No need to be sorry. What happens down south in the USA always affects us here in Canada.

Thanks for the great work you do Alex. You are much appreciated.

May God continue to bless you!

Nice intro from Schieffer:

"Boys, we've all heard the talking points already. Let's have something real tonight."

For sure. . .Jared, glad that you could join us finally. No class. Woot!

Anybody watching this interesting conversation about Joe the Plumber? Poor guy is the certerpiece of the first ten minutes here. Who exactly IS this Joe the Plumber?

/ happy day - Wednesday is early class day.

Joe the plumber. . .Joe the plumber. . .what about the Mario bros?

I'm taking notes on how to debate here - be sure to grin after every statement...

My girlfriend grew up going to that planetarium.

Here's a statement from the Adler: "To clarify, the Adler Planetarium requested federal support – which was not funded – to replace the projector in its historic Sky Theater, the first planetarium theater in the Western Hemisphere. The Adler’s Zeiss Mark VI projector – not an overhead projector – is the instrument that re-creates the night sky in a dome theater, the quintessential planetarium experience. The Adler’s projector is nearly 40 years old and is no longer
supported with parts or service by the manufacturer. It is only the second planetarium projector in the Adler’s 78 years of operation.

Science literacy is an urgent issue in the United States. To remain competitive and ensure national security, it is vital that we educate and inspire the next generation of explorers to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math.

Senator McCain’s statements about the Adler Planetarium’s request for federal support do not accurately reflect the museum's legislative history or relationship with Senator Obama.

The Adler has approached the Illinois Congressional delegation the last few years for federal assistance with various initiatives. These have included museum exhibitions, equipment and educational programs we offer to area schools, including the Chicago Public Schools."

Good questions coming to the candidates tonight!

Yeah, this negative stuff during a serious economic crisis is waste.

Plenty of manipulation, patronizing and half-truths on the part of McCain.

Interesting. . .McCain really is pulling the victim card in this little segment.

McCain is like a negative ad in person right now!

Refusing to repudiate the comments shouted during the rallies as well - affirming that he is proud of his audiences...

There is much more dignity and decency in the way Obama is coming across, and is not letting himself being intimidated.

Why would the country be better off with YOUR running mate than HIS running mate?

Wow. Love the questions.

I liked Obama's smile when McCain tried to grab the moral high ground there at the end. . .I was LOL.

The fact that McCain selected Sarah Palin to be his running mate shows that McCain is prone to disastrous decisions in the areas that matter.

Schieffer has cut McCain off several times now. I wonder how that will come accross to viewers.

The technology is less developed for clean coal than wind, solar and hydro.

Jared, the conservatives on RedState.com have mentioned their irritation on that point.

McCain seems to be trying to control the debate by steering every question to a negative, reactive comment--not proactive or showing leadership. Is it leadership that is lacking in McCain? He certainly is not inspiring with his remarks, ideas, or attacks.

He is emphasizing the "look at" offshore drilling phrase.

Figured Schieffer's cutoffs would come accross as one-sided.

Great point by Obama on the fuel efficient cars from Detroit. I like that phrase, "If we can get that right" and "5 million new jobs."

Are we hearing a lot of repetition from both candidates?

A bit of repetition, yes. Make those points stick, they must be thinking.

Speaking of repetition, here comes Joe the Plumber again. I want a Joe the Plumber T-shirt!

Yes, to wit: Joe the Plumber, who just wished that he had never talked to a single politician in his life.

Yesterday I watched 700 Club (CBN/TBN) with Pat Robertson. He called for 30 days of prayer for "God's protection and intervention". The he added as if in passing something like - "I guess God gives us the leaders we deserve...!. The he prayed - "God, intervene and give us good and righteous leaders!".

Joe, you're rich, congratulations. How does that come across?

Good point by Obama Re: the union organizers in Colombia that have continued to be killed, he mentioned it just as my head was about to explode, phew.

In the coming days, look for Joe the Plummer T-shirt on a hipster near you.

Roe v. Wade. Schiefer is getting all those issues into the discussion tonight. Anyone else watching CNN with the little electronic lines crawling across the bottom showing how the focus group is responding to every word?

McCain is in attack mode--state of Illinois voting record re abortion issues. He's going after the Dobson voters.

I'm not, PLM, how are those lines looking?

Craig, this guy just got the highest traffic of his life.

http://joetheplumber.com

That McCain smirk is killing him about as much as his patronizing responses. I note the women who write the monthly checks seem to like Obama's responses more the Joe Six Pack (to find another Joe out there)! The question remains are either man up to the task ahead? No clues so far. Tom

John McCain keeps bringing up this voting present thing. Interesting to note who has missed the most votes of any senator in the current Senate. Hint: not Obama

Hahahaha. Joe the Plumber's website crashes tonight.

Do you notice the sort of wounded pride affect that McCain does on things like WWII vets in the audience or autism or adopted children? There's a certain "how dare you?" tone, a "don't lecture me sonny" attitude that just doesn't really apply to each issue. Notice that Obama hasn't really negatively attacked McCain, and notice that Obama answered the Ayers stuff without feigning offense.

What did John McCain just say about people who serve in the military? They don't need to take tests or get certified to become teachers? Wha...?

I'm so sorry I missed this! I'll have to download it on iTunes. Yeah, I was working :(

Jared, good to see you!

