Last Chance Saloon Debate Drinking Game Live Blog
By Al Giordano
Every time Obama says the words "middle class" take a sip.
Every time McCain says the words "middle class" down an entire drink.
Really, folks: This is it. If McCain delivers a performance anything like he did in the previous two debates, somebody please book me a smoking room in Washington, Alexandria or Arlington on January 19 and 20.
(Also: Field Hands in Wisconsin, Chicago, Indiana and Florida, stay alert for an important message maybe coming very soon to a you near you.)
This will be the 25th debate I've had to watch in this presidential campaign. I'm not upset that it's the final one.
The debate is competing with the Phillies-Dodgers pennant game. My guess is that the debate's ratings will be no higher, and probably lower, than thos e of previous debates. And if the first fifteen minutes are boring, many will just change the channel.
What McCain is therefore really fighting for will be the sound bite for tomorrow's news programs to obsess upon.
And Obama wi ll be fighting to make his soundbite be about the economy.
Despite the "I'll whip his you know what" posturing, I don't think McCain will come out swinging on Ayers or other guilt-by-association ploys (if he does, he's not likely to do it artfully, and if he doesn't, his base will get mad at him: not a fun set of choices). He'll likely go on the attack over taxes, accusing Obama of wanting to raise them. McCain really has to watch his step. He's in such ill humor these days that he may well get nasty in response to something or other, and then "that new one" will become the sound bite du jour.
Obama simply needs to be the same Barack Obama from the previous two debates: calm, in control and addressing the average person's economic worries.
And then the debates will be over and the next twenty days will all be about field organizing. The End.
I'll add commentary throughout the debate, and will be reading yours in the comments section.
Update 9:18 p.m. ET: First comment of the night: Look at the CNN people-meter. Men like McCain's "spending freeze" proposal. Women, not much. (All in all it's been a boring draw on the people-meter so far tonight.)
9:20 p.m.: McCain: "Senator Obama, I'm not President Bush. If you wanted to run against President Bush you should have done it four years ago." Good line. Will make the news soundbites. But then he goes on and the gender gap appears quickly again. Men like it. Women intensely dislike it. But give McCain credit for a great one-liner.
9:29 p.m.: Obama (after McCain's sad sack routine about John Lewis' comparison of him to the late George Wallace): "The American people aren't so concerned about our hurt feelings." That works.
9:30 p.m.: What is this? Couple's therapy? Marriage counseling? "You're running ads about my health care policy." Who cares?
9:49 p.m.: McCain wants to "eliminate our dependence," specifically, on "Venezuelan oil." Um, ever heard of a Citgo station, Senator? What does he propose? Nationalizing Citgo?
10:13 p.m.: I'll bet the post-debate polls show Obama the winner, with a slightly higher number of those who say neither or both won than in the previous debates. Pollsters will have trouble finding people who watched the entire debate and didn't tune out to watch the Phillies whoop the Dodgers!
10:23 p.m.: Obama: "I don't think that our kids are an interest group. They're our future." On health care and education, he's triumphing on the CNN people-meter.
10:36 p.m.: I love watching Fox News after these things. It's like a wake over there. Bill Kristol says Obama won the debate. The others are mourning that there was no "knock out punch." Oh, my crocodile tears.
10:44 p.m.: Frank Luntz interviews the Fox News focus group, 36 undecided voters. "Did anyone change their minds?" Four hands go up (one man, three women): "Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama." Luntz: "Then it was a good night for Obama."
10:47 p.m.: CNN focus group of undecided Ohio voters goes 15 for Obama to 10 for McCain.
10:58 p.m.: CBS "snap poll" of Americans that watched the debate. Who won? Obama 53 percent, McCain 22 percent. Oh, snap!
11:03 p.m.: CNN "flash poll": Obama 58, McCain 31.
11:42 p.m.: Colorado undecided voters focus group:
The most striking result came on the favorability ratings. Although the focus group was officially undecided, it leaned towards McCain. Here were the favorability-unfavorability ratings for each candidate at the start:
McCain: 54 favorable / 34 unfavorable
Obama: 42 favorable / 42 unfavorable
Here's what the ratings looked like after the debate:
McCain: 50 favorable / 48 unfavorable
Obama: 72 favorable / 22 unfavorable
Got that? McCain: lost four points of favorability, gained 14 points in negativity. Obama: Gained 18 points in favorability, lost 20 points in negativity. That last number is astounding.
