Liveblogging The Final Presidential Debate: Let’s Get It On
Alright, we have just under an hour until the final presidential debate, and that means it’s time for us to get that show on the road. This will be the official liveblogging post, and all the rest of the details will come below the fold.
As always, we perform all of our liveblogging in the comments section so that anyone who wants to participate is free to do so. There are some caveats to this though.
No cursing. We do however encourage you to be as gross and vulgar as you possibly can be without using official curse words.
No spamming. I don’t care about your ladyboy pics or your vibrators that take four d batteries. Go away.
Finally, keep in mind, as the name of this blog would suggest, this is a highly partisan blog. If you’re pulling for McCain, I can not be held responsible for the treatment you receive.
With that out of the way, I’ve got my live feed running over at cnn.com, you can watch the debate on your TV, or just about any major news channel. Let’s get it on!
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Blog Stuff
Ugh, for some reason the CNN live feed is only showing a green screen, it’s like waiting for a McCain speech. It’s too bad because I thought I heard Nicole Lapin’s voice…
sigh
Jeebus, this is going to kill me. CNN has been, at least to this point, a reliable web watching experience, and here I’m staring at a blank green screen that is just pwning all the rest of the web sites I’m watching.
so I have sound but no visuals. I may try and watch on hulu, but hulu uses a big screen that doesn’t help much for liveblogging, we’ll see how it goes. Right now I’m listening to one woman, don’t know who it is thanks to CNN’s McCain green screen, but she is just rolling out the talking points!
Anyway, as this CF with the green screen continues, let me explain something about myself. I have this weird tic, when I get really nervous or really excited, I cough. Like, not the kind of cough when you go to the doctor’s office and he squeezes your testiclides and tells you to cough, but deep, serious, bile inducing wracking hacks. That’s what I’ve been doing for the past ten to fifteen minutes I’m so nervous.
Great googly moogly am I glad this is the last debate!
HA! It’s hilarious! That same Republican woman just blamed the negative tone of the campaign on Hilary Clinton. Is there no shame?
CRAP!!!!! NICOLE IS BACK!!!! WHY AM I TORTURED SO?!?!?!
You know, it’s very interesting, I keep watching a lot of the die hard McCain fans saying that McCain really needs to hit Obama hard, and I’m left wondering, have they been paying attention to this campaign from the beginning?
grrrr… And CNN has the moodmeter too. I’m so upset right now!
On the upside, the one bit of work I thought I might have had to step away from the computer for just walked in the door and is taken care of so I am all systems go for tonight’s liveblogging… except I don’t have my fracking moodmeter which really irritates me.
And since no one’s here, I’m watching the SNL spoof of the Biden Palin debate because it’s funny, and I’m about ten times more attracted to Tina Fey’s impersonation of Palin than I am to Palin which is to say zero (but in this case, ten times zero is really a lot and not also zero)
Hey! I’m off work and ready to rumble. The debate is being hosted by MSNBC right? Or should I just use CNN?
lol Fay’s Palin is actually kind of hot, whereas Palin herself – even though they literally look exactly the same – is not in the slightest… it’s shocking what a difference a painfully conservative closed mind can make in what I find attractive.
I don’t know who is hosting it, but last I tried CNN, the internet feed was nothing but a green screen… BOO!
WASSUP MAN!
Okay, last shot trying CNN’s live feed, and YAY!!!!!! IT’S UP!!!!
HEY NICOLE! HOW ARE YOU?!
Okay, I admit it, I have a crush on Nicole Lapin. *sigh*
hey, D, just so you know, I updated you on our blogroll. I was going to do a post too, but I have been doing a lot of posts today.
Wow, I’m reading the comments that CNN is providing, and if McCain really intends to engage in a personal attack on Obama, I think he’s going to regret it.
Hello. Hello!
Almost time to start, but here is another funny clip before we start.
All about the McCain wander: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/10/the-mccain-wander_n_133775.html
Sorry, had to link to the story. Scroll down for video.
Hey Teach!
BOO!!!! Must be a youtube clip, can’t watch until I get home tonight. You know, I really hate that youtube is firewalled at work. It’s kind of ironic because you can’t actually watch any pron at youtube, but oh well.
hehehehe…
CNN just said it had a “Truth Squad.” that’s a nice and creepy phrase.
Hey, Kyle. I am so looking forward to tonight’s debate.
I feel like, in this debate, Obama needs to steer clear of seeming defensive. Although I have admired his ability to “take the high road”, I do hope that he is aggressive, if attacked.
