Big Ayers Exchange Turns Out To Be Anti-Climax
Interestingly, the big exchange over William Ayers that everyone wrung their hands over takes place, and it's mostly a non-event, a rehash of stuff we've heard before that quickly gets overtaken by other matters.
This is bad news for McCain: It's hard to see how his big confrontation over the "domestic terrorist" changes anything, in any way.
Ayers didn't come up as part of any dramatic moment: Moderator Bob Schieffer kinda sorta alluded to it in the midst of an exchange over the things Sarah Palin says about Obama at her rallies. And McCain grabbed onto it like a piece of driftwood, repeating his now familiar line about how he doesn't care what some "washed up old terrorist" does -- and then proceeded to explain why he's such an important figure in American history.
Obama hit back, ably, in a tone of incredulity, pointing out (again) that he was in shortpants when Ayers did what he did, and that Ayers won't have any role in his administration.
McCain did get in the last word, which is making Dems wring their hands a bit right now, but really: This was a non-event. Nothing. Probably won't move anything, and could even help Obama.
Joe!!!
October 15, 2008 10:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain is mangling the healthcare exchange. And he just lobbed the "fine" charge and "single payer" charge at Obama.
I seriously don't think McCain can absorb legitimate policy points, so he just makes it up.
October 15, 2008 10:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, McCain losing it. Look at his face and his eyes. He's about to blow a gasket.
He's throwing out as much crap as he can hoping something sticks or he can at least sow doubts about Obama.
Bottom line is McCain's debate performance symbolizes the fall of the present day GOP and a shifting of decades old trends. He's spouting laissez faire ideology and it has no credibility anymore. On healthcare, tax policy, etc. he just doesn't have the facts and his plan is horribly outdated laissez faire, invisible hands, stuff.
October 15, 2008 10:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Joe the plumber is now asking for a restraining order as we speak.
October 15, 2008 10:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am serious here. McCain totally looks like he's on some sort of drugs. What's the hell?
October 15, 2008 10:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Joe the Plumber must think he's in "Truman Show" right now or something.
October 15, 2008 10:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Bob Schieffer should be hung up by his thumbs for being such an old drama queen - he couldn't wait. But I was just as glad because I just expected Obama to say the same things he's said about this over and over and over and McLame just keeps saying - he has to tell us, and Obama does and jesus - it's like your senile uncle at the Thanksgiving table - he asks you 50 times when you're going to get a job and you tell him 50 times you have one.
And then he rambles and nobody listens anymore.
October 15, 2008 10:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
McLame is trying to get one vote: Joe the Plumber.
Bad news for McLame, Joe has decided to vote for Obama.
October 15, 2008 10:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
No news is good news for Obama on this one.
http://pufferfish.typepad.com/
October 15, 2008 10:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sen McCain tone is at its worse now than in the 1st debate.
October 15, 2008 10:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
McLame just lost the anti-abortion group when he said no litmus tests for judges.
LOL!
October 15, 2008 10:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
He really picked the wuss route out on that, didn't he?
October 15, 2008 10:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not just any judges, Supreme Court judges!
So great this finally came up. Anyone still on the fence just needs to know that with a vote for McCain they can kiss their rights goodbye (the few still left...)
Friends don't let friends stay undecided!
"President elect Obama"
October 15, 2008 11:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
He says he'll base his decisions on qualifications but at Saddle Back he said he'd get rid of every "liberal" judge.
Fuuuuuuuuuck you, McCain.
October 15, 2008 10:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
As long as O doesn't blow it, which he won't, nothing McCain does can hurt him.
October 15, 2008 10:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain just gives pro-lifers lip service. I believe he is really pro-choice. This is a much easier area for McCain. He can stay on the fence, not have a litmus test. He gets to have it both ways.
October 15, 2008 10:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm tired of these fat cats with their cosmetic surgeries and elective transplants jacking up everybody else's insurance costs.
October 15, 2008 10:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I swear McGrampy is blinking in Morse Code (someone translate!).
October 15, 2008 10:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmm. Lessee. I've heard this somewhere before:
• • • — — — • • •
October 15, 2008 10:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
McLame said, implied that he'd appoint a judge who'd overturn Roe vs. Wade.
O scores 100% knockout here. O brings up equal pay to Satanize McLame. Bonus point that adds another 100%.
October 15, 2008 10:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
BigO got to air the McPalin rally "kill him" epithets. Very good.
October 15, 2008 10:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rights for women... A trial lawyer's dream...
October 15, 2008 10:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here comes the baby killer attack.
October 15, 2008 10:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
McLame is struggling not to lunge at Obama and try to strangle him. I swear. He's rolling his eyes - o that's mature.
