Subject is domestic policy.  9-minute segments.  Can ask follow up questions of each other.

Welcome Barack Obama and John McCain. Clap clap clap.  Wow, John McCain touched a guy who "pals around with terrorists."  Ha, does that make McCain a...oh, forget it! :)

oh... and then he blames fannie and freddie.

Obama:  Wonderful to join Sen. McCain again, thanks. Worst financial crisis since Great Depression. Financial rescue plan is important first step.  I pushed for important core principles.  What we haven't yet seen is a rescue plan for the middle class. Fundamentals of economy were weak even before this.  Need to focus on jobs, help families right away - middle class tax cut for people making less than $200,000, access IRA's right away. I agree we need to help homeowners.  I disagree with Sen. McCain on how to do it, could be a giveaway to banks under McCain's plan.  We've got some long term challenges that we have to deal with - energy, health care, education.

McCain; No question. Encounter with guy in Ohio, a plumber. He looked at your tax plan, saw that he would pay higher taxes...he was trying to realize the American dream.  I'll keep your taxes low, provide affordable health care, will  not stand for tax increase on small business income.  What you want to do to Joe the plumber is increase taxes.

Obama:  He's been watching some ads of Sen. McCain. Tax policy is a major difference.  We both want to cut taxes, McCain for wealthiest corporations in America like ExxonMobil, I want to provide tax cut for 95% of working Americans.  If you make less than $250,000 per year, your taxes won't go up a dime. Independent studies have looked at our respectivde plans...conversation I had with Joe the plumber, you needed a tax cut 3 years ago.  I want to give them a tax break now.  98% of small businesses make less than $250,000.

McCain:  Claims Obama said, "We need to spread the wealth around."  Class warfare, spread the wealth around - the premise of Obama's plans.  Why would you want to increase anybody's taxes right now?

Obama:  #1, I want to cut taxes for 95% of Americans.  Warren Buffett can afford to pay a little more in taxes in order to give additional tax cuts to Joe the plumber before he made $250,000 a year.  ExxonMobil can pay a little more so ordinary families can get a break. Nobody likes taxes, but ultimately we've got to pay for core investments that make the economy strong.

McCain:  Businesses in America paying some of the highest taxes in world.  Where will companies go?  We need to cut peoples' taxes

Obama needs to have a short and pithy response to this, and he hasn't figured out one yet.

McCain has been better than expected tonight. Obama is off his game a bit.

McCain's antics are grating, and his verbal and facial tics are bizarre. He looks petulant and undignified.

But I do get annoyed at how Obama doesn't parry some of McCain's constant lies (the taxes issue, especially). Perhaps they've made the conscious decision not to get down with McCain in the mud.

In general, I am not a good judge of these things. The last one was easy to call, it was a mauling. Now, after having seen most of it (I had to flip away much of the time McCain was polluting the air with his lies), I do think Obama won, albeit not in as complete a manner as the first two.  

Obama:  It's important for American public to understand that $700 billion rescue plan means that ultimately taxpayers get their money back. We've been living beyond our means and need to make changes.  I've been a strong proponent of "pay as you go."  We spend $15 billion a year on subsidies to insurance companies, just a giveaway, we need to eliminate a host of programs that don't work, go through budget line by line.  Sen. McCain and I differ on need to invest in America, in the American people.  Invest in serious energy policy , will save on money we're borrowing from China to send to Saudi Arabia.  Once we get through economic crisis, we won't be able to go back to our profligate ways.

McCain: Back to homeownership.  Start increasing home values.  Energy independence, have to have nuclear power...wind, tide, solar, natural gas, offshore drilling which Sen. Obama has opposed.  That will create millions of jobs.  Across the board spending freeze.  New direction for this country. Government spending out of control.  I know how to save billions in defense spending.  Subsidies for ethanol...distorts market and created inflation. Eliminate tariff on sugar cane ethanol from Brazil. I know how to save billions.  I would fight for line item veto, I would certainly veto pork barrel earmark projects...overhead projector.

