Just in case you missed it…

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

Part Six

Part Seven

Part Eight

Mitt walked away with it. No question. Nobody was able to hurt him and since he’s up in New Hampshire and South Carolina…this nomination process could be over very quickly.

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Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Just in case you haven’t seen it…

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

So besides Perry’s gaffe, what was the most memorable moment for you?

Presented here in 11 parts. Some of them weren’t embeddable, but I’ll link to them.

By the way, forgive the stupid “Mox News” stuff. They’re the only ones who uploaded the entire debate to YouTube.

Part 1


Part 2


Click here to watch Part 3

Part 4


Part 5


Part 6


Click here to watch Part 7

Part 8


Part 9


Part 10


Part 11


So what did you think?

No, neither did I…but I did watch it online thanks to the YouTubes…

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

If Repubs want to win, they’ll take a hard look at Jon Huntsman. Romney has a decent shot too. Everybody else just don’t have it. And I think Rick Perry is done before he’s started.

By the way Pawlenty had some good zingers on Romney (and Bachmann), but he just doesn’t have it. Maybe a VP. Maybe.

And, for the record, Michelle Bachmann is such a bad idea. I don’t usually say that about many people, but when you make Herman Cain seem steady and balanced…you’ve got an image problem.

Last, I do have to commend Chris Wallace. He really took these candidates to task.

Your thoughts?

I don’t know the answer to Justin’s question of whether last night’s senate debate in Nevada will swing the election, but I did watch the entire debate in stunned, silent horror. Some saw a clear-cut outcome. For me, it was all I could do to write this open letter of sincere condolence to our unfortunate fellow citizens facing this decision in Nevada:

Dear People of Nevada,

I just watched your Senate debate, and I am just so… so… sorry. I feel so bad for you. I mean – WTF?? Look, I don’t know how this happened, but you really should try and avoid choices like this in the future.

What to do? If you want to vote None Of The Above, I get it. It is a tempting, some might even say – right choice under the circumstances. But for those of you willing to “man up” and make a decision – lets take a clear eyed look at your options.

There is a real difference. You can choose between a lightweight incompetent, or a craven, duplicitous, heavyweight partisan hack incompetent. Neither is going to be good for Nevada. You should consider what is best for the country. Obama is going to be President for the next six years. My advice – take one for the team and vote for the lightweight. It is the only way to limit the damage. I’m sorry – it is just the right thing to do. Look, it’s only six years. In 2016 you can vote for a new Senator and President. Try to give yourself better choices next time.

Your Friend, MW

x-posted from “Divided We Stand United We Fall”

I know a lot of folks are talking about how Obama “schooled” Republicans today, but let’s get past that. Yes, if you watch the following Obama comes off extremely well. But can we focus on whether or not this type of dialogue is good for the country? I’d say yes, yes, a thousand times YES!, as this is one of the first truly substantive steps Obama has taken to bridging the gap between the Ds and Rs during his tenure.

Check out the dialogue here and tell us what you think in the comments…

Long story short, don’t fall for the media’s/blogosphere’s talking points about Obama winning. Because that’s the tired, combative narrative they want you to fall for. If we’re to truly move forward and have a constructive debate, we have to look at this for what it is…a productive dialogue that will hopefully lead to more. On this point I hope we can all agree.

More in a month…fingers crossed.

This came as a bit of a shock to me, but Arnold is definitely one of the most moderate Republicans I’ve ever seen and is willing to take chances giving his unique position as a Republican Governor of a solidly blue state. Also, let’s not forget that the state voted to okay medical marijuana back in 1996, so it’s a little easier to do.

From Politics Daily:

In February a state lawmaker introduced a measure that would decriminalize marijuana in California. Assemblyman Tom Ammiano suggested regulating and taxing pot could pump $1.3 billion annually into the state’s shaky economy. He got a handful of headlines but the bill didn’t spark much debate and Ammiano was mostly portrayed as a fringe figure from kooky San Francisco.

On CNN a month later Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.) said the state should launch a pilot program that would explore legalizing marijuana. Sanchez likened the issue to the prohibition of alcohol last century and said most Californians believe pot laws should be relaxed. (A recent Field Poll supports her claim: 56 percent of California voters say cannabis should be legal for recreational use and taxed). The interview made the blog rounds since it appeared to be the first time a national politician addressed the issue seriously on a mainstream media outlet.

Today an even bigger figure has taken up the discussion on whether to decriminalize and tax marijuana. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said it’s time to at least debate the issue. The Republican governor made it clear that he’s not for legalizing weed, but he doesn’t want to be afraid to talk about it.

First question…should marijuana be decriminalized?

Second…should Schwarzenegger just become a Libertarian already and shed the Republican label?

