Obama, McCain attack each other's performance at debate

Obama went right after Republican nominee McCain at a rally in North Carolina, saying his rival had exposed himself in Friday’s clash as out of touch on the economic and national security perils facing America.

Senator McCain really didn't concern himself too much in the debate with the challenges faced by lower and middle income Americans. On NPR this morning, pollsters were reporting that Senator Obama made a very favorable impression on women viewers. Does this further erode Palin's value to the ticket?

Everyone ready for the "October Surprise," because this may be it:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article4837644.ece

IN an election campaign notable for its surprises, Sarah Palin, the Republican vice- presidential candidate, may be about to spring a new one — the wedding of her pregnant teenage daughter to her ice-hockey-playing fiancé before the November 4 election.

Inside John McCain’s campaign the expectation is growing that there will be a popularity boosting pre-election wedding in Alaska between Bristol Palin, 17, and Levi Johnston, 18, her schoolmate and father of her baby. “It would be fantastic,” said a McCain insider. “You would have every TV camera there. The entire country would be watching. It would shut down the race for a week.”

It's unfathomable to me anyone would suggest pushing two teenagers, under the glare of publicity no less, into a commitment they almost certainly lack the emotional maturity to sustain, simply to get a bump in the polls after testily insisting "it is a private family matter." Never mind there's no evidence they have the financial means to raise a child (outside of family hand-outs). This is certainly not my idea of "family values," and I think I have plenty of company here.

John McCain did once stand for something beyond just "politics as usual." Yet in his desperation to win, he'll do or hope for whatever he thinks will make it happen. He thought he hit the jackpot with Palin, but I think the election will prove otherwise:

Democrats find it necessary to blow a kiss McCain's way before denouncing him, saying they honor his heroism and service. Some Republicans felt no such compunction. (Even today a handful of holdouts have posted a video on YouTube, now featured on Pat Buchanan's Web site, that attempts to "swiftboat" McCain's heart-wrenching account of his experience as a POW.) If all was not forgotten, much was forgiven the instant McCain introduced the pro-life mother of five, who'd recently shown herself true to her principles by giving birth to a Down syndrome baby, as the first female Republican candidate on a national ticket.

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/21831

Newsweek: “McCain Won. But Will It Matter?”

Obama mentioned how even Kissinger is in agreement with Him. Yet, immediately after the debate the old repub henchman couldn't resist attacking Barack:

"Senator McCain is right. I would not recommend the next President of the United States engage in talks with Iran at the Presidential level. My views on this issue are entirely compatible with the views of my friend Senator John McCain. We do not agree on everything, but we do agree that any negotiations with Iran must be geared to reality."

Typical.

"pollsters were reporting that Senator Obama made a very favorable impression on women viewers..."

Yeah, he is definitely more handsome than ol' McCain.

"... Does this further erode Paln's value to the ticket?"

No, Palin has only added value to the ticket. I can't wait for the VP debate Thursday. Poor Biden...

What this article forgets to add is that last line on the original article.. The poll was heavily in favor of the Democrate as 41% of the people polled were Democrate 29% Republican and 30% independent..

Seems like a very important part of a poll when you have uneven numbers of each politic party...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/27/AR2008092701357.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

Read it!!!

Sarge - I agree. Poor Biden. He won't know when to stop bashing Palin! I mean, it's inarguable that Biden will paste her, just like Obama pasted McCain last night, but I'm worried that Vice-President-elect Biden won't know to let up. Can't make it look too easy, now can we?

Betzee: It's unfathomable to me anyone would suggest pushing two teenagers, under the glare of publicity no less, into a commitment they almost certainly lack the emotional maturity to sustain, simply to get a bump in the polls after testily insisting "it is a private family matter."

But the only one suggesting that is the writer himself.

USAFdude ( 11:57 ) - That post was truly delusional.

"Obama pasted McCain last night"

Obama couldn't even get McCain's name right at one point, confusing him with the moderator and calling him "Jim." Hee hee!

And McCain can't even pronounce "Ahmedinejad"! So much for "delusional", but then, lame comebacks and inappropriate "hee hee's" are all I'd expect from you, Sarge. It's hardly worth mentioning that neither ploy strengthens your argument or degrades mine.

