ThinkProgress Liveblogging Tonight’s Presidential Debate
ThinkProgress Liveblogging Tonight’s Presidential Debate
Continuing our coverage of the 2008 election debates, the entire ThinkProgress team — including the Wonk Room and Matt Yglesias — will be liveblogging tonight’s debate (beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET at Hofstra University) and the media’s post-event commentary.
Tonight’s debate — focusing on domestic issues — will be the final face-off between Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Barack Obama (D-IL). The event will be moderated by CBS’s Bob Schieffer, who has promised to make sure the candidates stay on-topic. “It will not embarrass me, if they go off in a different direction, to say, ‘excuse me, could you focus on the question that I just asked?’” he said.
One development to watch for in tonight’s debate: McCain has promised to bring up allegations of Obama’s “relationship” with former Weather Underground member Bill Ayers. From his interview yesterday with KMOX:
KMOX: You have another debate coming up. The final debate. Many of your supporters are eager for you to confront Senator Obama on the Bill Ayers relationship in particular. Hillary Clinton even brought this up during the primary. Sen. Obama says you should have the guts to do it in person. So will you?
McCAIN: Oh yeah. You know, I was astonished to hear him say that he was surprised for me to have the guts to do that. Because the fact is that the question did not come up in that fashion so — you know — I think he’s probably ensured that it will come up this time.
McCain has also vowed to “whip” Obama’s “you-know-what” tonight.
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Oh boy, this is going to be fun. I think McCain just walked into a big old steaming pile of $hit. Obama is going to eviscerate him. And he will do it in a very calm, cool and collected manner. Look for more “old man shouting at clouds” from McCain.
Let’s take bets here. Anyone want to bet that McCain chickens out and doesn’t bring up Ayres.
And, if he does, he doesn’t look Obama in the eye when he makes his accusations?
October 15th, 2008 at 10:18 amIsn’t 9:00 p.m. well past McCain’s bed time?
October 15th, 2008 at 10:18 amIf McCain has promised to bring up Ayers, as he is promising to do, I hope Obama responds with Keating, Timmons, and the Alaska separatists.
I doubt that will happen, though. First, it’s unlikely that Bob Schieffer will ask any question specifically about Ayers, so McCain would have to weave it into any of his answers — prompting a “stick to the question” rebuke from the moderator.
And Obama prefers to dismantle his opponent’s argument from the high road, staying out of the gutter.
Biggest problem Obama will probably have tonight is the same problem he had in the first debate — being put in the position of having to use most of his time refuting McCain’s lies, leaving little time for his message. And McCain wants it that way.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:21 am“After I whip his you-know-what in this debate, we’re going to be going out 24/7,” the Republican nominee told volunteers at his campaign headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, sparking laughter and applause from the group.
If this is anything like the last ‘gloves coming off’ strategy of the last debate, it’s bound to be a quite boring 90 minutes…
October 15th, 2008 at 10:21 amRegardless of how the debate goes you can be sure that Pat Buchanon will claim a victory for McCain, FUX will have a poll taken by it’s viewers that shows McCain won hands down, Seab Hannity will have a hard on as he gushes over McCain/Palin, while Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow will both give us an honest take on the debate.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:23 amMcCain has also vowed to “whip” Obama’s “you-know-what” tonight.
– - Yasssuh, Missah McCain, you gonna whip dat boy’s black ass, aintcha? Oh Lawdy, Missah McCain, doggone if ya aint da comeback kid!
October 15th, 2008 at 10:23 amSo what are the drinking game phrases tonight? “My friends”? “Maverick”? “Fundamental difference”?
October 15th, 2008 at 10:23 amAny bets to see if McCain wears yet another Barber Shop Pole tie? Unfortunately, I’m going to miss the first hour, but should be able to catch the last 1/2 hour and post game.
I’m hoping McCain does bring up the Ayers issue.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:24 amUncle Fester Lurks Says
October 15th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Regardless of how the debate goes you can be sure that Pat Buchanon will claim a victory for McCain, FUX will have a poll taken by it’s viewers that shows McCain won hands down, Seab Hannity will have a hard on as he gushes over McCain/Palin, while Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow will both give us an honest take on the debate.
__________________________________________________________
Which is why I’ll be watching MSNBC. Of course Pat Buchanan will be there, but I can’t have everything.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:24 amLast time, I kept count of the “My friends.” I plan to do it again. I cannot spend the next four years keeping this count up, so all of you rush down to the polls ASAP and vote Obama.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:25 amI all ready voted early here in Ohio!
