Official Debate Post! (Last Debate)

[Horserider]

The last debate is starting right now! And my mom's not home so I can watch it without worrying about listening to her complain.

Anyone else watching? :popcorn:

[mlle_beau]

I'm not but my dad will be so I will end up hearing the whole thing anyways

[WashingtonBay]

Yeah - I'll be watching... and I moved your thread... since we have a whole forum just for politics :D

[Remali]

I'm too tired after work tonight, and recovering from the flu....so I'm not watching. And, I have to admit, I'm getting burned-out on politicians.....lol.

[lovesfortune]

It's on, but I'm only glancing at it now and then. It's a lot of the same from the last two. Ugh.

[Horserider]

Yeah - I'll be watching... and I moved your thread... since we have a whole forum just for politics

Ok sorry I wasn't sure where to put it.

I didn't get to see the last two. :popcorn: Popcorn anyone?

[WashingtonBay]

I watched the last two, and the VP debate, which was the only one that was fun.

I guess we aren't actually watching this one... hubby wasn't in the mood.

So we're watching King of the Hill.

I suppose if there's any real fireworks we'll watch it on the replay. :)

[Remali]

Acckkkk....well, it is on the TV in the other room, so I went out and peeked at it.....I think McCain looks reeeeealllly nervous......

[Flair]

I'm watching on CNN. And McCain just mentioned his $5,000 tax thing on health care.

His ratings dropped like a lead weight.

[WashingtonBay]

Really? Why I wonder. I mean... Given the choice of a health plan that will cost me more money in taxes (Obama's) and one that will give me more of my money back on my taxes... I'll take the money back :)

[Remali]

Obama is sounding really prepared and McCain seems to be stumbling a lot, just from the times I've plopped down in the livingroom to watch....

[WashingtonBay]

Well, when you said that the first time I went and looked briefly... and I can agree McCain's looks pretty stiff in comparison. But he always does. He's not particularly a charmer.

[Flair]

Really? Why I wonder. I mean... Given the choice of a health plan that will cost me more money in taxes (Obama's) and one that will give me more of my money back on my taxes... I'll take the money back :)

Not really, WB. McCain's ratings dropped the minute he started talking about his $5,000 tax relief thing or whatever it is.

Obama's ratings were almost off the chart among women when he was talking about his health plan.

[WashingtonBay]

Well, that may be our demise... ;)

Of course, it's a loaded audience, in a CNN rating.

[lovesfortune]

yeah, he's definitely not a charmer, WB. He just looks so agitated in every debate. I know he's not great at public speaking, but .. he just comes off arrogant and tries to degrade Obama at times.

[Flair]

There isn't an audience though, is there? This one is the sit down debate with the moderator. CNN is polling undecided Ohio voters.

I don't know what NBC is polling, they might be doing Republicans/Dems/Indies.

[lovesfortune]

Flair, there is an audience.. they aren't allowed to make noise or cheer or boo, etc. But they are there.

[Flair]

Flair, there is an audience.. they aren't allowed to make noise or cheer or boo, etc. But they are there.

Ah. Well, as far as I know, they're not the ones doing the ratings poll.

[Horserider]

Well that was interesting. In my opinion I'd say they both did pretty well. I have to say I totally disagree with most of what Obama said and agreed with quite a bit of what McCain said.

So who won?

ETA: I can't believe I watched the entire thing.

[JackieB]

They are both doing pretty well, in my opinion. It may be hard for me to be objective since I'm an Obama supporter. But here are a few thoughts.

-It's a genuine debate. Finally! We're really hearing them take each other on.
-John McCain has been more specific about his plans and examples than I feel that I've seen previously. That's good.
-McCain has interrupted Obama more often and seems to smirk or seem incredulous at times. That strikes me as a bit disrespectful.
-Obama appears to be a stronger debater. He's more relaxed and comfortable (I think).

Overall, their platforms are very different. Every voter should be able to make an informed decision in three weeks.

[WashingtonBay]

yeah, he's definitely not a charmer, WB. He just looks so agitated in every debate. I know he's not great at public speaking, but .. he just comes off arrogant and tries to degrade Obama at times.

Well, I'm sure he'd love to degrade Obama and actually pull it off. I'm just not sure he can. Palin could :D

I was thinking in dog metaphors watching them. McCain is sortof like a Fox Terrier. Stiff, alert... a little high strung. Obama's a Golden Retriever.

[WashingtonBay]

There isn't an audience though, is there? This one is the sit down debate with the moderator. CNN is polling undecided Ohio voters.

I don't know what NBC is polling, they might be doing Republicans/Dems/Indies.

I mean if you have someone participating in a CNN live polling system... they're more than likely liberal.

[JackieB]

So who won?



I don't think the polls and pundits will point to a clear winner.

[Flair]

I mean if you have someone participating in a CNN live polling system... they're more than likely liberal.

So what would you consider to be an accurate poll? Can anything be a neutral poll? Or is it just the liberal media or something?

[WashingtonBay]

So what would you consider to be an accurate poll?

Election day :)

[Flair]

Election day :)

Well, OK, we'll just have to wait and see then, eh?

[WashingtonBay]

Yup! There's flaws in any polling system. Any of them are only sampling a small number a particular kind of person.

The people that really count are the ones who actually show up to vote.

