Continuing a venerable tradition at DAG, I'm on Sen. John McCain's weekly blogger conference call ready to live blog 'til my fingers ache. I make no claim to being a fully trained and licensed journalist so if I don't get the quotes exactly right, you'll have to complain to someone else.

1:33PM: Still waiting for some decent music to listen to while I'm waiting for the call to begin. How about something like this?

1:38PM: Still waiting for the Senator to join the call. Apparently there was some mix-up with the scheduling because McCain's staff was talking back and forth on the line asking when the Senator would get on the call.

1:39PM: Sen. McCain joins us from Detroit, he was talking to entrepreneurs there.

He sounds very tired and weary. Could just be the end of the week or the length of the campaign season starting to take its toil.

He's pleased the efforts of the Democrats to set a date for withdrawal or "surrender" as Sen. McCain calls it have been defeated. Attributes this largely to the testimony of General Petraeus.

1:43PM: Talked about Burma. Thought we should put pressure on China to isolate Burma.

It's time for firm decisive action against the thugs that are running that country.

1:45PM: Jennifer Rubin - You're doing much better in NH, but not as well in Iowa, are you gonna shift resources, and how are you doing on money?

We're cutting our budget back, as opposed to raising more money.

1:47PM: Coming up on the 40th anniversary of Sen. McCain being shot down.

I don't think I'll do anything special, I may call up some of my old buddies.

1:48PM: What sort of action do you have in mind against the thugs in Burma?

1) Pressure from China
2) Call on ASEAN to throw them out, throw Burma out of ASEAN.

1:50PM: Ed Morrissey- Question about last night's debate. Why did you decide not to go? How do you see yourself reaching out black voters?

Had a major event in NYC. I'll also stand on my record, which is one of equal opportunity for all Americans.

1:55PM: Jim Geraghty - None of Dems in last Wednesday's debate advocated immediate withdrawal from Iraq, why?

I think it's a result of the Petraeus effect.

1:56PM: Hillary Clinton at the Congressional Black Caucus proposed giving money to every baby born in the US, what do you think of that?

How is she going to pay for it?

1:57PM: How do you propose to reduce the cost for entrepreneurs to do business?

We have to stop the spending and stop the corruption in government. The fact is Americans no longer trust their government.

There are three kinds of members of congress: Republicans, Democrats, and appropriators.

2:00PM: The call ends. A good call and not too long in my humble opinion.

(Cross-posted at DAG.)