Strip out the hyperbole, hubris, arguments and recollections over record, and take away the commentary on things we already know, then you have this is the list of Action Items actually mentioned by the candidates.

To the best of my ability, I have separated the wheat from the chaff, without prejudiced, and bulleted those statements that actually have something to do with goals or action. In italics, I tossed in direct accusations from one candidate against the other, mostly for context in the timeline, and bolded the main action points.

My threshold for ambiguity was very low. Nonetheless, it was thin pickings, I tell you. I think I counted four things total that would actually be a policy decision. John Caelan

ON THE FINANCIAL RECOVERY PLAN

OBAMA:

"…Series of proposals that protect taxpayers…:"

"…Oversight

… "$700 billion, potentially, is a lot of money."

"…Money back and gains for Taxpayers…

if the market -- and when the market returns."

"…none of the money to…Golden Parachutes..."

"Helping homeowners

."

MCCAIN:

"This package has transparency in it. It has to have…"

Oversight.

Options

for loans to failing businesses: "rather than the government taking over those loans."

"I called for the resignation of the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission."

ON FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCES IN APPROACH AS PRESIDENT

MCCAIN:

"I'm going to veto every single spending bill that comes across my desk."

"Senator Obama is also proposing some $800 billion in new spending on new programs."

OBAMA:

"

Senator McCain is proposing -- and this is a fundamental difference between us -- $300 billion in tax cuts to some of the wealthiest corporations and individuals in the country, $300 billion."

"I've called for is a tax cut for 95 percent of working families, 95 percent"

"…close corporate loopholes,"

"…stop providing tax cuts to corporations that are shipping jobs overseas"

"…tax breaks to companies that are investing here in the United States."

"…a health care system that allows for everyone to have basic coverage."

MCCAIN:

"Senator Obama finds objectionable…the business tax."

"I want to cut that business tax. I want to cut it so that businesses will remain in -- in the United States of America and create jobs."

"I want people to have tax cuts."

"…every family to have a $5,000 refundable tax credit…purchase their own health care"

"…double the dividend from $3,500 to $7,000 for every dependent child in America."

OBAMA:

"…if you make less than $250,000,…,then you will not see one dime's worth of tax increase."

"Senator McCain talked about providing a $5,000 health credit. Now, what he doesn't tell you is that he intends to, for the first time in history, tax health benefits."

MCCAIN:

"We had an energy bill before the United States Senate…It had all kinds of breaks for the oil companies, I mean, billions of dollars worth. I voted against it; Senator Obama voted for it."

OBAMA:

"John, you want to give oil companies another $4 billion."

MCCAIN:

"…give every American a choice:"

"…two tax brackets

, generous dividends,"

"…the existing tax code or they want a new tax code."

"…again, Senator Obama has shifted on a number of occasions. He has voted in the United States Senate to increase taxes on people who make as low as $42,000 a year."

OBAMA:

"Look, it's just not true. And if we want to talk about oil company profits, under your tax plan, John -- this is undeniable -- oil companies would get an additional $4 billion in tax breaks."

ON GIVING UP PRIORITIES BECAUSE OF THE RESCUE PLAN

OBAMA:

"…plan to make sure that, in 10 years' time, we have freed ourselves from dependence on Middle Eastern oil…"

"…increasing production at home..."

"…invest in alternative energy,…solar, wind, biodiesel,

"…developing the fuel-efficient cars…"

"…fix our health care system"

"…make sure that we're competing in education."

"…invest in science and technology."

"…make sure college is affordable for every young person in America."

"…Rebuild our infrastructure"

"…broadband lines that reach into rural communities."

"…new electricity grid to get the alternative energy to population centers that are using them."

MCCAIN:

"…we've got to cut spending."

"…examine every agency of government…"

"…eliminate ethanol subsidies."

"…do away with cost-plus contracts…"

ON LEHLER REDIRECTING THE QUESTION OF GIVING UP PRIORITIES DUE TO RESCUE PLAN

OBAMA:

"…investing in energy in order to free ourselves from the dependence on foreign oil."

MCCAIN:

"a spending freeze on everything but defense, veteran affairs and entitlement programs.

OBAMA:

"We are currently spending $10 billion a month in Iraq when they have a $79 billion surplus. It seems to me that if we're going to be strong at home as well as strong abroad, that we have to look at bringing that war to a close."

MCCAIN:

"Senator Obama opposes both storing and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel."

"…can create 700,000 jobs by building constructing 45 new nuclear power plants by the year 2030."