Obama:  We have a disagreement on across-the-board spending freeze.  It's a hatchet and we need a scalpel. Some programs don't work at all, others are underfunded.  Earmarks account for 1/2 of 1% of federal budget. Yes, system needs reform but it's not going to solve the problem.  When Bush came into office, we had a budget surplus. Now, deficit has mushroomed.  Pursuing the same kinds of policies will not bring down deficit. McCain voted for 4 of 5 of Bush's budgets.

McCain: Can balance budget. Sen. Obama, I am not President Bush.  If you wanted to run against President Bush, you should have run 4 years ago.  Of course we can take a hatchet and a scalpel to the budget. Bloomberg proposed across-the-board spending freeze.  I will balance budget. We can do it...Americans hurting, angry, want a new direction.  Obama voted for previous two budgets. He voted for the energy bill that was full of goodies for energy companies that I opposed.  Let's look at our records. I have fought against spending, against special interests, for reform.  When have you stood up to the leaders of your party.

Obama;  the first major bill I voted on was in support of tort reform, not very  popular with trial lawyers.  I support charter schools.  I support clean coal technology,l doesn't make me popular with environmentalists.  The notion that I voted for tax increase for $40,000 per year has been disputed even by Fox News. If I've mistaken your policies for George Bush's, it's because on core policies, you've been a vigorous supporter of President Bush.  When it comes to economic policies, you're proposing 8 more years of the same thing.

McCain: I've disagreed with President Bush, leaders of my own party. I've got the scars to prove it - torture, global warming, conduct of war in Iraq, HMO patient's bill of rights.  Sen. Obama, your argument isn't very convincing.

For Christ sakes stop it!!!

McCain: This has been a tough campaign. If Sen. Obama had responded to my urgent request to do townhall meetings, we could have done 10 of them by now, tone could have been different. I regret some of negative aspects of both campaigns.  Congressman John Lewis alleged that Sarah Palin and I were somehow associated with segregation, George Wallace.  That was so hurtful.  Every single time, i've repudiated remarks by republicans.  Lewis' remarks were unfair and inappropriate.  We will run a truthful campaign.  Sen. Obama has spent more money on negative ads than any campaign in history.  He said he'd accept public financing, didn't keep his word, tell the American people the truth.

Obama: We expect presidential campaigns to be tough. Two-thirds of American people think McCain has run negative campaign. 100% of your ads have been negative.  American people are less interested in our hurt feelings than in us addressing their concerns.  We should debate the issues.  The notion that because we haven't done town hall meetings, that justifies some of the stuff that's been going on...  I don't mind being attacked for next 3 weeks, but american people can't afford 4 more years of failed economic policies.  Mccain campaign said if we talked about the economy, we lose.  I'd love to spend next 3 weeks talking about economy, energy, how people can send their kids to college.

McCain: Every other ad was an attack ad on my health care plan. You're running ads right now that say I oppose federal funding for stem cell research, I don't.  He's spending unprecedented amounts of money on attack ads.  I've talked to Joe the plumber and told him I wouldn't spread his wealth around.

Obama: Lewis...who is an American hero, he made a statement on his own, unprompted by my campaign. He was troubled at remarks made at Sarah Palin rallies - "terrorist" and "kill him."  I do think he inappropriately drew a comparison, and we immediately put out a statement on that.  Lewis admitted he had probably gone over the line. American people have become cynical about our politics because all they see is a tit-for-tat. They want to focus on serious issues.  When people suggest i pal around with terrorists, we're not talking about issues.

McCain: I'm proud of people who come to our rallies. To somehow say that veterans are saying something bad, I'm not going to stand for anyone saying they're not patriotic, great citizens.  There are a lot of things that have been yelled at your rallies.  The point is, I have repudiated every time someone's been out of line and I will continue to do that.  We need to not stand for the type of things that have been going on, I haven't.

Obama:  We can go back and forth on this, I suspect we won't agree here tonight. To solve key problems we're facing - two wars, financial crisis, need to create jobs, we're all going to have to work together.  We need to disagree without being disagreeable.  We can't characterize each other as bad people.

