anyone watching the debate right now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think Obama was smart to be vague/diplomatic about Palin, too. He said the American people can make up their mind about that -- with the clear implication that people DON'T think she's qualified. I think the Obama campaign's theory on Palin is that they don't need to make her look bad; she does that on her own.

Exactly!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Obama was smart to be vague/diplomatic about Palin, too. He said the American people can make up their mind about that -- with the clear implication that people DON'T think she's qualified. I think the Obama campaign's theory on Palin is that they don't need to make her look bad; she does that on her own.

Exactly!

Whoever thinks that Palin is qualified is going to think that no matter what Obama says. Wasn't worth touching that dog-pile

[Anonymous]

McCain's facial expressions, hot temper and fumbling over his words made me realize yet again what a terrible choice he would be to stick in a negotiation with foreign leaders over such delicate matters of nuclear disarmament, war, genocide...the man is not mentally stable enough to be president of our country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Her son does not have Autism!!! Also, anyone recall that she hid the information of his downs from her family until his birth and that she was trying to hid the pregnancy from the public - sounds like she was sort of embarassed

yeah =-- it was in the people mag article she was interviewed for -- didn't say really why but certainly made it clear that she not only hid the pregnancy but didn't tell even her kids abot the downs syndrome

Consider for a moment please that Downs syndrome pregnancies have a much higher incidence of 'spontaneous abortion' or miscarriage than a healthy pregnancy. It is generally not considered a 'safe' pregnancy until the 6th month. Having lived through 3 miscarriages in early second trimester when my family knew I was pregnant, I can completely understand her decision to play wait and see.

As for her choice of when to reveal the Downs syndrome - isn't this a pro-choice crowd? Is there anything sinister about her making this choice? Was she morally compelled to give an interview or even sit her children down before hand and go through it? Might it not have been easier with a cute, adorable new baby brother in hand to explain that he was a bit different? Special? Honestly, the level of intolerance DCUMs point at Gov. Palin over personal choices like this is astounding. Pick her apart on policy if you want to - that is fair. This other judgmental BS is over the top.

[Anonymous]

To the 8:03 poster--thank-you, that was beautifully stated and I couldn't agree more. Some of the posters on this thread get truly nasty when it comes to Sarah Palin and her son Trig. I thought John McCain did a great job--Obama's smug superciliousness and droning lectures were a turn-off to me. Also, he never addressed his lack of candor (or deliberate lies...) about not accepting federal financing for his campaign.If he's dishonest about this, what else is he dishonest about? His refusal to reject and repudiate John Lewis' statements equating McCain with George Wallace was sad. In my opinion, John McCain is an incredibly honorable, devoted public servant--I don't get that with Obama.

[Anonymous]

I know I'm biased so perhaps I'm interpreting this through a pro-Obama lens but I was struck by how angry and petulant McCain looked at times while he was listening to Obama speak, especially with regard to the Ayers issue.

He reminded me of how I feel when I'm really angry and defensive about something and I want to list all the crimes that have been committed against me but I can sense that no one wants to hear it and they just want me to go away -- which makes me feel angrier and even more desperate to get people to listen. Feels horrible. Looks horrible.

Did anyone notice in the previous debates whether he had this kind of expression on his face? If so, the impact of it was diminished by his distance from the camera. McCain was not served well by the dual close-ups on CNN. I suspect that if I had listened to this on the radio that I wouldn't have noticed this.

[Anonymous]

He reminded me of how I feel when I'm really angry and defensive about something and I want to list all the crimes that have been committed against me but I can sense that no one wants to hear it and they just want me to go away -- which makes me feel angrier and even more desperate to get people to listen. Feels horrible. Looks horrible.

Totally. I completely agree.

To the PP who thinks that McCain is an honorable public servant, I used to believe that too. I found him to be a strong, respectable leader with whom I just happened to disagree on many issues. I considered voting for him had certain circumstances played out. My opinion of him has changed dramatically in the last two months, however. I no longer believe he is an honorable public servant. I believe he is bitter, temperamental, disrespectful (to the American people, not just to Barack Obama), and lacking in judgment, and I believe that he is running a deplorable campaign. His performance in the debates has solidified this opinion. I used to believe that even if McCain won, we would be much better off than under the current administration. No longer.

[Anonymous]

Did anyone else notice that when McCain was speaking about the Supreme Court Justices, he mentioned Breyer, who was nominated in 1994, prior to Obama even being in the Senate. I wonder why Obama did not call McCain out on that and make him look senile. I understand McCain most likely mispoke, but there is really no room for that during the 3rd debate you hold when running for President.

