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3rd Debate, Open Thread

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Fire away folks, last debate!


344 Comments

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Hi Claire :)

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DUDE! McCAIN THE INTERRUPTOR!!!

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McCain needs to let Obama finishes his sentences, otherwise what will McCain have to repeat as though it's his own idea?

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Thanks Claire.

Obama has counter punched like a champ so far. He is making a clear case that McCain is running for the top 2% (small biz owners that makes more than $250K) and driving the point home that he's cutting taxes for 95% of all working Americans.

So far, he's perfect.

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Who does Joe the Plumber expect will be his customers? Without some redistribution, there are fewer customers. The wealth disparity implies not much in the broad middle.

My oldest friend does work at Joe's level, and has had no work since spring, in Chevy Chase and Bethesda, MD. Owning that business is moot, at the moment.

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We're all plumbers now Tom.

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What's Joe's gross? If that tubby fool is netting over 250K I'd be shocked.

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McCain is a bit disjointed. He did get the "Share the wealth" bit in.

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A hatchet then a scalpal. Ha!

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Ready. Fire. Aim.

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I have a plan; boy does that sound creepily familiar.

Nixon with an anger problem.

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Here he goes again with the overhead projector!

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Stop your stinking "I know better than you, whippersnapper" smiling!

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I don't think a scalpel will do much good after you've cut off your leg with a hatchet.

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McCain keeps picking up that Sharpie like a scalpel....look out!

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Now he's getting pissed.. Im not President Bush.....

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New math. 92 becomes 2?

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That was pretty good line about running against Bush 4 years ago.

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My name is Joe, I am a plumber and I don't mind paying a little extra so kids can go to the planetarium and see with their own eyes that Earth is not flat.

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Excellent!

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McPain's supporters must be getting a hard on with his attacks.

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Yes it was politigirl.. its going to a tougher fight for O

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Scars to prove it, that's subtle.

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Did McCain just say he opposed the Iraq War?

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"WHen it comes to economic policies, essentially what you're proposing is eight years of the same thing" -- BOOM, there it is. Actually, it's somewhat less true in that these days McCain doesn't KNOW what he's proposing from one hour to the next, so who the hell knows if it will continue the Bush policies or not?

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The War in Iraq which "I vigorously opposed"???? What?

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The Republicans scarred McCain???

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Oh, show the scars, Please, please, please.

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I never liked the notion that Obama needed to be tougher, but I think he may need to bring it tonight.

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SHIEFFER GOES THERE!!

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Am I crazy or is he countering McCain beautifully?! He is clear and coherent in all his counterattacks.

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Door's open, McCain ...

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McCain is really coming off like an angry old man.

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He has used that scars line about a dozen times.

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Here we go!

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No town hall meetings—that's why I did it. It's Obama's fault.

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OMG, the TOWN HALLS are to blame for the "nasty turn"!!

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"Because he didn't play my games by my rules, I had to go negative"

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Why would Obama stand up to his party if he thinks they're right?

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George Wallace. He's about to CRY!!!!

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Right, the tone would have been different because .... of TOWN HALLS Obama disagreed to do.

And of course the revisionist history of who started this negative shit! Fucking McCain!

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I can't wait to hear Obama's response to this.

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Cue the violins.

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I wouldnt have done the town halls either. Never fight on the others guys turf. Too wasy to put in plants..

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waaaah! waaaaah! waaaaah!

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"Every time there has been an outbounds remark by a Republican I have repudiated it!" Well, why don't we start with your running mate.

Sheesh!

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Holy toledo...."I've always repudiated" the nasty language, McCain? Try again, old man!

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McCain: Rep. Lewis hurt me.

Obama: Well, look. (Wish he would drop that mannerism.)

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He's playing the victim card?! He's rolling over...hahahaha.

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BOOM, 527's!!

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YESSSS!!!! Barack called him on the town hall BS!

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Like they didnt run those Celebrity adds..
Obama.. he's a celebrity.. no he's different.. no he's risky.. Risky Business Celebrity..

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Door was open for Ayers and nothing from McCutNRun.

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So sweet to see GOP complaining about lack of money!

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I can't believe that McCain is going on about negative attacks.

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Joe the Plumber, wasn't he in the Clash.

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Fuck! Obama brought it up! YES!!!!!!!!!

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What a sniveling little turd. What happened to the tough repugs. Feelings hurt right and left.

Hit him with all the phrases from the psychos at the bible spice rallies. "Kill him!" has no place in US elections at all.

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Mount McCain is gonna blow. Look out!

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Stop interrupting him old man!

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I think McCain is doing okay for what he's trying to do. I don't agree with him but he's aort of hanging in there.

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Repudiation is a daaaaaangerous submerged reef, McCain, not sure you wanna sail in that direction...

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What is he talking about?!?!?!?

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People who come to your rallies are racist, too, you a-hole.

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He's playing the veteran card.

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Jesus Christ what the hell is that old man talking about!?

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McCain on spot, squirming.

Patriotic bigots!

What's the T-shirt that gets to McC?

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I gotta t-shirt of a pig with lipstick?

