# 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:** 23
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/441 "2008-10-16T04:30:42Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > 😕 Is that supposed to be complimentary? I thought the correct expression for a fervent effort was “going all out”. > > “All in” is what you are when you’re [beat down and tired](http://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2006/08/im-all-in.html), isn’t it? As in, “Man, this has been a tough day—I’m all in”: “All in” is a poker expression, when you bet everything you have. It is your last bet of the hand, and you either win big or lose big. No in between. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/442 "2008-10-16T04:30:44Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > You mean [this one?](http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h16/smartaleq/e29bd235.gif) Watch out, [Arnold Schwarzenegger is hiding in that thing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V17duGlHEYY)! ---
**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, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/443 "2008-10-16T04:32:05Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > 😕 Is that supposed to be complimentary? I thought the correct expression for a fervent effort was “going all out”. > > “All in” is what you are when you’re [beat down and tired](http://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2006/08/im-all-in.html), isn’t it? As in, “Man, this has been a tough day—I’m all in”: More a poker definition I think. As in, when you’re getting your ass kicked, and you only have $10 in chips left, you toss them all in the pile and go “all in”, hoping against hope that you’ll win the pot, and get back into the game. edit to add: Great. Thanks **Fear Itself** I feel slow now. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/444 "2008-10-16T04:32:56Z")
Not anymore, thanks to poker. ETA: Wow, beaten twice in just the time it took to type that post! (Okay, maybe a little more because I was reading the page, but still. I’d also like to point out, BTW, that you can go “all in” in poker even if you have the most chips at the table, so Fox isn’t _necessarily_ saying anything bad about McCain’s performance so far.) ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/445 "2008-10-16T04:56:39Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > “All in” is a poker expression Oh, I see. And whaddya know, if I’d read my own link more carefully I would have seen that! > [@](#): > > The Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang has a somewhat different explanation: “all in” originated at the card table. If you were “all in,” you were broke (that is, out of money), because you had already put all of your money in the pot. So you couldn’t play anymore. So, will McCain become “all in” from having gone “all in”? Or will he pull it out after going all out? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/446 "2008-10-16T05:09:30Z")
If McCain loses this election (looks bad for him now but the fat lady hasn’t sung about counting chickens yet), he will be the most hated man in the Republican party. No idea if it’ll hurt him in Arizona come reelection time, but he never lacked enemies among the GOP before and now he’ll be the man who let Obama into the White House front door. I wonder how that will affect the rest of his time in D.C… ---
**Author:** ![sovtawen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@sovtawen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sovtawen)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/447 "2008-10-16T05:14:33Z")
Man, McCain really lost on the likability front. Every time I watch him debate I feel like hiding under a rock. He manages to simultaneously frighten and anger me. Obama technically may not have performed as well tonight (depending on whom you ask), but he seemed more trustworthy, friendly, and calm, and I think that’s going to matter more than anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Yumblie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/76d3ee/32.png) [@Yumblie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yumblie)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/448 "2008-10-16T05:35:49Z")
I liked McCain’s little victory jig at the end. I was also impressed that he was actually gracious enough to give “that one” the privilege of a post-debate handshake this time. But man, I can’t believe he brought up Ayers and ACORN. Something like that may work for an ad when there’s no chance for rebuttal, but if the guy’s right there you can’t go spouting silly things like that and not expect to be called on it. Obama’s probably sick of telling that story by now. Also, I offer [this](http://echelon.mirror.waffleimages.com/files/a0/a00fb16bbbb331e466e54461afbefdd39521ee08.jpg) without comment. ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/449 "2008-10-16T05:44:43Z")
Yumblie, you MUST comment on that. What on _earth_ is the McCain pic from? ---
**Author:** ![Av8trix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/90db22/32.png) [@Av8trix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Av8trix)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/450 "2008-10-16T05:51:25Z")
> [@Yumblie](#): > > Also, I offer [this](http://echelon.mirror.waffleimages.com/files/a0/a00fb16bbbb331e466e54461afbefdd39521ee08.jpg) without comment. That needs some ‘force’ lightning. ---
**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, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/451 "2008-10-16T05:55:43Z")
I get a 403 on that link. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/452 "2008-10-16T06:01:11Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > 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. My brother is a [Master Plumber](http://www.moga.missouri.gov/statutes/C300-399/3410000170.HTM). He’s since retired from the trade (using a pipe wrench for 20+ years will pretty much destroy your elbows). The last full year he was in the trade, he made more than $120,000, making 21% of sales. The guy who owned the firm and employed a dozen plumbers for damn sure made more than that. It’s very hard work and an honorable trade…but it’s fairly well-paid one. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/453 "2008-10-16T06:07:56Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I get a 403 on that link. Try putting a space after “jpg” in the URL textbox and hitting enter. I’ve also put it on imagevenue. It’s a great picture of Obama and McCain after the debate. > **[ImageVenue.com - 37192\_obamamccainthirddebate\_122\_181lo.jpg](https://www.imagevenue.com/view/o/?i=37192_obamamccainthirddebate_122_181lo.jpg&h=img208)** > > Image Hosting, Image Upload, Picture Hosting ---