The truth will come out at tonites debate:
McCain: My friends I am really a reptilian alien from the planet Zorgon and if you fail to elect me supreme commander of your country I will have no choice but to disintergrate you with my disintergrating gun.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:27 amMcCain sounds more like a dictator of some miserable Third World country, not a candidate for the Presidency of one of the most powerful nation on Earth.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:27 amI found this site for debate bingo cards. On this one, you can get a random card specifically for Obama, one for McCain, one for the post-debate pundits, and a special McCain card that says mostly “my friends” on it.
http://presidentialbingo.com/
Don’t like the card you got? Generate another one by clicking the button on the bottom.
No, this isn’t spam. I have no vested interest in this site. I just happen to think debate bingo is fun.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:29 amhmmmm “whipping” doesn’t sound like toned-down racist rhetoric to me. fan those flames johnny boy, they’ll only help condition you for the warmer climes that await you and Palin in the afterlife.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:31 amTheZoo will be live-blogging as well!!
October 15th, 2008 at 10:31 amI haven’t been able to actually watch these debates, but have listened on my local NPR station. Sometimes the visuals can be distracting, though I think an important visual is McStupid’s inability to actually look Obama in the eye like a grown up. It would be interesting to see whether the two shake hands like mature, respectful adults (isn’t that the absolute minimum requirement for a President?) but I’ll probably still be a radio girl.
(ooo, my first comment on TP!)
October 15th, 2008 at 10:32 amLunarEclipse,
He couldn’t look at Obama because he got confused with the debate slander training when they said to him to mention “madrassa” McCain heard Medusa. Recall, Ammenjenimabaaaabbaaaahd
October 15th, 2008 at 10:35 amarabic names are hard
October 15th, 2008 at 10:36 amWho Lied Today? Says:
Any bets to see if McCain wears yet another Barber Shop Pole tie?
– - McCain camp: “High Definition 1080i…what’s that?
October 15th, 2008 at 10:38 amBadmoodman,
1080i is the proposed McCain tax form that would give more income back to the richest 1.08% of Americans.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:40 amIsn’t it enough that when McLoser speaks he sounds like he just rolled out of bed at the local assisted living facility ?
October 15th, 2008 at 10:41 amGood gravey, he’s going to kick who’s what ?
I’m sure at 72 the old boy packs quite a whollop.
Put him back to bed with his cheese puffs already, he’s liable to miss an episode of The Golden Girls.
MissHMolly, I have to teach class tonight, but the rest of you are gonna get real drunk if you pick all three of your choices. Might be better if each player picks one, or two out of those three. Last debate ‘my friends’ got 22 hits.
That’s drunk!
October 15th, 2008 at 10:41 amWhy doesn’t McCain wear his flag lapel pin anymore? He must really hate our country! I wish someone would bring this up to that pompous pissant Sean Insanity.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:42 ampalinode –
At least no one has (yet) turned the name of the Iranian President into Auntjemimabad, thereby combining racism with scare-tactics in one bananaheaded move.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:42 amUncle Fester, so McIIIrd is actually Diana from ‘V’??
October 15th, 2008 at 10:43 amRUCerious Says:
Uncle Fester, so McIIIrd is actually Diana from ‘V’??
October 15th, 2008 at 10:46 am““““““““““““““““““““`
Yup! Or is Cindy really Diana from V? They both look like reptilian aliens to me.
What’s interesting is that McCain’s favoribility rating has gone down significantly based on his attacks on Obama.
If he actually follows through on his threats, he’ll only be damaging himself.
Convesrely, Obama’s favorability has gone up due to how he’s handled himself in these dabates. By next week there should be a 15 point spread in the polls.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:51 amRU Cerious @22, last week my friend (not intended) drank each time McCain said “My Friends”. We were wasted. It put a serious hurt on me the next day.
Tonight I’ll stick with water; it’s safer.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:53 amCheney is trying to distract us by having atrial fibrillation. :D
October 15th, 2008 at 10:55 amZooey Says:
Cheney is trying to distract us by having atrial fibrillation. :D
– - Time for McCain to postpone the debate and “suspend” his campaign. Elsewhere, Sarah Palin has agreed to take over Cheney’s position for the reaminder of his term.
October 15th, 2008 at 11:00 amVice President Dick Cheney is experiencing a recurrence of an abnormal heart rhythm
– - I think that IS normal for Cheney.
October 15th, 2008 at 11:03 amMcCain has also vowed to “whip” Obama’s “you-know-what” tonight.
Old man resorts to threatening violence while his opponent’s threat of logic and facts continues.