12:02 a.m.: And now for something with probably more importance to our daily lives... Jed is joining the front-pager team at Daily Kos as contributing editor.
12:31 a.m.: The last word goes to David Yepsen, of the Des Moines Register in Iowa. Where it begins, so it ends:
John McCain lost the final debate of the 2008 presidential campaign Wednesday night. As a result, he may well have lost the election, too.
'Nuff Said.
Email this page
I am out of country in a place with no CNN.
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Agoram MuthukumaranAny place I can watch on my 'puter ?
amk
@AMK
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Christi DemuthCNN will carry it live online. C-span will carry it live. www.cspan.org
you should be able to watchy
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Anonymous (not verified)you should be able to watchy on cnn online, or at least another news channel. i even got it with the stream so you don't get their commentary. im in the uk btw
Thanks a bunch, Christi. I will try c-span to avoid pundits.
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Agoram Muthukumaranamk
yep - amk teevees are superfluous now ;)
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Karen Desmondseriously - i've not owned a tv now for a couple of years and it has been fine during this entire election cycle. The news networks like cnn and msnbc do live feeds of the debates, election results, and all the big rallies and speeches, and I get my news from blogs and youtube and some online newspapers.
And, now my two favorite tv shows, house and er, are available in full episodes online the day after they are shown on tv (plus of course jon stewart full episodes are online too).
It's my mini-revolution against the MSM and it's great. Plus I just heard about this today, the monitor is now a TV screen
http://www.enduserblog.com/2008/10/apple-announces.html
KD
online
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by James HaygoodMSNBC usually has a good feed too. They had clean feeds of the conventions - no pundits at all - it was sweet...
Thanks Karen, James and anonymous (?)
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Agoram MuthukumaranYeyyy, C-span is working. Watching the debate commission guys yakking about now.
I am bunking work today morning.
amk
while you're waiting for the debate to start
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Karen Desmondcheck out this batman clip posted by ambinder
http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/10/the_debate_watch_it...
it's hilarious - who is this "batman" guy anyway?
jed should really do a compilation of this with mccain's attack ads
KD
Is Bob a texan ?
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Agoram Muthukumaranamk
Yea
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Catherine CainAl,
I'm on Red High Alert for a message. I'm not watching this one but I will be making up stuff that I infer from other comments during the live blog. I get way too nervous about these and I am soooo glad this is the last one. I've got the Phillies game on and a big glass of red wine and looking for lots of "my friends" updates to pour a second.
OMG. That was 4 angry's right off the bat.
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Agoram Muthukumaranamk
Omg!
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Christi DemuthI have not seen how bad the lump is on the side of McLame's face until tonight!
The CNN lines are looking good
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Cheryl, NJ (not verified)for Obama's opening question. McCain's not as high and now McInsane's rebuttal is close to flatlining....Took my first sip, too.
McCain has some bizarre
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Dulce Mia (not verified)McCain has some bizarre tics. I'm drinking Patron tonight. I have to sip. Does McCain's pretend dialog with Joe the plumber count for a full drink?
Joe the Plumber?
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Chris LandryYou think Grumpy ever spoke to a tradesman working in any of his homes -- except to tell him to move his goddam truck?
From joesixpack to joe the plumber ?
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Agoram MuthukumaranDon't amurikans have any other names ?
amk
Damn!
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by harpmick (not verified)Why did I have to pick "Joe the Plumber" as my phrase to take a drink?
Re Joe the Plumber
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Cheryl, NJ (not verified)i think they're referring to the plumber who asked Obama a question this weekend.
This is the best debate
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Christi DemuthSo far. At least they can really debate the issues.
We had to wait for the last one. McLame is still appealing to his base.
Embrace a culture and ethic responsiblility
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Christi DemuthThat's what I'm talkin bout. Go Obama!
shallow observation #1
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Heather aka gratitude (not verified)I like the faint moustache on Obama. Looks like he didn't spend a lot of time in makeup preparing.