USAFdude - Sarge thinks Palin will make a 'great' Vice President - clearly an off the cuff comment without any basis in analysis of the facts or reality.

That belief in itself rules out any credibility of Sarge's future statements.

Biden has made 60+ interviews since being picked. Palin has made just 3 and screwed up every one of them.

no wonder mccain is keeping her chained and well away from the media.

And get this - when Biden was jumping around TV networks participating openly in post-presidential debate interviews, Palin's campaign was flat out TURNING DOWN EVERY INTERVIEW REQUEST they received.

Why? Are they ashmamed of mccain's performance, terrified at how badly Palin will perform, or both?

And if all that wasn't bad enough, she has voiced the possibility of America attacking Russia.

Just think about that for a moment.

It seems mccain's pick of a Veep isn't mentally fit to be a wall flower, let alone his No.2.

And it's just going to get funnier come the VP debate.

Biden has made 60+ interviews since being picked. Palin has made just 3 and screwed up every one of them.

Excellent point. I reckon that 's why Joe Biden draws like 3,000 when he speaks at rallies, but the palin woman is getting tens of thousands. The repubs are clever at some stuff, you gotta give em that.

romeoramenII said:

Obama mentioned how even Kissinger is in agreement with Him. Yet, immediately after the debate the old repub henchman couldn't resist attacking Barack:

Obama said Kissinger said "no preconditions" and that is what turned out to be true. In fact, Kissinger did recently call for “high level” talks with Iran starting at the secretary of state level and said, “I do not believe that we can make conditions.”

McCain may get anyone he wants to sell his soul and lie for him but the fact remains that Kissinger said starting at the secretary of state level and there is only one step above that. He said starting and that explicitly means taking it further. McCain said he could get a member of his staff, Kissinger, to refute Obama and he did. Big deal. We have Henry's previous words to justify Obama's comments.

McCain is full of Dirty Tricks and his campaign is full of filthy liars. If you NeoCons out there can't see that this will be a humiliation to Kissinger in Republican circles of prestige you are out of your mind. McCain got Henry to sell his soul and there are records to prove what he has previously said. Beyond the Republican circles people will be gracious enough not to mention such an indiscretion to Kissinger. But eventually someone close to him will ask "Why did you do it?".

I actually thought he redeemed himself after Nixon. I guess when you spend that much time around The Plumbers you just can't help fixing the leaks when they occur in a campaign.

I guess I need to post this one more time....

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/factchecking_debate_no_1.html

Read it and stop argueing points that are false.

"Obama pasted McCain last night"

Since most non one sided groups say it was even in the fact that neither made any huge mistake and neither actually gave a good answer. Only poll that is Obama sided was conducted with an uneven amount of Democrates vs Republicans so it wasnt a true test. All the others say it was even and considering McCain is more of a foriegn policy person they feel it looks better for Obama. Some sites say Obama was to rigid and didnt have any personality in his speach stating it was to rehearsed and not real. So neither of them beat the other in a grand way. Anyone who says other wise has tunnel vision and cant admit it was a fairly even debate..

So neither of them beat the other in a grand way. Anyone who says other wise has tunnel vision and cant admit it was a fairly even debate

Such an easy argument to defeat... yawn

http://voices.kansascity.com/node/2208

http://faultlineusa.blogspot.com/2008/09/first-presidential-debate-poll-results.html

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/09/27/Poll_Obama_won_presidential_debate/UPI-20721222512164

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/260386

and?? I could hand you others that say they where even what does that prove??? Your an extremist and your opinion is tainted to that side..

http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/5983649/US-media-says-TV-presidential-debate-a-draw

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_10572829 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95128690

http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=750018

If you need more the search comes up with over 20k of them that say it was a draw including most of the main media outlets and most of the analyist who watched it...

If your tired its most likely from trying to create a story instead of telling the truth....

Even CNN says

The CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey is not a measurement of the views of all Americans, since only people who watched the debate were questioned and the audience included more Democrats than Republicans.

