Live-Blogging the Final Debate
10:30 PM EDT
Curtains.
Final statements were underwhelming.
But when McCain mentioned his family’s history of military service I couldn’t help but think of Lieutenant Dan.
Winner: Obama.
McCain is all done. It’s over.
Your final thoughts?
(Thanks again to the C-Span Debate Hub folks for connecting with us.)
10:20 PM EDT
Last question? Oh well.
Is there anyone in their right mind who would think McCain is more in touch when it comes to average, public education? This is where Obama’s community organizer experience actually helps. (I can hear the laughs from the right)
McCain does not know how to use a computer. This guy did:
10:14 PM EDT
A reader via email:
McCain is handin’ Obama his ass and you see Obama winning?
Yes.
10:09 PM EDT
How bad does McCain want to drop an “F-bomb?”
McCain is dodging the abortion issue. Overturning Roe v. Wade is a no-no with the overwhelming majority of women today.
Obama’s answer was much more thoughtful. Women like that. Well, the smart ones do.
9:56 PM EDT
A reader via email:
McCain looks like he’s about to burst.
9:52 PM EDT
A reader via Tweeter:
McCain has got to at least try not to look like an angry old man.
He can’t. And I think he’s gonna get a lot worse before this is over. This is literally his swan song.
9:45 PM EDT
This VP question is amazing. Could you imagine having to defend Palin as a serious President of the United States?
McCain: Palin is a role model for women. Wow. Special needs. Ok.
9:38 PM EDT
McCain is unhinged. Absolutely unhinged. Being this aggressive is a stupid strategy. Or is that a tactic?
Obama is answering the questions calmly.
9:34 PM EDT
Obama swings. Here we go.
It is absolutely unbelievable that McCain is playing the victim. Unbelievable. This man is crazy.
9:30 PM EDT
Here’s your first “Oh shit” moment.
McCain is actually playing the victim on the negative campaigning question.
Obama handled that one perfectly. Forget our our “hurt feelings” and get back to the issues. He took the high road. Presidential, no?
9:25 PM EDT
Ok. McCain looked pissed when he said “I’m not Bush. If you wanted to run against him you should have run four years ago.” He’s aggressive tonight. He has to be. Let’s see how well Barack can disarm him. Pulling the moderator in on the conversation will be important.
Obama’s temperment is what will eventually clinch the election.
It’s killing McCain to share the stage with “this one.”
9:20 PM EDT
“Borrowing money from China to give to Saudi Arabia.” Great line.
McCain went into earmarks. No surprise. Here’s what they represent in the overall budget. Thank God Obama finally addressed that one.
9:15 PM EDT
15 minutes in and we haven’t seen “Mean McCain” yet.
9:12 PM EDT
Strong opening. Wow. Obama is going to run away with this. I especially like how he changed describing those who will see higher taxes under his administration - “a quarter million a year” sounds like much more than two hundred and fifty grand.
9:10 PM EDT
McCain missed a good opportunity to say something classy about the negative tone of his campaign over the past two weeks. Something like this would have sufficed – “Senator Obama, it’s good to be with you again and in light of some of the nasty turns that inevitably come up on the campaign trail… I’d just like to say that I respect you as a patriotic American, family man, and Christian. I happen to think you are wrong about everything else. But these things I recognize.” Or would that sort of high-minded maturity be frowned upon by the GOP?
9:00 PM EDT
Show time!
A Reader Via Facebook:
Randy, is this worth watching? Will anything of real significance actually happen?
Yes. For some reason I think there will be at least one “Oh shit!” moment. Perhaps several. There’s too much on the line. Tensions are high.
8:25 PM EDT
They’re watching us…..
8:07 PM EDT
The C-SPAN Debate Hub is linked in to this thread for the evening. Thanks again to Leslie for hooking us up.
I’m watching O’Reilly. He’s showing videos of Reverend Wright and complimenting himself. Who is the bigger blowhard, Hannity or O’Reilly?
7:04 PM EDT
Here’s my prediction from the warm-up post:
Face to face at a table with a moderator to play off of? Obama will thrive in this setting. It gives him a chance to be conversational and charming. This will drive McCain nuts and he won’t be able to conceal his absolute disdain (he honestly thinks he’s being screwed out of the presidency). He’ll come off as an angry, old man. It’s over. Cue the fat lady.
What about you?
About the Author: Randall H. Miller is an American educator/blogger. He is also a former U.S. Army officer (82nd Airborne) with a M.A. in Diplomacy (focusing on International Terrorism) and a B.A. in Criminal Justice. Use the form on the right to sign up for the "Friday Morning Fix” and other timely updates. The words and ideas expressed here are 100% his own and not those of his employers or affiliated organizations.
dickmill
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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I predict with 100% certainty that the McCain spin room will pronounce McCain the winner and likewise for the Obama crowd. I further predict that MSNBC will declare Obama the winner and Fox will declare McCain the winner.