McCain;  I don't care about an old washed-up terrorist, but we need to know full extent of Obama's relationship with ACORN, Ayers, all of these things need to be examined.

Obama: Mr. Ayers has become centerpiece of Sen. McCain's campaign, let's get the record straight. 40 years ago, Ayers engaged in despicable acts, I've condemned them. He served on board headed by former Ronald Reagan friend, Republicans. Ayers is not involved in my campaign, he will not advise me in the White House.

ACORN - community organization. That had nothing to do with us.  The only involvement i had with ACORN is that I helped get motor voter in Illinois.  It's important to get these facts out, McCain has alleged that my associations are bad.  I associated myself with Buffett, Volcker, Lugar, Jim Jones, Joe Biden...those are the people who will surround me in white House.  This says more about your campaign than anything.

McCain: Facts are facts.  You launched campaign in Ayer's living room.  All the details need to be known, American people will make a decision.  My campaign is about getting economy back on track.

he's scary but my campaign is about issues...

McCain just has no idea what he sounds like... he sounds like a McCarthyist hypocrite.

Obama's mellow line "the fact that this stuff has become so important to McCain's campaign says more about your campaign than it says about me".

McCain is such a sucker.

Hell, McCain didn't even address her other than his typical talking points.  It was just pathetic.  But, he sure did attack Joe Biden.  

McCain is just attacking everything.  He's flailing around like the Terminator in the molten steel.  

sharks against blood

or

junkies against heroine

or

sex addicts against porn

or

republicans against young boy pages...

and on and on

McCain: Sarah Palin is a reformer, role model to women and reformers.  She resigned from board, given money back to tax payers, faced down oil companies, $40 billion gas pipeline, she's a reformer through and through, breath of fresh air, time to sweep out old boy network, she'll be my partner. She understands special needs families, autism is on the rise. I'm proud of her, she's ignited our party and people all over America. I'm proud of her and her husband.

Obama:  She's a capable politician who has excited the base in the Republican Party. Commendable work on behalf of special needs.  Of course, that will require additional funding if we're going to get serious about research, we wont' be able to do that with across-the-board spending freeze.

McCain;  Biden is qualified in many respects, but he's been wrong on many foreign policy issues.  He voted against first Gulf War. He had cockamamie idea about dividing Iraq into three parts.  There are several issues where we've disagreed. Notice how Obama always says, "we need to spend more."  He wants to raise people's taxes.

McCain is debating like a child, and Obama really isn't challenging him effectively.

This is the issue that swing voters need to hear his position on.  CAFTA has resulted in enormous deficits and McCain is a fool if he thinks Columbia is going to be a major trading parter.

There will, and always will be, huge trade deficits in any agreement with Columbia.  Factory jobs will go there and cheap foreign made products will come back.  If you think Wal-Mart's plan for America is good, vote for McCain.

Obama: In 10 years, we can reduce our dependence so we don't have to import from Middle East.  Nothing is more important than not borrowing hundreds of billions from China and sending to Saudi Arabia. We need to expand domestic production. Tell oil companies, "use 'em or lose 'em." Look at offshore drilling, but we only have 3% of world's oil reserves, we can't drill our way out of the problem. Solar, wind, biodiesel, geothermal.  Critical that we develop that we develop fuel efficient car built here in United states.  We invented auto industry.  On NAFTA, I believe in free trade, but I also believe that for far too long, the attitude's been that any trade agreement is a good trade agreement. Need labor and environmental provisions in trade agreements.  We've got to have a president who advocates oh behalf of American companies and workers.

McCain:  You have to pay attention to Obama's words, he's very eloquent.  He said we can "look at" offshore drilling.  We can do it now.  Obama opposes Colombia free trade agreement.  Obama has never traveled south of our border. The same country that's trying to stop flow of drugs into our country that's killing young Americans.  Free trade with Colombia is something that's a no-brainer, maybe you ought to travel down there.