Fifty-one percent of those polled thought Obama did the better job in Friday night's debate, while 38 percent said John McCain did better.

Men were nearly evenly split between the two candidates, with 46 percent giving the win to McCain and 43 percent to Obama. But women voters tended to give Obama higher marks, with 59 percent calling him the night's winner, while just 31 percent said McCain won.

"It can be reasonably concluded, especially after accounting for the slight Democratic bias in the survey, that we witnessed a tie in Mississippi tonight," CNN Senior Political Researcher Alan

Sarge thinks Palin will make a 'great' Vice President - clearly an off the cuff comment without any basis in analysis of the facts or reality.

I'm sure you saw the response to the polls that indicated that Obama especially impressed prospective women voters who watched the debates, the one where sarge claims that it was all based on physical attractiveness. The Republicans' shallow view of people is further revealed.

Then again, I can understand why calm, intelligent and articulate can come across better than crotchety. Especially when crotchety fails to address the real concerns of lower and middle-income Americans.

McCain can't even pronounce "Ahmedinejad"

Agreed. That's almost as bad as obama not knowing the name of the dead U.S. soldier on the wrist bracelet that he (cough) always (cough) wears.

-------------MCCAIN----- OBAMA Income Avg. tax bill Avg. tax bill

Over $2.9M -$269,364 +$701,885 $603K and up -$45,361 +$115,974 $227K-$603K -$7,871 +$12 $161K-$227K -$4,380 -$2,789 $112K-$161K -$2,614 -$2,204 $66K-$112K -$1,009 -$1,290 $38K-$66K -$319 -$1,042 $19K-$38K -$113 -$892 Under $19K -$19 -$567

Seems to me the only place that they differ is on the 65k a year and lower and the 161k and above... So the tru middle class.. Those as a family who make 60k or more will see no real advantage, but the low income people will see a tax break from Obama. but current tax laws make it so easy at that level of income to pay no taxes as it is...

Please explain to me what you consider a middle class family??? I consider it 50-200k a year as a family...

heres an article on the bracelet

http://news.bostonherald.com/news/opinion/columnists/view/2008_09_27__And_the_winner_is____Mac_by_a_bracelet:_McCain_outshines_Obama_in_battle_of_thebracelets/srvc=home&position=also

McCain's bizarre antics prior to the debate should also weigh in heavily. Frank Rich has this to say about the matter:

"What we learned last week is that the man who always puts his “country first” will take the country down with him if that’s what it takes to get to the White House.

"For all the focus on Friday night’s deadlocked debate, it still can’t obscure what preceded it: When John McCain gratuitously parachuted into Washington on Thursday, he didn’t care if his grandstanding might precipitate an even deeper economic collapse. All he cared about was whether he might save his campaign. George Bush put more deliberation into invading Iraq than McCain did into his own reckless invasion of the delicate Congressional negotiations on the bailout plan.

"By the time he arrived, there already was a bipartisan agreement in principle. It collapsed hours later at the meeting convened by the president in the Cabinet Room. Rather than help try to resuscitate Wall Street’s bloodied bulls, McCain was determined to be the bull in Washington’s legislative china shop, running around town and playing both sides of his divided party against Congress’s middle. Once others eventually forged a path out of the wreckage, he’d inflate, if not outright fictionalize, his own role in cleaning up the mess his mischief helped make. Or so he hoped, until his ignominious retreat.

"The question is why would a man who forever advertises his own honor toy so selfishly with our national interest at a time of crisis. I’ll leave any physiological explanations to gerontologists — if they can get hold of his complete medical records — and any armchair psychoanalysis to the sundry McCain press acolytes who have sorrowfully tried to rationalize his erratic behavior this year. The other answers, all putting politics first, can be found by examining the 24 hours before he decided to “suspend” campaigning and swoop down on the Capitol to save America from the Sunnis or the Shia, or whoever perpetrated all those credit-default swaps."

McCain's antics prior to the debate figured heavily in the overall impression he made last week -- and it left him reeking of "loser." This doesn't even come up to the level of Bob Dole on his worst day.