Personally, I think McCain will look like the toast that he is and never look at Obama. I predict that Obama will wear a WTF-grin throughout the 90 minutes and secretly ponder how he got so lucky as to have McCain choose Palin as his running mate.
dickmill
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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Is it coincidental that I received a link to this from the Obama campaign 2 hours before the debate. This is real grass roots — totally missing from the McCain campaign:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/votercontact/login?requested=%2Fpage%2Fvotercontact%2Fswitch_campaign%3Fcampaign_id%3D3gP
Porsche Cars, Products and LifeStyle
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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Unfortunately, I agree with both RHM and dickmill. McCain simply doesn’t know how to handle himself in this type of environment.
With that said, I think there has been enough said about him not looking Obama in they eye, that he should at least do that. The question is, will he melt when I contact is made?
yo daddy
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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It doesn’t matter who actually wins the debate. I suspect in substance Mccain wins, on coolness and aloofness BHO wins, but all networks and newspapers will declare BHO the winner, as well as the host of this blog and his sidekick, the aussie from Roget’s. At the end of the day mccain will win the election because people WILL NOT go into the booth and pull the lever for a manchurian candidate.
This site will be in mourning for a few days, on attack for a few years, and wrong again whaen Palin defeats Clinton in four years. “The harder the come, the harder they fall, one and all…”
yo daddy
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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Plus John will loan me a Porshe if I use an analogy like “Obama is like a ford pinto, cool when it came out, especially in yellow, but quickly blew up, while Mccain is like a ‘64 porshe, not the prettiest to look at, but it sure delivered the goods.” I’ll take the silver one for the weekend, thankyou.
DJS
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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@yodaddy…
If McCain wins, how does Palin beat Clinton in four years?
DJS
yo daddy
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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Great question! Well, remeber conservatives like me enjoy nothing more than maximizing liberal pain, (see elections ‘00 and ‘04) and having Palin win an election ASAP would accomplish this in spades! Plus mccain will only serve 4 years.
DJS
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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LOL… Nice.
McCain only serve 4 years and then hand it over to Palin? NEVER! If he did win, he would never give that seat up as long as there is blood running through his veins.
DJS
yo daddy
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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You are right, I’m sorry. This is a man that has survived a lot more than that. But it will be hard to survive 4 years of laughing at olberman and the rest of the press, no?
RHM
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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If McCain would commit to serve only one term, it would change the entire calculus of this race.
Personally, I say there’s zero chance of it happening.
RHM
yo daddy
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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How? And why?
RHM
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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Shhhhh.
Daddy’s busy right now.
RHM
DJS
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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McCain served 5 years as a POW. Not giving up the White house in 4… NEVER
I know I wouldn’t
DJS
Greg
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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Don’t worry, Mean McCain will come, especially if Schiefer keeps interrupting him (as he should be).
DJS
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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he is punchy tonight…
LaPaix
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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Schieffer is great! Love the question on negative campaigning. McCain is a total liar (again) saying he has repudiated every negative comment by a Republican. That is so blatantly false, it’s funny.
Greg
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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He’s certainly doing better tonight than the prior two debates. But it shouldn’t even matter — we’ll need all the help in the world if, god forbid, anything ever happens to him as the chief executive and palin steps in. That’s scary. I wonder if she now knows of another supreme court case that bothers her, other than roe v. wade. Probably not.
bw
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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they’re not “talking” to each other…
bw
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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I thought Bob promoted a ‘face to face’…
DJS
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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I love when he laughs..
Greg
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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Nice use of McCain’s spending freeze on the special needs issue.
LaPaix
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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As a woman, Sarah Palin is no role model of mine. I don’t know a single woman who considers who a role model or who thinks she is qualified to be VP. I walked precincts in Nevada last weekend, and a lot of woman (including Republicans) said Palin was the last nail in the coffin in their decision to vote for Obama.
Jin Jirrie
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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Perhaps McCain chose Palin so he would look smart in comparison - other possibles for VP would have overshadowed him.
McCain’s intellectual paucity, as well as his lack of statesmanship is certainly highlighted when he’s placed on the same stage as Obama.
Greg
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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The McCain campaign’s constant references to Joe the Plumber and Joe Six Pack is getting tiresome.
RHM
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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McCain should wink and say “betcha.”
Then talk about the finer points of mavericking.
RHM
LaPaix
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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At least McCain isn’t saying “my friends” every other minute.
Greg
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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Yeah, the fact things are declining is because there’s a democratic congress — Bush has nothing to do with it.
yo daddy
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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I’m back to create some balance in this lilting ship. DJS and Porsche John, please join me on the right to help balance this ship before it capsizes and takes us all down the Obama Way…
yo daddy
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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Acorn is the word, is the word, is the word, it’s got groove, its got meaning…
Greg
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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McCain could’ve scored some points by focusing on the Ledbetter issue more than he did — he’s right, what Obama will do is exactly what the trial lawyers want.
RHM
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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@Greg
Could you sum that up for us in a nutshell? I’m sure I’m not the only one who needs to be educated.
RHM
yo daddy
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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Is it me, or does BHO come across as a smug know it all my shit don’t stink smile my socialist ways or no way debater?
yo daddy
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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Obama will say that more money is needed….
