LiveBlog: The Final Debate – The Scoff-stra at Hofstra
11:55 – More Update: Tonight's everything is dedicated to Miles Jason Battiste, the newest new person down in the newly swingy swing state of North Carolina.
11:40 – Update: The Phillies are going to the World Series!
Tonight is awesome!!!!
10:57 – Okay, here's my closing statement for the evening, and then I have to watch the Phillies go to the World Series…
Everyone on television is saying that this was John McCain's best debate and some even say that he won. I say no to both those things. McCain looked really old and really temperamentally unfit for office. He might have been on the attack more so, but it came off like the last efforts of a desperate man. Plus, he was creepy.
Obama seemed cool and smart and like a guy I'd want answering the phone at 3 a.m. or whatever.
McCain loses. Not just the debate but the election. I'm calling this whole thing for Obama.
10:56 – Here's the thing about Joe the plumber: Am I correct in my assumption that McCain has never met that dude? He's just a guy who asked Obama a question? The question-asker of my enemy is my BFF. – Matthew Tobey
10:51 – "Joe the Plumber WINS Final Debate"
10:48 – According to the magic trend lines on MSNBC's screen, everyone (Republicans included) don't care for McCain bringing up Bill Ayers.
10:43 – Andrew Sullivan: "McCain seemed almost wistful. Obama ended on "sacrifice, service and responsibility." Obama won this for the third time. A small prediction: there will be YouTube mash-ups of McCain's facial reactions on the split screen. And they will have a longer life, for good or ill, than many of the substantive exchanges."
10:40 - Watching Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC. I can't believe Alan Greenspan gets to put his thing in her. He's a troll. And she's pretty hot for a 90-year-old lady.
10:38 – From the comments: "OMG!!! ABC IS SHOWING FOOTAGE OF JOE THE PLUMBER!!" – jonesaholic
10:35 – BarbinMD at Daily Kos: "Bottom line? McCain needed a game changer and didn't get it. He got in his attacks, Obama parried. McCain said he was "proud" of the people at his rallies, managing to inflate the crowd sizes while doing so. McCain smirked, rolled his eyes, interrupted, and was generally an ass. Standard McCain."
10:32 – "Good job, good job, good job, good job."
10:31 – Top of the 7th, 5-1 Phils.
10:29 – From the comments: "Does McCain really think Palin's son has autism or am I missing something?" – Janna
10:28 – Cracked: "Did Bob Scheiffer just ask us to go to his org?"
10:27 – Other 50 states? Did we add Guam?
10:26 – Why does Barack Obama spend so much time agreeing with McCain?
10:25 – From the comments: "5 children should be left behind. Problem solved." – bearness
10:24 – Whatever that black woman you're married to is named.
10:23 – Just look at these two. Just look at them. Which one looks like a president, and which one looks like the uncle who goes "Fiddling About" in Tommy?
10:22 – "They left the money behind for No Child Left Behind." You just know Obama had that in his pocket.
Is that from one of his stump speeches?
10:21 – Top of the 6th. Phils still up 5-0. Life is good.
10:20 – Yeah, let's find bad teachers another line of work!
And let's find bad running mates another line of work, too!
10:18 – From the comments: "Obama's mantra 'here are the facts'. That can't be good for McCain." – bearness
10:16 – Nobody's pro-abortion? What?! I am! I see people I wish were aborted everyday.
10:15 – Andrew Sullivan: "McCain on the court: no litmus test. Except Roe. But not really. But not abortion rights supporters. But it's not a litmus test. What?"
10:13 – From MissLaura at Daily Kos: "There is no way we will ever be able to say enough about the look on John McCain's face when Obama looked warmly out at Joe the Hypothetical Plumber and said Joe's fine would be zero. Total, stunned, befuddled, hit in the face with a board, I do not think McCain's people told him that answer was possible."
10:12 – Go ahead, John McCain. Explain to me why a woman doesn't deserve equal pay. I'm listening.
10:10 – Kraskin just reminded me that Justice Breyer assumed office in 1994. I don't remember completely, but I don't think Obama had any say in that decision.
10:09 – From Cracked: "We're living in a country governed by our emotional reactions to billions of dollars of lies."
10:08 – Roe v. Wade and the Supreme Court. Here we go.
10:07 – Did McCain just say "transplants" were part of the "Cadillac Insurance Policies?" Call me oldfashioned, but if my organ needs to be transplanted, that sounds pretty damned essential! – MK
10:06 – My name is not Joe. And I am not a Plumber. This debate is not speaking to me. – MK
10:05 – "Hey, Joe, you're rich. Congratulations." Zing! I mean, what?
10:04 – How much do you think that smile on McCain's face is hurting him?
10:03 – From the comments: "Damn, its good to be King." – Joe the Plumber
10:01 – Is John McCain saying that Canada and the UK have bad health care? Didn't he see Sicko?
10:00 – Joe the plumber's back. Alright, Joe!
9:59 – 5-0 Phils, top of the 5th.
9:58 – McCain is really reaching and he's mixing issues. This is pathetic. I feel sad for him. – MK
9:56 – 4-0 Phils, top of the 5th, bases loaded.