(John's Note:

I had to quote Lehrer, because he actually said "rule the country"…I try not to stray from some degree of decorum when writing prose (that what I have music for) but are you f*$%$ kidding?)

ON LEHRER REDIRECTING AGAIN: "Are you willing to acknowledge both of you that this financial crisis is going to affect the way you rule the country as president?"

OBAMA:

"…have to make some tough decision…"

MCCAIN:

"Senator Obama has $800 billion in new spending programs."

"I got plans to reduce and eliminate unnecessary and wasteful spending…"

OBAMA:

"John, it's been your president who you said you agreed with 90 percent of the time who presided over this increase in spending."

ON LESSONS OF IRAQ

MCCAIN:

"This strategy has succeeded. And we are winning in Iraq. And we will come home with victory and with honor. And that withdrawal is the result of every counterinsurgency that succeeds."

OBAMA:

"I think the first question is whether we should have gone into the war in the first place."

"…we did not use our military wisely in Iraq."

"…end this war responsibly."

ON AFGHANISTAN

OBAMA:

"…I would send two to three additional brigades to Afghanistan."

"…press the Afghan government to make certain that they are actually working for their people."

"Deal with a growing poppy trade that has exploded…"

"Deal with Pakistan…"

MCCAIN:

"..get the support of the people of -- of Pakistan."

OBAMA:

"…if the United States has Al Qaida, bin Laden, top-level lieutenants in our sights, and Pakistan is unable or unwilling to act, then we should take them out…"

ON THE THREAT OF IRAN

MCCAIN:

"…I have proposed a league of democracies, a group of people - a group of countries that share common interests, common values, common ideals, they also control a lot of the world's economic power.

"...impose significant meaningful, painful sanctions on the Iranians…"

OBAMA:

"…We do need tougher sanctions."

"I reserve the right, as president of the United States to meet with anybody at a time and place of my choosing if I think it's going to keep America safe."

ON RUSSIA:

OBAMA:

"…our entire Russian approach has to be evaluated, because a resurgent and very aggressive Russia is a threat to the peace and stability of the region."

"...make clear that we have to follow through on our…six-point cease-fire."

"…affirm all the fledgling democracies in that region"

"…countries like Georgia and the Ukraine…are free to join NATO if they meet the requirements"

"…deal with the proliferation of loose nuclear weapons."

MCCAIN:

"…support the inclusion of Georgia and Ukraine in the natural process, inclusion into NATO."

"make sure…the Ukrainians understand that we are their friend and ally."

OBAMA:

"…alternative energy…plan for us to make a significant investment over the next 10 years…"

ON THE LIKELIHOOD OF ANOTHER 9/11 ATTACK

MCCAIN:

"…a better job in human intelligence."

"…trained interrogators so that we don't ever torture a prisoner ever again."

"…make sure that our technological and intelligence capabilities are better."

"…work more closely with our allies.

OBAMA:

"...We've got to make sure that we're hardening our chemical sites."

"...I…believe that we need missile defense…"

"..focus on…Al Qaida."

"…restore America's standing in the world."

This is a bullet point list of actual action items presented in the debates.  I cannot get it to post correctly to Talking Points.  Please feel free to copy and repost if you can.

http://johncaelan.blogspot.com/

This is a bullet point review of the Presidential Debate, listing only any stated actions or goals. 

Strip out the hyperbole, hubris, arguments and recollections over record, and take away the commentary on things we already know, then you have this is the list of Action Items actually mentioned by the candidates.

Strip out the hyperbole, hubris, arguments and recollections over record, and take away the commentary on things we already know, then you have this is the list of Action Items actually mentioned by the candidates.

Tearing into the bailout plan, and Henry Paulson's delusions of regency in particular, Jon Stewart reminds us that he may be the last bastion of honest journalism, even if he keeps professing not to be a news program.  You can't write this stuff.  That's what makes the show so brilliant.  They just grasp the manifest.  It's so sad it's funny.  Yet horrible.

Keep working to stop this bailout.  It is a threat to everything we claim to be as a nation of people. Damn, this is funny.  See the video clip here:

http://johncaelan.blogspot.com/2008/09/daily-show-takes-on-bailout.html

[[You can track John Caelan's blog Whiskey and Wine directly at johncaelan.blogspot.com

UPDATE III:  STOP THE BAILOUT>NO MEANS NO!