Greg
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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Sort of a summary: Lilly Ledbetter sued her employer under the equal pay act (claiming men were paid more for the same work) and all but a few of her claims were dismissed because the statute of limitations runs from the date the employer makes the decision, not from each paycheck (in her case, the employer made the decision several years before). There’s a bill pending now called the lilly ledbetter act that would make it so that each paycheck starts the clock on a new claim.
yo daddy
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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He keeps saying that, but the US was the preeminent world power through the depression into WWII - someone correct him please… Jealous Jumanji, can you handle that?
yo daddy
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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HERE IT COMES>>> mo’ money!
Greg
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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Why you have a readily accessible picture of the pope staring at a computer is scary.
DJS
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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@yodaddy…
Voted Republican my whole life. This year, not going to happen. Obama is the better choice, period.
I am bracing for your impact as I submit this to you.
DJS
LaPaix
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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McCain is so condescending. Makes him look like a jerk.
yo daddy
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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Hey - I respect your choice. You have given it thought and made your decision.
DJS
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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@Greg
Greg? as in Todd’s younger but smarter brother?
DJS
Greg
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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Whaddup dan?
yo daddy
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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It must be perception… I see BHO as condescending… He is half again as smart as everyone else and he wants you to not only know it, but acknowledge it… righteousness in the pursuit of power is a vice…
LaPaix
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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Yeah, I guess it’s a matter of perception. I think Barack shows incredible self control answering McCain. McCain condescendingly accuses Obama of not comprehending or not knowing something nearly every time he comments.
DJS
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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Not much Greg… All is well… We catch up later.
Good night all.
DJS
yo daddy
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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Randy - You are right, BHO is more in touch with Hollywood, Cambridge, San Fran, the upper West Side, Iran, Brazil, Venezuela, and obviously, Australia ( right Joust?), but how about the big vacuum in the middle? The America of Reagan?
Jin Jirrie
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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McCain spends a lot of time whinging about negative ads - what hypocrisy.
McCain doesn’t seem to have a grasp on basic economic principles - that if a privileged few are allowed, as they have been under Bush, to bloodsuck perpetually from everyone else, eventually the ability to purchase in the general population dries up. This is applicable globally as well - the laughably low USSA interest rates have been financed by the rest of the world for years.
Is McCain’s unwillingness to tax the super rich payback for those who fund him?
yo daddy
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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Winner: The American People. Now it’s up to them to get it right. And whatever choice they make will be the right one, be it Mccain or BHO. I wonder if the rest of you agree, or if there is only THE ONE right outcome? Humh?
yo daddy
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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It’s USA, Jolly Jiant. Not USSA. I think you are confusing it with the country you want us to become… USSR?
Jin Jirrie
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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The links between corporations and government are so strong that they are now practically indistinguishable - and now with government bailout of the banks and disgraceful mortage companies, USSA fits perfectly.
yo daddy
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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BTW a round of applause for our moderator RHM this evening…!!!
Jin Jirrie
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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Is Joe the Plumber McCain’s drug dealer? McCain is practically incoherent.
dickmill
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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McCain: won’t use a litmus test for Supreme Court. Only qualifications of jurists will be considered.
What if a nominee is pro-choice?
McCain: then he wouldn’t be qualified.
WHAT???
dickmill
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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McCain alternately looked like a used car alesmen who couldn’t make a sale, a 4 year old who was told to sit still and couldn’t, and a Palinesque robot who was trying to jam multiple talking points into one thought.
McCain planted the IED in his own campaign (Palin) and the public doesn’t dare go too near — it hasn’t exploded yet — but it might. In any case, it kills the campaign.
I had to rewind once at 9:43 PM to check out what I heard. McCain, I thought, called Palin a “breast of fresh air.” It was close — “a bresh of fresh air.” Darn. Now it won’t have legs. Darn, again.
dickmill
| Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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Who won the debate? It all depends on who you ask:
Drudge Report:
MCCAIN 73%
OBAMA 25%
CNN.com:
McCain 16%
Obama 81%
Luis Genao | Oct 15, 2008 | Reply Vote:
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Unluckily I was busy but thanks to the link with C-Span link i was able to watch it at twelve.
Just as predicted, Obama did the right thing by “keeping his cool” and giving intelligent answers while McCain was just trying and trying to attack Obama.
BTW: Will the plumber be able to buy the company or not?
RHM
| Oct 16, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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Reflecting on last night’s debate leads me to the conclusion that there was only one “presidential” (adjective) candidate on the stage last night. And his name was Barack Obama.
McCain came off as angry, petty, and grumpy. In short, he doesn’t manage his frustrations very well.
Obama, on the other hand, has a 21st century temperament to match his intellect. I will breathe a sigh of relief when he wins. The world (and especially the U.S.) does not need another Republican administration right now. Especially one lead by McCain and Palin.
RHM
bew | Oct 16, 2008 | Reply Vote:
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We shouldnt rely on the government to provide us with everything,the government shouldnt be like a parent.
RHM
| Oct 26, 2008 | Reply Vote: 
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McCain seems to have accepted campaign donations exceeding federal election law limits from over 6,000 donors.
Isn’t this the guy who brought us campaign finance reform? Wow! What a maverick!
http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed2/idUSTRE49O1U920081025?rpc=64
RHM