Obama:  Actually, I understand it pretty well.  Labor leaders have been targeted for assassinations. We have to stand for human rights.  I supported Peruvian free trade agreement which was well structured.  We've got to have a president who understands benefits of free trade, but will enforce and stand up for Americans.  Auto makers getting hammered right now, car dealerships closing, we need to get loan guarantees to auto companies, but they need to produce highly fuel efficient cars of the future.  Detroit dragged its feet for too long on that, if we can get that right we can move in direction of energy independence and create 5 million new jobs, retool those plants in the heartland, clean energy approaches that will be driver of economy for next century.

McCain:  Obama wants to sit down with Hugo Chavez who has been helping FARC.  Benefits of free trade.  I don't think there's any doubt that Sen.Obama wants to restrict trade and raise taxes.  The last president that tried to do that was Herbert Hoover.

He's looking right through the camera.

Laying down a reasoned and excellent plan.

This is the moment!

it's 100% connection on the best issue

Obama just won the congressional battle for universal healthcare!

right here!

I love McCain's mccarthyist Insinuations.

Bye, bye, John McCain.

Under other circumstances, that might work.  Right now with the economic situation we have no patience for that.  I think the independents are moving away from him.

And by the way, I don't know many plumbers named Joe that earn more than $250k.  They may have revenues in excess of that, but after payroll and expenses their gross is much lower.

sucka!

Wow.  That's a big error by McCain.

McCain:  It is a terribly painful situation for Americans. Escalating costs of health care inflicting pain on families.  We need to do a lot of things.  Put health care records online.  Community clinics. Physical fitness programs, nutrition programs.  Employers reward employees who join health clubs.  Give every American family $5,000 tax credit.  Joe the plumber - if you've got employees, kids, Obama will fine you if you don't get health care plan that Sen. Obama proposes.  He wants to set up health care bureaucracies.  His object is single payer system.

Obama: I just described my plan. Joe's fine is zero, because I exempt small businesses from having to pay into a kitty, but large businesses that can afford it...either they do or somebody has to. Right now, those employees get dumped into Medicare system which taxpayer pays for, or emergency room.  Average family pays higher premiums because of uninsured.  We give credit to small business.  Sen. Mccain's plan - he says you get $5,000 tax credit, the problem is that for 20 million people, you may no longer have employer based health insurance. Older folks, less healthy folks, your employer won't be able to afford it. Sen. McCain will for first time in history, you will tax people's health care benefits.  Average plan costs $12,000, McCain plan gives $5,000.  You'd also start seeing insurance companies cherry picking and excluding people from coverage.

McCain: Hey Joe, congratulations, you're rich.  You spread you wanted to spread the wealth. You will then fall into category that you'll have to pay a fine.  The kind of health care that Sen. Obama mandates, that's big government at its best.   Except for people with gold-plated Cadillac insurance policies...they'll be able to go across America.  Affordability, availability, they can choose not Sen. Obama and government. I want you to do the job, not "Senator Government...er, Obama."  Government's grown 40% in last 8 years.

Obama:  If you have employer based health plan,you keep it. Under McCain's plan, you might lose it.  Ask US Chamber of Commerce said that Mccain's plan could lead to unraveling of employer based health care system.

Huh??  I pay more than that in copay!

I can't wait until SNL gets their hands on this sh##t.  Is McCain f'ing serious?

I think the moderator was trying to help McCain by steeing the debate into this.

Obama:  No strict litmus test, most important thing is capacity to provide fairness and justice to American people.  This will be consequential decision of next president.  Roe vs. Wade hangs in balance.  I believe Roe vs. Wade was rightly decided.  Abortion is a moral issue, difficult isssue.  Women with their doctors are in best place to make that decision.  Right to privacy, shouldn't be subject to state referendum.  I will look for judges who have outstanding judicial record, intellect.  Sen. McCain and I disagreed on Supreme Court decision on Lily Ledbetter case - equal pay for equal work for women, judges said it took her too long to bring case.  We tried to overturn it in Senate, I supported that, John McCain opposed it.