With the stock market closing higher for the day in spite of the piercing shrieks of doom emanating from every hollow of Punditville , you would think that the dollar must be sinking uncontrollably, as investors around the world convert their dollars into hard assets, like companies with land, buildings, and inventory of useful commodities, because who on earth would be buying stocks right now.  In fact, the dollar has been bouncing up and down wildly over the last two weeks, the poor creature's final hissy fit before it is told sternly by the world to go take a nap.  The endless stream of money (read 'debt') being pumped into the system by the Federal Reserve has allowed it to be persevered for yet another weekend respite, dollar still pulsating, stock market still breathing, the Constitution still somewhat legible.

Every news update seems to be packaged around the same precept, that the bailout plan must happen and this is simply a matter of negotiation.  Well, as far as I can tell, from polls around the country, especially local news channel polls, the citizens are not saying, "Hey, come up with better details for the $700 billion bailout."  Their answer seems to be decidedly "No Bailout."  Even FOX NEWS (heaven help me) acknowledges that most Americans oppose the bailout plan. 

Apparently, we need to adopt the mantra of those long-empowered ladies of our world who have grown used to the constant onslaught of self-aggrandizing men and have  long since  understood the need for great simplicity when communicating with these would-be overheated assailants:  "No means no."   

It doesn't mean "No, unless you add more taxpayer debt to the bill to help us, instead of just helping us taxpayers (Democrats…No means no…)

It doesn't mean, "No, unless you shoot in from the flanks with an investment plan for the taxpayers, hoping that we won't wonder how anyone can create an investment plan for $700 billion in a couple of days (Republicans…No Mean no!...)   

It doesn't mean "No, unless it's all about you! You, you, you! (McCain, No means no...)

It doesn't mean anything except "No".

Opponents to the bailout are holding their own right now, but there is always Plan B.  A rational opponent always has Plan B.  You see, if the administration and Congress acknowledge to the people that they hear us, if they acknowledge that we are against this bailout period, and if they acknowledge that we are going into a deep recession, and if they decide to start concentrating on that plan together instead of spending weeks trying to figure out how to hide golden parachutes in language and footnotes for failed confidence men, then it might actually strengthen the nation.  We might start great debates in the Congress about how to fix things instead of how to shape things.  People might feel somewhat empowered because they actualy understand what is going on around them and feel they have some control over it. 

 So, the media pours out story after story highlighting the dissension, and the political parties, and the candidates, and this group from that state who does this…and that group from that committee that wants this…I'd like to hear one Senator or Representative say, "I've voting no because practically everyone in my district said 'no'." 

Let's flash forward a week or so.  The economy has crashed in a way that causes a seizure in the market place.  It's a big stock market drop, FDIC needs more money, the dollar is tanking, and no one is buying our debt.  A national emergency is declared, and I acknowledge in advance that this a paraphrase, but I suspect you may hear: 

"The nation now faces an extreme crisis, one that could have been controlled had the Congress taken action in a timely manner.  You all witnessed how a simple emergency procedure, that would have supported the credit market and allowed us to dispose of these assets in an orderly manner, was undermined by partisan politics, even when the American way of life was being threatened, even when experts and economists around the world pleaded for a quick resolution.  Our citizens cannot afford this kind of slow response in the face of clearly stated emergency situation. 

"Now a crisis is upon us, and government must respond without hesitation, to come to the aid of every citizen.  Our commerce is frozen and we need to make sure the people have the necessities as we transition through this crisis, without delay...national emergency...Patriot Act...a bunch of other laws we slipped in behind your back in the last eight years while you were watching American Idol...curfews... Consequence Response Management...soylent green…."

Fire insurance from the mafia.  Go ahead. Don't buy the insurance.  See what happens.

This is why we must stay focused on broadcasting that it is the citizenry saying "No means no", and that we are going to stop this bailout, not the politicians.   I bet they are bothered to no end on how much this issue has brought together Americans from across the spectrum.  It would seem that we do have a lot in common, after all, especially the instinct that kicks in when we sense that our free will and self-determination is in jeopardy.  It's the same instinct that inspired our ancestors and family to cross the ocean into the unknown to seek their liberty, whether four hundred years ago or last month, it's the same instinct that drove out the British and the East India Trading Company in the Revolution, it's the same instinct that drives us to refine our respect for each other, breaking down barriers of slavery and oppression one at a time for the last two hundred years, and it's the same instinct that forged our Constitution and Bill of Rights.  And when they see us react with that instinct en masse, they panic, because it scares them.  I think they thought we were more subdued than we are.  So the media blames it on the Congressional circus. 

