Wednesday, October 15, 2008
The Third Presidential Debate
Finally. The last one. I doubt anything major will happen, but we'll see. It's on domestic policy, so it's possible they'll go a little bit into new territory. As usual, here are my thoughts in process as I watch the debate...
The final debate - Part 1
The final debate - Part 2
The final debate - Part 3
WHY IS YOUR TAX PLAN BETTER THAN THE OTHER GUY'S?
McCain: You blink a lot. As in, it's distracting me. I'm too fascinated by how many times you're blinking to listen to what you're saying. It's hypnotizing. Er... you're not really answering the question...
Obama: You're looking sort of tired and worn down. Don't worry, just a few more weeks to go until you're President. I like how you're outlining your plan step-by-step... you and Biden are both good at making things clear and easy to understand. Hey look! You're answering the question! Good for you!
McCain: Whoever this Joe guy is, he's probably freaking out right now. You're looking right at the camera and talking to him.
Obama: Yes. I'm familiar with your tax plan, and it sounds awesome. At this point in the debate, I'm bored.
McCain: Um... why is spreading the wealth around a bad thing? FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, STOP SAYING OBAMA WILL RAISE TAXES. That's not what he wants to do, and you know that.
Obama: I like how you stay cool and collected. Your experience as a lawyer is showing.
McCain: Don't interrupt. When did taxes become a bad thing?
BOTH OF YOUR PROPOSALS WILL ADD TO THE DEFICIT - WHAT WILL YOU CUT?
Obama: We always get this question, and nobody wants to answer it. I like what you said, but you still didn't get very specific this time.
McCain: I like how Bob isn't let you avoid the question. You say you'll cut pork. Yeah right - your party thrives on it.
Obama: Good job quoting figures.
McCain: Whoa, nice line about you not being Bush. That's the kind of statement you should have been making every chance you got for the past few months. This is the best answer you've given so far.
Obama: Good job defending yourself - I love the Fox News reference. Good job laying our your position.
McCain: A decent defense.
ARE YOU WILLING TO SAY THE NASTY THINGS YOUR ADS HAVE SAID TO THE OTHER'S FACE?
McCain: Uh... so it's Obama's fault your campaign started making ludicrous accusations? Still, you're right, you did defend Obama a couple times.
Obama: I think you're exaggerating with the 100 percent figure... but you're right, there have been a lot. Good job pointing out how the McCain campaign admitted if they focused on the economy they would lose.
McCain: I like how you used a specific example of a negative ad.
Obama: Okay. Decent answer. But I'm getting bored.
McCain: Nobody is implying the people at your rallies are not great people. But that doesn't change the fact they can stay some stupid and ignorant things. Have you repudiated your running mate for the stuff she has said?
Obama: You're absolutely right. We need to debate issues, not character.
McCain: Oh, so now you're finally bringing up Ayers and ACORN.
Obama: Good job for setting things straight about Ayers. I think there are a lot of people out there that needed you to clear that up. Good job clearing up the ACORN stuff as well. I don't think "guilt by association" applies in this respect. You're right, the McCain campaign has been focusing on it way too much.
McCain: Is this true or not? Most of the "facts" you bring up in these debates aren't correct.
WHY WOULD THE USA BE BETTER IF YOUR RUNNING MATE WAS PRESIDENT OVER HIS?
Obama: This is a good profile of Biden. You're not really criticizing Palin, though. I know you want to play nice, and that's admirable, but come on, at least be honest and call a spade a spade.
McCain: A reformer? Um... no. Standing up to an incumbent is admirable, but it doesn't make you a reformer. I find it interesting you never directly stated you think she would make a good President.
Obama: No, that's not up to the American people, that's up to her and whether or not she's qualified. Come on. You're taking the safe route.
McCain: You're not afraid to criticize Biden. I wish Obama would do the same with Palin. Just once it would be nice for a big-name politician to laugh and be like, "Sarah Palin as President? Are you kidding me?"
GIVE US A SPECIFIC NUMBER OF HOW MUCH WE CAN REDUCE FOREIGN OIL IMPORTS IN 4 YEARS?
McCain: Wait, so what's your answer? Reduce all the oil except Canadian oil? In four years? Really? Oh, you said 7 or 8 years. I guess that's a bit more realistic, but you still didn't answer the question.
Obama: You didn't really answer the question either. Blegh.
McCain: Off-shore drilling will not stop the problem. Don't drill, baby, don't drill!
Obama: Sounds good to me. Yawn.
McCain: Obama. Does. Not. Want. To. Raise. Taxes.
HEALTH CARE?
Obama: You're re-stating what you've said many times before. I still like it.
McCain: So, basically, you want health care to serve individuals. You want it to serve businesses.