"For all the focus on Friday night’s deadlocked debate

thank you for pointing out that politically they where even and not a blow out from either side, what happens before or after doesnt matter to what I posted... The debate was close to even, anything more then that is just favortism for one side or the other...

Try to see things from the middle and not always on the most extreme side you can find...

I still think that Obama didnt do as well as McCain due to the way he conducted himself during the debate. Next debate he maybe will learn to be more in line and then my opinion might change.

When you always use extremist logic it pushes people farther away from your selected side... Your no different then the name changer who spouts about McCain and Bush being the greatest to me when you use such extremist talk..

Maybe I will write in this year.... seems like the only real option out there..

obama hitting the stage sporting his new gray hair 'do in a desperate attempt to make himself look more presidential was the, heh, highlight of the debate.

Well Folks,

Thought I'd grab the ole crystal ball and see how I think the race will turn out. Ended up rather scary actually. I've been following real clear politics for quite a while and following the polls of the battle ground States. I went with the toss-ups I think will go for Obama, which are almost all of them except for 4 I think will go for McCain. Those Four I believe will be Nevada, Virginia, Florida and New Hampshire.

I hope I'm wrong but I came up with a bloody tie. 269 to 269, takes 270 to win this thing. No kidding, I was just going on what my gut tells me what State will go for who when I started changing the electoral map and never thought I'd end up with that.

Going to be a tight race no matter how anyone looks at it, the debate just confirmed how tight it is really going to be.

Anyway here's my early Sailwind prediction of the race map if it was held today.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/maps/obama_vs_mccain/?map=10

Going to be a tight race.

Alinsky ( 2:10 pm ) - Good one.

Both McCain and Obama have pledged to cut spending. Between the two, I'll have to go with McCain on this. He at least has a record of voting against certain spending bills, whereas Obama has a record only of voting for massive spending. He is the most liberal Democrat Senator in the Senate, and Democrat liberals love to spend.

"Obama, McCain attack each other's performance at debate"

After I read all the comments on that site and on many others concerning this particular debate, I was baffled by how different everyone's perception was. It was as if people didn't see the same debate I saw!

Personally, I saw a very weak McCain, not even able to look at Obama in the eyes (not even a single eye contact), trying to use passion over logic whenever possible, losing almost every argument, etc.

And some analyst say otherwise. I don't get it, really.

sailwind,

Interesting gaze into the future.

The whole purpose of all these polls is to convince voters that if they are reasonable and fair they will overlook all of Obama's many faults and vote for him. Ain't white guilt great?

"Personally, I saw a very weak McCain"

Personally, I saw a very cool, confident, in-control McCain. And some analysts say otherwise, I don't get it, really.

McCain looked like he had no idea what he was doing. Also, any claim that the democrats are going to spend more has been disproven by the Reagan and Bush administrations.

McCain looked cool, confident and in-control. Also, any claim that the Republicans are going to spend more has been disproven by the Democrats' record. Look it up, rjd.

Have you not noticed that there was a budget surplus when Bush took office? Have you not seen how much Bush has spent and the waste of money?

Don't say "look it up" - you either prove it here and provide sources, or it will not be taken seriously by anyone.

You're lying in your comments, and it's sad to see how low republican supports are stooping here.

rjd - Have you noticed that we suffered the worst terrorist attacks in our history shortly on September 11, 2001? And have you noticed that we have liberated two countries in the war on terror?

If you don't want to look up the Democrats' spending record, that's your problem, I'm not going to do your homework for you.

Without a teleprompter, obama came across as an average speaker at best.

Left to speak on his own, obama kept saying that Mr. McCain was right, so don't be surprised if obama winds up voting for Mr. McCain.

Sarge,

So you can't back up your claim?

I only watched about 10 minutes near the end and gave up. McCain lost me when he started talking about some crazy "league of democracies" and Obama bored me so I went cycling and enjoyed my afternoon ride through the autumn county side.

Sarge writes: "Have you noticed that we suffered the worst terrorist attacks in our history shortly on September 11, 2001?"