Okay, I’m going to go ahead and make pee pee now before things really start.
Hi all!
Just a note, someone sent me this link to C-SPAN’s Debate Hub. Here’s what he said about it:
It’s updating videos in real time (with a 10 minute delay) so that you can search the transcripts as the candidates are speaking and then embed clips of their answers. So let’s say McCain or Obama says an answer that you find interesting, you can go to the live streaming debate timeline, click on the blue (Obama) or red (McCain) block and that specific answer will pop up in the transcripts and you can embed just that tiny portion of video (pretty cool, right?)
Here’s the link:
http://debatehub.c-span.org/
What the hell is going on here? C-Span has a frozen screen.
Okay, MSNBC has living people.
Hey Kyle, thanks for the add! Now I’ll have to start posting content
MSNBC has a clear feed up but it’s just a pic of the stage… guess they’re not quite ready to start yet.
Man, just looking at that empty stage makes me nervous. When I was a kid, I remember wanting to be president, but honestly, I’m not up to it. I’m sweating just watching the debate. Thank God Obama’s got it under control.
The MSNBC live commentary is from Pat Buchanen and Rachael Maddow? Holy crap I bet sparks are flying right now.
So, quick story, we have outside contractors who come in and clean our building once a week, and by clean I mean they spill dirty water on the bathroom floors and replace the urinal cakes. Only this time, they didn’t actually put the urinal cakes in the urinals, but instead left them on top of the piping right above the urinals.
Out of curiosity, I eventually broke down and touched one. It was smooth, and smelled like cherry candy. if this debate heads south, I’m going to walk in there and eat one of them.
David Gregory, BOOOOOOO!
Wow! Hey guys. Oh, here we go… Great googly moogly, Bob Schiefer actually looks younger and more vivacious than John McCain…
here they go, and I’m about ten times more nervous than Dynamic, but Obama looks like he’s just sitting down for a nice cigar and brandy… Teabag!
Here we go.
Kyle, STEP AWAY FROM THE URINAL CAKE!
And their off! Schieffer isn’t wasting any time, he’s plunging right in. This is gonna be good.
Question 1: Why is your economic plan better than his (your opponent’s)?
Who is in the hospital? I was in the bathroom.
Am I too cynical? I knew he would mention Nancy Reagan
Oh, Nancy Reagan. Okay.
But the urinal cake looks so TASTY!
Not too cynical, terry.
Does McCain seem to be rambling here? That wasn’t a very cohesive answer at all. I’m obviously biased, but that wasn’t focused at all, to my ears.
Nancy Reagan’s in the hospital. McCain gives an okay answer.
So is urinal cake the new teabag??
Of course, he was going to mention Nancy Reagan. He mentioned Kennedy at the first debate. He is like my grandma. She always knows who is in the hospital and who died.
For the record, I do think my grandma would do a better a job running our country.
And Obama is addressing the middle class already, and this has been a major difference in the debates that has been reflected in the polls. Obama has made it clear in these debates that he is fighting for the middle class. McCain seems almost afraid to mention the middle class.
Again I’m biased, but Obama provided a very clear and concise response to the question. If this were a class, Obama would have scored a much higher grade for precision.
Of course, he is going to mention the plumber. Every right wing nutjob has been quoting this story.
Ohmygod, give me a break. How hokey can he get?
There we go, John McCain is attacking Obama on raising taxes.
Interesting that McCain is going here, to the plumber story. Do the people watching even know who he is talking about?
I must have missed this plumber thing, which is surprising as I spent yesterday doing nothing but reading blogs.
Obama’s ready for it though, showing once again that excellent counterpunch ability you often mention, Kyle.
Agreed, Dynamic.
And I agree Dynamic, Obama just in general looks more comfortable up there. McCain looks nervous.
That’s red meat for the base right there… “redistributing the wealth” is Republican code for communism.
Wow! McCain actually used “Class Warfare”?
McCain is just coming off mean.
Plumber story: http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=195153
Guess where it was beaten like a dead horse? Fox.
McCain and his sharpie just irk me.
Carry on.
I like Bob Schieffer.
Looking at the mood meter, not a whole lot of people were impressed with either candidate, thought the <50K really responded to Obama.
Hey Guys, I just tuned into the dedate on msnbc
McCain definitely recgonize that it’s do or die time… he’s being much more aggressive this time around.
If his strategy is to cater to his base, this election is over – his base is smaller than it’s been in a decades.
