Erica's News Note: Oh, What a Night
Erica Hill
AC360 correspondent
Confession: I've enjoyed every update on my BlackBerry today - from the confirmation that McCain will stick to the original plan, to word his plane was "wheels up", to the video alert of the candidates landing in Mississippi.
It's official: the pregame has sucked me in.
But what about the other pregame, the dress rehearsals for this shindig? Picure the candidates debating one of their own, channeling the opponent. No small feat.
Playing the part of "the other guy" isn't just about throwing policy and campaign slogans back at your own candidate; these guys – and ladies – have to make their candidate work hard and fight at the podium. They need to have the idiosyncracies, ticks and signature moves down to keep all surprises to a minimim come debate night.
New Hampshrie Sen. Judd Gregg played Al Gore and John Kerry for Republican candidates; he tells Time, "It was probably one of the most intense things I've ever done."
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A troubling tory here in New York has the City talking... and asking questions. A naked man was tasered twice the other night by police, then fell 10 feet to his death.
The lieutenant who told the officer to shock the man was stripped of his gun and badge. The officer who pulled the trigger on the Taser is now on desk duty while the investigation continues.
Several witnesses told local news no one tried to catch the distraught man as he fell from the shocks. A police department spokesman confirms their account. "None of the ... officers on the scene were positioned to break his fall, nor did they devise a plan in advance' to do so," he said. And they didn't wait for the inflatable mattress they'd called for to arrive, to break the man's fall.
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A $2 ping pong ball turns out to be a lifesaver. Who'da thunk it?
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Happy Weekend!
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Filed under: Erica Hill • Erica's News Note |
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Erica, I came into the debate wanting to be convinced to vote for McCain and came away convinced to vote for Obama.
I found McCains treatment of Obama to be rude and unprofessional.
Also, after seeing Katie Courics interview with Sara Palin the thought of Palin being a heartbeat from the Presidency is just scary!! Sure hope Joe Biden takes pity on her Thursday nite!!
Ross Berg
Obama won the debate.
Who would ever want to have a condescending 72 year old president in the White House?
Br
Gunter
Anderson-
It was obvious for all viewers, Obama is the smart choice for the American people, McCain is condescending and the old choice.
The American people will vote in November and America will either go backwards (with McCain) or forwards with Obama over the next 4 years.
It is down to the American people to decide. Are the American people smart enough to choose the right president?
Gunter
Erica /AC
What a farce of a man is this Henry Kissinger! Last Saturday with Christiane Amanpour,he said he would advise the next president to sit down with the leader of Iran and discuss "whatever'needs to be discussed. Tonight ,Sept.26, he sends out a communique or a disclaimer to CNN that he did not say such a thing!?! (The question was very clear for Kissinger!) )
So now we know where John McCain is getting his mendacity!
Cristina
I do not know what you talking heads are saying. Obama was the clear winner. Finally we will have some in the white house with some brains
John McCain is worried about the economy now but, what about our furture? John McCain Is trying embrass and make Obama look Like afraid and not ready to make a change for America. I belive Obama was sent was sent from God to Save us from Bush and the republicans misleadership towards america. I Know John McCain Is another Bush talk about it be would not be about it. America needs to read between the line and see that republicans care about money & oil not education,healthcare,employment, & the future. John Mccain agrees with cloning,Freezing,invading other countrys for oil,more deaths,more sorrow. Do really think i want another 8 years in pain and disappointment, No I don't. This is the first time in american history that young people and many races want to vote and make a change. I'm Down with that.
McCain is good at his speech but not to deliver what he promises. We don't need to have a show player to be our president...
I think all your analysis are being to generous in their post debate assessement regarding Senator Obama's performance in the presidential debate.
I am an Obama supporter, but from where I was watching this debate – in my livingroom, Senator Mc Cain dominanted and won this debate hands down. In fact, at one point in the debate, I felt Senator Mc Cain had me convinced that he is the man for the job, and if the election was held today, he would have won my vote
Juan Lebron,
Dayton, NJ
America knows McCain will say the surge worked and the "world" is better off without Saddam, but should we have went to war in the 1st place should our efforts have been place somewhere else?
Mr. McCain was excellent tonight!!! Obama came over Weak!! Were has Obama lived in the past 8years?? "The Moon" He trying to act like he had nothing to do with runing this Nation for the past 8years. I seem to think that the democrat had Control of the Congress for the past two years now. Hang in thier McCain were all behind you!!
go McCain !!!