Sarge implies or claims that the growth of US spending from 2001 onwards was in response to the attacks of 9/11. This has to be false, because 9/11 does not account for purely discretionary spending, which has grown at a rate that rivalled (and some claim has now surpassed) LBJ's Great Society spending.

We should watch these debates carefully because, at the 2000 debates, I well recall George W. Bush telling the American people that he was going to keep discretionary spending growth at or below the rate of his predecessor, in order to maintain the budget surpluses. (Bill Clinton, working with a Republican Congress, actually kept spending growth at the lowest level since the Eisenhower administration.) As we all should have known by 2003, George W. Bush had not told the American people the truth -- and still Republicans kept voting for him in 2004. That year marked the greatest failure of civic responsibility in American history.

The people who overlooked the lies and incompetence of Bush and his administration now want to sell us John McCain -- the man whose economic plans will add at least 300 billion more to the nation's burgeoning debt load. In the debates on Friday, McCain kept muttering "cut spending, cut spending" as the answer to the nation's economic woes, but refuses to tell the American people just where he's going to make significant spending cuts. Earmarks are a popular political pabulum for the masses, but the fact is that cutting them would not have a significant impact on spending.

And have you noticed that we have liberated two countries in the war on terror?

oh sarge....

And have you noticed that we have liberated two countries in the war on terror?

Even John McCain would say that was naive.

rjdsr - "So you can't back up your claim?"

So, you still haven't done any research?

Lips - "oh sarge"

oh sarge what?

yabits - "Even John McCain would say that was naive"

He would not.

RR - I have to disagree with you when you say Obama is just an average speaker at best without the teleprompter. Actually, he did better than I expected in this debate. That being said, almost every time he opens his mouth, I feel this urge to smack him upside his silly head.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG1aOORf8Pc

RR

The whole purpose of all these polls is to convince voters that if they are reasonable and fair they will overlook all of Obama's many faults and vote for him. Ain't white guilt great?

Straight Talk..... I don't like you. I think Obama is one hell of an American and I am glad I have a choice between him and McCain. You sir have a race problem that frankly I'd rather you do without when you post.

sailwind - Straight talk... Obama would be a disaster for the U.S. and you know it. McCain might not be the best choice, but between him and Obama, the choice is clear.

I just mailed in my absentee ballot with a check next to "McCain/Palin."

Sailwind,

You are discovering what is behind most of the obama bashing on this board, its pure racism.

Obama, as a black man, has to play the game coming out of the locker with five fouls. The fact that he is winning now is simply amazing, and a testament to the US that most of its citizens are beyond the racist views of the winger community on JT.

zurcronium - "most of the obama bashing on this board, it's pure racism"

It is not.

"Obama, as a black man"

He is only half black. His mother is white. Get with the program, zurc.

sarge,

you may want to renew your US passport. In the US if you are half black, that makes you black. Racists don't care if you are half or 25%. Look at the Obama pastor issue. Palin and mccains religious backers way terrible things about the US and combine god with war. They get a pass cause they are white and therefore OK.

You will never admit it, just like there being no WMD in Iraq or the total failure of bush in the last eight years, but the fact is that racism is behind many comments on this board that bash Obama (for his name, the way he speaks, his fist bumps which is black in origin and on and on). I rarely agree with sailwind, this may be the first time, but he is right. RR and many like him post racist remarks.

Sailwind,

You are discovering what is behind most of the obama bashing on this board, its pure racism.

Obama, as a black man, has to play the game coming out of the locker with five fouls. The fact that he is winning now is simply amazing, and a testament to the US that most of its citizens are beyond the racist views of the winger community on JT.

Crap...I judge Obama on the content of his character not the color of his skin. You see things through his color and as some sort of a victim and as far as I am concerned you are RR are the same to gain your political points. Clear now to both of you?

Sarge,

It's one thing to vote along party lines. But the taking points you're parroting are silly.

Again, if you want to make a claim, back it up. Don't tell others to do the research. Back up your claim when you make it.

Yabits,

As someone observed in the LA Times about McCain's "I'm suspending my campaign to return to Washington to work on the bailout package:

[A]s many Great Men come to learn, there is a colossal downside built into running a campaign on outsized personal virtue. The line between stoic, honorable service and showy moral vanity is oftentimes difficult to maintain.

