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Obama -vs- McCain, Debate #3 Finals!

Started 3 years ago by CountingCoup
Latest reply from Sue

CountingCoup
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Finally, we have a better debate forum (I didn't like the town hall debate #2) for the last and final debate between Barack and McCain.

It will be interesting to see how McCain brings up the "boogie man" right wing approach of fear that seemed to have worked in the last 8 years for them.

I think the American public is past that now, and I can't see a sustained discussion over Ayers for 45 min.

At some point McCain is going to need to address specifics about the state of our economy.

I think Obama will clearly show who would be a better President to handle real issues once the discussion/debate gets past the rhetoric of character assasination.

Let the final game begin.........

Posted 3 years ago #
flipjack
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game is right.

Posted 3 years ago #
mellaw6565
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CC - my students will be watching this one in class. I have a few students that wear their McCain/Palin shirts proudly (as they should)despite being the minority in the classroom. They hold their own well and it will be an interesting discussion tomorrow post-debate. They all said that McCain needs to buck up and come out as more convincing & in-touch if he's going to win the election.

IMO - I think tonight is do or die for him.

Posted 3 years ago #
JanS
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wow...25 minutes into it, and John McCain said that if Obama had agreed to the town hall meetings that he wanted in the beginning, that things would have been different re: Ayres, etc. Way to whine, John. And Lewis hurt his feelings, and on and on and on. Doesn't he understand that we don't give a damn? We want solid answers to the problems that this country has. Geez !

Oh, and maybe he should have brought " Joe the plumber" with him. ;-)

Posted 3 years ago #
TammiWS
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These questions are awesome!

Posted 3 years ago #
JanS
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I really like Bob Scheiffer (sp). He's the best moderator by far. I like the set-up of this "debate". They get to sit, but can't avoid looking at each other.

Posted 3 years ago #
TammiWS
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So snarkey....His smirks drive me bats...

Posted 3 years ago #
Diane
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this debate is awesome

Posted 3 years ago #
Diane
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poor Joe the Plumber; can you imagine what he's thinking right now?

Posted 3 years ago #
bcollins
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The geezer is doing pretty good (you decide which person you decide to apply the term to).

Posted 3 years ago #
MrJT
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Grandpa looks like he's got gas

Posted 3 years ago #
JanS
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lol...I don't paarticularly like McCain, but I think this is the best set-up for him. He looked very uncomfortable in the last debate, and I think that being able to sit suits him.

Posted 3 years ago #
bcollins
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I have a litmus test for a president...

The person (please notice the gender neuteral reference)must be able to pat their own head and rub their tummy at the same time.

Posted 3 years ago #
CountingCoup
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McCains replies to the questions had very little detail, and his communication style of not completing his thoughts before jumping to another angle or topic makes be believe they have little substance.

I think it's very clear who is ready to lead our country.

Obama 2008

Posted 3 years ago #
bcollins
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He scared me with that smile.

Posted 3 years ago #
beachdrivegirl
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So maybe I am mistaken but isnt autism quite a bit different than down syndrome? and doesnt palin's son have down syndrome not autism?

Posted 3 years ago #
bcollins
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She can see autism from her front window.

Posted 3 years ago #
beachdrivegirl
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oh, like russia?

Posted 3 years ago #
WSMom
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http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=l63SRpGXBHE

I want to give you my solemn word that there will be no mud slinging in this campaign...

Posted 3 years ago #
HunterG
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That's what I thought too BDG. Autism is very different from Downs.

Posted 3 years ago #
MrJT
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Your correct bdg, it is Downs Syndrome. Not to be confused with dimensia.

Posted 3 years ago #
Arbor Heights Guy
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As was posted here earlier, this is an eye opener on the man John McCain has been. 10 pages, but a good read.http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/make_believe_maverick_the_real_john_mccain/page/1

Posted 3 years ago #
JanS
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bdg...yes, Palin's son has Downs Syndrome..has nothing to do with autism. Perhaps it's another example of not really paying attention, let's pull any old disability out of a hat. Or maybe he was speaking in generalities.

John McCain's smile.....when he had melanoma on the left side of hhis face, they removed 17 lymph nodes surrounding it. He actually has a faded scar that goes down most of his cheek to his chin, and it has affected the nerves on that side, so his smile is affected , as is the muscle tone on that side, so it looks heavy and puffy.

bcollins....that brings up a mis-statement that Sarah Palin made in a speech in New Hampshire today. She was speaking about the state and the area, and called it the great northWEST. Keith Olbermann said "She can see Portsmouth from her kitchen window" ;-)

Posted 3 years ago #
bcollins
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LOL...oh wait...lol at Palin...not cancer.