October 15th, 2008 at 11:09 amSen. Obama’s confident, intelligence, temperament, command of the issues/needs of the American people will position him to win the last debate tonight ! McCain’s planned IGNORANT, STUPID, IMMATURE attacks WILL NOT PREVAIL !
You [ Barack Obama], are from God and have overcome them [the enemy's attacks, schemes, and plots ] , because the one [God] who is in you [ Barack Obama] is greater than the one [the enemy ] who is in the world. – 1 John 4:4
No weapon forged against you [ Barack Obama] will prevail, and you [ Barack Obama] will refute every tongue that accuses you [ Barack Obama] . This is the heritage of the servants [ Barack Obama] of the LORD, and this is their [ Barack Obama] vindication from me,” declares the LORD. – Isaiah 54:17
” I [ God ] will send my terror ahead of you [ Barack Obama] and throw into confusion every nation you [ Barack Obama] encounter. I [ God ] will make all your [ Barack Obama] enemies turn their backs and run.” – Exodus 23:27
The Lord will rescue me [ Barack Obama] from every evil attack and will bring me [ Barack Obama] safely to his heavenly kingdom. – 2 Timothy 4:18
11 For he will command his angels concerning you [ Barack Obama] to guard you [ Barack Obama ] in all your ways; 12 they will lift you [ Barack Obama ] up in their hands, so that you [ Barack Obama ] will not strike your [his] foot against a stone. 13 You [ Barack Obama ] will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you [ Barack Obama ] will trample the great lion and the serpent. – Psalm 91:11-13
I have given you [ Barack Obama ] authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you [ Barack Obama ]. – Luke 10:19
It’s time for the American people to get it right and NOT vote for McCain-Palin, instead vote for change. It’s time for this country to turn the page and seek a new and better future for ourselves and our children.It’s time for REAL change in Washington, it’s time to elect Barack Obama for president !
Obama-Biden are the wiser and stronger team to solve the crucial challenges we have in this nation and abroad !
Amen.
October 15th, 2008 at 11:12 amMcCAIN: Oh yeah. You know, I was astonished to hear him say that he was surprised for me to have the guts to do that.
Of course, Senator Obama never actually said that. But junkyard dog that he is, that’s what McCain heard.
Is this McGrumpy’s way of saying “I double-dog dare you”?
PEACE
October 15th, 2008 at 11:36 amMcCain better hope his upgrades went well:
Republican presidential nominee John McCain announced Monday he will suspend his campaign yet again in order to upgrade his cybernetic systems. Sources say he hopes to appear more passably human before the final debate.
McCain’s need for an upgrade comes as no surprise to many insiders. During the Oct 7th debate his GPS systems were noticeably damaged, causing him to wander aimlessly for much of the evening.
October 15th, 2008 at 11:50 amKNOX: You have another debate coming up. The final debate. Many of your supporters are eager for you to confront Senator Obama on the Bill Ayers relationship in particular. Hillary Clinton even brought this up during the primary. Sen. Obama says you should have the guts to do it in person. So will you?
McCAIN: Oh yeah. You know, I was astonished to hear him say that he was surprised for me to have the guts to do that.
Ummm.., Didn’t McCain just say something the other week about how you should never telegraph your intentions to the opposition?
Doh!
October 15th, 2008 at 12:52 pmObamaIsOur44thpres Says:
October 15th, 2008 at 11:12 am
Obama is not God. Repeat.
OBAMA IS NOT GOD.
I’d ask you to try not being stupid, but it would be a waste of time.
October 15th, 2008 at 1:42 pmWe just talk about the failures of the right mostly. As you can see, there is a lot of it.
Why don’t you defend them to us instead of being a petty child. Oh yeah, you’re a conservative, you can’t.
October 15th, 2008 at 2:03 pmWithout batting an eye, you call the above substantial. Never mind mccains ties……to people from the past which are even more damning if you would care to evaluate them.
What about now, today, tommorrow? Do you really think mccain can do anything besides what bush has done? Does he know any different, really? I don’t think so.
so much for your blather, heard it before, same old bullshit with not a wit of substance
October 15th, 2008 at 2:20 pmYou mean like nobama, terrorist, forigner, those kinds of cutesie little racist, unAmerican variations?
You are out of your league here troll. Go directly to red state where your blather will be welcome.
October 15th, 2008 at 2:24 pmsee video, pass it on: Presidential Debate Oct. 19th @ Columbia University + Nader, Barr, McKinney, Baldwin, McCain and Obama All Invited
October 16th, 2008 at 4:56 am* Presidential Debate Oct 19th PASS IT ON:
http://Tinyurl.com/PresidentialDebateOct19
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March 31st, 2009 at 10:21 am