And when a candidate confuses his own political ambitions with the fortunes of his country, that's when Great Men turn into self-parodies.

I was wondering it anyone was going to attribute Palin's absence from the post-debate talk show spin circuit to "liberal media bias." In fact the McCain campaign is keeping her under wraps since the fiasco with Katie Couric. We do live in a warped world; a candidate can be entrusted with the Vice Presidency but not an appearance on network news!

you may want to renew your US passport. In the US if you are half black, that makes you black.

The bottom line is that Obama identifies himself as a black American. End of story.

Betzee, Keep quite and trust in John McCain's judgement that she is the best VP you can ever get. No need to ask her question. John has decided and so she is the best

McC72,

I don't really care about the Palin family, though I did enjoy watching some of those on the Right who've denounced pregnant teens, and blamed their predicament on poor parenting, suddenly dispense with the "slut slamming" and embrace the happy future family narrative that was packaged as a wedge issue to excoriate critics for not respecting "the sanctity of life."

Who does the vacuuming and the shopping in the Palin household or whether the family is as happy dappy as presented is not an issue that affects anyone who is not a member of that household. What I would like to hear are Governor Palin's views on a number of pressing issues, such as McCain's position that making the GWB tax cuts permanent is affordable if we end the practice of inserting earmarks into legislation and cut waste more generally. But to balance the books will require substantial domestic spending cuts in social security, medicare and medicaid. Which would she propose cutting? Governor Palin has also implied in statements that God approves of the war in Iraq and the Alaska oil pipeline, how does she know?

These are issues with relevance to us all, whether she sold or merely listed items for sale on eBay, by contrast, are not.

Betzee, You sound like you are too new to this election. The issues that you say are relevant to all of us are what you are NOT PERMiTTED to know this time. The closest you can get are are CBS interviews and the likes. Full stop.If you wanna know about pigs on lipsticks and other irrelevant stuffs, then are are in abundance. Who told you this election is about you and what is relevant to you?

A great new ad running on U.S. TV that paints obama the right shade of rookie senator:

http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec3aC8ZJZTc&eurl=http://thisainthell.us/blog/?p=3444

sailwind,

The problems with obama have nothing to do with the color of his skin. Rather, it has to do with positions, beliefs and associations and the lack of any substantial experience that would qualify him to be president of my nation.

But if playing the race card makes you sleep better at night, then sweet dreams, lad.

If you wanna know about pigs on lipsticks and other irrelevant stuffs, then are are in abundance. Who told you this election is about you and what is relevant to you?

Like many liberals before this campaign kicked off, I respected John McCain (though it's unlikely I would ever vote for a social conservative). He had stood up to his party and taken positions that were unpopular with the base, positions I largely agreed with.

But, having gotten to "know" him better through the campaign, I have lost that respect for him. Apparently his "great man complex," no doubt fed by his status as a POW, allowed him to feel the rules don't apply to him. We know he left his first wife after her disfiguring car accident, but he doesn't seem to have treated his current wife well either. He publicly mocked her alma mater, USC, as "University for Spoiled Children." I have no doubt she was a better student than he, hard to be worse after all, so he disparaged an area where she excelled (which by all accounts she did). Moreover, he certainly didn't have any qualms about using her money to launch his political career in her home state.

Then he puts Sarah Palin on the ticket. Granted, VP picks are usually selected on the basis of what they will bring to the candidate. Much was made of her gender, and the fact that there are many more qualified Republican women, such as Olympia Snowe, is quite irrelevant, a view I find terribly patronizing (but entirely consistent with McCain the candidate).

I know how the rest of the campaign will play out, barring unforeseen events, and I know who I will vote for.

Gallup Daily: Obama Moves to 50% to 42% Lead

In the meantime, "perfect" Team McCain/Palin was given a much-needed boost by this:

"Kathleen Parker [conservative columnist], writing in the National Review Online, says her "cringe reflex is exhausted" after watching the Alaska governor stumble through TV interviews and it's become clear to her that Palin is out of her league."