I posted about this around the time we heard whispers about Hillary becoming Secretary of State, but I can’t help but post it again…

Is it me, or was this one of those moments during the campaign where the mood and momentum started to shift in Obama’s favor? Because right after this Obama won Iowa and then he was off to the races.

An interesting footnote if nothing else…

I was just sent the following by Dan Hill of Sensory Logic. He’s the facial coding expert you see making the rounds on the talk shows, etc., and he did a breakdown of the VP debate for us.

In any event, see if the following jives with your recollection of the events…

1. McCain clearly won the first 1/3rd of the debate, thanks in part to a nice blend of being both his trademark indignant (angry) combined with the largest single dose of halfway authentic smiling. The “I’m not George Bush” line, for instance, wasn’t spontaneous and you could tell because McCain was smiling (truly though subtly) even before he delivered it. Afterwards, he did show a little anger with tightening of the mouth and his eyes narrowed also a little, in anger. The intro of “Joe the plumber” was similar, lots of anticipatory smiles (canned piece, again), but enough of them to suggest the hope angle that McCain has a hard time conveying. When he picked on the “spread the wealth” comment, he showed anger with tightened mouth again.
2. The debate changed for good with the introduction of negative campaigning as the topic. Obama brought up the chanting of McCain supporters, saying “kill him.” Amazingly, McCain didn’t back down. Instead he said he “wouldn’t stand for” his supporters being criticized, and showed a little bulge below the mouth (a sign of heightened anger) that, I thought, showed him seriously off-kilter given the context of threats against the life of a would-be president!
3. That part of the debate ended with Obama showing for the first of several times a big smile to dismiss the obvious lurch as McCain went from Ayers to saying that the “campaign is about getting the economy back on track.” The smiles were clearly aimed as dismissing McCain, but Obama did do them without seeming aloof or overly condescending. (By the way, when McCain spoke of Ayers he seems to believe it’s a genuine threat because he arched his right eyebrow in fear/surprise, a move that few people can do intentionally (less than 10% of the populace) and because it’s such a rare expression by McCain.)
4. Another point where McCain lost the back 2/3rds of the debate from an emotive / facial coding perspective is when they were discussing healthcare and people vulnerable to not having coverage. When Obama said that McCain’s plan would leave the “old and sick” vulnerable, McCain took the immediate back-and-forth as his focal point and showed contempt (smirk) and upside down smile of disgust/anger instead of sadness/empathy for the larger point of people being in trouble. Indeed, for almost 45 minutes in the debate McCain struggled with a combo of smirking and anger management – not until the topic was helping unwed mothers with adoption (something the McCains have done) did McCain again show a genuine smile while on stage. In short, he needed more warmth than heat – but succumbed to anger yet again in this debate.
5. Other interesting point was that Obama showed an expression I hadn’t much seen before, and never so pronounced. His lower chin had a deep wrinkle as he showed disgust, anger and sadness at some of McCain’s more condescending remarks (never south of the border, “surprised you didn’t pay more attention” to vouchers in D.C. schools.) Starting in late August, I saw Obama show contempt (smirks) for McCain; this is pun intended a new wrinkle on his deepening disdain for McCain’s style of politicking – and of course McCain smirks, in turn, at Obama.

Ultimately, I just don’t think McCain has very good control over his emotions and that has really hurt him in these debates where subtlety and control matters.

Perhaps this is why people see Obama as a steadier, cooler leader?

Actually, you can bet on it.

This about sums it up…

At least we now have “Joe The Plumber” to talk about…

If you didn’t watch it then, watch it now…

And that’s it. No more debates from here on out.

Next stop…November 4th!

No contest.

Still, you’ll notice that it’s not like many of them are voting for Obama.

And so it goes…

I COMPLETELY agree with Matthews here about the Roe. v. Wade issue, and I have no idea why McCain brought this up. He already has his base. But then again, women were fleeing him anyway so why stop the bleeding now?

Take a look…

Lots of weird choices by McCain tonight. No wonder he lost so decidedly.

Moving on…

So, who said Barack Obama can’t debate well? And weren’t these debates supposed to be John McCain’s moments to shine?

I’d like to give this debate to McCain. He was at his strongest (although others disagree). And Obama was almost too laidback, too sure of his own staggering intellect and ability to reason his way out of any tight spot. But McCain just never landed the knockout. He spent too much time criticizing minute details of Obama’s plans and not enough time explaining how his plans will make us a better nation.

In a debate, disparaging your opponent’s ideas looks like offense but it’s actually defense. And McCain played too much defense tonight.