9:55 – From the comments: "does the mccain/palin ticket really want to raise the issue of candidates' experience with foreign travel?" – fiesty spice
9:53 – So, Obama's bad because he "never traveled south of the border," and he's bad for traveling to Europe?
9:52 – "I really appreciate Senator Obama's eloquence with words."
Translation: "He's a good liar."
9:51 – This might come off as ad hominem, but I'm sorry, McCain looks real creepy.
9:50 – From the comments: "How can you say that Obama's laugh makes him seem smug? Have you seen the dusty orgasm that McCain has every time he thinks that he gets in a zinger?" – Punditphilia
9:48 – Andrew Sullivan: ""We're seeing Iraqis united as Iraqis." Yes, McCain just said that. Yes: the next president could be even more delusional about Iraq than the current one."
9:46 – Phils up 3-0, bottom of the 4th.
9:44 – "Do you think she's qualified to be president?" That's an unfair question to ask Obama. There's no good way to answer it truthfully without looking like a douche.
9:43 – This is mentally unstable. "Why is Joe Biden more qualified than Sarah Palin?" I can't believe we've sunk so low.
9:42 – Cracked: "Obama should just look in the camera and say 'I'm up by 8 points. If elected, I'm gonna have Joe the Plumber bitch slapped.'"
9:41 – Uh oh… Running mates.
9:40 – Obama's gotta watch that laugh. He's gonna come off as smug.
9:37 – Obama really hit back on Ayers and ACORN really well. I guess McCain will stop hammering that now, right?
Right?
9:36 – Bill Ayers is in the building!
9:35 – Obama is offended by McCain's supporters wanting to kill him. McCain is offended by t-shirts?! – MK
9:33 – Look at this. They're actually talking about stuff. This is cool!
9:31 – Look at Obama laughing at the laughable accusations coming out of McCain's mouth.
9:29 – Andrew Sullivan: "Schieffer's moral equivalence between the despicable smears of the McCain campaign with the toughness of Obama's."
That's not a sentence, but I believe he means he's annoyed by it.
9:28 – Does John McCain kiss his running mate with that lying mouth?
9:27 – Bullshit!
9:26 – There's that old "If only Barack Obama had listened to me about those town halls…" chestnut again.
9:25 – McCain's real fond of that phrase: "I've got the scars to prove it." Isn't it bad enough that we have to look at McCain looking like he's got rigor mortis without having to imagine his naked scarred skin, too?
9:24 – Obama just nailed George Bush to McCain's head.
9:21 – "I am not President Bush. If you wanted to run against President Bush, you should have run four years ago."
How long do you think he rehearsed that line in the bathroom mirror?
9:19 – From the Cracked Blog: "McCain the doctor would be amputating limbs left and right."
9:18 – Did John McCain just threaten to cut me? – MK
9:16 – How could Obama not have an answer for this question?! This is the third debate it's been asked in. Just name a fucking program! Just one! – Michael Kraskin
9:13 – Joe the plumber sure is getting a lot of air time. I'll bet Joe's Plumbery Plumbing Business sees a spike in its work pretty soon.
I guess that means Barack Obama will get to take more money from good ol' Joe.
9:10 – By the way, if you're like me, you'd probably rather be watching the Phillies make their way into the World Series for the first time since 1993 than watch this nonsense. So, I'll just let you know that it's 1-0 Phils, top of the third.
9:08 – Hey, look! McCain's talking about Joe. Joe the plumber. Good ol' plumbery Joe.
9:04 – Is John McCain gonna give us new news about some old person who's in the hospital every time he addresses the nation? I can get that from my grandmother.
9:03 – And, it begins…
I'm liveblogging direct from Long Island. Well, in Long Island, but not technically from Hofstra University. More like from my living room in Astoria, Queens.
But, still, this is as close as they'll let me to things like this.
———
At first, we didn't think this debate was actually gonna happen, due to our inability to think of a good title. But, then — thanks to the quick-thinking of one of our completely-not-make-believe readers — we were able to come up with the title you see up there.
So, no need to panic. Everything's back on.
Check back right here in this post at 9 p.m. EDT, when we'll be liveblogging everything to within an inch of its life.
Oh, and don't forget to download your copy of our Presidential Debate "Energizing Your Base" Game.
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so are you seriously telling me that mccain's debating strategy
begins with mentioning the unfortunate health
of former presidential-type people …
ted kennedy , nancy reagan …
what the shit ?
it's just reminds me of how old and decrepid mccain actually is …
Why does Senator Obama continuley blame President Bush and the Republican party for the financial crisis we are in when the Democrats have controlled both the House of Represenatives and the Senate for the last two years??? Senator Obama was there and the President can not act alone!!! What are all you people thinking???? Senator Obama along with the Democrats in office are as much to blame. Enough said…Where was all the change in the last two years that he is now espousing???Isn't this the same thing said by Democrats two years ago????