Read more: http://news.aol.com/elections/article/palin-interviews-spark-gop-concerns/192226

The essential weirdness of this campaign is difficult to digest. Only earlier this month the McCain people were fretting that Sarah Palin was proving more popular than the aging Sentator. Members of the audience would leave joint appearances after she spoke, not waiting around to hear what he had to say. He must have felt the way Prince Charles did after his young, more attractive, wife quickly proved be the House of Windsor's star; the one everyone wanted to shake hands with when they would take different sides of the street in "walkabout" public appearances.

But things have changed on this side of the pond. Now Sarah Palin has fumbled some softball interviews she's been pulled from the public domain. With conservatives turning on her it will be hard to continue to play the gender card in fending off questions about her suitability for VP.

The latest Gallup poll has Obama at 47% and McCain at 45% - a virtual dead heat. How is this possible?! The economy tanking, 140,000 U.S. troops still in Iraq... why doesn't Obama have a twenty point lead over the old man?

That's the question the world asked after November 2004 - WHY????

Sarge: just like the lobby gangs can control congress so can they control the 'unbiased' pollsters. Remember when DOnald Trump was caught manipulating polls?

Dammit, most reputable sources agree that neither made any big hits or major screw-ups, but Obama held his own against McCain's strongest area.

The amount of spin posters on both sides are trying to put on this is pathetic.

Altria,

Spin is fun! One day I spin for one side, the next day for the other. It's the internet - it isn't real! This is just a fun place to get on and see how far you can stretch the spin and have fun with it.

Criticizing Palin is sexist! Calling Obama's record into question is racist!

It's all meaningless talking points. Take them and have fun!

Cleo - "WHY???"

Because the alternative was even worse! Really!

I don't think that's the right answer, Sarge.

The Daily Mirror had the right answer.

Cleo - Right after I watched the debate Saturday I mailed my absentee ballot with a checkmark next to "John McCain/Sarah Palin." I was 99% sure who I was going to vote for before the debate, but after the debate, there was no longer any question.

If you could vote in this election, would you really vote for Obama/Biden?

What this article forgets to add is that last line on the original article.. The poll was heavily in favor of the Democrate as 41% of the people polled were Democrate 29% Republican and 30% independent..

Typical polling methodology. Take the demographic that supports the result you want, and poll a majority of them.

Best poll yet: MSNBC's "online" poll. IT geeks DESTROYED them after by showing that only 21% of poll participants were from the US... All other IP's came from overseas, mainly Europe. Hence... never trust an online poll. And by extension... never trust ANY poll. The only one that matters is in November.

Sarge - Dunno about Obama/Biden - I'm not bowled over by Obama, though I thought he spoke well and sensibly in the debate, made a lot of sense. I don't know anything about Biden. I would have to know more about them. I don't think I have heard of anything that would stop me voting for them, but I'm far from overwhelmed with enthusiasm.

But I would definitely not vote for McCain/Palin. An old man who thinks war is peace and the rich deserve tax cuts, and who snuggles up to a man who dragged him through the mud, coupled with a woman who shoots animals for fun, leaves a newborn special-needs baby in the care of someone else while she plays politics, and urges her teenage daughter, to whom it seems she made a point of not teaching the facts of life, to marry a self-proclaimed 'redneck' who doesn't want kids, just because she's pregnant.... these are not people I can relate to, at all. I don't think they're out-and-out evil people on the level of Bush/Cheney, but I would feel very uneasy to have these two in power.

If I could vote in this election, I would probably get me a nice new passport from a country that doesn't go gaga for over a year before election time.

cleo- How can you be in any way impartial if you think Bush?Cheney are evil? Saying that to an American patriot is clsoe to blasphemy.

McCain demolished Obama, and is the obvious choice for hard working folk.

Obama was so incompetent, i was laughing at him. Seeing him trying to interrupt McCain was hilarious.

McCain, you finished Obama's campaign with your debating skills.

Cleo - John McCain does not think war is peace. He knows that victory over evil is the only way to peace. He thinks ALL Americans should get tax cuts, including those who provide jobs for others.