Posted 3 years ago #
Diane
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Rachel Maddow & Keith Olbermann are sooooo good; just what I was thinking, first 2 debates McCain not looking at Obama, now we can see why; it was creepy; and McCain grinding his teeth while Obama stayed oh so cool
~
reminded me of first prez tv debate with Kennedy/Nixon

Posted 3 years ago #
Diane
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on Keith Olbermann "comment from Joe the Plumber 'surreal', and went back to bed"

Posted 3 years ago #
villagegreen
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By far Obama's best debate performance. McCain was feisty, but came off like a desperate old man. Snap polls show huge win for Obama. Holy crap! The Democrats may have finally avoided blowing an election.

Posted 3 years ago #
k
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if only we would have played the "joe the plumber" drinking game tonight! it's as good as palin's "maverick" drinking game!

Posted 3 years ago #
CountingCoup
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I almost always see eye to eye with Rachel & Keith, I think MSNBC did many of their viewers a major dis-service by giving them such little time outside of their shows for a deeper analysis of what they see.

And sorry, I am tired of seeing Pat Buchanan everytime Rachel is there to give analysis.

The reality is MSNBC without Maddow and Olbermann are not that different than say... CNN

Posted 3 years ago #
k
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzvgmRXx5VM&eurl=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/15/angry-mccain-at-final-deb_n_135071.html

Posted 3 years ago #
RainyDay1235
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Two points that caught my attention:

"Again...just again, an example of the eloquence of Senator Obama, health (indicates air quotes) of the mother. You know that’s been stretched by the pro-abortion movement to mean almost anything."

Ugh.

"We need to encourage programs such as Teach for America and Troops to Teachers where people, after having served in the military, can go right to teaching and not have to take these examinations which -- or have the certification that some are required in some states. Look, we must improve education in this country."

Really? Seiously? THAT'S how we're gonna do it? I'm sure my highly trained teacher friends would be very interested to hear they are as qualified as returning war veterans. w-o-w.

Posted 3 years ago #
acemotel
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look, let's keep it simple.... Troops to Doctors, where people, after serving in the military, can go right to practicing medicine and not have to take those examinations blah blah blah. Or, Troops to Lawyers, or Troops to Engineers, etc. Way to disrespect the teaching profession.

That had to be one of the most ridiculous proposals he advocated tonight.

His health care plan, including the taxing of employer-provided health insurance is another big windfall for businesses and a takeaway for working families.

He's running for president because he's got something to prove to daddy and grandpa. He hasn't succeeded in any other endeavor. Say goodbye, John.

Posted 3 years ago #
mellaw6565
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Considering that many high school dropouts enter the military, I'm not sure how that would be improving education. (I'm not implying that all military are stupid, so please don't accuse me of that). I'm saying that if they waive certification requirements then there is no way to see if they are prepared to be "highly qualified" educators for our children.

And my partner and I caught that quote from McCain on abortion too - wouldn't it make sense that the definition of "health" would include mental health? If a woman's mental stability or health would be threatened by having a child or be eventually dangerous to the child, why wouldn't that qualify as a "health" condition?

I just think he's so out of touch on those issues.

I loved how Obama kept nailing him about the spending freeze. McCain would harp about fiscal responsibility yet talk about numerous programs that would require federal spending if he wanted to implement them. Totally inconsistent, IMO.

Posted 3 years ago #
mellaw6565
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Ace - I have a doctorate degree and you would not believe what I had to go through to get and maintain my certification. And at my own expense I may add - our employers (schools) don't pay for our continuing education like most employers do.

McCain's proposal is clearly a slap in the face.

Posted 3 years ago #
CountingCoup
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McCain's debate style was full of phony accusations and lack of legitimate substance.

Thinking on his feet for debate responses had the appearance of stuffing bits and pieces of a campaign talking points all stuffed into incomplete and sometimes incoherent sentences.

The points he did make well, will not serve him well. The dismissal of abortions for health reasons will turn around to bite him hard.

The lack of details with his education plan, medical plan, financial plan, and new energy plan was all we really needed to see and hear to know that there was no substance in his diatribe, it was all smoke and mirrors.

Posted 3 years ago #
Trick
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John's Healthcare proposal was vague and certainly wouldn't keep healthcare costs that are spiraling out of control, intact.
Preventive healthcare like Obama said, would help lower costs.
John looked like Uncle Fester at times when you could see him on the brink of imploding.

Posted 3 years ago #
Jiggers
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Barack has made it clear that he wants to raise taxes on your business if you claim more than $250k a year. I thought the whole idea to own your own business was to become independentley wealthy in this country and make as much as you can. Obama doesn't quite understand that what this country is lacking right now is grease. We need those businesses to create more jobs and reinvest in itself. Joe the plumbers out there aren't happy. Then there's no sense in working hard anymore for yourself.