October 15, 2008 10:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow. Second eyeroll from McDouche.
October 15, 2008 10:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Frickin' elitist Illinois Medical Society.
October 15, 2008 10:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama just hit that argument against him out the park.
October 15, 2008 10:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain's body language will be the story of this debate.
October 15, 2008 10:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
To be fair, there's going to be some mention of Obama laughing constantly, though that's less negative looking than eye rolls or sighs.
October 15, 2008 10:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
I really don't think so. I think his laughing and smiling came off as pretty jovial considering the circumstances.
McCain looks angry.
October 15, 2008 10:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here comes the "he teaches kindergarteners to touch each other's ping-pangs!"
October 15, 2008 10:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
McLame is so pissed.
October 15, 2008 10:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama scoring big time in saying need to find common ground on preventing abortion.
October 15, 2008 10:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
why cant McCain stop blinking.
October 15, 2008 10:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mocking "health of the mother" exceptions?
Nice one, fucking idiot.
October 15, 2008 10:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
With the financial meltdown, this Abortion sidebar . . . as well as Schieffer's entire moderating performance . . . comes off as SO 1990s.
October 15, 2008 10:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank god this is almost over.
October 15, 2008 10:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mocking "health of the mother" exceptions?
Nice one, fucking idiot.
October 15, 2008 10:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nice! The final question is on education! Time for Obama to finish this once and for all!
October 15, 2008 10:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama should put out an ad juxtaposing McCain's response at Saddleback regarding the Justices and what he said tonight.
October 15, 2008 10:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Goddamn - Headstart worked! And Bush killed it.
IT worked!
October 15, 2008 10:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
McLame advocates for the birth of all kinds of unwanted children, and attacks O for supporting the mother's health. McLame lost his mind.
October 15, 2008 10:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't get me started on these "Happy Adoption people" - just don't.
I fucking hate these assholes who use adoption as an excuse for being against choice.
October 15, 2008 10:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Its soooooo obvious that McCain is pissed right now. Everything he is throwing at BO, BO seems unaffected by it.
October 15, 2008 10:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why isn't the GI Bill ever mentioned?
October 15, 2008 10:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain looks and sounds confused on education.
October 15, 2008 10:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is it just me, or did Obama just
miss a big opportunity on the abortion question?
When McCain said he'd have
"no litmus test"
wasn't the obvious response
"That's exactly what Bush told
us 8 years ago...and look where we are"
?
October 15, 2008 10:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
We should bring the New Orleans education miracle to the rest of the country.
October 15, 2008 10:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
"I'm not George Bush", but your education plan exactly the same.
October 15, 2008 10:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm reading MSNBC's First Read Blog and they state the complete opposite of what's being said here.
October 15, 2008 10:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Troops to teachers?
All due respect, what's the qualification?
October 15, 2008 10:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Troops to teachers? Is this for real? Putting soldiers from the battlefield in the classroom with kids while avoiding certification?
October 15, 2008 10:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah. That makes no fucking sense. No training? Uncertified teachers?! That's his plan??
October 15, 2008 10:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
"10:18 PM ... A lot of the time, when Obama's talking and they have the split screen, McCain looks like he's about to explode. Not always, and I'm not trying to be hyperbolic. But he frequently looks like he's about to snap. Not going nuts, but like he's seething and just holding it in. Are other people seeing the same thing?"
YES! How could someone not see that!?!?!
When Obama said "zero" was the fine, I thought McCain was going to throw a punch.
October 15, 2008 10:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Totally! I made a comment earlier that McCain was about to jump out of the TV (and possibly hurt my cat).
October 15, 2008 10:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Ayers exchange definitely helped Obama.
Without the two candidates discussing the smear, it would have been just that: a smear. A whisper behind a candidate's back, festering in the minds of voters and giving them the reason they're looking for - all else being favorable - to cast their ballot against Obama. But bring it into the open, and it's an opportunity for Obama to address the fears of undecided voters. He gets to explain this association, he gets to debunk the smear and he gets to put it behind him.
Score one for Obama.
October 15, 2008 10:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is it just me, or are the Red Line Republicans loving Obama in this CNN focues group? I'm seeing steady high marks.
October 15, 2008 10:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain: (In reference to education) "We shouldn't just throw a lot of money at it"
October 15, 2008 10:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
imagine troops with ptsd going into classrooms
October 15, 2008 10:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
BigO playing a bit of defense, but looking OK doing it.
October 15, 2008 10:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
McLame is now against affirmative action.
He still supports Bush's No Child Left Behind act no matter what.
O scores big when he says, "America's youth are interest groups that McLame thinks."