Hey Jazz, welcome to the party.
Me, I’m kind of bored already.
“Class warfare” is the Republicans’ favorite euphemism for economic fairness, Kyle.
This is where Obama’s teaching experience comes in. I do feel he does a good job explaining his plans.
McCain on the other hand. Goes off in all sorts of directions.
Whoa, he stumbled badly there.
Hi, Jazz.
Yeah, I know, I’m just shocked that he actually brought it up. I mean. here’s something to think about, McCain brings up class warfare, Palin brings up Joe and Jane Sixpack. These are not politician’s terms, these are inside baseball terms.
Who stumbled where, Kathy?
I’m on msnbc too, jazz.
Schieffer should ask for specifics on the freeze spending proposal.
Thanks for the link Kathy, I’ll scope it out post-debate.
McCain dodges the question, is called on it, and dodges again.
Looks like Schieffer is really going to stay on point, which bodes well for us, as Obama does his homework.
McCain’s got some specifics on this one though, this is a solid answer from him I have to admit.
god… he’s talking about government spending! I’m going to go eat a urinal cake now!
Here comes the projector!!!
McCain, just now, where he started answering Schieffer’s question but he wasn’t actually answering it.
yeah, and the moment he goes to attacking obama the mood meter just sinks..
Yea, I’m not too impressed yet. Obama just needs to keep calling McCain on his misintereperatations of his tax policy.
What link, dynamic?
one half of one percent of the federal budget. Obama just killed McCain’s pork barrel crusade right there.
wow, McCain is really on the attack
And Obama makes the very accurate point that earmarks are pretty irrelevant in the face of a half trillion dollar deficit., then ties McCain to Bush.
I do think McCain is doing well here, much better than I expected. He’s appealing to the fiscal conservatives and the populists, and right now that’s just about everyone .
You know, I kind of hate to say it, but Obama seems a little off his game tonight.
Whoa! That last shot was a little uncalled for.
The Plumber link – oops, sorry, that was from Teacher. Thanks for the link, Teacher. Trying to read and watch at the same time, tougher than I thought…
McCain is doing much better than before, but Obama is definitely not slouching either… looks like we might see those fireworks we’re always talking about after all, especially if Schieffer keeps pushing the hard questions like this.
Damn! This is a great question – call them both out on the negativity.
And here comes Ayers, I wager.
Uh oh Bob took it there like in school yard
Oh crap nuggets, here we go…
Kyle, I agree. I have a nervous feeling in my stomach for Obama.
If he’s going to bring up Ayers, It would have to be now.
Are you kidding me? McCain is blaming the tone of the campaign on Obama! And no, he’s not saying the William Ayers, and he’s bringing up the Lewis comment. And is McCain about to effing cry?
Kyle, I was thinking the same thing. About Obama seeming off his game.
Coward! Coward! Coward!
That was a good shot about “our hurt feelings being less important to Americans than health care,” etc.
He won’t do it. He’s not bringing him up! He’s not bringing up Ayers. That’s it. That’s the story. i don’t even want to watch this debate anymore. McCain blinked
McCain is being so rude.
You’re right Kyle, Obama’s holding his own but I don’t think he’s at his best, at least not so far. He may be thrown off, McCain is much more solid than I’ve ever seen him.
Obama has a good wonkish response to the question but I don’t know if it’ll counteract the visceral feel of John McCain saying “you didn’t keep your word”
This response about Palin’s crowd could have been a lot better… but you know what? I think I know what’s going on here. Obama is playing wonky rope-a-dope. McCain is throwing fire into this and Obama is keeping the focus on hope and steadiness, and it may wear McCain down.
I hope McCain erractic behavior gets the best of him
Obama is goading him into it, and he’s not doing. McCain is blinking!
And Kyle, do you think he’s trying to put out all this bluster about John Lewis and hurt feelings to distract people from realizing that he’s not talking about Ayers?
Now McCain is saying Obama is attacking McCain’s supporters? Are you kidding me?!
John McCain blinked, and blinked hard, and that is going to be the lead tomorrow. McCain
Statesman. Statesman. Obama’s the bigger man. He was the one who moved on. Yeah.
Yes I do, kathy. yes I do.
To expand on that – if Obama keeps drowning McCain’s attacks with statistics and policy, he looks like he’s already president, already enacting policy, and it wears down McCain’s attacks.
lolololol!
You know what’s really interesting is that the Republican line, through this response by Obama.