Posted 3 years ago #
Cait
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"Obama doesn't quite understand that what this country is lacking right now is grease. We need those businesses to create more jobs and reinvest in itself."

I thought he was pretty clear that small businesses will get tax breaks under his plan and that he will provide further breaks for companies that create jobs on American soil. I think he understands. They are both working to help businesses keep afloat. The only difference is that Obama is talking about Joe the Plumber's new business and McCain is talking about Exxon/Mobile.

Posted 3 years ago #
rs261
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Yes taxes will be greater if you make 250k a year or more...they will not be 100% though, I believe they top out at around 60%...so, let see, you make 1million a year, you take home about 150k for the first 250k, then another 450k for the rest...so 600k on a million dollar a year salary...that doesnt seem all that bad to me....effectively a 40% tax rate? whos complaining about that?

Posted 3 years ago #
Anonymous
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Jiggers brings up a valid point and an important issue in this election.

We cannot tax ourselves into prosperity and to believe otherwise is a recipe for disaster.

Posted 3 years ago #
CountingCoup
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I have never heard Barack mention we tax ourselves into prosperity? And who would "we" be?

If you are making 1/4 million a year, I think you would be pretty comfortable in your lifestyle.

The "we" in America is the other 90% of the population.

As far as taxing companies making over 250,000.00 Obama has already stated they will get tax credits when those businesses comply with basic human rights like providing healthcare benefits for their employees.

I would be interested to know what percentage of business making over 250,000.00 that do not provide healthcare for their employees, and the percentage of those businesses between 250,000.00 and say 400,000.00 as these would probably be the most impacted with Obama's plan.

Posted 3 years ago #
Cait
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I swear, do people only listen to their own candidate speak during these things? I'm not making this up out of thin air - if you listen to Obama instead of look at him you'll realize that McCain and Palin have been trying to portray his plan as something that it is patently not (ie that he is going to tax you, unless a person make 250K a year in which case I don't really want to hear about how much they're being taxed) Whether a politician or a supporter, repeating something over and over doesn't make it true.

Posted 3 years ago #
Anonymous
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And as for businesses making over that amount, won't there still be all kinds of allowable deductions that the rest of us (individuals) would never see?

Posted 3 years ago #
CountingCoup
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As far as I understood from Obama's plan, he was giving lots of tax break incentives to business making over the 250,000.00 line. But those would be predicated with things like providing healthcare etc...

Those businesses which are not small and around the quarter million dollar profit range should be taxed because of their high profits.

Posted 3 years ago #
Bayou
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The irony is that "Joe the Plumber" does not make over $250k a year and would not fall into the bracket of a tax increase anyways.

Posted 3 years ago #
acemotel
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Some people are McCain groupies. If McCain says Obama is a terrorist, well, by golly, they think he's a terrorist. If McCain says Obama is trying to "redistribute the wealth" well gosh darn, they believe Obama is a communist out to socialize the USA. If McCain says Obama wants to raise taxes on everybody, they believe it, any and all evidence to the contrary notwithstanding.

They don't understand that we've just been through the biggest redistribution of wealth since the Industrial Revolution.

Obama wants to build up and support the middle class, which has been effectively eviscerated. Why do people want to vote against something in their own best interest?

Posted 3 years ago #
Anonymous
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And lets hope he never aspires to make that much!

I think that's a fine idea! Start your own business, and put a cap on how much you want your company to make.

(That was sarcasm, btw)

Posted 3 years ago #
acemotel
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God forbid anyone should have to pay taxes.

Posted 3 years ago #
Cait
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Am I the only one who isn't truly opposed to socialism? Why does one person need more than $250,000 a year? I'm not talking want, I'm talking NEED. The American dream has gotten so far out of control and this is a perfect example of how. Live simply so that others can simply live. And if you DO make more than $250,000 a year you can enjoy the added profits, but you also get the added benefit of knowing that you are further helping schools fund programs, help veterans get health care and providing us with more police programs to keep down crime. You get rich AND you help your community and country at the same time. What doesn't make sense about that?

Posted 3 years ago #
acemotel
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Socialism is a dirty word in the USA. Just run a comp on income tax levels worldwide and see that the USA has some of the lowest levels in the industrialized world, topping out at 35%. Austria and Belgium top out at 50%, China 45%, Denmark (the "happiest" country in the world) 59%, Israel 47%.

I agree with you Cait, but unfortunately in the USA, greed and selfishness abound. We have no concept of social responsibility. It's all about ME.

Posted 3 years ago #

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