John McCain: "This [surge] strategy has succeeded. And we are winning in Iraq."

Today in Iraq:

Iraqi police fatally shot a Kurdish politician in one of Iraq's most volatile provinces as he entered police headquarters Saturday to settle a dispute over the arrest of a colleague, officials said. ...

Tension has been rising between Kurds and Arabs in the north because of Kurdish demands for incorporating the northern oil city of Kirkuk and other areas into their self-ruled region of northern Iraq. Kurdish demands for greater control beyond their autonomous region have risen since the 2003 war, and has caused some Arabs in the region to flee their homes.

What's your definition of "winning," Senator McCain? What's your plan for bringing political stability to Iraq?

Shocking and sad news. Paul Newman, one of the finest actors and persons we have ever seen , has passed away.

My favorite Paul Newman scene remains this, from The Verdict:

RIP Paul Newman, a great actor and fine human being.

Go Gators!! Gators Stink!! I hate them, at least until next Saturday. What a terrible loss.

This is an Open Thread.

After the first 15 minutes of the debate last night, I could not watch I was so upset with Obama's performance in the economic portion of the debate. I thought, and still think, Obama gave McCain the upper hand on an issue Obama should have had McCain crying on. But for the rest of the debate Barack Obama dominated John McCain, on foreign policy no less. And Obama won the debate. He was the President on stage. An ironic turn.

Of course I agree with Obama on the issues, so I will favor him anyway. But it was more than that. After a seemingly nervous start on the economy, Obama hit his stride on foreign policy and McCain hit his McNasty button. Mccain was incredibly unlikable and unPresidential. Obama was the President on that stage, not McCain. CGR focus group study gives you an idea what I am talking about:

I was trying to put my finger on what bothered me so much about John McCain's smugness last night and I figured out it had to do with him assuming, by virtue of his lifetime of being a politiican, he's entitled to be President. As if he's paid more dues and has seniority in things besides age.

Then, thinking about my birthday Sunday, I remembered that my good pal and occasional TalkLeft contributor Anita Thompson;'s birthday is today. After our great week at the DNC, Anita left for Manhattan to finish up her senior year at Columbia. So I checked in at her Owl Farm blog to see what's she's up to. She has a great section quoted from her husband's Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail, '72. It fits McCain to a T. I'm reprinting it below.

larger version here.

[Hat tip to a Daily Kos diary that also has lots of video links and photos of Barack and Michelle Obama and detailed CBS poll analysis.]

Late Night music: If I never hear the word precondition again, I'll be just fine:

From the Big Lebowski soundtrack, Kenny Rogers and the First Edition:

I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Here's some early commentary on tonight's debate between Senators Barack Obama and John McCain:

• Focus Groups, Undecideds For Obama

• CBS News: Knowledge Network Undecideds Give Debate To Obama

• Halperin: Obama A- McCain B-

• Philadelphia Inquirer: McCain Uncertain - "McCain has been uncertain - Obama not."

More...

The debate transcript is here. What were your favorite parts? I'll add the clips to this thread.

Updates below.

CNN just conducted an Opinion Research telephone poll. Obama beat McCain by big margins:

• The debate: 52% to 38%
• Iraq: 52% to 47%
• Economy: 58% to 37%

Update: More than 60% of the CNN focus group in Ohio said Obama won. 64% said they thought he would be the next President.

Update: CBS poll finds more undecideds thought Obama won.

CNN just interviewed a McCain adviser named Nicole. She not only watched a different debate than the rest of us, she's deaf. She said Obama, whose tax cuts would apply to 95% of Americans, all who earn under $250k, would enact tax increases for the vast majority of Americans.

Once she said that, I just tuned her out.

It's the difference between spinning and outright lying. She lied.

Who won? I think Obama killed McCain on foreign policy. No one could watch that debate and have doubts about his ability to deal with these issues.

McCain represents the past. Obama looks like the future.

The Mississippi debate between Senators Barack Obama and John McCain begins at 9pm ET on CNN. They will probably stream it if you're not by a tv. Big Tent Democrat, the TL Kid and I will be live-blogging.

The live blog stays below the fold so that it can be a bit wider than the front page allows. Just click on the "There's More" button or bookmark the permalink to go directly to it.

You can comment same as always in the comment section below. You also can send us live messages through the software. Only comments you post below will appear on the site.

I'll be putting up some polls during it to see how you think the candidates and questioners are doing. [More...]