I Know how
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Christi DemuthMcLump tries to sound like he knows how, but can not describe how he knows how or how he can do it.
New drinking game? I know how?
I'm watching it
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Catherine Cainonline. McCain sounds like an old person talking about what he did 30 years ago. Over and over. I know how to cut, I know how to...blah blah blah.
Flag pin for Obama; none
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Bill ConroyFlag pin for Obama; none for McCain. That's curious. Guess that means any patriotism attack by McCAin loses some air, or is there some double standard in play on that -- or need I ask?
Faux news. Zing. Go Obama.
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Agoram Muthukumaranamk
@ Christi
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Chris LandryBe careful if you go there. Think of your liver.
I gotta say it...I gotta
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Lenore (not verified)I'm torn; at some point Obama will have to take a chunk outa McCain's ass over the interruptions and lies...but in the meantime, McCain's simply the most passionate he's been in a face-off with Obama. This is the McCain that would have been a contender.
Uh-oh...the question about negatives! Woo-hoo! This'll be fun.
here comes ayers.
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Agoram Muthukumaranamk
crap. lost the feed.
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Agoram Muthukumaranamk
Wow!
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Christi DemuthBob Schieffer rocks! Whine Whine Whine! McCain is whining!
An attack disguised as an
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Bill ConroyAn attack disguised as an apology... the anger is showing through. This should be interesting
Lol
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Christi Demuth@Chris--- your right, I am going on the wagon on November 5th.
Obama is wise beyond
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Bill ConroyObama is wise beyond McCAin's years....
It's not about our hurt feelings
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Lenore (not verified)Wow, that's a line I woudn't have thought of, but it's a great rejoinder to "get off my lawn"!
Al, I'm dyin' here...
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Lenore (not verified)I've gotten through these debates by following discussions here...somehow we're so far behind in the comments that I'm running out of distractions. How'm I going to watch this thing?
negative attacks question
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Dulce Mia (not verified)Obama's response to the negative attacks question is superb. This will be his success tonight I feel sure. His refocus to what the American people want to hear is excellent.
Anyone watching the CNN worm lines, can you
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Agoram Muthukumaranpost the reactions here ?
amk
Not a very subtle segway to
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Bill ConroyNot a very subtle segway to Aryers and ACORN
Is McCain pulling a Victim
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Kevin (not verified)Is McCain pulling a Victim card here? Ala Clinton?
CNN lines
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Kris JohnsonWomen are liking Obama's responses, while men are like McCain. Pretty much the same as in past debates, except that while they talk about these petty issues like whose feelings got hurt by what attack ads, the lines are pretty much around the middle - nobody is too impressed all around.
A lack of excitement
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Lenore (not verified)Whenever McCain gets all impassioned, men get all excited; the lines tend to flatten when Obama's talking. I think people are itching to see a fight; perhaps at the night goes on they'll get tired of the bluster.
JM - wimping out on ayers ?
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Agoram Muthukumaranamk
McCain is a Liar
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Christi DemuthThe dummies for McCain are jumping for joy! The smart people are saying huh?
Did McCain demand this talking heads view?
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Dan CarrMcCain is pissing off the undecideds
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Dulce Mia (not verified)Ohio undecideds are getting pissed every time McCain talks. I swear to god polls will show Obama winning this. McCain looks petty and angry. Obama is staying cool and focussed.
pollyanish
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Bill Conroypollyanish
I'm impressed with Schieffer so far
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Ernest LeI confess, I hadn't really paid much attention to him on CBS before, but he's asking all the kinds of questions I would want a moderator to ask. And he's forcing the candidates to get specific. If I didn't already know all the issues pretty well already, this debate would actually be informative and educational for me.
Palin is not ready
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Christi DemuthI believe she is an idiot! Are you kidding me John? I am not buying it.
She's a role model??? For women???
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Lenore (not verified)Yikes. Breath of fresh air? More like the stink of rotting moose dung.
McCain looked nervous until Ayers was done.
Submitted on October 15th, 2008 by Anonymous (not verified)Now he looks more relaxed.