10:26PM from Joe: On education, Obama has one of the best lines, our kids are not an interest group, they're our future. Again, he gave a solid answer...McCain, on the other hand, gives an agitated answer. Does McCain know that Sarah Palin's child has downs syndrome, not autism? He has mentioned Palin knows about autism twice...it's weird.
10:18PM from Rob: John McCain has spent his time in answering every question to attack Obama far more than articulating his own position - just like his TV spots. As McCain attacks Obama, his numbers go down - it's a failing tactic but it's clear that at this point all John McCain has nothing left - he's spent.
10:17PM from Joe: What's up with McCain's heavy breathing/snorts? He keeps making noises. He sounds very irritated. The start of every question starts with a swipe at Obama.
10:15PM from Jacki: John McCain is delusional. The average cost of a family health care plan is more than $12,500. It's $2000 more than that on the individual market. I have never ever ever heard of a comprehensive (read: decent benefit) plan that costs $5800 for a family. And I am buried in this information all day long. The whole argument was ridiculous. Obama's health care plan is exactly as he described it. McCain's plan is exactly as Obama described it. Atrocious and dangerous.
10:14PM from JOHN: I think McCain's eye-rolling is going to bite him after the debate when the YouTube videos come out. He's making far too many "I'm annoyed" facial gestures.
10:12PM from John: Karen Tumulty at TIME writes:
Substance alert: McCain is flat-out lying about Obama's health care plan. It is not government-run health care, and looks nothing like the Canadian system.10:11 PM from Joe: Obama says he believes in the constitutional right to privacy. Where's John McCain on that one? And, Obama speaks out for equal pay for equal work. Nice pivot on this answer.
10:09PM from Joe: Yes, John McCain, elections do have consequences. But, McCain is really pissing off his base right now....they think he does have a litmus test for judges.
10:05PM from Joe; John McCain just admitted he's going to raise your taxes by taxing your health care benefits. That's a HUGE tax increase for most Americans.
10:00PM From John: I understand Joe the Plumber fought with McCain in the First World War.
9:58PM from Joe: Every McCain answer starts with an attack on Obama. Every one. He sounds angry and really frustrated. There is such a stark difference between these candidates. One has a vision...and one really is a cranky old man who can only look backwards.
9:55PM from John: From MSNBC:
McCain was wrong, however, when he said that 100% of his ads weren't negative. According to a recent study by the University of Wisconsin Advertising Project, 100% of McCain's ads have been negative.9:54PM from Joe: So McCain gets in a swipe about Obama's eloquence...he's been waiting for that one...and, like the other swipes, it didn't work. McCain doesn't know how to do that. He's sounded whiny and irritated. Obama has to school McCain on Colombia and the violent situation in that country.
9:50PM from John: Not to be catty, but McCain's makeup is horrible tonight. He has too much rouge on his cheeks, his lips are red, and the rest of the makeup is meant to soften his skin and make him look younger, but it just looks kind of creepy. And the belladonna eyes and the blinking. Yeesh.
9:49PM from John: George Bush and John McCain, separated at birth
9:47PM from John: Cockamamie?
9:44PM from John: Autism? Sarah Palin's child doesn't have autism? And I'm glad she can represent special needs parents, but what is she going to do about the economy and Iraq?
9:43PM from John: McCain says that Palin is a role model for women. The women in CNN's focus group don't appear to agree.
9:41PM from John: Oh God, McCain is going to have to defend Palin - this should be high theater.
9:40PM from John: After spending 5 minutes talking about Ayers, McCain said the election is really about taxes. Uh, no, it's about the economy. But if it were about taxes, then why is McCain talking about Ayers?
9:38PM from Joe: Obama explains who he does associate with. Your attacks say more about your campaign than it says about me. McCain is obsessed with Ayers. Obsessed. Obama is right - Ayers is the centerpiece of McCain's campaign.
9:37PM from Rob: Obama is staying on message and bringing it back to the American people - in spite of McCain obviously being rattled and grasping at straws. And watching the CNN meter it's obvious that uncommitted Ohio voters aren't buying it - particularly women.
9:36PM from Joe; Here he goes...McCain is snapping.. Invokes Ayers. Invokes ACORN. Obama notes Ayers has become the centerpiece of the McCain campaign.
9:33PM from Joe: McCain is proud of the people who come to his rallies. They're the most dedicated patriotic people...this is not his best performance. McCain cannot answer that question...but Obama pivots back to the issues.
9:32PM from Joe: Obama just laid it out. Obama explains why John Lewis spoke out...because the McCain/Palin crowds are yelling "kill him."
9:32PM from Joe: McCain -- waaaaahhhhhhhhh. Obama is mean. And Obama is spending a lot of money against me. McCain is obsessed with John Lewis.
9:30 PM from Joe: Great line from Obama that the American people care more about issues than their hurt feelings. The American people can't afford four more years of failed economic policy. Obama says lets talk about the economy and health care for the next three weeks. Good answer from Obama. He's acting presidential.
9:27PM from Joe: Scheiffer dares them to say what they've been saying to each other's faces: Yet, McCain says it has gotten tough. It has taken many turns that have become acceptable. McCain trashes John Lewis. How does that help him? McCain claims he repudiated every negative remark made by a GOPer, which is not true. McCain says Obama is mean. This answer is all over the place -- and he still hasn't addressed the lies being spewed by his campaign. McCain is whining about Obama's money, too. But he never brought up Ayers....
9:24PM from John: He's gonna blow!
9:23PM from John: Snap!
9:20PM from John: McCain is sitting there all creepy again. Oh, now McCain is claiming he's not George Bush. Too bad John McCain voted 95% of the time with George Bush. John McCain helped George Bush get elected, twice. If John McCain were his own man he wouldn't be constantly palling around with George Bush.
9:19PM from Joe: If McCain knows how to save so much money from defense, why hasn't he done it? McCain keeps telling us he knows how to do things that he hasn't done.
9:18PM from JOHN: McCain channeling Palin: "The catalyst for this housing crisis was the Fannie and Freddie Mae that caused subprime lending situations that now cause the housing market in America to collapse. I am convinced that until we reverse this continued decline in homeownership and put a floor under it and so the people have not only the hope and belief they can stay in their homes and realize the American dream, but that value will come up."
9:11PM from Joe: McCain seems intimidated by Obama. And, there goes that creepy laugh again. John notes that if Joe the Plumber is making $250,000, he's doing pretty well. And, the creepy McSmile comes back, too.
9:06PM from John: McCain didn't talk into the camera, Obama is. Oh my God, McCain is sitting there, hands folded, trying to smile. God he's trying not to explode.
9:05 PM from John: McCain is blinking a lot again.
8:58 PM: From Joe: Here we go...the last debate. I think we've liveblogged almost all 40 of the debates over the past year and a half. The big question is whether, on a day when the Dow dropped 733 and the country is distraught about the economy, John McCain decides to bring up bogus issues. And, the other question is whether McCain's friend, Bob Scheiffer, sets that up.
Game on a in few minutes...let's get started.
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