LIVEBLOGGING: Obama Makes the Rules, eh?

Obama decides not to answer Jim Leher's question about what programs he'll have to give up given the high cost of the bailout.

Instead, he ticks off a list of his talking points about what CAN'T be cut. By doing so, he can bring up education, health care, alternative energy forms—issues that were not going to be discussed tonight.

(McCain doesn't answer the question either)

Leher responds: "It doesn't sound like you're going to cut anything!"