt funny

John_Schwada read my blog view my photos
Sep 27, 2008 | 4:56 PM

the polls are clear: obama won. i can see how his freshness has a certain charm. but....but then i think of his egregious non-performance on the bail-out and i want him to join mccain in the 7th ring of hell, a place where politicians are forced to suffer through their own debate remarks, 24-7 until Nov. 4th. can anyone come up with a more painful experience?

4dollars15cents read my blog
Sep 27, 2008 | 6:22 PM

If you are supporting McCain, did anything which Obama stated change your mind about him?

If you are supporting Obama, did anything which McCain stated change your mind about him?

Nothing new was said, during this debate. But McCain was very cynical and arrogant, while Obama was playing the nice guy role.

There were no blood shed or huge sound bites and verbal punches. It was the premiere of a sad movie. But did you really expect? The debate almost didn't happen. But here's the thing.

McCain says the Barack doesn't understand and that he's naive. But McCain can not explain the failed policies of the current administration, which he supported over 90% of the time. So, who's really being naive? Obama or the american public?

10 billion dollars a month, for the war in Iraq. The war in Afghanistan is fumbled. And the incursions in Pakistan is increasingly becoming questionable. The economy is at a sudden death, with 700 billions more tax money being purposed to invest in failed business practices. And the list keeps growing.

Call me crazy, but I honestly think that all of this is happening because of the fears of electing a Black man as president of the United States. Because there is no reason for our economy to flunk so poorly. There's no reason why we don't have some type of diplomacy that will end the war in Iraq and go after those who actually attacked us on 9/11.

Why does the next president have so much to clean up? And who is he cleaning up after? George W. Bush. A man whom John McCain supports. So, what does that tell you?

A v

marv read my blog view my photos
Sep 28, 2008 | 12:57 AM

you got it john! i'd like to borrow a million dollars to shore up my personal balance sheet! i'm suprised we don't hear about how important our military position in iraq is to our control the potentially dangerous iran! love you. marv

DfDeportation read my blog view my photos
Sep 28, 2008 | 10:54 AM

After watching this debate, is there still any doubt as to how lousy these two candidates are?

DfDeportation read my blog view my photos
Sep 28, 2008 | 7:29 PM

PRINCETON, NJ -- Barack Obama leads John McCain, 50% to 42% among registered voters in the latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking update for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday -- just one point shy of his strongest showing of the year.

DMMickie read my blog view my photos
Oct 1, 2008 | 6:15 PM

Obama won but needs to be more convincing. The economic mess is galactic in size and McCain did not convince me he has anything resembling a clue.
The vice presidential debate will be fun to watch. Palin is a joke.

DMMickie read my blog view my photos
Oct 2, 2008 | 8:09 PM

LOL!!!! Too Funny. what is this lawyer's number?

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“Were you the victim of the Sept. 26 presidential debate? After watching it have you suffered from a deepening despair about our country’s future? Do you have troubling doubts about the leadership choices? Do you want a re-do on the entire primary season? You may be suffering from post-debate syndrome. If so, call 1 800-NoVotes for a free legal consultation.”
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John_Schwada

That's me, Nov. 1, 1989, at the Herald-Examiner bureau, LA City Hall...a long-time ago. As a reporter at Fox 11 News, I have covered national political conventions, presidential impeachment hearings and gubernatorial recall campaigns. I've done double-duty as an investigative reporter and, in this capacity, won Golden Mike and Emmy awards. I also have labored in the newspaper biz: LA Herald-Examiner, the LA Times, the San Diego Union, the Arizona Republic and the Riverside Press-Enterprise. I went to UC Berkeley and learned to respect the sharpshooting ability of Alameda County's "blue-meanies" who could hit protesters in the derriere with buckshot from 50 paces. I'm now looking for a wealthy benefactor who will donate their villa in Spain to me and my family.

Member Since: 7/4/2006