Of course Sarah Palin is going to have help with caring for her newborn, just like millions of other mothers. She is capable of doing two things at once, just like the Messiah.

ThuleSociety -

I make no claim to be impartial. I'm on the side of good. :-) And I don't think Bush/Cheney are evil, I know they are.

Sarge -

John McCain does not think war is peace. He knows that victory over evil is the only way to peace.

He knows the old kind of war, where one side surrenders and one side wins. That isn't going to happen in either Afghanistan or Iraq. Who does he think is going to surrender? I didn't hear him address that problem at all in the debate. (And let's not forget, his side lost the war he has first-hand knowledge of.)

If Sarah Palin is such a wonder woman that she can rule the world and care for a special-needs newborn at the same time, how come she hasn't already solved all the world's ills? Heck, how come she couldn't even keep her own daughter in line when she wasn't busy ruling the world?

cleo- You cannot prove BUsh/Cheney are evil, your post is offensive to American folk.

Palins daughter's pregnancy is one of those things, it hapens to the best of families, stop nitpicking.

McCain won the debate, cares about the average Joe, will destroy terror and lead us to prosperity.

Obama did not have any policies, just speculation. the Messiah is a fake messiah, it is so obvious to us withy unbiased views.

Cleo, I thought you would have more respect for a mother who wants to serve her fellow citizens. And surely you don't expect her to keep her daughter on a leash 24/7? I think maybe you are just jealous that you are not going to be Deputy Prime Minister of Britain. That being said, I also think that you really are on the side of good, even while you could not be more wrong about Bush and Cheney.

The latest Gallup poll has Obama at 47% and McCain at 45% - a virtual dead heat. How is this possible?!

Polls such as Gallup's do not factor in first-time voters. There is a massive wave of young and minority voters who have registered to vote and who WILL go to the polls in just over 30 days. Lots of younger voters also list a cell phone as their primary contact number. Pollsters do not call cell phone numbers.

After the post-convention bump, the trend is not looking good for McCain and he knows it, which is why he has to pull these crazy stunts like picking someone who resembles a bimbo as his running mate, and suspending his campaign and threatening not to debate.

Majority of polls now show Obama growing his lead and also most giving he the victory in the debate. Grumpy old man mccain is going to have to try some new stunts to try and catch up with Obama. SNL suggests he challenge Obama to a pie eating contest to settle the election. He may do that.

Meanwhile the debate with failing palin is coming up. What a trainwreck that will be, if she shows up. Many repubs now are calling for her to step down as she is just not qualified at all and is costing the repubs big time now with the independent voters. In truth, it was cruel for grumpy old man mccain to pick her. Its like putting a five year old behind the stering wheel of a truck. Both are doomed for failure.

yabits - Polls also do not factor in all the people who say they support Obama, but when they actually step into the voting booth will vote for the old wise man.

zurcronium - "Many repubs now are calling for her ( Palin ) to step down"

Names, please.

zurc, Biden doesn't know what he's getting into. The Barracuda is going to chew him up and spit him out Thursday.

Polls also do not factor in all the people who say they support Obama, but when they actually step into the voting booth will vote for the old wise man.

Frankly, I don't believe Ralph Nader will draw that many votes from Obama.

Polls also do not factor in all the people who say they support Obama, but when they actually step into the voting booth will vote for the old wise man.

Nor will Ron Paul.

yabits - Har!

rjdsr - Nor will Ron Paul what? Are you going to write in Ron Paul? If so, good for you! I encourage write in votes for people who can't stand either of the two major party candidates. Heck, a couple of my friends are going to write in someone else...

The blogs are burning now with the rumor that failing palin will resign before her debate to save her from showing even the winger community that she is just not VP material.

Grumpy old man mccain may pull yet another stunt, like his last one on the bailout, and replace Palin with Lieberman.

Wow, mccain is running the worse campaign since 72 with george mcgovern. Landslide coming, landslide coming. Watch out Sarge and the alias switcher crew, its not going to be pretty at all.

Ralph Nader is a joke who has now become a parody of himself. He should just slink into the night in shame for what he did to the country in 2000.

No one cares about him anymore. Not even the far left wingers.