October 15, 2008 10:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
McLame is making faces like an enraged weasel at Obama - I mean -
Oooooooooo -
October 15, 2008 10:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
A Don Young biting ferret.
October 15, 2008 10:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did McCain really just say a major plank of his education platform is soldiers returning from Iraq and going straight into teaching, without even needing to pass an exam or become certified??
Wow. McCain is phoning in policy from bizarro world tonight.
He's throwing out a lot of crap, hoping something sticks. But his arguments just don't make any sense. McCain is incoherent, grumpy and attacking on everything, and just grasping pathetically at total non-gotchas.
Going out on a limb here: post debate polls will show Obama won this debate by the same 2/3 margins we've been seeing.
October 15, 2008 10:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
October 16, 2008 1:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
McCain: (in reference to education) "I'm for choice"
October 15, 2008 10:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sarah Palin's kid doesn't have autism...right? I thought it was Down's Syndrome.
October 15, 2008 10:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was about the say the same thing. She has a Down's baby. Down's and Autism are not even close. Judging from the women's response on the CNN voter graph, they knew the difference.
October 15, 2008 10:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was about the say the same thing. She has a Down's baby. Down's and Autism are not even close. Judging from the women's response on the CNN voter graph, they knew the difference.
October 15, 2008 10:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
What does Palin know about autism? Her baby has Downs.
October 15, 2008 10:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
no pow yet..wow
October 15, 2008 10:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
"That was vouchers!! That was vouchers!!" Stabbing, Psycho Norman McBates says...
October 15, 2008 10:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Troops to Teachers
http://www.ed.gov/programs/troops/index.html
It's been in effect since 1994.
October 15, 2008 10:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did McCain really just say a major plank of his education platform is soldiers returning from Iraq and going straight into teaching, without even needing to pass an exam or become certified??
Wow. McCain is phoning in policy from bizarro world tonight.
He's throwing out a lot of crap, hoping something sticks. But his arguments just don't make any sense. McCain is incoherent, grumpy and attacking on everything, and just grasping pathetically at total non-gotchas.
Going out on a limb here: post debate polls will show Obama won this debate by the same 2/3 margins we've been seeing.
October 15, 2008 10:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
McLame says no more money for education.
Crazy asshole !
October 15, 2008 10:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
What if we take care of schools equally instead of having a few superior schools and leaving it up to parents to choose them? Kids don't get to choose. The idea of choice in education is crap.
October 15, 2008 10:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
no pow yet..wow
October 15, 2008 10:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm kinda surprised that Obama didn't point out that McCain's spending freeze would hurt education to an incredible degree.
Oh, and McCain got the last word one last time...
October 15, 2008 10:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
How can he fucking say that Palin understands the needs of special needs children "better than anyone else."
How fucking condescending can he be?!?!
October 15, 2008 10:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama is eloquent! You can't trust him!
October 15, 2008 10:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow. Talk about a bad way to end that exchange. Didn't they tell McCain to stop trying to be snarky?
October 15, 2008 10:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
O gets the last word.
Sweet!
October 15, 2008 10:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
He's not autistic, Uncle Senile. Jayzuz!
October 15, 2008 10:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
After everything else he got wrong or lied about tonight, this is what you're pointing out! :)
October 15, 2008 10:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Troops to Teachers
http://www.ed.gov/programs/troops/index.html
It's been in effect since 1994.
October 15, 2008 10:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
But McCain's program would do away with all that costly "certification" and "training".
October 15, 2008 10:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
YEaAAAAAAAAAH no harm no Foul!
October 15, 2008 10:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow. Talk about a bad way to end that exchange. Didn't they tell McCain to stop trying to be snarky?
October 15, 2008 10:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oops, double post. Stupid nodes....
btw I just watched the columbian union leaders assassination eye-roll moment (youtube video on the front page). It's almost the exact same facial gesture he got caught making when he could answer the question on health insurance covering birth control for women.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2y8dYwq01g
around the 50 second mark...
October 15, 2008 10:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
no pow yet..wow
October 15, 2008 10:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did McCain really just say a major plank of his education platform is soldiers returning from Iraq and going straight into teaching, without even needing to pass an exam or become certified??
And that New Orleans is the model for US education reform?
Wow. You get the feeling he read Naomi Klein's disaster capitalism and it actually helped clarify his policies. McCain is phoning it in from bizarro world tonight.
He's throwing out a lot of crap, hoping something sticks. But his arguments just don't make any sense. McCain is incoherent, grumpy and attacking on everything, and just grasping pathetically at total non-gotchas.