[rocknK]

Well, I, for one had a most wonderful ride. My good gelding doesn't give a rats @ss about politics. He told me he likes neither donkeys or elephants!:p

[Buckpoco]

How can we have an honest election with the Acorn fraud???

[WashingtonBay]

Well, that's actually a fairly good question, Buckpoco.

After what took place in Seattle during our last governor's race, I KNOW the elections need to be watched. Very closely.

[palomino]

I think Obama is way more polished and presents a smooth talking POLITICIAN type. I think McCain is just not a good speaker- but he knows what hes talking about. Hes not a bad speaker who has NO clue whats going on around him.

[Tiz]

I was glad to hear John McCain tell viewers to really listen to Obama. He says he'll "look" at offshore drilling, for instance. Listen, Jackie, ya hear?

Best line was accidental, but so true. McCain addressed Obama as Senator Government.

[JackieB]

I was glad to hear John McCain tell viewers to really listen to Obama. He says he'll "look" at offshore drilling, for instance. Listen, Jackie, ya hear?

Yes, I heard. But that wasn't inconsistent with Obama's position all along. I haven't heard Obama say that he would absolutely support an increase in offshore drilling unless I missed something. The Democrat-led House recently allowed the offshore drilling ban to lapse, and the public will is to drill almost everywhere right now, but I think Obama has been clear in saying that first, he want oil companies to explore some large tracts of land where they hold mineral rights, but aren't presently exploring.

I think both candidates have about the same goal of absolute energy independence with 10 years. And I am confident that regardless of which one is elected that we will get it done now. Americans are finally motivated enough to solve this problem.

These apparent inconsistencies in the platforms of candidates are always an issue. Neither party is more likely to over-promise than the other. For example, I heard the McCain/Palin ticket make a few promises in recent weeks that really left me scratching my head. If anyone is more familiar with their plan than me and can explain, I'd be appreciative.

-Sarah Palin said last week that she and John McCain would balance the budget in their first term. Given the slump that the economy is in (and reduced tax revenue), the fact that we are at war, the economic bailout, and that entitlements make up the greatest part of the budget, I found this to be rather an incredible statement. I heard McCain say that he would freeze the budget and then look for additional cuts, but balance it in four years, especially what we already know we are on the hook to pay for this coming four years? If someone could explain how they plan to get that done, I'd be appreciative.

-McCain said in his last debate that the Social Security problem wasn't a difficult one to resolve. He just needed to reach across the aisle the way Ronald Reagan did with Tip O'Neal. That statement really threw me off. Virtually every expert you talk to will tell you that short of drastically cutting Social Security benefits for future retirees, we have an extremely difficult problem to resolve. Nobody will ever get elected on a platform of cutting Social Security benefits, yet people are living longer than ever, the boomers are an enormous group getting ready to move to Social Security, and fewer workers are coming up behind them to contribute. Does anyone know what John McCain meant, or more specifically, how he planned to "easily" solve the Social Security problem? I'm not trying to start an argument, I'm genuinely curious.

[Tiz]

The Social Security issue has been "saved" by politicians, to use as a campaign issue, for many an election cycle. As many as I can remember.
I agree with John McCain, and don't believe fixing it is the tremendous job we've been told it is. I suspect what Congress labels as "hard work" isn't the same thing I consider hard work. The big problem with fixing SS, is a simple lack of political spine. They're all there to get reelected afterall, and addressing problems has become a mere distraction to that end.

[Tiz]

Jackie, why aren't you disgusted with the way that our government misuses our money? I don't understand that.

[Remali]

WB.....I liked the dog metaphors....that was hilarious...and pretty accurate too! :)

[JackieB]

Jackie, why aren't you disgusted with the way that our government misuses our money? I don't understand that.

Oh, I definitely am disgusted with waste in the federal government. In my own life, my wife and I are frugal beyond what probably 95% of all "middle class" Americans consider to be normal. We shake our heads in disbelief just like everyone else. I'm also far more in favor of private businesses serving our needs than our government.

However, I support having the government help us with those things that private businesses either can't, or won't (because there isn't a compelling business interest) do. In looking carefully at Obama's platform, I find that I support having my tax dollars go toward the initiatives he proposes, such as expanding healthcare, investing in supporting programs to help us achieve energy independence, and making sure that education is affordable and available.

I guess I'm probably a bit more like your average Western European citizen in feeling that federal government can play a significant role in helping everyone enjoy a good quality of life at an affordable tax rate. Citizens in countries such as Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and England enjoy good lives with a reasonable amount of discretionary income, but we consider many of their programs to be "socialist" U.S. standards. I see them as capitalist democracies with some strong social programs.

[Horserider]

I'm scared to think about what will happen after the election. At this point everyone in my family is 90% sure that Obama will win and we're all scared. I don't know what's wrong with people!!!!!!!! WHY would you want to vote for someone that will take away our freedom????? WHY would you vote for someone who SUPPORTS NAIS???? WHY would you vote for someone who I will bet will come up with an idea like NAIS only for PEOPLE???? WHY would you vote for someone who lies every other second? Do you HONESTLY believe he's going to do anything he said he will???? I don't want to see this country ran into the ground! I'M young enough to have to live with whatever everyone else DECIDES!!!!!!

So tell me Jackie WHY????????? For all your Obama supporters WHY? I want to know the real reason.