# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/21 "2008-10-15T17:51:33Z")
> [@Slacker](#): > > I have a follow up question: Do you hear that wooshing sound? šŸ˜ƒ **Santo** was referring to a bizarre comment Palin made during her chit chat with Joe Biden. She mentioned that kids at that elementary school got extra credit for watching the debate. Which shows you how annoyed I am with the whole thing because I donā€™t remember much about that debate except that it was on. Incidentally, why do we continue to call these things debates? Theyā€™re 45-minute speeches with interruptions. We could save ourselves a lot of time and be equally bored if we simply told them to e-mail us the PowerPoints. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/22 "2008-10-15T17:58:02Z")
I am completely disinterested, but my wife will probably make me watch. I think itā€™s incredibly redundant at this point; and no good can come of it (from an Obama standpoint) so Iā€™d just be nervous that BO will do something stupid. Which would be a first, admittedly. I had the same lack of interest last time, but we switched in the middle to CNN, and I became fascinated by the squiggly lines from the focus groups. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/23 "2008-10-15T18:10:00Z")
Iā€™m going to record it and watch the after-debate commentary. If it looks like it had any fireworks, Iā€™ll watch it later. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/24 "2008-10-15T18:15:23Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > Incidentally, why do we continue to call these things debates? Theyā€™re 45-minute speeches with interruptions. We could save ourselves a lot of time and be equally bored if we simply told them to e-mail us the PowerPoints. And I blame ineffectual moderators for that. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/25 "2008-10-15T18:20:26Z")
I get a lot more entertainment (and probably just as much substance) out of the debates by watching these threads. I salute you masochists for doing your civic duty to the board! šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/26 "2008-10-15T18:21:05Z")
Call me crazy, but Iā€™m pumped for this debate. I donā€™t recall even watching any of the debates prior to the last few presidential elections, but Iā€™ve been glued to the TV for 'em this time. So far, the first two were disappointing indeed, but this one just might be different. Iā€™m really curious to see how McCain tries to bring up the Ayers thing. I was just reading at [Politico.com](http://Politico.com) that McCain and his staff have been arguing whether or not to hit Obama on Reverend Wright, which is a much more reasonable argument in my opinion (still BS, but not as ridiculous as teh Ayers). So who knows whatā€™s going to come out of his mouth. McCain is backed into a corner and getting nailed from all sides about this campaign. We may finally see him blow his top tonight. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_Stimulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Digital\_Stimulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_Stimulus)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/27 "2008-10-15T18:22:58Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > Incidentally, why do we continue to call these things debates? Theyā€™re 45-minute speeches with interruptions. We could save ourselves a lot of time and be equally bored if we simply told them to e-mail us the PowerPoints. Personally, I thought the first debate was pretty good, with some actual answer, response, counter happening. The second, however, was exactly as you describe, and the VP ā€œdebateā€ was even worse. I hope tonightā€™s will surpass the first in allowing the candidates leeway to respond to one another. I guess weā€™ll seeā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/28 "2008-10-15T20:36:55Z")
I am likening it to jury duty at this point. Itā€™s something I know I should do and most likely will do, but I am not looking forward to it and it will most likely bore me silly. Iā€™m just done. Done with the threads here, done with the whole scream fest. Done. If I wasnā€™t going to be unable to surf the 'net tomorrow, I probably wouldnā€™t watch it at all. My opinion may change by this evening, but I doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/29 "2008-10-15T20:40:29Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > Which shows you how annoyed I am with the whole thing because I donā€™t remember much about that debate except that it was on. > > Incidentally, why do we continue to call these things debates? Theyā€™re 45-minute speeches with interruptions. We could save ourselves a lot of time and be equally bored if we simply told them to e-mail us the PowerPoints. Because theyā€™d probably use the 2007 format (which Im guessing is .pptx) and nobody would be able to open them. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Burton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Burton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burton)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/30 "2008-10-15T21:27:36Z")
Iā€™ll watch the highlights. I know who Iā€™m voting for. ---
**Author:** ![Cosmopolitan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/94ad74/32.png) [@Cosmopolitan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cosmopolitan)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/31 "2008-10-15T21:37:55Z")
> [@Burton](#): > > Iā€™ll watch the highlights. I know who Iā€™m voting for. I agree, to some extent. That is, Iā€™m fairly sure about which candidate Iā€™ll choose, and even if I werenā€™t, I doubt that this debate would help me to solidify my decision. Iā€™ll mostly be watching because the debate is at Hofstra University - itā€™s my friendsā€™ alma mater & is rather close by. Trafficā€™s a mess, incidentally. ---
**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 15, 2008, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/32 "2008-10-15T22:19:10Z")
Iā€™m feeling pretty confident about this debate, which is probably a bad sign. I hope that Obama pretty much ignores everything McCain says. Maybe a few comments like, ā€œThe American people arenā€™t interested in this silly stuff. Letā€™s talk about jobs and the middle class and jobs and jobs and by the way jobs.ā€ I was interrupted in typing this by my first poll of the year. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/33 "2008-10-15T22:29:34Z")
Video preview of the Debate: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l63SRpGXBHE) šŸ˜› Still, it is uncanny how the Penguin used virtually the same words as the McCain campaign 40 years ago! ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/34 "2008-10-15T22:32:03Z")
Remember, this debate will be the 3 of them seated at a table together. This means that (a) any attack by McCain will be perceived differently than from a podium because theyā€™ll be more in each otherā€™s personal space, and (b) it will be harder for McCain to ignore Obama without it coming across as even more conspicuous than the last two times. I think everyone knows how Obamaā€™s going to do; heā€™s been steadfast in staying On Message. McCainā€™s the wild cardā€“will he take the red meat bait? Will he bring in some left field policy proposal? Will he make some announcement that will steal the next dayā€™s news cycleā€™s attention? Or will it be more of the same old from him? Weā€™ll seeā€¦ ---
**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 15, 2008, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/35 "2008-10-15T22:53:44Z")
The Democratic candidate for county clerk of courts just stopped by. He was really excited to see my husbandā€™s Obama t-shirt and went into a passionate prediction that tonightā€™s debate would ā€œseal the deal!ā€ It was fun to see a candidate get that fired up about another candidate. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/36 "2008-10-15T23:25:30Z")
[Contact the Obama campaign before the debate!](http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/debatecontact) Send your stories, support or congradulations. ---
**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, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/37 "2008-10-16T00:40:23Z")
Ok, which channel to pick? Iā€™m going with MSNBC again. Iā€™m in my jammies and ready, I guess. If I fall asleep, at least Iā€™m dressed for it. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/38 "2008-10-16T00:55:20Z")
Which channel? Iā€™m sticking with you guys. These Doperized Debates are the way to go! ---
**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, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/39 "2008-10-16T00:56:10Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > Ok, which channel to pick? Iā€™m going with MSNBC again. > > Iā€™m in my jammies and ready, I guess. If I fall asleep, at least Iā€™m dressed for it. I went with MSNBC for the first 2 and a half debates. The last one was so boring, I switched to CNN to watch the squiggly lines. They were the best part of the last debate. ---
**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, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/40 "2008-10-16T00:56:52Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > Ok, which channel to pick? Iā€™m going with MSNBC again. Chris Matthews has a pretty good ability to pick out THE issue after the debates that people end up talking about. Heā€™s kind of a spaz, but heā€™s an alert spaz. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001.md?page=3)