Sep 11

Liveblogging: Obamacain at Columbia University

Democrats, Politics, Presidential Election ´08, Republicans

DEVON GRANDY (New York, New York)
NICOLE CATÁ (New York, New York)

That’s right, folks! We’re going to be attempting our very first liveblogging experiment during tonight’s ServiceNation event at Columbia University featuring Democratic and Republican Presidential Nominees Barack Obama and John McCain (respectively). IvyGate and Bwog have collectively provided more than enough pre-event hype that you could possibly desire, so we’re going to hold off to the actual event, which we will begin liveblogging at 6:45pm Eastern Standard Time. Wish us luck and tune in!

CLICK HERE AT 6:45PM, EST

EDIT: No luck, folks. The wireless is cutting out on us. We’ll postgame at about 8:30PM EST. Sorry!

EDIT AGAIN: It’s working! Hopefully it’ll keep working…

EDIT YET AGAIN: We’ve got our complete transcript! Check it out after the jump:

From our own offline notes:

18:55:35 (Devon) Five minutes to the start of the official events. Devon, Nicole, Kendale, Andani, and Kristin are all here on the steps of Low Library, facing the quad, in the middle of which there is what the speakers are calling the “Jumbotron,” (10’x10’?) but which is really just a sad little projection screen. We have beef jerky, gummy bears, Nutter Butters, M&Ms, and naturally Mountain Dew. Brian is on his way here with dumplings and possibly rice from his dorm room. We’re not very good at guessing numbers of people, but some quick back-of-the-envelope calculations (brought to you by Frontiers of Science) puts at least a thousand (two thousand?) people here on this side of the quad.

19:01:58 Brian is back, without the dumplings. Seriously, what the hell. Nicole is taking photos. We’re still kind of pissed off that this whole liveblogging thing didn’t work the way we wanted.

19:07:40 Still nothing happening—people are still filtering in, though. We’re beginning to think that perhaps Barry and John have been waylaid on the way back from Ground Zero.

19:08:53 Some girl in the crowd is carrying a life-size Obama cardboard cutout. Cheers have gone up—we don’t think there are many McCain folk here. Kendale thinks that if there are any Republicans here, they are surely hidden beneath their invisibility cloaks (nerd).

19:11:43 Cardboard Obama is back. Nicole still can’t get a picture that doesn’t look like every fake picture of the Loch Ness Monster ever taken. Nice, Nicole.

19:12:25 We tried starting a hymn. It turns out Living On A Prayer isn’t quite We Shall Overcome.

19:13:44 I’ve accused Nicole of chauvinism and insensitivity because she’s requested for Andani to go down on her. Seriously, Nicole.

19:16:25 Brian is being en elitist by not allowing kids of other races and origins to sit with us.

19:17:27 Survey of the crowd—we’ve got an American flag, some asshole wearing a Dustin Pedroia shirt, a small beachball being batted about, and a guy in a life vest, who is probably coming from sailing practice. Oh, and about seven news crews. Or rather, news dudes.

19:21:24 Twenty minutes late, and there’s easily two thousand people here. Who knew there were this many arugula-eaters out there?

Liveblogging began here, which is why there are some gaps.

20:00:23 (Nicole) Devon still doesn’t understand the difference between the phrase “Down in Front” and an Anglo-Saxon demand for oral sex. That, or he enjoys preteen boy humor.

20:02:25 The Presidential Forum is about to begin! General excitement ensues with a vengeance. The interwebs hate us.

20:03:34 Richard Stengel is talking about national service. Who woulda thunk it?

20:04:00 Stengel mentions McCain’s and Obama’s service.

20:04:35 Here comes McCain!

20:05:20 McCain calls for commemoration on “days like today” to keep the memory of 9/11. McCain claims that service will prevent a reoccurrence of the events of 9/11. …

20:09:34 McCain doesn’t believe that service should be compulsory – he believes many organizations are oversubscribed.

20:11:41 McCain discusses the gradual erosion of service in the years after 9/11, but believes that we are ready to remedy that.

20:36:03 McCain would sign AmeriCorps bill. Greets Ted Kennedy’s return with “mixed emotions.” Douchebag fuck.

20:56:35 Obama discusses where he was on 9/11 – you know, like in the South Park song. He notes that it left an indelible mark on people, but notes that people came together afterward.

20:57:29 He mentions that petty partisanship was set aside, and challenges people to reflect this sense of service even when a national tragedy does not occur.

20:58:30 Obama discusses the need to reduce dependence on foreign oil. He mentions the existence of small towns that rely on volunteer firefighters. He asks that young people engage in volunteer and military service. He mentions the pulpit role of the presidency – he thinks Bush should have used it.