Obama: Wow. McCain looks genuinely stunned. I think he's a bit slow.
McCain: Now you're just plain ignoring what Obama said. Wow. You are clueless.
Obama: You're coasting now.
COULD YOU NOMINATE SOMEONE TO THE SUPREME COURT WHO DISAGREES WITH YOU ON ROE V WADE?
McCain: This was a fairly good answer... at least until you went back into attacking Obama. And until you acknowledged that people who disagreed with you on Roe v Wade were not qualified. You never cease to amaze me.
Obama: You're right, abortion is a difficult moral issue.
McCain: Again, you spend more time criticizing Obama than detailing your actual position.
Obama: This was a great answer. I like how you try to find common ground in bringing up the need for good sex education and said nobody is pro-abortion.
McCain: As usual... as soon as Obama says nobody is "pro-abortion", you immediately imply that he is. You're right that we need to do more to support adoption, but would you really say that there are no exceptions?
EDUCATION:
Obama: I like how you're focused on reducing the "achievement gap." I really love your idea of a tuition credit in exchange for community service, but to be honest $4000 isn't really enough.
McCain: You say we need to reward good teachers. But how would you define a "good teacher"? I'm not a fan of your loan-focused solution. I don't like loans.
SHOULD MORE FEDERAL MONEY BE GIVEN TO SCHOOLS?
Obama: This was a decent answer, though I'm not fan of sneaking in that McCain jab. Great line about America's youth not being an interest group, though.
McCain: I don't know enough about the voucher situation to have an opinion.
Obama: Okay.
CLOSING STATEMENTS?
McCain: Meh. An okay statement.
Obama: A slightly better, more inspiring answer.
OVERALL:
Obama won, as usual. McCain is just hanging on for dear life. Not only is Obama more correct when it comes to the issues, he's also a better debater and campaigner. The McCain campaign has tried and failed to copy Obama's "change" rhetoric, and now that it hasn't worked, he's trying to attack Obama's character. He ignores the facts. It's actually rather humorous how he immediately resorts back into the same mud-slinging right after he's been directly told that he is mistaken.
Obama is one cool cat. Every time McCain criticized him, he had this big smile on his face, like it's no big deal. He knows how to stay level-headed, and I think despite the tremendous challenges facing the country he's going to make a great President.
I'm starting to get the feeling McCain doesn't really know what he's doing anymore. I would be surprised if he spends most of his time wishing he had gotten the nomination in 2000, when he might have actually had a chance...
The final debate - Part 1
The final debate - Part 2
The final debate - Part 3
WHY IS YOUR TAX PLAN BETTER THAN THE OTHER GUY'S?
McCain: You blink a lot. As in, it's distracting me. I'm too fascinated by how many times you're blinking to listen to what you're saying. It's hypnotizing. Er... you're not really answering the question...
Obama: You're looking sort of tired and worn down. Don't worry, just a few more weeks to go until you're President. I like how you're outlining your plan step-by-step... you and Biden are both good at making things clear and easy to understand. Hey look! You're answering the question! Good for you!
McCain: Whoever this Joe guy is, he's probably freaking out right now. You're looking right at the camera and talking to him.
Obama: Yes. I'm familiar with your tax plan, and it sounds awesome. At this point in the debate, I'm bored.
McCain: Um... why is spreading the wealth around a bad thing? FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, STOP SAYING OBAMA WILL RAISE TAXES. That's not what he wants to do, and you know that.
Obama: I like how you stay cool and collected. Your experience as a lawyer is showing.
McCain: Don't interrupt. When did taxes become a bad thing?
BOTH OF YOUR PROPOSALS WILL ADD TO THE DEFICIT - WHAT WILL YOU CUT?
Obama: We always get this question, and nobody wants to answer it. I like what you said, but you still didn't get very specific this time.
McCain: I like how Bob isn't let you avoid the question. You say you'll cut pork. Yeah right - your party thrives on it.
Obama: Good job quoting figures.
McCain: Whoa, nice line about you not being Bush. That's the kind of statement you should have been making every chance you got for the past few months. This is the best answer you've given so far.
Obama: Good job defending yourself - I love the Fox News reference. Good job laying our your position.
McCain: A decent defense.
ARE YOU WILLING TO SAY THE NASTY THINGS YOUR ADS HAVE SAID TO THE OTHER'S FACE?
McCain: Uh... so it's Obama's fault your campaign started making ludicrous accusations? Still, you're right, you did defend Obama a couple times.
Obama: I think you're exaggerating with the 100 percent figure... but you're right, there have been a lot. Good job pointing out how the McCain campaign admitted if they focused on the economy they would lose.
McCain: I like how you used a specific example of a negative ad.
Obama: Okay. Decent answer. But I'm getting bored.