Going out on a limb here: post debate polls will show Obama won this debate by the same 2/3 margins we've been seeing.
October 15, 2008 10:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain loses on every style point that exists, and he is off the charts on the creepy psycho look...
October 15, 2008 10:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Geez, McCain is so fucking inarticulate in this final speech. He chronically messes up his money lines. Weird Freudian shit going on there!
October 15, 2008 10:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did McCain really just say a major plank of his education platform is soldiers returning from Iraq and going straight into teaching, without even needing to pass an exam or become certified??
And that New Orleans is the model for US education reform?
Wow. You get the feeling he read Naomi Klein's disaster capitalism and it actually helped clarify his policies. McCain is phoning it in from bizarro world tonight.
He's throwing out a lot of crap, hoping something sticks. But his arguments just don't make any sense. McCain is incoherent, grumpy and attacking on everything, and just grasping pathetically at total non-gotchas.
Going out on a limb here: post debate polls will show Obama won this debate by the same 2/3 margins we've been seeing.
October 15, 2008 10:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
There's an old story from Ancient Greece that the father of Themistocles tried to dissuade his son from entering politics. He pointed out a number of rotting ships on the beach and said this is how the people of Athens treat their politicians when they have no further use for them.
Here's to McCain and the party of rotting ships.
October 15, 2008 10:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Does anyone know if Palin ever
showed ANY interest in families
dealing with disabilities BEFORE
she had a Down's child?
October 15, 2008 10:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain's inability to rattle Obama seriously rattles McCain.
October 15, 2008 10:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good job?
October 15, 2008 10:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain just did a "Bush", trying to get around the desk.
October 15, 2008 10:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did McCain really just say a major plank of his education platform is soldiers returning from Iraq and going straight into teaching, without even needing to pass an exam or become certified??
And that New Orleans is the model for US education reform?
Wow. You get the feeling he read Naomi Klein's disaster capitalism and it actually helped clarify his policies. McCain is phoning it in from bizarro world tonight.
He's throwing out a lot of crap, hoping something sticks. But his arguments just don't make any sense. McCain is incoherent, grumpy and attacking on everything, and just grasping pathetically at total non-gotchas.
Going out on a limb here: post debate polls will show Obama won this debate by the same 2/3 margins we've been seeing.
October 15, 2008 10:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
McLame's closing remark is all gibberish.
Nobody will remember what he said.
Great job, O, for your closing remark for not taking American people granted and asking for their vote.
Change is on the way. We need fundamental change.
October 15, 2008 10:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
His final remarks were, "Hire me because I'm a McCain so I deserve this".
October 15, 2008 10:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
After everything else he got wrong or lied about tonight, this is what you're pointing out! :)
October 15, 2008 10:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Phillies 5
Dodgers 1
Top of the 7th
This wasn't that close
October 15, 2008 10:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
It was like having dinner with your angry, senile uncle.
I swear to god!
"He's not autistic, Uncle John."
"He just told you that wasn't true, Uncle John. You just said that, Uncle John...don't put the mashed potato in your ear, Uncle John."
October 15, 2008 10:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain looked like he was about to explode out of his suit through most of the debate. At one point, it sounded like he was talking through gritted teeth. He should relax before he gives himself a stroke, particularly since he is already only 3.7 years away from the average life expectancy of the American white man.
October 15, 2008 10:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
So who won? I couldn't watch!
October 15, 2008 10:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Since John McCain based most of his commentary on a fictional character called "Joe the Plumber", I'm gonna say Obama.
October 15, 2008 10:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Did McCain really just say a major plank of his education platform is soldiers returning from Iraq and going straight into teaching, without even needing to pass an exam or become certified??
And that New Orleans is the model for US education reform?
Wow. You get the feeling he read Naomi Klein's disaster capitalism and it actually helped clarify his policies. McCain is phoning it in from bizarro world tonight.
He's throwing out a lot of crap, hoping something sticks. But his arguments just don't make any sense. McCain is incoherent, grumpy and attacking on everything, and just grasping pathetically at total non-gotchas.
Going out on a limb here: post debate polls will show Obama won this debate by the same 2/3 margins we've been seeing.
October 15, 2008 10:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
No doubt who won . . . McCain again displayed openly his anger seemed rattled and disconnected in his thought process.
As for Schieffer . . . have to admit he did better at moderating than I thought he would but I did note that he gave McCain the last word on many of the subjects. With McCain, not sure that meant alot but basically the last words in a rebuttal always seem to stick!
October 15, 2008 11:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
why is mcsame getting in every debate the last word on 90% of everything anyone notice this that the moderator seems to give it him every time
October 16, 2008 1:14 PM | Reply | Permalink