21:00:51 Moderator asks how active citizenship differs from the status quo. Obama says that we believe in individual AND mutual responsibility. Obama discusses that long-term goals and progress are realized because of mutual responsibility. He discusses his specific national service plan, and mentions Kennedy and Hatch. He says we should start early (in schools) to make sure kids are giving back to their communities.

21:07:36 (Devon) So not only do we have to battle the wireless, we have to battle the battery. Damn.

21:08:34 Obama: “We are in one of those special moments.” Americans expect leadership and change to make the nation, economy work again. Cheers!

Now for the liveblogging section:

Obamacain Liveblog

(09/11/2008)
Powered by: CoveritLive

7:25	Hello hello hello! We’re here on the steps of Low Library on the Columbia University Plaza.

7:26	Screen just went black! Cheering, but does that mean we’re starting or does it mean we’ve lost power?

7:26	Nope! There’s PrezBo on the screen!

7:26	We can’t hear him. Way to go, SEAS.

7:27	Chants of “PrezBo,” since there’s no audio otherwise. WTF.

7:28	Some jokes about tuition from the crowd.

7:28	Well, PrezBo just walked off. Here’s Governor Patterson!

7:30

Damn.

7:30	Still no audio, and our wireless is in and out. Hopefully this will get better at some point.

7:31	Kendale just shouted to Patterson to “open your eyes!” It’s a good think the Governor is inside, because Kendale didn’t know that he’s blind.

7:31	Audio! Cheers! Black and white! Boos!

7:32	We came in in the middle of Patterson’s speech, but it sounds like he’s in the middle of a speech about service. Go figure.

7:33	Lots of statistics, which I obviously can’t replicate here. Essentially, Patterson wants us to “step up” our service.

7:34	Patterson says “Obama” and the campus goes crazy. Go service!

7:36	Patterson has essentially praised both candidates for their service to the country. Now he’s on the 9/11 stuff–the service of the firefighters and police officers. And now… Pope Gregory I?

7:37	Well, it was at least a good second half of the speech. I guess we’ll watch the first half on CNN later…

7:38	So a bald guy is on stage introducing Spider Man. Umm… and some booing of Spider Man. Some Batman fans here.

7:39	Maguire: “We the people… that idea inspired Madison, Franklin, Jefferson to…” you get the idea.

7:39	So Toby Maguire is next up. His intro is being read at the moment. Hrm… “He wants to give back.”

7:41	Maguire recognizes those who make our country safer, etc. “While I may play a superhero on the big screen, we all know who the real American heroes are.” (pause for laughter)

7:43	Maguire is doing a nice job of being neutral about the whole candidates thing. “We have the next President here on stage. Of course, we don’t know who it is…”

7:45	Applause for what Nicole calls “people who serve.” I wasn’t listening.

7:49	So now there are going to be two people who lost loved ones on 9/11. We’re not going to make jokes for a little while.

7:49	Devon is taking a break. Â Nicole is on board.

7:52	Jay Winnick discusses Glen, his brother, a volunteer firefighter and a 9/11 victim.

7:52	Winnick moves on to discuss MyGoodDeed.org. Â He’d like to make 9/11 a day of national recognition of service.

7:52	Winnick discusses examples of MyGoodDeed’s do-gooders. Â One man apparently walked across the U.S. to raise money for charities.

7:52	MyGoodDeed seeks to move forward from the horror of 9/11. Â End Winnick’s speech.

7:53	Audio AND visual off? Shucks.

8:07	A nod to bipartisanship was just made. Â Audio and visual off. Â Columbia has been issued a challenge to “get your shit together.” Â Roar.

8:07	We are back!

8:08	McCain has claimed that service can prevent the reoccurrence of the events of 9/11. He proposes that leaders speak frankly to the American people about the need to serve.

8:10	He mentions the dissatisfaction of people with the current state of the nation. McCain wants to spread the idea of inalienable rights around the world.

8:10	McCain says that Teach for America is oversubscribed, but that we need more people in the military.

8:12	We can see the Beams of Light from Ground Zero as we sit on the steps of Low Library.

8:13	McCain mentions Miss Congeniality. Â Hmm…

8:16	Short break. Â The camera work is making Devon nauseated. Â

8:16	Pretty cool, though!

8:16	Devon here. We’re on a commercial break.

8:16	Anyway, since our wireless is in and out, we’re also writing a concurrent journal when the wireless goes. So we have a bunch of pre-show material that we haven’t shared yet, as well as some stuff that is supposed to go in between what you see in the window here.