AND THERE HE GOES!!!! HE DID!!!
McCain did it! he took the bait, and Obama is laughing his.
Awesome awesome response.
Oh, I like this running mate question
Obama just laughed at McCain.
Cognitive dissonance. YOU pal around with terrorists, but my campaign is about the economy!
Well this is a softball for Obama but a blast at McCain – why will the country be better off with your running mate in the VP office? This should be good.
I like the “This is who I associate with” answer.
Ooooh…
How would this country be better off if your running mate became president of this country than the other ticket’s running mate?
I can’t wait to see the “mood-meter” when McCain speaks about Palin.
I know, terry; that was an inspired touch.
I wonder if McCain will bring up how ethical Palin is
She’s a liar.
Wow, higher than I expected.
Actually, the mood meter for the undecideds is doing pretty good.
And she wants pregnant rape and incest victims to go through pregnancy, labor, and childbirth.
You know, I figured out what Obama’s doing. he’s playing prevent defense. Golly gosh darn it Barry, don’t you ever listen to John Madden?!?!1 The only thing prevent defense does is prevent you from preventing winning ball games!
Uh-oh… Obama just hit McCain on the “spending freeze”… damn, that was a nice turn.
I’m sorry but being an advocate for special needs does not qualify you to be VP or god forbid President. McCain can not seriously believe that makes her a good choice. I’m a woman and it may be sexist but if she was so devoted to her specail needs child why is she running for VP.
Heh, that was a good concession from Obama… “sure, she’s a capable politician and she has ignited the base of her party…” Good response.
And WOW nailed it! What a response… McCain throws in the Special Needs thing and Obama throws it in his face, but in a legitimate way. Fantastic.
cockamamy? good a-Thull! who says cockamamy?!
Because if you want to help autistic children, you have to spend money. God, what a fucking idiot.
You know what guys? This mood meter just isn’t really moving significantly in either direction.
You know, and this is one of the one points where I tend to agree more with McCain, but that’s because I used to run those nuclear power plants on those Navy ships.
Okay, right here, the camera went to Obama alone, and I’ll tell you right now, this is his presidential moment. This moment right here is where he looks, sounds and sounds more presidential than John McCain, and his substances is more presidential.
And Obama keeps it up with the statistics rope-a-dope. Answer McCain’s attacks with solid presidential planning.
It’ll drown out any chance of serious fireworks, which is all Obama needs to do.
This question goes clearly to Obama. Clearly.
Does McCain ever talk about his policy and ideas? It seems to me he only talks AGAINST Obama’s.
DRILL BABY DRILL!!!!
*vomit*
I find I’ve stopped listening to McCain…
what did he say?
There McCain goes, patronizing Obama again.
Did you see McCain roll his eyes? Gotta love this split screen on CNN.
You’re right, teacher. He does only talk against Obama. But that’s because he HAS no ideas of his own worth mentioning.
I agree teach…
And, you know, here’s a big difference in their tones. When Obama talks, he’s smooth, authoratative, but non-hostile. John McCain has an almost chihauhau quality. He yaps. He sounds plaintive and borders on whining in the way he kind of has this, “you have to understand me” tone.
CNN is showing a mood meter for uncommitted Ohio voters. Obama seems to be doing well with the women. And now with both men and women while he is talking about clean energy.
You gotta love that laugh. It’s so good-humored!
OMG. Preconditions, again?
I missed it too… it sounded like he was trying to pull his own statistics out, and that’s a battle he can’t win either. He just doesn’t have the gravitas that Obama does.
The Obama Rope-a-dope is working, all the fire McCain started with is already gone, he’s already been worn out.
And that was another off the charts from Obama. He started off shaky, but he is really feeling it now.
McCain goes on the attack again, and the mood meter drops. Now we’re in a rhythm baby! Now we’re in a rhythm.
I do like when Obama speaks directly to the camera. I think that is effective. And the mood meter shows it.
I agree, D. he started off well, but he’s already on the ropes and is punching drunk.
Hey, any truth to the Colin Powell endorsement? That would take any wind out of McCain sails tomorrow morning
And he’s owning this question again. Obama really in his element now, and if you look at that <50 K meter it is maxed out through the health care answer. I think Obama’s going to come out of this debate with a third and final win.
I am going to switch to CNN.
Is McCain looking at notes?
Well, Terry, Fox News saw Colin hip-hop dancing so it has to be true.
McCain talking about Joe the Plumber makes the mood meter go down.
