DEBATE #3 - A RECAP

Live DVR Blog of Third Presidential Debate

Characters: Bob Schieffer, Obama, McCain
*Revised post debate to include “Joe” – a plumber in Ohio

Topic: Domestic Issues

Question 1: Economy
McCain Starts – He’s got some quick fixes. Buying mortgages.
Obama talks about his 4 key points. Sometimes when he talks about his economic package it sounds like he’s talking about a gym membership or seasons tickets to Six Flags

10 min – Who is this Joe the Plummer? And does he know Joe Six Pack? Should we count number of times someone says Joe? (estimating 6 as of now)

17min – McCain mooches off Hillary Clinton… and then starts talking really fast and saying a lot of things. Obama approved spending for an overhead projector in a planetarium in his hometown – that is so random!

20min – McCain voted for bush budget 4/5 times- which is also the number of dentists that recommend Trident. Coincidence?

21min: McCain explicit: I am not Bush!

22min: I love when Obama asks to respond and says, “There’s a lot of stuff that’s been put out there” ... Did he just say he’s not popular with teachers and environmentalists? Aren’t these the people he is popular with?

24min: List of slams – Why so mean?

25min: McCain: He’s meaner than me. Second Clinton reference; Obama: He’s meaner than me. Let’s get back to the economy.

29min: McCain: No him. Obama: Your running mate is a bitch. But back to the issues. Back and forth again…and another Joe Plumber reference

35min: McCain’s third Clinton reference.

36min: Obama on Bill Ayers and ACORN: I hardly knew ya. But back to the economy and name dropping. What about Oprah, Obama?

39min: Obama laughs at McCain when he says his campaign is about the economy

40min: Love this question! Why is your running mate better for the country?
Obama on Biden: He doesn’t forget the little guy.
McCain on Palin – She’s a reformer. “Breash of freth air”
Obama on Palin: She’s an idiot but I can’t say that so I’ll say she “energized the party”
McCain on Biden: Some cockamamie ideas.

46min: Obama laughs at McCain again.

51min: Damn Obama and those nasty WORDS!!! McCain inserts 4th Clinton reference.

53min: McCain rolls his eyes at Obama’s Venezuela talk, then scribbles furiously before sitting upright and salivating for his chance to respond. Obama talks a lot. McCain salivates more.

55min: McCain stutters and sputters to respond. Obama just laughs. I feel like for all his salivating and scribbling, McCain didn’t come up with that much.

56min: Obama talks about broken hearts and two women in Toledo as a prelude to his health care chat.

59min: Joe the Plumber’s back! McCain goes into an infomercial to Joe the Plummer. (3 more Joe’s… and we’re not even counting the Biden references earlier … ) Obama talks directly to Joe: “Joe, if you are out there… “ - I feel like this could be the beginning of an 80’s pop song.

1hr01min: My apologies to any small business owners… I began tuning out the small business tax debate after the 3rd or 4th time I heard them avoid the same questions

1hr03min: Joe’s rich! Yay!!! (3more Joes) I love that they both have totally embraced leaving the entire election up to Joe the Plumber. This guy is definitely going to see his small business get a boost... and maybe even a toilet bowl endorsement will come his way! Joe really could be rich after this!

1hr07min: Oooh… Obama brings up equal pay for equal work legislation… that McCain voted against. McCain skirts issue (pun intended) but talks about Obama’s voting record re: voting present.

1hr15min: Last question! Wow…this one feels shorter than the last one.

1hr25min: mydebates.org plug after 10 min of education ending in sarcastic McCain

1hr26min: Closing arguments. Mccain brings back “my friends” – and makes his close. Obama makes his close. The end.

McCain made a funny face when he was deciding which side of the desk to walk around. They could have done a puppet show in the middle of the stage where there are people leaning out. That would have been fun. This debate was so-so. “Not a game changer” as they say.