McCain: Trial lawyer's dream...we have to change culture of America.  Sen. Obama as a member of Illinois state senate voted against ban on partial birth abortion, how do you vote "present"?  There were clear cut votes

Obama: If it sounds incredible that I would vote to withhold life saving treatment to an infant, that's because it's not true.  There was already a law on the books that required life saving treatment. That bill would have undermined Roe vs. Wade.  On partial birth abortion, I am supportive of banning late term abortions with exception for mother's health and life.  This bill didn't contain that. Last point on abortion - this is an issue that divides us, but there surely is some common ground.  We should try to prevent unintended pregnancies, options for adoption, don't engage in cavalier activities.  

McCain:  "Health" of mother has been stretched to mean almost anything.  We are adoptive parents.  But that doesn't mean we cease to protect rights of unborn. Of course we need to come together.  

The way McCain talked about women as objects to be parented, and the way he mocked women and their health, was offensive to me. Nauseating.

A good debate goes down the crapper.

Bill Maher:  new rule - CNN has to take the dial test off the screen when McCain is talking... I was watching and I was suddenly afraid McCain had died.  ;)

McCain, you are an idiot.

McCain: It's the civil rights issue of 21st century. Choice and competition is key element.  Charter schools.  Reward good teachers. Find bad teachers another line of work. Give parents the same choice that we had.  Charter schools provide competition.  Throwing money at the problem is not the answer.  We need to reward good teachers.  Teach for America. We must improve education in this country. Make student loans available, repayment schedule that they can meet, adjust eligibility to inflation.

Obama: We have a tradition of local control of schools, that has served us well.  It is important for federal government to step up and help local school systems.  No Child Left Behind under President Bush, they left money behind - unfunded mandates.  Left local school districts cash strapped.  Focus on early childhood education. I doubled # of charter schools in Illinois. I think it's important to foster competition.  Bad teachers need to go. Where we disagree is on vouchers as way of curing problems in education system.  Also disagree on Sen. McCain's record on college accessibility and affordability - McCain's advisor said we can't give money to any interest group that comes along.  I don't think America's youth is an interest group.

McCain: DC school system, vouchers provided, parents wanted same choice we had, choose school best for their children. That was vouchers.  I'm surprised you didn't pay more attention to that example. No Child Left Behind was great first beginning. We need to fix problems with it, reauthorize it. Spending more money is not always the answer.  Let's reform Head Start and fund it.  That as out of bounds by Democrats.  We need transparency, rewards, accountability, transparency.  Children with autism; we'll spend money to find cause of autism, care for these children.  Most expensive education in world is in United States, that cries out for reform, not just throw money at problem, vouchers are good and workable system.

Obama: Vouches in DC, Sen. McCain is right that DC school system is in terrible shape.  We have wonderful new superintendent there.  Data doesn't show that vouchers solve problem.  McCain wants to increase vouchers in DC, that would leave everyone else high and dry.

Obama:  America going through tough times right now. Policies of last 8 years has left us in worst econ. crisis since Great Depression.  The biggest risk is to keep doing the same thing and expect a different result. We need fundamental change.  You have invited me into your homes, confirmed fundamental decency of American people. We have to invest in American people.  Grow middle class, energy independence. It's not going to be easy or quick. Spirit of sacrifice.  I will work every day tirelessly on behalf of you and your children.

McCain Voted Against Funding for After-School Programs. McCain voted against additional funding for after-school programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. (S.Amdt. 1609 to S.Amdt. 1542 to H.R. 2660, Vote 340, 9/10/03)

McCain Voted Against Funding for Head Start. McCain has voted repeatedly against funding for Head Start programs, as recently as 2005. In 2003, McCain voted against increasing spending on Head Start programs by $24 billion and on after-school programs by $18 billion over 10 years. That year, he also voted against a Democratic effort to add $350 million to Head Start, the federal program for poor preschool children. In 2001, McCain voted against fully funding Head Start to ensure that all eligible children have access. (S.Amdt. 2254 to H.R. 3010, Vote 272, 10/26/05; S.C.R. 23, Vote 86, 3/25/03; H.R. 2660, Vote 333, 9/9/03; H.R. 1836, Vote 154, 5/22/01)

McCain Voted Against School Repairs and Construction. McCain voted against $1.6 billion in school construction funding to repair the most dilapidated school buildings. (S. 1, Vote 108, 5/16/01)

McCain Opposed Efforts to Increase Funding for Special Education and Education and Health Programs. McCain voted against allowing an amendment to increase funding for special education and against $7.1 billion for education and health programs. (S.Amdt. 2292 to H.R. 3010, Vote 273, 10/26/05; S.Amdt. 3048 to S.C.R. 83, Vote 58, 3/16/06)

McCain's reactions all night were priceless.