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What the hell is he talking about now?
McCrazy is starting to lose it.
watch the fireworks start.

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McCain, the whiner. There's that repudiate line again. Does someone have an actual count on McCain's repudiations?

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This is bullshit. Get off this nonsense.

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What about what PALIN said? Did you repudiate that???

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I don't agree with him but he's aort of hanging in there.

Yes, his aorta hasn't given way yet.

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he's gonna blow!!!!!!!!!!

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IT is the Economy, Stupid!

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And there it is! Kick him where it hurts, O ...

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Oh my God he's going with ACORN!

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ACORN IS DESTROYING THE FABRIC OF DEMOCRACY -- RUN FOR THE HILLS!!

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YESSSSS!!! Here comes the KNOCKOUT PUNCH!

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He still won't look him in the eye.

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Im watching CNN>. evertime McCain talks both graphs go down...so far. Men seem to be more interested in Ayers.. the dirty terrorist..

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his aorta, heh...I didn't do that on purpose

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Well done, Arjay ;-)

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Fabric of democracy!?! Are you shitting me?
What about the fabric of our US union with secessionists from the Alaska Independence Party?

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10 bucks (for Obama, of course) says McCain loses it tonight....

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Oh awesome, I forgot about the CNN lines!

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Sorry, arjay. Over-excited.

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"Let me tell you who I do associate with" -- SWEET!

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McCain sure is a blinky son of a bitch, ain't he?

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What in god's name is McCain smirking at?

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excellent..."let me tell you who I DO associaate with"

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Mccain is going nowhere.

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Side note: Why is Obama wearing a red tie and Grampa Simpson wearing a blue one?

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Speaks to each others' tailor bases ;-)

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WOW...he is really losing it!

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McCain is getting pummeled.

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John McCain had a long association with Cindy McCain while he was still married to his 1st wife...

BOO, I SAID IT!

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OUCH, Running mates. Here it comes.

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HA....he's gotta justify Sarah Barracuda. LOL!!!

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Thanks for VP hit, Bob!

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HERE WE GOOOOOOOO!!!!!

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could somebody *please* make McCain quit lying about Obama raising taxes? sheesh

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Yes, Obama just said, "that's a lie".

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What is wrong with McCain's eyes?? One is all watery and bulgy... oh and the incessant blinking...

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His head is going to explode soon.

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OMG, McCain is so rambly, it's like trying to follow a bumblebee around the room with your eyes...

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I had to turn it off, got tired of screaming at the TV!!! There is just NO WAY that I even give a damn what McCain has to say about anything at all!

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Biden is from Scranton. Nuff said.
Bible spice wants her state to be its own country.

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I love that the younger guy comes off as more mature than the older one...

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and down goes the CNN lines!

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Wait a minute...she is no role model to me!

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WHat a great question. I'm sooo happpy.

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Palin is a role model?

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The natural gas pipeline is gonna "relieve the energy dependence of the Lower 48"???

HAHAHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHA

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a bresh of freth air

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Should we start a pool on when Mac's head explodes?

Wishful thinking, but still.

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Yes...and all the money goes to Obama.com. I already bet $10.

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CNN line: Ohio Uncommitted Men seem to like Sarah Barracuda.

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Yes, but interestingly enough the uncommitted women line drops waaaay down when he brings her up...

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Autism?? where the hell did that come from

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is he SERIOUS!!!!!

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Really, Sarah Palin should be president because she has a special needs child. Really?!!?

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Score!

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COCKAMAMIE!!

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Who coached Mac so he would smile once in a while?

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Palin breath of fresh air?

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Now he's interrupting the moderator too.

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I think Obama lost an opportunity with the Palin question...

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And Obama pointed out a fundamental flaw in McCrazy's econ policy...nice...

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Palin reminds me of that line from "The Electric Horseman" "She's very breathy".. "Hell thats all she is breath"..

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Let me get this right, McCain is gonna ELIMINATE MidEast and Venezuelan oil imports in 4 years? I think he might be trying out for a guest spot on "HEROES" right now.

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HOw about all the russian subs at the bottom of the black sea with nuclear reactors aboard being not the safest.
HOLY SHIT. I am now making stupid comments. McGrumpy is making me stupid just listening to him.

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I hate to say this, but I think Obama's response on the Ayers/ACORN issue should have been smoother. And maybe harder hitting. I mean, he practiced that, right?

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Palin reminds me of that line from "The Electric Horseman" "She's very breathy".. "Hell thats all she is breath"..

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I liked Obama's response. Let's see how it plays.

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What the heck is the fixation on 45 nuke plants? Where does that number come from? It's a drop in the bucket, and dwarfed by the amount of energy going up our smokestacks.

Who's buying that policy plank?

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this is clearly McCain's best performance

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OK - I am able to breathe. DO NOT TALK ABOUT Palin supporting austistic families. She doesn't have a clue... speaking as a mom of an autistic son. If she did, she would not be parading her special needs baby around like she does. She cut funds for special needs - the Special Olymics - as Govenor. Obama, you made a mistake. She is someone that ABSOLUTELY should NOT be respected on anything, particularly in this realm. Uggghhhh!!!!