THE MOOD METER DOES NOT LIKE JOE!!!!!!!
McCain looks like he just got slapped in the face!
Mood Meter: STOP TALKING ABOUT JOE! I WISH HE WOULD DIE SO I COULD RIP OFF HIS SKULL AND MAKE POOPIES DOWN HIS THROAT!
McCain’s advisors should tell him to try to sit still. All that moving around makes him seem nervous.
Really?!?!!?!?
Back to Joe the Plumber, are you kidding me? Is McCain out of ammo already?
Did McCain just admit that health benefits will be taxed?
Senator Government
I wonder if Joe is actually watching this debate right now.
Okay, on Roe v. Wade I’m going to pee again. You guys go ahead and keep me up to date.
No, Joe got an emergency call and is knee deep in waste. Oh wait, he is watching the debate and is still knee deep in McCain’s BS.
“Decision to the states” on abortion means abortion would be illegal in many states, teabag. Maybe states should just decide what all of their laws are if you’re such a !@#$ing “Federalist”. Who needs the Constitution at all?!
Well I admit I didn’t see the Roe v Wade thing coming up.
Yikes, McCain may lose his some of his base here if he doesn’t come out firm against abortion.
McCain would appoint world judges!
Man, that urinal cake looked really tasty, but then my pee smelled like popcorn and it ruined it.
The mood meter for men and women going up as Obama talks about Roe v Wade
Fantastic answer.
I love being reminded that Obama has such a thorough understanding of the Constitution.
Snort at Teach.
Did McCain just contradict himself, btw? He said no litmus test, but then he also said no judge who supported a woman’s right to choose would be qualified?
YEAH Lilly Ledbetter!! This is a good story.
Who did McCain’s makeup job? He looks like a trollop.
Yeah, I agree D… Don’t get into a constitutional debate with a constitutional professor.
Wow, McCain just called Lily Ledbetter a trial lawyers dream, that’s pretty low.
And hey, look at that TEABAGS!
When he pats himself on the back for being “proudly pro-life” I wish I had a personal moodmeter with which I could tamper. I really do.
We’ve already been thru the present votes issue.
Wow, McCain’s attacks on Obama are really not connecting with the mood meter.
me too teach….
McCain’s eyebrows = teabags!
Gotta say I think Schieffer is doing a spot on job. This is the best debate of the lot for sure.
Obama is reaching for the high ground in the abortion debate – that’s a tough place to get to but I’m very grateful to see it, because that’s what we need.
The mood meter just spiked. Great answer about how people can come together on the issue of abortion.
Ooh… Obama is doing the preventing unwanted pregnancies, adn I think he is baiting mccain here.
Yes, John, we know how much contempt you have for women’s health.
Now, when I say baiting McCain. I think Obama was trying to bait mccain into repeating his attack on sex ed for kindergarteners… but maybe not.
I’m hoping McCain will lose a lot of female support with that sneering, dismissive comment about women’s health.
Education, this is a great opportunity to let Obama shine, Democrats are already seen as strong on education and Obama in particular as well. Let’s hope he hits this out of the park.
I have no idea how McCain will address this, should be interesting.
Oh, and just because I haven’t had a chance to say it yet – TEABAG
There is no way McCain touches Obama on education.
Here’s the headline on CNN.com right now:
‘Joe the plumber’ is focus of final debate
Education….my favorite topic.
Ohio mood meter is way up while Obama is taking about education.
Well, at least I don’t think I’m going to have to eat a urinal cake tonight. That’s a relief. Because, yes, the urinal cakes look tasty, but you know, I still do not want.
Bad start, McCain.
I wouldn’t have guessed, Teach.
Incidentally, Obama maxed out the mood meter on education across the board, in fact, the highest spike was among Republicans.
equal access has been achieved? WTF? Has McCain read anything by Jonathan Kozol? What a !@#$ing teabag. This man has absolutely no !@#$ing clue what the !@#$ he’s !@#$ing talking about.
“We find bad teachers a new line of work”?!?!?!?! Huh?
Have fun with that.
P.S. That sure seems like a socialist idea, McCain.
Heyyy, no more certification, there’s an idea!
McCain throws in the charter schools, competition response that is still more conservative stock in trade… And let’s make it so soldiers don’t have to get certified to teach? I’d really rather have our teacher’s be certified, I don’t care what their jobs were before.
And no stance on university education from McCain. That’s a big miss – making university affordable is a huge issue.
Look out, McCain’s in ramble mode. Where the teabag is he? Seriously, I think he’s currently wondering around in the Bronx at this point?