The debate was a let down as was the ones before it. I am disappointed by our choice of candidates. One wants to steal from the people that have earned their money and give it to the lazy…and the other is going to die at any moment. Just because you have money…I don't think you should have to support the world with it, then you loose what you have fought so hard to gain. What Obama is actually trying to do that no one has noticed or wants to believe is take away our rights, one by one. I do admit he has a slightly better strategy than Bush….Obama will tell you how he is going to strip your rights before he does it. I don't agree with Ron Paul's timid character but he was the only candidate that had a few good points…too bad the world is blinded by their Christian beliefs. I won't even try to explain how much more advanced we would be without the Bible…I think it explains itself. Anyway…the only good thing I have had to look forward to during the election is the viral websites that have been surfacing like http://www.ispalinshaved.com. I suggest you check it out and vote….you will only be there for 30 seconds but you will be telling your friends for weeks! Go Vote!
@katie October 15th at 10:22PM
"When does the government get to decide what is moral and what you can do with your own body and business?"
Only in an election cycle.
@ Jon October 16th at 3:23PM
"Just because you have money…I don't think you should have to support the world with it, then you loose what you have fought so hard to gain."
Basically the people who are making money right now did not work(fight so hard) to gain. They capitalized on their own greed and suspect ethical behavior.
I'm surprised that you didn't mention McCain's "health" of the mother comment. Not only is McCain/Palin against abortion in cases of rape and incest, but also appatently when the life of the mother is threatened. The Joe Plumber thing was funny, but I wish more people would talk about this for a minute.
The only reason He'd be answering the phone at 3a.m. is to talk to some foreign leader who hates America and wants the best time to sneak some WMD's into the country all the while refusing to cross his heart during the National Anthem. The facts are that neither cancdidate is necessarily the best in any one way or the other. The facts are what unfortunately go missing while the ignorant and uneducated voters make a decision based on media or race or age etc,. Voters need to do the research themselves and if they did thay would find out that Obama is most definately not only a snake in the grass but the most unpatriotic candidate that has ever ran for Commander in Chief in history. Nowhere else can you see a slap in the face to every American Service member in history that has fought for his freedom to run for President as seen with Obama in the most apuling way by publically disrespecting the flag and those who stand for it during the National Anthem and not crossing his heart. Not one thing Obama has said or done upholds the American way or Dream and values that we have grown away from since Democrats have been in power. Not once has he displayed character in which the children of our future can be prosperous and safe in. Noone goes to a church for over 20 years where the preacher talks about racist views and to Damn America and continue to go there if they don't believe in the same views. Trying to say that the foreclosure crisis was do to something else other than that of himself, Obama more than once voted to keep the crisis train moving right along when the Bush Administration and McCain tried to keep it from getting out of control. Of course Obama was also getting 49 times the amount in money donations from Fannie Mae and by CEO s who were his friends that resigned after making those donations for reasons such as accounting irregularities etc.. Never have foreign countries with negative views on America had so much interest in our elections until Obama was running. Of course terrorist leaders and communist leaders are interested in Obama. He wants to open talks with these people who have proved time and time again that they can't be reasoned with and hate America and it's people. and of course the ignorant would like to see this man in power to see many more 9/11's happen over and over. That is not only the most lucrative thing that could be said but people are unfortunately blind to facts and prone to like this man because he is young or hip or brings change although that change has never really been specifically talked about other than sharing the working man's hard earned pay with everyone else reguardless if they worked for it or not. Well, when Obama gets done slapping America in the face maybe the people will finally see what is truly going on hopefully it is before he gets elected if that should happen.
Republicans don't slap us in the face they beat us to death with lies, economic disaster, war, walking all over our constitution and our rights as citizens while they pat their greedy millionaire friends on the back for ruining our country. Bush can put his hand over his heart but it doesn't mean anything, he broke his oath of office many times and thinks his administration does not have to account to anyone. This has been the most corrupt administration since Nixon. McCain is not going to be any better.
i blacked out after mc cain said palin 'is a role model for women'. that so enrages me, what an insult!
I'm probably the only person here who has had 2 kids in this Iraq War, plus one is married to a Vet of the War.One of my kids was there TWICE, even tho' he suffered Post Tramatic, they sent him back-that's when I "converted" to Democrat) Interesting how we're all leaning toward Obama. BTW:I really HATE it when Sarah Palin acts so excited about her son going!-I'm proud of my kids service-but it was HORRIBLE when they were there! She reminds me of a Stepford wife!
Sen. Obama came off so calm and reassuring. Poor McCain really did look like he completely HATES him, and was a little angry old man. He offered no hope to anyone-only angry lectures. What kind of Prez would he be?! Not worthy of a hero like himself. No one can take his record away from him, so he can be proud. This debate was embarrassing for him. The worst moment for me was when Obama was talking-having patiently waited for his turn- and McCain butts in with a sarcastic grin: "We're talking about Joe the plumber…" I said "What a JERK!" Hate to say that about someone I've always revered. Picking Palin was his worst decision yet. She's Mrs. Dan Quayle! His whole campaign is going down in flames, and this debate showed why.
The irony is that McCain's finger quotes have been used to "impalin"
him for his hard ass no exception pro Life position. His response has itself been put into quotes and deflated. It must be true that he who lives by the finger quote dies by the finger quote.