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Drill, drill, drill. Then drill some more.

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This is elder abuse

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I AM a free trader, I'd trade my soul, wait, oops, I did already...

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The left side of McCain's face seems to be swelling up as the hour goes by.

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No one has the money to build 45 nuke plants.

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Columbia..that's next to Spain

This is not a fair fight

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I see, Non-Traveling Obama is now responsible for killing our teens.

Hit him hard Obama.

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I hate to say this, but I think Obama's response on the Ayers/ACORN issue should have been smoother. And maybe harder hitting. I mean, he practiced that, right?

Be sure to e-mail Barry your analysis and suggestions. He'll appreciate it.

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No one has the money to build 45 nuke plants.

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That's not a smile, it's a smirk. And he looks pathetic.

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This is not a fair fight

Top of the 5th

Phillies 4
Bums 0

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McCain's worst debate performance?

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Pitiable

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and we have a dip at Obama wants to talk with terrorists. wow

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mccain is communicating "fuck you, barry.." via his morse code eye blinking. check it out...from his navy days.

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New topic, yes. Boy was that a weird exchange.

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Right, John, you're an expert on Columbia because you were born next door and went down there earlier this year when the hostages were freed.

A President can't know everything so I doubt making a junket trips to Bogota will provide that much enlightenment to a McCain administration.

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mccain is communicating "fuck you, barry.." via his morse code eye blinking. check it out...from his navy days.

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I don't think he realizes that the camera is still on him when Obama's speaking

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I think McCain could have just as easily pre-recorded his entire debate performance tonight.

He drifts from topic to topic as if he doesn't know where he is. He interrupts when no one else is talking.

He's swinging at a pinata with a blindfold on.

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Mac still has trouble taking Obama seriously.

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Mac still has trouble taking Obama seriously.

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Can someone with HDTV tell me if McCain's goiter is getting bigger during the debate?

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Health care....okay, Johnny Mac, what ya got?

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lines going up on O's health care speal......McCain mouth open.. lines down....

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When I get sick, I'm going to cough on Johnny

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I don't think he's said "my friends" once...and that's a full chug in our game over here...

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Whoops, just did.

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That was just to his "friend Joe." He hasn't mentioned the rest of us yet...

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Be sure to e-mail Barry your analysis and suggestions. He'll appreciate it.

Not really sure what that's supposed to mean. I thought we were all just talking here.

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How ya gonna pay for those fitness programs, McSurly?

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So McCain swung back to apathetic when he threatened to spin out of control if he got engaged.

He punked, all the way. And he didn't even tempt Obama into vulgarity!

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Obama is sticking to his game plan from debates 1 and 2. Not, necessarily, a bad idea. But I do wish he would take this egomaniacal, philandering, flip-flopping bigamist out to the woodshed and throttle his arrogant ass.

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Hey, you have been the star of this debate Johnny Plumber. Did you hear McCain announce that you are rich? That means you make more than 5 million a year. Can I borrow 50 bucks?

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Ha McCain is shocked!! "ZERO?!"

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Did he just slow down and articulate for McCain as if he's a little kid?? I LOVE IT!!

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thank goodness Obama said "your fine is zero"...I can't believe he left that hanging before

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Seriously, What the fuck is this Joe Plumber stuff?

Is McCain really pandering to the Plumber vote?

McCain is trying to get the plumbers on his side because he is going down the shit can as we speak.

P.S. Nice job pissing off Canada and England.

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McCain just was just hoisted on his own Plumber Joe.

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Refunds? Didn't somebody else just try this?? Is McCave trying to buy votes here?

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Again, what the hell is a "refundable" tax credit?
Refundable to whom???

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It means that if application of the credit to the amount of taxes due results in a negative number, the negative amount is paid to you as a refund.

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Obama seems a bit off his game tonight. He should have been able to make a slam dunk against McCain's health plan, but the problems in McCain's problem came off as a bit incoherent.

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Agreed. When it's time to close the sale, Obama always messes it up. Look for the polls to tighten over the next few days. Obama is blowing it tonight. His biggest weakness is that when he's ahead, he gets cocky and starts f*cking around.

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Obama is kind of sucking tonight. He's being diffuse and wonky. He should be more direct. McCain just talked about how he wants to freeze Federal spending. Fine. Whatever. But then he said he wanted to build 45 (I think) new nuclear power plants. Obama's response should have been, "How are you going to pay for that, John? You just said that you're going to freeze Federal spending. Each plant costs billions of dollars to build. How are you going to pay for those plants?"

I'm giving this one (reluctantly) to McCain.

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I agree that Obama isn't real sharp tonight; fortunately neither is McCain.

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I'm watching it on CNN because my wife won the argument. I HATE that line down at the bottom. It's completely distracting. I think Obama is doing better in this later part of the debate. And I think the closing arguments are going to be critical. From what I've heard so far, I'm guessing tonight will be seen as a draw, which will probably benefit McCain.

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Good point about the plants.

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