Sorry, Obama. We’ll have to agree to disagree on the Charter school idea.
I don’t think America’s youth are interest groups. They’re our future.
great line.
oooh… “I don’t think America’s youth are interest groups.”
Has McCain been losing his temper like that all night?
Jebus messianic cricket! McCain’s just a mean old bastiche… You know, a good general rule of thumb is that people don’t like the angry guy, and McCain just keeps coming off mean. “I’m surprised you didn’t pay more attention to that example…”
He just comes off condescending.
Wait! He’ll spend the money to find a cure for autism? Did he say SPEND THE MONEY?
Headstart preschoolers are still behind their peers because they started with little to NOTHING. Research shows that they are behind, but not nearly as deficient as they would have been with NO preschool.
Damn you, McCain!
Americans will open our wallets? Wouldn’t that mean paying higher taxes… which McCain doesn’t want to do?
Does John McCain know that Sarah Palin’s son has Down Syndrome not Autism??
or am I wrong?
Wait a minute… Did John mcCain just get the mental disability of his running mate’s son wrong? He’s saying autism, but doesn’t Trig have Down’s Syndrome?
You know, that last parting shot from McCain just seemed petulant.
No, McCain, there actually aren’t enough vouchers. I’ll tell you what — put all the kids that public schools are forced to teach into charter schools and private schools. Then we’ll see how much the system works.
And in McCain’s closing statement, he starts off just making the case for Obama.
Oooooh, Terry, that didn’t occur to me! I just thought he had latched on to autism. I think you may be right that he’s mixing it up with Down’s Syndrome.
Good great floating possibly imaginary entity in the sky! He’s stumbling over his own closing statement.
Kyle, he didn’t just do it now. He’s been talking about autism all evening, and how Sarah Palin knows so much about it.
Well, what does everyone think?
Thank god that was over, I feel like being lobotomized just for fun.
Kyle, did u mean Obama was stumbling?
Hey, that’s my line D!
Well, what did everybody think?
I thought Obama did well. I was a little worried when McCain started to really attack but I think he pushed it too far.
And what’s great is that everyone will be showing the Joe the Plumber video which is a real positive for Obama.
McCain did better than I expected, but I really think (or maybe just want to believe) that Obama had more sustained positive.
Rachel Maddow just pinpointed McCain’s dismissive comment about the life of the mother as a big blunder.
No, McCain was stumbling.
Hearing the CNN pundits mention the reaction shots, I do have to agree that was horrible for McCain.
You know what Kathy, i think you picked the moment of the night again. Both Josh Marshall and Oliver Willis are really hammering hard that McCain mocked the “health of the mother”. That’s going to really hurt him among women.
I have to agree, seeing McCain roll his eyes and keep shifting in his seat was bad for him.
Hey, what’s this Trackback stuff? Is that what I do when I want to quote this site over at my blog? I’m not at all sure how to work it, it just seems to bring the same page up when I click on trackback.
Definitely a n00b.
I agree, Teach. The split screen did McCain no favors as he often just looked testy, or overly mean. I’m still waiting to get my snap polling here. Where are my snap polls!
Actually, D, you screwed up when you went to Blogger. I don’t know how to work Blogger’s trackback system.
WHERE’S MY SNAP POLLS?!?!?!
Obama wins, by a teabag!
I’m talking to my daughter on the phone so if I don’t say a lot here….
Well, while I wait for my coveted snap polls, I’ll say this, I think Obama started off shaky, and McCain started off on the attack. But as D I think rightly pointed out, Obama was rope-a-doping McCain in classic fashion. The Ayers exchange was unremarkable other than, after Obama explained himself and the situation, McCain kept pushing, and that might get him called for reaching.
After the first half hour was over, though, I think Obama took over. He was smooth, confident, knowledgeable, and presidential. McCain, by contrast, just kept getting more and more petulant, and the split screen really didn’t help him one little bit.
i would say obama wins by a braining, personally.
My daughter is saying it bothered her that Obama didn’t say anything about contraception in that exchange about abortion. Didn’t he refer to it indirectly? Or am I remembering wrong?
Nice big wrinkly mushroom imprint right there on McCain’s liver spotted forehead.
Crap. I didn’t have a choice, I got the blogger account as part of a rave blog that was already going and then tacked on my political one (since I already had the account I figured why not).
Alright, I’ll figure it out.
It was an indirect reference when he said reducing unwanted pregnancies, particularly through education, Kathy.