Shields: No game changer for McCain. He was more aggressive, surprisingly so.  I will say about Obama, he did not sit on his lead, he engaged, rebutted, responded, that worked for him tonight.  There is almost an eerie coolness about him.  They broke very little new ground.  Word for word on some things. I thought that Obama had a prepared answer on breaking with party.  McCain had better answer about running against President Bush.  McCain's best moment was on voting for justices.

Brooks: McCain seemed tight and hard to live with for 4 years.  Obama seemed like somebody you could live with. Low points on economic situation. Neither gave us big picture, they got lost in their little promises.  Deficit - got no answer, both of them elided that subject.

Shields: No game changer for McCain. He was more aggressive, surprisingly so.  I will say about Obama, he did not sit on his lead, he engaged, rebutted, responded, that worked for him tonight.  There is almost an eerie coolness about him.  They broke very little new ground.  Word for word on some things. I thought that Obama had a prepared answer on breaking with party.  McCain had better answer about running against President Bush.  McCain's best moment was on voting for justices.

Brooks: McCain seemed tight and hard to live with for 4 years.  Obama seemed like somebody you could live with. Low points on economic situation. Neither gave us big picture, they got lost in their little promises.  Deficit - got no answer, both of them elided that subject.

Other networks had less split screen I've heard.  Any thoughts on the split screen factor?

Brit - no huge winner. No knockout punch. Maybe McCain's I'm not Bush line, but Obama parried it.

Onto the panel:

Juan - Obama handled himself well. No knockout punch. Notes that neither candidate said Palin was qualified to be president.

Kristol - Does anyone give a sh*t what this guy even thinks anymore?

If people think the Democratic candidate will cut taxes, the Democrat will win.

Nina Easton - McCain's most vigorous attempt to paint Obama as a liberal. She actually said McCain intentionally called Obama "Sen. Government," and Brit had to correct her that it was a slip of the tongue.

But she had a great metaphor. She said it was like a tennis match where McCain is running all over the court, and Obama is on the baseline calmly knocking everything back.

Fred Barnes - Thinks Palin in qualified to be president. Liked the tennis "analogy." Tried to suggest that Obama was snickering while McCain was talking, but even he didn't seem to believe it. Says McCain blew it on the abortion question.

Since Luntz's group is handpicked to result in a Republican win, this is pretty amazing.

But Brit pressed him on the group. Luntz swears they were undecided, but then he asks whether anyone switched their postion as a result of the debate. Never mind how an undecided person can switch -- it's Faux logic -- but out of 23 people in the group, 4 said the switched to Obama.

Luntz sums up: "This was a good night for Obama."

McCain got plumber's name wrong. Obama's plan would NOT fine Joe the plumber.  Obama's campaign was NOT launched in Ayers' living room.

Obama said 100% of McCain's ads were negative, that's simply not true, however there have been several weeks in which McCain's run exclusively negative ads. On ACORN, Obama has paid $800,000 to a group affiliated with ACORN for some get out the vote efforts.

Of course, how can one go wrong by claiming they are not George Bush?

Citing the differences in style, and how disjointed McCain sounds.

Krauthammer's analysis each debate has been pretty good, IMHO, but his comments tonight suggest the Conservative abandonment of McCain is going to gain steam.

Brit asks whether there was anything McCain could have done to change the race.

Krauthammer : "Ronald Reagan himself could not" have done anything.