8:17	We’re on to the role of government in times of emergency now, particularly when contrasted with the role of the private sector.

8:18	McCain is speaking about having a partnership between the government, the private sector, and faith-based initiatives to help in times of disaster. The crowd, by the way, is mostly quiet during the speaking.

8:19	Moderator: what about young people who want to help with service but also have debt from graduating from college?

8:19	McCain: with all due respect to rich people…

8:19	McCain endorses Habitat for Humanity.

8:21	About McCain’s Faith of my Fathers: McCain has had a relative who’s fought in nearly every American war.

8:22	McCain says that he “rebelled” against his family’s military history. The maverick at work!

8:23	Moderator: what about military recruitment? 30% of military recruits now do not have a high school degree.

8:24	McCain starts moaning about Columbia not letting ROTC on campus. Let the douchebaggery begin!

8:24	McCain wants to pay soldiers more to keep retention.

8:25	Commercial break again. Columbia is reeling from McCain’s folksy, aww-shucks onslaught for its evident anti-military policies. Forsooth!

8:28	No word yet on how to decrease the number of recruits without high school degrees…

8:28	(Nicole again.)

8:29	Moderator wonders about civilian, rather than military, service.

8:29	McCain agrees that there are a lot of noble ways to serve our country.

8:29	He cites Americorps as an example of a successful volunteer organization.

8:29	He proposes sufficient recognition for their efforts.

8:31	Moderator asks about amount of spending. Â Apparently, McCain would be glad to spend it. Â No word on whether he would spend the three billion dollars that Obama has proposed…

8:31	McCain is in favor of a distinct government role, but will not define it.

8:33	McCain would select Obama to be a member of his Cabinet as an advisor on volunteer service.

8:33	Â Palin is mentioned. Â Rut roh.

8:34	McCain wanted Obama to appear in Town Hall meetings.

8:34	McCain respects community organizers. Â He is deflecting criticism of Palin’s language regarding such organizers.

8:37	McCain would greet Ted Kennedy’s return with “mixed emotions.” How gentlemanly.

8:37	McCain would sign the Americorps bill, but insists that service begins at the grassroots level.

8:39	Devon here. Back on commercial break. Anyway, the crowd was a little racous during that last segment–some laughing and jeering during some of the “douchier” stuff. Oh, well.

8:40	Good point, Ben. We particularly enojy how Giuliani said “community organizer… what’s that?” and now we’re all here talking about service to one’s community.

8:42	McCain just said “vigorous,” got some laughs, and then snored. WHAT?!!

8:42	By the way, everybody reading this should feel free to leave us a comment!

8:43	McCain: economy is “broken” and people are more concerned with keeping their jobs and not with service.

8:43	OBSERVATION: More applause for “Brooklyn” than “Peace Corps”

8:44	Moderator: would you give a green card to every foreign national with a Ph.D.?

8:47	Moderator: are Americans “better” than other people? McCain: we are the only nation adhering to policy of “all created equal, inalienable rights” Moderator: does that make America better? McCain: it makes us “exceptional.” Also, McCain’s hero is Teddy Roosevelt?!

8:47	Moderator: what does nasty campaigning to do public service?

8:49	To Ben: I always thought McCain would be more of a Yaz guy…

8:50	Moderator: In 2042, America will no longer be a “white” nation (oh no!). Please address in less than 60 seconds.

8:51	McCain ends his speech with no clapping on his final point. But lots of applause (though brief) on his outro. Who’s ready for some Obama?

8:51	“The democratic candidate for president–” (bomb goes off at Columbia)

8:52	a bomb of applause, that is. we’re all alive here.

8:52	Commerical break. Nicole gets the first Obama bit. Damn it.

8:53	Nicole here. Â Pumped. Â To Ben: Â The moderators did ask the question, but they backed off when he half-heartedly answered it. Â Devon wonders whether they’re boy pussycats or girl pussycats.

9:09	We’re back!

9:09	We’re also battling battery power now as well as the wireless. Hopefully we’ll last a little longer.

9:10	Obama: “When I graduated from Columbia–” Crowd: “WOOHOO!“

9:11	Obama speaks about how young people can’t find service jobs as readily as high-paying ones on Wall Street. Also, Nicole notes that Obama is speaking in specifics much more than McCain was.

9:12	Obama: “We have to have a FEMA that works.”

9:13	Obama is using FEMA and other governmental organizations to show that they don’t, shouldn’t interfere with NGOs and private initatives

9:57	So that’s about it. If anybody is still here, we’d like to thank you for follow our liveblogging here at Columbia, and encourage you to check out our postgame, which is soon to come at http://breakouttheoreos.com. Good night!

9:57