Each debater gets 17 minutes to spend totally. A HUGE strategic factor. Lieberman using it to establish his credentials as a man of the people at the outset, "The American Dream," etc.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 10/16/2006 12:55:34 PM EST

That's Joe's opening. A good one for the independents and Republicans.

Can Lamont show that partisanship is the GOP strategy?

Contradiction: Joe attacks by saying Lamont is an attacker. Nasty -- keep score? Bald face hypocrisy.

He accused Lamont of not being a good Democrat in the primary.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 10/16/2006 12:58:31 PM EST

Right/wrong vs left/right.

Says it is not negative to talk about privatizing social security, Iraq, energy policy.

Lieberman has an 18 year record . . . Spends less time than Lieberman.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 10/16/2006 01:00:01 PM EST

by saying he and Lamont are much alike except for Iraq.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 10/16/2006 01:00:51 PM EST

What was the question? Joe blames BOTH parties and calls that bipartisan.

Lamont brings it back to Iraq and Bush. Iraq diverted us from N Korea.

Work with allies, Bush administration. Keeps it there as a proxy for Lieberman.

Lamont wastes too much time on the N Korea specifics, but uses time well when gets back to homeland security.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 10/16/2006 01:04:32 PM EST

More outrage about Clinton than he had about North Korea!

Schlesinger yaps about the madman with movies. Pins it on Joe.

Joe manages to cut down Lamont while responding: "I thought the attacks were going to come only from this [Lamont's] side."

Lamont comments on missed votes on homeland security.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 10/16/2006 01:07:56 PM EST

Lamont explains that he did not understand the comments at the time and that he is not the one setting the tome.

Forty years ago vs. 21st Century.

Schlesinger goes after Sharpton and Jesses Jackson -- "bringing divisive individuals into our state" sounds racist to me even though Schlesinger says he is deploring "repulsive" race baiting while feeding the narrative.

Lieberman says he appreciates Alan's point, then calls this the "latest in a series of  . . . diistorions" by Lamont.

NED!! -- Notice the ATTACKS even though Lieberman then transitions to saying that we therefore need to listen to his moderation!!! You need to punch back!

He lise and claims he counted four or five attacks thus far.

Lamont does fight back and says you know where he stands, but not Lieberman.

Schlesinger says they are the same as one another.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 10/16/2006 01:15:40 PM EST

Spending a lot on Joe as he rolls eyes, smirks, etc. Will that help or hurt him? Remember Gore's sighs?

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 10/16/2006 01:16:49 PM EST

Schlesinger goes on and on about how the budgeting is dishonest. Then attacks Joe for the "lock-box" makes good fun of it. Gets audience laughing.

Schlesinger says he is novel because has an idea.

Joe responds to Schlesinger by saying we have 35 years worth. Then Joe distances himself from Bush and associates himself with Clinton on the deficit. Pay-go. Will he speak for a segment without attacking Ned? YES!!

Ned: lobyists and earmarks, the bridge to nowhere and Medicare part D, negotiating drug prices, energy subsidies to Exxon. NEED FRESH PERSPECTIVE IN D.C.

Alan: Calls Joe out on shaking of head, cites Greenspan and other officals. Go to GAO website, Dave Walker controller. "Joe, the people can handle the truth."

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 10/16/2006 01:24:41 PM EST

Lamont has managed his time best (saved it).

Immigration: Lieberman talks about all of the details of the bipartisn Senate plan. HUGE waste of time in that Lamont is not opposed. But Lieberman claims it as an example of bipartisanship. It is a BLOCKED by the GOP! Ned needs to point out that Lieberman said he does not know if he want the Dems to control the House!

But Ned misses the chance. Lamont says Joe is half right but does not say how. Back to social security: the real problem is health care costs.

Chewed up time on health care problems, accused by Schlesinger of having no solutions.

Schlesinger calls Joe a liberal Dem, that hurts Ned? Yes, when he says Ned is further left. Schlesinger goes after the right.

Lamont points out that uninsured cost more. Medicare costs 6x in Miami than in Cal.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 10/16/2006 01:33:47 PM EST

TV spot claiming Ned laid folks off. Ned calls it false, Joe owes the apology. He explains he sold off parts of his company, not laid off.

Then says we need someone who knows business. . .

Alan: Ned good with goals, I came from humble roots and built a business and was active in state and local government, understand the average citizen, invokes Ned's country club.

Lieberman: I run on 18 years (insert pork list) says Ned has no such record, therefore his business record. Makes a joke about "scratch" and says he got his info from the NYT. Where did the NYT get it? It IS factually a distortion at a minimum.

Joe: Ned's plan looks like a mandate on small business.

Ned: Lieberman said that for the last 18 years. Let small business buy into the congressional program. You do have a record: missed key votes on homeland security, Medicare Part D, we lose defense related jobs, transportation $, We are 49th out of 50 in dollars back from feds.

Lieberman: you did not deny the mandate. My attendance is 93%, same as when you were on greenwich Board. "I hate to miss votes . . . was honored to be nominated to VP." I wnat to give you a little education: we are 49th because we are the wealthiest.

Lamont: we are doing worse . .

Lieberman out of time!!!!!!!

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 10/16/2006 01:42:15 PM EST

But he tries to butt in anyway.

Alan points out Joe's time is up! (Which Joe ignores and answers).

Schlesinger: we know Bush and Joe are close. Most Republicans who know me support me. The Governor! The state chair wrote a letter. Today we will change things. Fights the media.

Lamont has 30 seconds. Lamont says hang in there.

Lamont runs out of time, whoops.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 10/16/2006 01:45:53 PM EST

Alan: A kiss from Bush versus a hug from Sharpton. Liebermman votes 90% of the time with the Democrats. He sought Sharpton and Jackson support, as liberal as Hillary and Ted. Conservatives should not vote for Joe.

Lamont: campaign is about change. I'm a CT businessman vs a career politician. I'll stand up to the Bush/Cheney admin., the lobbyisits, not take me 18 years to fight for health care, stand up to the oil men. Eighteen years is enough, as Joe said 18 years ago.

Lieberman: says it is a good debate because shows the choice: my opponents are classic partisans, Ned particyularly, "finger point" "petty" (attacks) we need people who "rise above" (bringing himself out of the dirt as if on a trampoline). Then PORK. Ned: "more partisan, less productive."

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 10/16/2006 01:52:07 PM EST

Senator Lieberman's position as a lifelong Democrat  was really under scrutiny after his comments to The Harford Courant this past Sunday.

Asked in an interview whether America would be better off with Democrats running the House, Mr. Lieberman responded: "Uh, I haven't thought about that enough to give an answer." This stunned Democratic party leaders, and should only help him more with the Republican vote.

by wsinclair on 10/17/2006 10:48:21 PM EST

Senator Joe Lieberman did a great job projecting the idea of him having become the object of negative attacks.He also handled well the rhetoric of  showing that he represents the bi-partsanship that Washinton needed. I also think that Lieberman was projected more than he probably deserved when the two candidates took turns to hit at him.From my observations of the debate, I'm inclined to believe that schlesinger on the ballot obscures Lamont a little and places him in the difficult  position of not only having to disagree with Lieberman but also has to show that he is unlike Schlesinger.

by Theo Yakah on 10/19/2006 02:04:32 AM EST