Craig, both men are getting "high" interest lines. Obama's were lowest earlier in the evening when McCain attacked him for negative ads. McCain has also had "low" lines. A trend seems to be that when the men get the most details on the table their lines go "up."

Good line: I don't think our children are a special interest group--they're our future.

/Johnny - thanks! Glad to be around for a change!

"McCain is really "lecturing" tonight. He just said he was sorry Obama wasn't paying attention to the voucher system in D.C. What is this snarky attitude thing?

Yeah, let's talk about undergraduate student debt.

"A full 39% of student borrowers graduate with unmanageable levels of federal student loan debt."

"The number of students who graduate with over $25,000 in loan debt has tripled since the early 1990s."

http://studentdebtalert.org/

I guess I should have gone into the military. No teacher certification testing!

I do believe I heard that we need better teachers or at least way to make them excel,then I hear vets could be teachers with out any credentials. (?)

Hey! Are both candidates lefties? (I'm a little slow)

Obama is doing a good job NOT showing irritation, disdain, patronization, or other reactions. He is calm. I think it's pretty obvious tonight that, as the media have reported in the past, McCain does NOT personally like Obama at all. His non-verbals shout it.

both lefties

Yep, left of the John Birch Society. . .

Now it's time to go hear the pundits tell us what to think.

Poor Joe Sixpack. He got dethroned by Joe Plumber.

I read some conservative political blogs. Here are the latest RedState.com comments as they watch Fox News focus group:

Bill Mitchell: omg
10:39
Adam C: Frank Luntz's group sees Obama as winner, clearly.
10:39
RedInABleuState: what are they pumping into these rooms?
10:39
Bill Mitchell: omg
10:39
[Comment From Marcus Traianus]
Geez all the critics here, you should join Fox what a bunch of dopes
10:40
RedInABleuState: we are screwed.
10:40
Bill Mitchell: even luntz says obama won
10:40
Adam C: Are we seeing another example of conservatives = happy, independents = not happy
10:40
RedInABleuState: ....hm....
10:40
RedInABleuState: wow

Who's got the post-debate instapolls?

McCain provided a great reaction to an Obama statement. Watch

I just got Presidential Debate Bingo with "Judges, Safe, Committee, Mortgage, War, Fanny, Tax and $5000 credit" Yeah

CBS News:

Barack Obama:
86.02%
John McCain:
12.25%
It Was A Draw:
1.74%

Drudge Report has about the opposite statistics, unsurprisingly.

Well, more specifically:

MCCAIN
74%
53,977

OBAMA
24%
17,796

NEITHER
1%
1,025

Total Votes: 72,798

Yeah, Drudge has had those numbers after every single debate.

CNN:
Independents

McCain (R) 31
Obama (D) 57

Republicans

McCain (R) 68
Obama (D) 18

Democrats

McCain (R) 5
Obama (D) 88

Note McCain to Republican vs. Obama to Dems, that's telling.

Kudos Carlitas! At least someone was a clear winner!

kos writes:

On substance, I actually thought McCain had his best performance thus far, when not distracting with his weird facial expressions and snorting. But still, Obama is on another level altogether. Perhaps if Romney or Giuliani was the nominee these would be fairer contests, but it's not even close. And while McCain seemed better prepared than in the previous debates, tonight was also the wingnuttiest McCain has looked all campaign. All the veneer of being a moderate was stripped away as he derisively tossed aside the notion of "health of the mother". The notion was a insult to his sensibilities!

Not that it matters. There was nothing here tonight that would change minds. Given that Obama has already broken 50 percent nationally and in the key battleground states, and that significant percentage of voters have already cast their early votes, McCain needed to radically transform the shape of the race. That means a homerun performance coupled with an Obama collapse. Neither happened.

And more from RedState conservatives:

[Comment From Obama's the AntiChrist]
i think mccain should get a medal for doing as well as he is doing going up against OBAMA. it's like when the jury was in the tank for OJ

10:55
Jeff Emanuel: a grenade going off would have had Obama leaking yellow fluid
10:55
paulseale: lawl @ jeff

Jeannieb43
I was impressed by the suppressed anger evident in all of McCain's answers. He sounded like he was speaking through clenched teeth and just barely keeping himself from pounding the table and beating up Obama.

He sounds so terribly angry and sarcastic; I could never vote for him as president. He'd fly off the handle too often, with all the stresses inherent in that job.

In my book, McCain's temper and condescending comments just served to show Obama's class. Obama can keep himself calm in the face of lies and insults. He's proved he's ready for the job of president!

Here is a great example of the Obama supporters.

http://www.bpmdeejays.com/upload/hs_sal_in_Harlem_100108.mp3

Thanks Michael for sharing three anecdotes from the Howard Stern show. Quality.

I can think of hundreds of counter examples, but then I actually get my information about what African-Americans and "the Obama supporters" are thinking from conversations, not tawdry shock jock radio.

Do you think that they, unlike you, are primarily motivated by race? Then say it, like Rush did, about Colin Powell.

Three issues, out of hundreds possible that they got wrong. . .time to knee-jerk to race. Should they know more? Yes.

Harlem. Noting their race. To attribute motivation to race with such little evidence is racist. Michael, you are promoting Stern's sloppy racism, by presenting a explanation for behavior that grabs onto race without asking deeper questions, as this photographic essay shows in Rush's case, this shallowness is illogical.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/10/21/6491/7750/376/637293