McCain: Nobody is implying the people at your rallies are not great people. But that doesn't change the fact they can stay some stupid and ignorant things. Have you repudiated your running mate for the stuff she has said?
Obama: You're absolutely right. We need to debate issues, not character.
McCain: Oh, so now you're finally bringing up Ayers and ACORN.
Obama: Good job for setting things straight about Ayers. I think there are a lot of people out there that needed you to clear that up. Good job clearing up the ACORN stuff as well. I don't think "guilt by association" applies in this respect. You're right, the McCain campaign has been focusing on it way too much.
McCain: Is this true or not? Most of the "facts" you bring up in these debates aren't correct.
WHY WOULD THE USA BE BETTER IF YOUR RUNNING MATE WAS PRESIDENT OVER HIS?
Obama: This is a good profile of Biden. You're not really criticizing Palin, though. I know you want to play nice, and that's admirable, but come on, at least be honest and call a spade a spade.
McCain: A reformer? Um... no. Standing up to an incumbent is admirable, but it doesn't make you a reformer. I find it interesting you never directly stated you think she would make a good President.
Obama: No, that's not up to the American people, that's up to her and whether or not she's qualified. Come on. You're taking the safe route.
McCain: You're not afraid to criticize Biden. I wish Obama would do the same with Palin. Just once it would be nice for a big-name politician to laugh and be like, "Sarah Palin as President? Are you kidding me?"
GIVE US A SPECIFIC NUMBER OF HOW MUCH WE CAN REDUCE FOREIGN OIL IMPORTS IN 4 YEARS?
McCain: Wait, so what's your answer? Reduce all the oil except Canadian oil? In four years? Really? Oh, you said 7 or 8 years. I guess that's a bit more realistic, but you still didn't answer the question.
Obama: You didn't really answer the question either. Blegh.
McCain: Off-shore drilling will not stop the problem. Don't drill, baby, don't drill!
Obama: Sounds good to me. Yawn.
McCain: Obama. Does. Not. Want. To. Raise. Taxes.
HEALTH CARE?
Obama: You're re-stating what you've said many times before. I still like it.
McCain: So, basically, you want health care to serve individuals. You want it to serve businesses.
Obama: Wow. McCain looks genuinely stunned. I think he's a bit slow.
McCain: Now you're just plain ignoring what Obama said. Wow. You are clueless.
Obama: You're coasting now.
COULD YOU NOMINATE SOMEONE TO THE SUPREME COURT WHO DISAGREES WITH YOU ON ROE V WADE?
McCain: This was a fairly good answer... at least until you went back into attacking Obama. And until you acknowledged that people who disagreed with you on Roe v Wade were not qualified. You never cease to amaze me.
Obama: You're right, abortion is a difficult moral issue.
McCain: Again, you spend more time criticizing Obama than detailing your actual position.
Obama: This was a great answer. I like how you try to find common ground in bringing up the need for good sex education and said nobody is pro-abortion.
McCain: As usual... as soon as Obama says nobody is "pro-abortion", you immediately imply that he is. You're right that we need to do more to support adoption, but would you really say that there are no exceptions?
EDUCATION:
Obama: I like how you're focused on reducing the "achievement gap." I really love your idea of a tuition credit in exchange for community service, but to be honest $4000 isn't really enough.
McCain: You say we need to reward good teachers. But how would you define a "good teacher"? I'm not a fan of your loan-focused solution. I don't like loans.
SHOULD MORE FEDERAL MONEY BE GIVEN TO SCHOOLS?
Obama: This was a decent answer, though I'm not fan of sneaking in that McCain jab. Great line about America's youth not being an interest group, though.
McCain: I don't know enough about the voucher situation to have an opinion.
Obama: Okay.
CLOSING STATEMENTS?
McCain: Meh. An okay statement.
Obama: A slightly better, more inspiring answer.
OVERALL:
Obama won, as usual. McCain is just hanging on for dear life. Not only is Obama more correct when it comes to the issues, he's also a better debater and campaigner. The McCain campaign has tried and failed to copy Obama's "change" rhetoric, and now that it hasn't worked, he's trying to attack Obama's character. He ignores the facts. It's actually rather humorous how he immediately resorts back into the same mud-slinging right after he's been directly told that he is mistaken.
Obama is one cool cat. Every time McCain criticized him, he had this big smile on his face, like it's no big deal. He knows how to stay level-headed, and I think despite the tremendous challenges facing the country he's going to make a great President.
I'm starting to get the feeling McCain doesn't really know what he's doing anymore. I would be surprised if he spends most of his time wishing he had gotten the nomination in 2000, when he might have actually had a chance...
# posted by Andrew Johnson : 10/15/2008 11:05:00 PM 