2. When McCain hammered at Obama on the issue of what the fine would be for those who don't get health insurance.  When Obama said "Zero" the split screen with McCain was awesome.  His jaw hit the table, he turned white as a ghost, he was totally caught off guard, his head was spinning, and many more.  Total shock and it showed.

Torie Clarke: Where was this John McCain debates #1 and #2.  He kept Obama on defensive, but hard to throw Obama off his game.  Issues that matter to his base...abortion, etc.

Matthew Dowd: Hours before this we had 2nd largest drop in Dow Jones.  McCain used a real purpose, was very effective.  If this John McCain had showed up in first debate, that he wasn't George W. Bush should have been premise of campaign. Now, it's very difficult in last 20 days for American people to say we trust John McCain more.  I don't necessarily think McCain won this debate. I didn't see that he could take an Obama voter and move to McCain voter.

George Steph:  I think Dowd is right.  For McCain to win, he's got to get some of the people who say Bush is doing horrible job. He didn't do enough to shake people who have watched first two debates.

Donna Brazile: McCain had more fire in his belly, but Obama kept pointing back to the issues Americans care about. Undecided voters concerned about paycheck, they came away thinking you know what, only one candidate offered solutions and that's Barack Obama.

George Steph.: McCain did enough to start to bring home Republicans who were getting disappointed.  

Torie Clarke:  Ground game that's going on.  No amount of passion that John McCain shows can overcome Obama's ground game.

George Steph:  Also money, key disdvantage for McCain.

George Will:  It's too late.  What he could have done a few weeks ago...could have opposed original version of bailout bill, but he didn't.  There was no narrative.  Debates are uniquely bad occasions to change a campaign.

George Steph:  Opposing financial rescue plan would have been a huge mistake.

Brazile: Obama's plan will NOT raise taxes for middle class. There are a lot of Joes and Janes out there that McCain would need to convince to change the race.

Obama-Biden defeats McCain-Palin 4-0.

It's a clean sweep

I am wondering if he has missed medication:

1) Could not remember Mrs Michelle Obama's name!?  I suspect we should all get to know the name of our next first lady.

2) Obama voted against the nomination of Justice Breyer?  Really?!?

3) Columbia!?  Seriously?

4) WTF is Senator McCain talking about regarding people disrespecting his rally attendees who have ball caps?   We were calling his own and Sarah Palin's deliberate inciting of violent rhetoric.  He is clearly confused.

5) Health Care costs; McCain clearly lives in a fantasy world of congressional entitlements and forgot what the rest of us have to deal with during his over-long tenure in the Senate.  Time for him to experience the real world again.

6) interruptions galore and hyperventilation (at least I assume that was Senator McCain; it certainly was not Senator Obama as the heavy breathing was during Obama's answers and rebuttals.

People may think it was close; but they are wrong.  Look for Obama to pick up an additional 3-5% lead after tonight.

In short, I agree that this wasn't even close: John McCain simply doesn't get it, doesn't have what it takes, and isn't going to be the next president of the United States.  A few adjectives for Barack Obama: cool, composed, articulate (as always), classy, presidential.

We came into the debate with two thirds of the American people thinking that John McCain is running a negative campaign, and Senator McCain spent 90 minutes trying to convince the other third. Once again, Barack Obama won a clear victory because he made the case for change for the middle class, while John McCain just had angry and negative attacks. Barack Obama showed the steady leadership that the American people need, and offered specific plans on the issues that matter to the middle class - creating jobs, cutting health care costs, building a new energy policy, and getting our economy moving. Senator McCain said that George Bush isn't on the ballot, but he couldn't name a single way that his economic policies will be any different. This was John McCain's last chance for a game-changer, and he didn't get it.

Much as I'd like to protest the McCain event in Woodbridge on Saturday, (it's very close to my house) the local office has asked volunteers not to waste time when we need to be knocking on doors.  So that's what I'll do--even though I'd rather go protest--if only to watch Corey squirm.

That picture of McCain rolling his eyes is cruel.  Stop the elder abuse.

Get involved, begin talking to your opponents reasonably and calmly.
We need solid progressive responsible people in both houses of Congress.