# It's the official last Presidential Debate thread! **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 15, 2008, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001 "2008-10-15T03:20:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/341 "2008-10-16T02:48:35Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Why would Sarah Palin be famliar with _autism_? She can see a kid with autism from her kitchen window. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/342 "2008-10-16T02:49:48Z")
By the way, the squiggles also dived every time McCain said “Joe the plumber.” That did not work for him at all. Joe is rich white cocksucker. Fuck him. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/343 "2008-10-16T02:50:41Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > It seems that Obama supporters want more blood and are disappointed when Obama doesn’t rise to the bait. > > Me, I thought Obama explained his plans plainly and clearly. Supporters of the candidates are not the target audience, it is not a rally. The target are the undecideds without alienating those already on board. All three of Obama’s debate performances were precisely tuned to the undecideds. McCain took more risks this time and was constantly on the attack, which for the first half hour looked good for him. Then he just wore out or something. I got tired of Joe the Plumber very quickly. At least this wasn’t a “my friends” debate. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/344 "2008-10-16T02:52:46Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > She can see a kid with autism from her kitchen window. Beautiful–you guys make me laugh. Apparently the female trackers tanked when McCain delved into abortion. I’m not a one issue voter, but by god, he’ll make me one. Joe the Plumber is no friend of mine. If he has enough money to buy the frigging business, he’s done well. It’s not like plumbers are poor people, any way. ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/345 "2008-10-16T02:53:47Z")
Wasn’t Obama the first one to mention autism? Or am I misremembering? ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/346 "2008-10-16T02:54:06Z")
Any snap polls yet? ---
**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/347 "2008-10-16T02:55:56Z")
I used to have a potato clock in 7th grade. I ran a clock with just a spud. McCain neglected tuber-sourced energy. And isn’t it obvious that this is another crucial issue into which we should follow the Irish? ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/348 "2008-10-16T02:57:06Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > Any snap polls yet? I was just about to post this. Man, we really have become the Microwave Generation. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/349 "2008-10-16T02:57:13Z")
You could argue little details, but here’s what didn’t happen; McCain did not absolutely blow Obama out of the water. And McCain needed to blow Obama out of the water. He needed to pull a Reagan 1980. He failed to do that. He’s toast. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/350 "2008-10-16T02:57:27Z")
I gather from CNN that “Joe the plumber” is a real guy that Obama met last weekend while campaigning. CNN reports that > [@](#): > > he said he was about to buy a company that makes more than $250,000 a year and was concerned that the Democratic nominee would tax him more because of it. So… This poor, poor Joe the plumber wants to BUY a business that currently has over $250,000/year PROFIT. So “Joe” is sitting on what, around $2,500,000 cash right now? He sure as hell is not getting any easy credit terms from the bank at the moment. Maybe it’s just me, but I’m having a hard time feeling sorry for a guy with this much cash who is looking to invest it, but does not want to have his taxes increased. Especially when the country is running a 10 trillion dollar debt. SOMEONE has to pay for this. I guess “Joe the Plumber” wants his grandkids to pay for it. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/351 "2008-10-16T02:57:38Z")
I’m on CNN with Hillary now–she’s being gracious re Obama and supportive of him. Well done. McShame called Hillary to pick her brain recently–what the hell? ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/352 "2008-10-16T02:57:42Z")
the cnn undecided crew in ohio did not like the numerous joe the plumber references. one said the third time he was mentioned it fell into gimmick land. it seems that the comment i hear most about gov. palin fits here. sen. mccain has trouble separating the personal and the public, just as she does. sen. mccain sees any attack on his position as an attack on his person. this is why people perceive him as angry and cranky. sen. obama is able to separate the two and once again showed how to disagree in a civil fashion. he states were there is agreement, disagreement, and how possibly a solution can be made. he doesn’t take it personally and that helps him stay cool. it is very refreshing. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/353 "2008-10-16T02:59:28Z")
I think McCain did pretty well actually, better than I expected. I think his arguments would resonate with his supporters. His message was certainly aimed at his base. I guess his strategy is to stop the hemorrhaging before attempting to turn the election around. I also think that he spent too much time attacking Obama’s plans and not enough explaining his own. I don’t think it was the right setting to go on the offensive. The tone of the debate seemed to be “let’s get the candidates to sit together and has a constructive discussion” and McCain’s remarks seemed at odds with that. Obama did really well. He kept his composure, organized his thoughts, and covered them well. He came off very presidential. I lost the flow of his closing arguments and felt that McCain’s were better. All that said, I’m an Obama supporter and admittedly biased. Finally, Bob Schieffer was truly outstanding. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/354 "2008-10-16T03:00:09Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > Any snap polls yet? AOL: Obama 53% McCain 41% Neither 6% ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/355 "2008-10-16T03:00:20Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > Any snap polls yet? CNN says it has one coming up soon. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/356 "2008-10-16T03:00:34Z")
CBS poll of undecided voters: Who won the debate? McCain ® 22 Obama (D) 53 ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/357 "2008-10-16T03:00:58Z")
If you google Joe the Plumber you can find the youtube with Obama and interviews later. He’s basically a resentful guy who doesn’t want to pay taxes to them lazy nogoodniks. His main concern with McCain is that he hasn’t been tougher on Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/358 "2008-10-16T03:01:32Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > AOL: > Obama 53% > McCain 41% > Neither 6% Is that a scientific poll or an online, push button poll? ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/359 "2008-10-16T03:01:39Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > CBS poll of undecided voters: > > Who won the debate? > > McCain (R) 22 > Obama (D) 53 Holy crap! No way. I refuse to believe that. McCain did not do badly at all. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/360 "2008-10-16T03:02:22Z")
Perception is a funny thing; I honestly thought that McCain came off the worst tonight. He repeated too many of his previous, debunked attacks. It was nothing new, at all, and I felt that Obama deftly parried every attack and got in more than a few solid ripostes. All in all, for me this one was won by Obama the most solidly of all three. McCain’s responses on health care, energy, and his out of control rallies were truly horrible. He was better talking about international stuff. His attacks on Obama were mostly duds (why did he bring up the planetarium again?? Lame.) No new insight of any kind. No new substance behind attacks. Failure to hear what Obama was actually saying in the debate, and once again failure to show Obama any respect. Obama’s response to the negative campaigning was terrific. “People aren’t interested in our hurt feelings” and “I am willing to withstand three more weeks of attacks.” He rose above it well. He responded the health care and energy questions really well. Overall, he did a much better job of actually addressing the questions and making direct statements to the interests of mainstream Americans. He was also able to criticize McCain without sounding disrespectful the way McCain does. He doesn’t talk down to people. McCain was outright insulting at times. And once again I feel quite certain that moderates and undecideds are going to say overwhelmingly that Obama won, regardless of what the partisans think. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001.md?page=19)