Just go to wordpress, you don’t have to spend any money. Wordpress is much better, trust me on this. Much better bro.
Okay, any of you folks watching the TeeVees…
ahem…
WHERE ARE MY SNAP POLLS?!
AMERICA IS TALKING AND I’M TRYING TO HEAR THEM!
CNN’s panel felt that Obama won.
As for my analysis, I think Kyle’s got the right of it – Obama came off competent and presidential after the first half hour, which he spent pulling a statistics rope-a-dope and dousing McCain’s initial fire. Headlines tomorrow will be interesting to see – I honestly can’t predict what they’ll choose to focus on.
Aren’t you all so glad you don’t have to read me screaming over snap polls after tonight?
Nope, just one more liveblog, and then I’ll be screaming about exit polls… I’m so awesome I give myself wood.
i dont have tv/cable…cant afford it
Awesome, okay, Terry’s saying CNN’s panel is giving it to Obama. That’s a good start. Who was talking about Ohio’s focus grouping?
ooh… okay, that sucks J. I don’t have cable but…
yeah…
Kyle, you’re making my daughter laugh. I’m reading these comments to her over the phone.
Okay, I’m at taylor marsh where I managed to get the snap polls the fastest. By her commenters.
Anyone remember the days where I wanted to wage all out war on Taylor Marsh? Now she’s one of the good guys…. It’s kind of awesome in a weird way.
Soledad O’brien’s focus group: All but one (who abstained from voting) and one (who voted for McCain) thought that Obama won.
ETA: At least that is what I saw out of the corner of my eye…. bedtime for the kiddos (four of ‘em) gets crazy.
CNN’s panel was from Ohio.
ya know where Joe the plumber is from
Okay…
no flash polls, but apparently the undecideds in the CNN focus group went unanimously for Obama. Good sign number two.
heh, guess I was a little late.
kathy, you’re daughter’s in trouble. See, I have this aura of awesomeness, and it’s infectious. You’re caught with it now, but since you’re on the phone with her, she’s catching it too.
That’s right, aura of awesomeness.
now.
WHERE ARE MY MCCAIN’S WRINKLY NUT FLASH POLLS?!?!
CNN’s still talking to Hillary Clinton.
Oooh, how’s she doing?
Wait… I’m hearing that someone actually has Joe the Plumber on… MUST FIND!
Obama 58%
McCain 31%
CNN poll
Doh, and CNN is back to the green screen.
McCain had a drop in his favorable (going into the debate) percentages, and an increase in his unfavorable percentages.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Damn, that’s nearly two to one!!!!!
Teach, I love you. If I weren’t married, and still crushing on Nicole Lapin on top of that, I would ask you to marry me!
wow….That’s great.
58-31, that’s the biggest margin yet. Dear son of a Jewish carpenter, that’s ridiculous.
MSNBC has an online poll, Obama 85%, McCain 12%
See, it’s a very good think that I can’t drink right now because I think i would just be pouring beer all over myself and rubbing it in.
Particularly the nips. I would totally rub it into my hairy nips.
Online polls don’t work, Terry.
Okay, funny story, I have no chest hair, but these freakishly long hairs that surround my nipples. Like 2-4 inches in length…
YOWZA!!!!
I wonder how the righties are reacting to this. They got what they wanted, McCain went on the attack, and thus far it is EPIC FAIL!
Alright, I have things to prep for tomorrow, if I didn’t and I wasn’t still crushing for Barack Obama *wink*, I’d entertain your (faux-bulous) proposal.
*waves*
Thanks, everyone!
Oh, and here’s something funny. That half hour of tv time that Obama bought? yeah, Fox just said it’s going to move the sixth game of the World Series to accomodate that.
Holy
crap
Good night teach!!!!
ZING!!!!
CBS
53-22!!!!
!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!
Let me repeat
53-22
I can’t wait to see what he does for that half hour. I was sort of hoping he would show the bio video from the convention but that’s only 10 minutes.
Crap, I’m not going to be able to go to bed tonight. This is phenomenal. McCain needed a game changer, and both snap polls are saying McCain lost two to one.
EEEEEW, Kyle. That is NOT the image I need before going to bed. I’d like to think that, had I been able to participate in this liveblogging event, the tone of the comments at least would not have descended to these disgusting depths. (At some point, I’ll probably get the hang of watching, analyzing, and writing at the same time. Right now, I’m still working on that chewing gum and walking thing.)