[Anonymous]

I think that Obama is trying to take the high road on things - the contract in style was very obvious in the debate, McCain would take a shot, Obama would respond, but not shoot back below the hip. He looked very presidential while McCain looked like a petulant child not getting his way and was about to go home with his "ball". I would have voted for the 2004 and 200 McCain, but not this one.

[Anonymous]

On a couple of points from the last few postings:

Obama made no answer to the point about his change on the public financing because there is nothing to say. It is obvious he went back on his word because it was expedient. It's not something he wants to dwell on, and he had no information to add to McCain's correct charge. I think the strategy is "If you can't rebut, drop it."

On the issue of the Breyer vote, McCain's point was that he voted for Breyer and Ginsberg despite political differences. When it happened is irrelevant to his point that he does not apply a "litmus test". Furthermore, he had to go back that far to get back to Clinton appointees.

BTW, for context, I'll add that I support Obama and think he did exactly what he wanted to do even though there were times I was almost shouting at him to say something other than what he did.

I think McCain did well for himself, but has the unfortunate characteristic that when he's off the "straight talk express" his face shows it. He seems like the sort of guy who'd play poker with his pals; I wonder if he manages more face-control there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Her son does not have Autism!!! Also, anyone recall that she hid the information of his downs from her family until his birth and that she was trying to hid the pregnancy from the public - sounds like she was sort of embarassed

McCain never said Trig had Autism. I am for Obama, but I did not hear McCain actually say Palin was dealing with Autism, just she was in the know with special needs. McCain just happened to highlight Autism.

I heard McCain use the word "autism". Maybe he thinks autism and downs are all the same, just synonyms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Obama was smart to be vague/diplomatic about Palin, too. He said the American people can make up their mind about that -- with the clear implication that people DON'T think she's qualified. I think the Obama campaign's theory on Palin is that they don't need to make her look bad; she does that on her own.

Exactly!

The McCain campaign is giving her all the rope she needs to hang herself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On a couple of points from the last few postings:

Obama made no answer to the point about his change on the public financing because there is nothing to say. It is obvious he went back on his word because it was expedient. It's not something he wants to dwell on, and he had no information to add to McCain's correct charge. I think the strategy is "If you can't rebut, drop it."

On the issue of the Breyer vote, McCain's point was that he voted for Breyer and Ginsberg despite political differences. When it happened is irrelevant to his point that he does not apply a "litmus test". Furthermore, he had to go back that far to get back to Clinton appointees.

BTW, for context, I'll add that I support Obama and think he did exactly what he wanted to do even though there were times I was almost shouting at him to say something other than what he did.

I think McCain did well for himself, but has the unfortunate characteristic that when he's off the "straight talk express" his face shows it. He seems like the sort of guy who'd play poker with his pals; I wonder if he manages more face-control there.

So please tell me how Obama did not vote for Breyer if he were NOT in Senate at the time? McCain clearly said "Obama voted against Breyer". Obama was not in the Senate in 1994. He could not have voted against him.

We got together seven Republicans, seven Democrats. You were offered a chance to join. You chose not to because you were afraid of the appointment of, quote, "conservative judges."

I voted for Justice Breyer and Justice Ginsburg. Not because I agreed with their ideology, but because I thought they were qualified and that elections have consequences when presidents are nominated. This is a very important issue we're talking about.

Sen. Obama voted against Justice Breyer and Justice Roberts on the grounds that they didn't meet his ideological standards. That's not the way we should judge these nominees. Elections have consequences. They should be judged on their qualifications. And so that's what I will do.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:I think McCain did well for himself, but has the unfortunate characteristic that when he's off the "straight talk express" his face shows it. He seems like the sort of guy who'd play poker with his pals; I wonder if he manages more face-control there.

One of the most important, but least remarked upon, differences between Obama and McCain is their gambling habits. McCain plays craps, Obama plays poker. Not surprisingly, McCain has repeatedly rolled the dice in this campaign, while Obama has repeatedly known when to play his hand, when to bluff, and when to walk away.

[Anonymous]

I think McCain spit out his pre-debate valium when his staffers weren't looking. What really annoyed me was when he went off all self-righteously about the veterans in his audiences instead of talking seriously about the horrible racist sh#t that Palin has been inspiring. Not to mention his banging the Lewis drum even after Obama repudiated it right in front of him.