**Author:** ![Jolly\_Roger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@Jolly\_Roger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jolly_Roger)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/454 "2008-10-16T06:33:43Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > yep, the mr spock deflector screen. thunk them with the logic stick. > > when the interview with sen. and mrs. obama and the 2 young ladies was shone. malia obama said that daddy’s m.o. when they do something wrong is to “talk, talk, talk.” she even rolled her eyes. > > i can just hear it: daddy, i’ll never, ever, ever, do it again, please no lecture, nooooooooooo! Well, to be honest a president that can remain cool under pressure is a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![JHE1967](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JHE1967](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JHE1967)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/455 "2008-10-16T06:38:59Z")
Anyone think McCain’s stiff “good job”, “good job”, “good job” to Obama at the end was for lack of a better word a little creepy? ---
**Author:** ![mabes10](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@mabes10](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mabes10)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/456 "2008-10-16T07:34:48Z")
> [@Corbomite](#): > > Try putting a space after “jpg” in the URL textbox and hitting enter. I’ve also put it on imagevenue. It’s a great picture of Obama and McCain after the debate. > > [ImageVenue.com - 37192\_obamamccainthirddebate\_122\_181lo.jpg](http://tinyurl.com/5yle93) I saw that elsewhere. Someone captioned it “McCain losing his lunch.” Can anyone do better? ---
**Author:** ![Anduinel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Anduinel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anduinel)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/457 "2008-10-16T08:31:34Z")
> [@mabes10](#): > > I saw that elsewhere. Someone captioned it “McCain losing his lunch.” Can anyone do better? “One more Republican out of the closet”? He looks like he’s pulling a Tex Avery in prelude to the mother of all ass-grabs. Either that or having a massive coronary. ---
**Author:** ![raindrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/74df32/32.png) [@raindrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindrop)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/458 "2008-10-16T08:34:48Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > > [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > > > Just say no. No, she’s not qualified. > > Personally, I’d have said something about the American people making that judgment “…as they get to know her through the talk-show and press-conference circuit…” – avoiding any overt attack while subtly calling attention to her attempt to hide from public scrutiny. Missed opportunity, IMO. IMO it wasn’t really a missed opportunity, because he responded with, “You know, I think it’s – that’s going to be up to the American people.” So he did partly say what you think he should have said. He just took a different angle on it than your idea. Yes, the American people will decide, and we might just decide we don’t want her as VP. Then he added, " I think that, obviously, she’s a capable politician who has, I think, excited the – a base in the Republican Party." I could interpret that in soooo many interesting ways. “Capable politician” says nothing at all about her ability to lead this country. Sometimes people even say someone is a “politician” when they mean they are typically and excessively manipulative. “Capable politician” is not necessarily a compliment. And “excited the – a base in the Republican Party” could be a comment about inciting some to anger with her baseless attacks on Obama. Of course I’m just guessing, but I do suspect that Obama’s response probably had a subtle underlying meaning. Just depends on how you look at it. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/459 "2008-10-16T08:51:05Z")
I agree with **Raindrop** regarding Obama’s response on the Palin question. It didn’t meet the literal definition of litotes(\*) but it had a nice, litotes-like feel to it. I also think that Obama’s graciousness will look better and better as the hours and days pass. A cleverly delivered savaging of Palin might have played well initially, but it would leave a bad taste lingering eventually. This way, the idea likely to set in people’s minds is “what a class act … he didn’t insult Palin, he said the voters should decide. Instead of ripping Palin down, he built up his own running mate and stance on the issues.” > [@](#): > > (\*) from wikipedia: > In rhetoric, litotes is a figure of speech in which a speaker, rather than making a certain claim, denies its opposite; for example, rather than call a person attractive, one might say he’s "not too bad to look at. ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001/460 "2008-10-16T09:33:27Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > I agree with **Raindrop** regarding Obama’s response on the Palin question. It didn’t meet the literal definition of litotes(\*) but it had a nice, litotes-like feel to it. > > I also think that Obama’s graciousness will look better and better as the hours and days pass. A cleverly delivered savaging of Palin might have played well initially, but it would leave a bad taste lingering eventually. This way, the idea likely to set in people’s minds is “what a class act … he didn’t insult Palin, he said the voters should decide. Instead of ripping Palin down, he built up his own running mate and stance on the issues.” I think this is spot on, particularly for the so-called “independent” voters. Certainly the hardcore dems would have loved for Obama to trash Palin and attack McCain harder, but he doesn’t need those votes (he’s already got them)-- what he needs is to appeal to the independents who are looking for (a) a “presidential” candidate and (b) change. He has been successfully playing it cool for 3 debates now and it’s served him very, very well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-the-official-last-presidential-debate-thread/468001.md?page=24)