I hope it’s a christmas special. At this rate, I think the Obama family can just sing Christmas carols for half an hour, and that would be enough.
HAHAHAHA
Gail!
At least you missed the urinal cakes
I have to confess, I’d stopped watching debate analysis so I could watch the Project Runway finale.
Oh, I wish it were true that I’d missed the urinal cakes. I could have lived out the rest of my days happy and contented if I’d missed the urinal cakes.
Okay, don’t know if anyone’s still here, but I’m off the phone and back.
And, here’s the important take away. McCain has been getting pressure from the right to hit Obama on his shady associations. In the analysis from the first debate, I think, one of the guys at NRO’s Corner had criticized McCain because he didn’t connect Obama to Ayers. Palin has been pressuring McCain to hit Obama harder.
McCain dropped Ayers tonight, he dropped ACORN, and he lost this debate by the largest margin so far. That has got to sting.
Kathy, run for the hills! It’s getting ugly………..
Well, I’m here for about five more minutes, kathy, and I’m disappointed, you missed much hilarity, and my snap polls finally came in, and they are just ridiculous, positively ridiculous. Terry’s watching project runway (don’t even know what that is, but I guess it has something to do with models), and I’m freaking the good doctor out!
God… I’m feeling good. I’m just… wow
just wow…
it’s like starbursts are bouncing all over my office right now.
Wait… I read at Wonkette that Joe the Plumber endorsed Barack Obama… Unfortunately, I can’t necessarily say that that really means anything because Wonkette’s not exactly a news source.
Yes indeedy. But if we’re going to step back from the insane high-fiving, the debate was amazing. From the perspective of two psychologists, McCain could barely contain his anger. And his anger IS ugly! He came across as condescending, sneering, whiny, and juvenile. Same as the earlier debates, but this time it was on steroids. Quite aside from the policy issues, this type of demeanor communicates creepy things to people in the audience, and does so rather subliminally so that their takeaway is “what a creepy man; I’m sure glad he won’t get to be president”.
Kyle, is ridiculous good?
I just checked Google Hot Trends and here’s the top 10 phrases people are searching for (look at #8
1. congressman lewis
2. repudiate
3. joe the plumber
4. reputiated
5. bob schieffer
6. live debate blog
7. brutha
8. cockamamie
9. presidential debate october 15
10. repudiate definition
Wow… looks like the Repubs are finally getting nailed with the “inescapable narrative.” McCain was going to come across as losing this debate no matter how he did, and so he has.
I thought it was his best performance so far, but clearly not enough to win. People are genuinely looking for solutions and Obama tapped into that and provided specific examples of just that. McCain didn’t, and people noticed it.
By God America really is waking up!
Kathy, ridiculous is very good.
CNN
58-31
CBS
53-22
And I think Gail, I love your input. There’s been a lot of buzz about the split screen shots of McCain, and I think you nailed it probably better than anyone else could.
You know what, D, I think you’re dead on too. This economic crisis did one good thing, it really woke people up to the fact that this stuff matters, that whom we elect is a serious and important decision, and it’s important that the person who focuses on the issues, not the person who focuses on the mud slinging, is the right person to put in office.
I was just reading all the comments I missed while I was on the phone. Wow. Major, major party time!
Wow, three of the top 10 are people looking up repudiate? That’s hilarious
Well, guys, I would love to stay and hang out, but I have to go home now. I’m still working to get election night off, and if I do, I’m buying beer, and I’m liveblogging all night long!
Good night, thanks to everyone who helped make this so much fun, and I’ll catch yall later. I’ll write up the debate in the morning.
Where do I find the snap polls?
night everyone!
Oh, and someone go check out Jules Crittendon.
Quote:
“Yeah, well … was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?”
Um, didn’t the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor?
Okay, now I’m really out of here.
Artificial trackback – I linked to this thread in the following post: http://dynamicintervention.blogspot.com/2008/10/rope-dope.html
Good night everyone!
[...] Before we get into it, I want to first give a big thanks to everyone who joined me during our liveblogging last night. It was in my humble opinion the best liveblogging we’ve had here at CFLF to date, it was great fun, and still I think we managed to get the play by play analysis pretty solid too. So thanks to Kathy, Terry, Teacher, Jazz, Dynamic (who just got a new blog so you’ll need to check that out), DrGail, Tas, and it feels like I’m forgetting someone but I hope I’m not. It was really a great time and if you missed out you can go back and read about the teabags and urinal cakes here. [...]