As for Obama, the man is pure silk. I can’t remember a politician sounding so comfortable delivering debate answers. Tonight, as in the previous debates, Obama sounded like he was just speaking off the cuff, as if he didn’t even have to prepare. I’m sure some people find that worrisome (oooh, he’s slimy), but I like it. I enjoy listening to the man because I believe he’s speaking from real knowledge and not just talking points. Even when I know he’s equivocating (as with his b.s. answer on his previous NAFTA opposition), he sounds reasonable, which makes me think he is reasonable. I’d like to have a beer or two with the guy and talk politics.

So, Obama won simply by holding serve. He just had to play prevent defense (to mangle my sports metaphors) and he did that well enough. McCain had to present a resoundingly clear alternative. But he wasted too much time going after Obama and not enough time promoting his own plans. He wants me to vote for him because he’s not Barack Obama. But he needed to convince me to vote for him because he’s him.

McCain did well, but just not well enough.

Complete and total destruction.

First Debate: Obama 51%, McCain 38%

Second Debate: Obama 54%, McCain 30%

As one commenter in our debate open stream said…

It was a brutal combo combined w/ a fatality.

up up down down left rlght back select start.

Indeed.

This is the biggest margin yet in ANY of CBS’ post debate snap polling by more than DOUBLE!

First Debate: Obama 39%, McCain 24%

Second Debate: Obama 39%, McCain 27%

As I said, Obama walked away with it. McCain’s temper hurt him badly tonight.

Get ready for a landslide.

Wow…this is pretty astonishing. It’s like McCain hears it and wants into the Obama healthcare plan.

Will this be the clip of the night?

“ZERO?!”

UPDATE:
Ben Smith agrees.

Marc Ambinder embeds too.

Earlier this evening, I posted what I wanted to hear John McCain discuss tonight. Now that the debate is over, I wanted to comment on how well he addressed my concerns. For those of you who want my full debate reaction, it’s forthcoming.

McCain’s economic plan: I wanted specifics. I got a reiteration of the $300 billion mortgage buyback plan which I don’t support at all. I was disappointed in that regard. Although I was glad McCain finally hit Obama on spending, even saying that Barack Obama’s answer to everything is to spend more. Unfortunately, McCain stuck to the ludicrous assertion that he can balance the budget in four years. If he’s going to make that claim, I need details but didn’t get them.

McCain did well on taxes. While “Joe the plumber” was an odd addition to the debate, McCain came off very strong regarding small businesses and taxes. I came away believing McCain won’t try to tax us out of our economic doldrums and think he raised real concerns about Obama’s plan, which seems very off-base during an economic downturn. Full disclosure: my wife owns a small business, so those taxes are a concern and I simply trust McCain more to protect our interests.

On healthcare, McCain whiffed again. I don’t have a problem with the tax credit, but even when you add in his regulatory changes, it’s just too little. It won’t work. I don’t like Obama’s plan but McCain gave me no reason to think he has a more workable solution.

I don’t believe McCain discussed the makeup of his cabinet, which was a shame. He did discuss Supreme Court nominees but, unlike some, Supreme Court nominees don’t drive my vote. Vice Presidents, on the other hand, do influence my vote and McCain’s defense of Sarah Palin was about as good as he could do given the material. But she is still a poor choice, no matter how McCain spins it.

I wanted to avoid anything outside policy. But Bill Ayers entered the conversation. As did Rep. Lewis. As did the hateful shouts at McCain/Palin rallies. That wasted a lot of my time and McCain seemed to try to extend it. He could have been making a case for himself but he spent the time dredging up issues that just aren’t important enough for a 90 minute debate.

In the first two debates I basically called them a tie.

Actually, the first debate I thought was a tie, so it went to Obama. The second one I thought Obama was much stronger at the town hall debate, but since I hate the whole “lowered expectations” game, I thought McCain lost more than Obama won.

Well folks, Obama won this one tonight.

On policy he was specific and with every attack on his policy point, he parried effectively and hit back at why McCain’s claims for sometimes even factually wrong. Also, and this isn’t surprising, Obama was calm, steady and simply owned a closer, personal format. At points he talked into the camera to the American people when it was appropriate and then engaged his opponent respectfully and directly. He also avoided opportunities to attack Palin’s experience, and as such was showing the post-partisan tone he promises to bring to Washington. And I think that’s what some swing voters are looking for.

On the other hand, while McCain had his own specifics on policy his temper still got the best of him. He was testy, interruptive and if I’m an independent voter at home, I don’t want to spend 4 to 8 years with this guy. And he just doesn’t seem to have the temperament to lead this country out of an economic crisis. Maybe if we were in the middle of a hard war, this would have been McCain’s year.

Oh, by the way, McCain brought up Ayers, but only after being prompted by the moderator and Obama answered it very directly and honestly. He owned that question, as well as the one about ACORN. They’re paper thin and it’s now evident to any voter who watched this one.

Obama is now 3 for 3.

Game over.