Senator McCain has suggested several times that 'Senator Obama doesn't understand...' discussed issues. I think Senator McCain may be coming across too condescending.
Obama seem very rude to me for his disruption
Chairman mao started 3 years of nationwode starvation and 10 years culture revoltion by bottom up movement, beaware
M cCain is a lier and you can see it on his face.His comments
tonight were false. get your facts riight JOHN mCcAIN.
Finally The Debate Goes On-
Hi Erica
It is hard to not get excited about the debate. I just hope the actual debate at this point isn't an anti-climax to this crazy crazy week.
I wonder how much training all the police got with their tasers – training on more than just how to work it but when to use it and more importantly when not to use it. We sure have heard a lot of stories about inappropriate use lately.
Have a great weekend!
Is it me, or does it just seem that everything these days gets addressed post-facto?
Our leaders, executives and politicians run things into the ground then need $700 billion to fix things; weren't there 700 billion opportunities to see that one coming?
Then some lieutenant is stripped of his gun and badge while his officer is relegated to desk duty; too bad it took death to drive that change.
I look forward to the day when people are right more than wrong, say what they mean and mean what they say and are judged by their character rather than their apologies.
Her answers sounded very silly. I think Paris Hilton would have done a lot better. Michigan, ND and WA are very close STATES to Canada and as far as Sarah Palin is concerned all the people in Detroit, ND, WA are Foreign policy expects (by virtue of their close proximity to Canada). I believe Palin is a good and beautiful woman but the premature ascension to the national stage is making her look and sound STUPID. What she utters cannot be considered a GAFFE. It is CRAZY and STUPID. Now, I am even wondering how she became the Governor of Alaska. I feel very sorry for her.
calculus, sioux city
I really hope that Obama gets in so we can have someone else to blame except Bush. I'm getting so tired of hearing Bush get the blame for every evil and catastropic event, even Hurricanes. Maybe because the media is so much behind all the blame stuff, that they can enjoy a real mess when a junior person with NO experience has to make a decision that could possibly bring terrorism to our own soil. No, wait a minute. If I remember right, 911 was blamed on Bush even though Clinton failed to take out Osama when Clinton had the chance. I can't wait to complain about everything going wrong with the country..... This is soooo sick. When are we going to take personal responsibility and start helping the country get back to being great and good? When are we personally going to start accepting blame for our apathy and inconsideration? When are we going to start developing leaders that we can be proud of instead of condemning everything that they do?
What about all of the American families that are successfully paying their mortgages and other bills, perhaps with difficulty, but at least doing it? I would like to see a CNN report on the millions of Americans who are making it work in spite of the tough times.....ie positive story rather than a horror story. It would help to counter balance the doom and gloom and show the rest of the world that not all Americans are losers and failures. I'm a Canadian but I find the constant fear-mongering to be misleading, there are always more success stories than failures when you look at the big picture, it may help to inspire the country and provide some hope. Just a thought!
Morgan Jensen, Maple Ridge, BC, Canada
Erica,
At least the children are artistically and cognitively stimulated by the Presidential Debates. More reason to fight for funding extra curricular student education such as music, arts and sports.
I can't wait for the debate! I kind of knew Mr. McCain would end up being there. I heard he didn't have much to say in the White House meeting anyway, so if he doesn't show up now, it would make him look bad. I understand the topic is foreign policy, but I'm sure it would spill to other topics. If it does, the events of late should help Mr. Obama.
See you later,
Lilibeth
Edmonds, Washington
Wow WAMU collapsed and was bought with no taxpayer money. As much as I consider myself and will vote democratic this year, I have to agree with the house republicans. Let Wall streat bail themselves out with public investor money. When I get drunk I alone have to deal with the hangover. Great show by the way.
Hellooo Erica!!!
I agree with you..... I can't wait watch the debate tonight... I will read on CNN website later. I want hear from John McCain and Barack Obama what they will say during debate. I don't have blackberry this time. only I have computer my home...... Hope Anderson and you have great weekend!!!! Good night!! See you next week!!! I hope Anderson will deserved rest whole weekend! bye!
Erica, glad to see you posted again. As always, it’s interesting to see what insights you provide regarding the stories you cover in these delightful little news notes of yours. Keep them coming.: )