The only way to restore full faith in the credit of the United States of America is for us to show the world that We the People can control this government, especially this administration.  If we demonstrate to them and the world that the bailout was stopped according to our will, then our neighbors may not have to treat us like ogres who have lost their collective minds.   This insistance of our self-determination is a threat to those who would rule, but it should be a comfort to those who would lead. We'll see if we have any leaders left.  In the meantime, assume not and keep pounding away at this endlesslessly.

Find your Reps:  www.congress.org

John Caelan

www.quebb.net

http://johncaelan.blogspot.com

We don't need a new revolution. 

We're in the one that never ends.

UPDATE TWO:  IT'S NOT OVER!

The headline's oscillate between proclamations of bailout success and dark forebodings--the visual representation of this is conveniently graphed for us on the stock indexes for the day.  "See?" they taunt.  "See how the market gets better when we say the bailout is at hand?  See how it gets worse when word of your stonewalling gets out?"

We cannot let up on the Congress, and, frankly, at this point we should be calling our state representatives as well.  We must accept the reality of this situation:  This bailout has minimal impact on the American people; it is primarily about paying off foreign interests before the collapse, even if that process is to be heavily veiled and masked by transactions.  The $700 billion dollars is nothing in the face of the problem at hand.  It is enough to save a few prominent corporations, leaving them in position to sweep up the remnants at fire-sale prices. 

The great rush to get this bailout through isn't about saving the markets.  It's about sucking in as much capital as possible before the market collapses.  As quickly as the Treasury writes the check, the recipient corporations will retrench and shift their money out of the U.S. Dollar.  Foreign funds will buy stock rapidly, in companies that hold solid assets, because they need to buy something fast with those dollars. 

It is the collapse of the derivitives market that looms, trillions of dollars in "credit default swaps" (62 trillion in the Unites States alone, according to the International Swaps and Derivatives Association), basically insurance bonds against losses in other credit instruments, bundled and sold over and over again, like some kind of world-wide Ponzi scheme.  It's not just the taxpayers holding the bag here; it is mutual funds and pension plans and savers from here and other nations who are all about to get flattened.  So far, every time the true market price of these bonds rears its ugly head, it is pennies on the dollar, and this unveiling is what they have been fighting off since Bear Sterns. 

The great lie is that this bail out will 'unclog' the credit pipes--as if other people are sitting around with trillions of dollars ready to buy out junk bonds at above-market prices.  This is an almost laughable theory being presented to the people of the United States.  "If we buy $700,000,000,000 of these bad, severely overvalued bonds at above-market prices, then others will buy the remaining $61.3 trillion of bad, severely overvalued bonds at above market-prices."  Right.  Come on, kids..Follow the piper down to the river...

But this isn't the dialogue that is happening in the public forum (yeah, I use that loosely).  President Bush all but confessed that the sins of the world market seizure are borne by the USA, though he makes it sound like an unforeseen consequence, like all gamblers do when the pot goes the other way.  And he did a great job of redirecting attention towards mortgages as the entirety of the problem, instead of merely the first crack in a dam made of cheap clay.  What he cannot say is this:  "It is the derivatives market that has created hundreds of trillions in false wealth, and it is this market that is imploding.  We are entering a severe recession that will result in the collapse and restructuring of the economy in ways you cannot imagine, though many people have imagined it and you probably should have listened more.  As far as the bailout, if you knew what we know, you'd be looting, too..."

President Bush met with McCain and Senator Obama today.  This isn't about negotiating the bailout; this is about negotiating with the voters.  I wish it was different on either front.  By the way, President Bush, if you ever wanted to have your Anakin Skywalker moment, veto the bill no matter what and tell people what's really going on.  Your father would become a footnote... 

There is not enough money in the world to circumvent a massive correction in the market.  Literally.  That's the problem.  There is not a lot of money, actual wealth, at all.  There are just a lot of people saying they have money.  They hold up a bond that's worth six cents and declare, "This is worth a dollar."  You think it is a damnable offense that some family lies on a mortgage application, exaggerating assets, to get a loan?  Corporations like Lehman, Fannie and Freddie, AIG, and the whole line up yet to come all did this to the tune of hundreds of billions.  But with every default, more of these toxic bonds get found out.  You see, the corporations aren't really losing money; they are just being forced to reveal that they didn't have the money in the first place.  This is why "the credit" has come to a standstill.  That is the usual consequence of lying to your creditors...

Your friends and family must understand these things and take action.  We need whatever flimsy credit we have left to help our fellow taxpayers when misfortune lands upon them above and beyond the sum of their choices.  That's why we pool our money, that's why we hire these people to manage the People's operations.  We, as a nation, need to seriously review our hiring practices...