Synchronized Presidential Debates

If you thought the debates were all talking points, you were RIGHT!  Talking points galore - from both sides!  It's also one of the better bits of video editing that I've seen in a long time. I can't  - for the life of me - get the embed code to be accepted by Blogger...so you'll have to CLICK HERE to watch it. Enjoy!

Whiplash

My goodness, but the stock market is bouncing around enough today to give anybody whiplash. I look up at the TV and see it's down 100+ points.  Do a little work here on the computer, glance back up and it's down just 25 points.  A little more work, another glance and it's in plus territory!  Moments later, back in the negative.  Seconds later, back on the positive side.  I mean literally - the plus/minus swings were just a handful of seconds apart.
What did you think of the debate? My quick take? Obama won, but McCain did the best he's done out of the three debates. I don't think it's good enough to translate into a win on election day, but there's a lot of time for things to change.  However, the folks who mess with the electoral college data seem pretty well convinced that McCain not only needs to win all of the toss-up states, but flip a couple of blue states away from Obama.  That's a pretty tall order.
By the way, for your analytical enjoyment, AmericaBlog has a great collection of reaction to the debate from all across the country, titled, quite simply:

McToast

Did You Watch?

What'd you think of the debate last night? Lots of interesting stuff being said and many statements today being challenged today. One clip that's getting a lot of internet exposure came from right at the end of the debate where it appears that McCain refuses to shake hands with Obama.  I don't know if he refuses the handshake or was just looking elsewhere, but the clip is worth watching for Wolf Blitzer's comment!

Behind The Podium

Think Progress thinks Palin was pretty much reading her answers during the debate.  See if you think the video supports that.

VIDEO: Watch Sarah Palin Read Her Answers In Last Night’s Debate

For Sarah Palin, last night’s debate was an open-book exam. She spent much of the evening methodically reading and rehearsing answers from “carefully scripted talking points.” Palin’s notes were largely hidden from plain view, resting behind the lectern where she stood. Because the cable and network television stations did not show a split screen of the [...]

Pre-Debate Details

Looks like we get to see the attack dog version of Palin tonight. I'm not so sure that's the smart approach, but it might liven things up a bit!

Palin's new plan: Go after Biden

Sarah Palin plans to go on the attack in tonight's debate, hitting Joe Biden for what she will call his foreign policy blunders and penchant for adopting liberal positions on taxes and other issues, according to campaign officials involved in prepping her for [...]

Did McCain Really Mean It?

The idea he tossed out about a "spending freeze" is really a lot bigger deal than you might think.

Mr. Freeze

I'd like to think this might draw some additional attention in the aftermath of last night's debate, but there was an exchange that deserves a closer look. Jim Lehrer noted that the cost of the response to the [... ]

Looking Ahead to Thursday

Some fascinating suggestions in this Howard Fineman piece in Newsweek. It's worth a read for the ideas he gets from a couple of people who should know.

Fineman: Advice for Palin and Biden

Vice presidential debates, like vice presidents, used to be low voltage. Now they are prime time, big time. Why? Two words: Dick Cheney. In 2000 and 2004, his debate performances (he played the calm, well-informed dinner guest) helped elect and re-elect Bush. In the White House, the vice's clout has been both unrivaled and reviled. Now comes Sarah Palin, Wonder Woman of Wasilla. This Thursday a huge audience is [...]

The Day After

So, did you watch the Debate last night? I thought Obama did, overall, the better job.  However, he wasn't as strong as I expected and McCain did better than I felt he would. CNN says a lot of people came away feeling better about either man as president.  I'm glad we get to hear from them again, before the election.  And the VP issue is, I believe, going to become crucial to voting decisions. Here's the New York Times' take on it all:

The Next Day, a New Debate on Who Won

Even as they sought to mold perceptions from the previous night, the campaigns were preparing for the next two debates [...]

And, just for good measure, here's something from the Politico:

Pundits: No clear-cut winner

UPDATE: From Josh Marshall at TPM:

Having Slept On It

In my initial reaction last night, I wrote that while I thought the debate was basically a draw, that amounted to a narrow win for Obama since foreign policy is supposed to be John McCain's forte. Now, after half a [...]

Your Friday "Oooops"

The old "cart before the horse" situation, campaign-style:

McCain’s Online Ads Say He Won Debate. . . Before Debate Occurs

WaPo has the screenshot. This is a play right out of the Kerry 2004 playbook, and it works, except you're not supposed to screw up and release the ad early. Oops! [...]

And, That VP Debate?

Oh, yeah.  McCain wants to push that back, too.  Into "neverland".

CNN: McCain cancels VP debate

My god, could they be more obvious? CNN's Dana Bash just revealed the McCain campaign's latest strategy: Push the first Presidential debate back to October 2nd, the date of the VP debate. The VP debate would be delayed "until [..]

Economic Debate

Let's walk through a couple of "breaking news" items this afternoon.  Bush is going on TV tonight to try to twist America's collective arm into supporting the financial bailout plan.  Also, John McCain is trying a cute little political ploy, suspending his campaign and trying to get Friday's debate postponed.  I'd kind of like to hear the two of them talk about the economy.  Wouldn't you?

McCain Asks To Postpone Friday Debate Due To Economic Crisis

Republican John McCain said Wednesday he is directing his staff to work with Democrat Barack Obama's campaign and the presidential debate commission to delay Friday's debate because of the economic crisis.In a statement, McCain said he will stop campaigning after [...]

Jack Cafferty thinks they should still debate, too:

Nice, Huh?

Well, it seemed that it might be a really interesting debate.  Until they modified the rules.

Debate Rules Modified to Benefit Palin

The New York Times reports that at the insistence of the McCain campaign, the debate between Gov. Sarah Palin and Sen. Joe Biden will have different rules than those for the Obama-McCain debate: [...]

1, 2 ,3

That's all we get. Three debates. No town halls. I was hoping for more variety. More content.

Obama, McCain Set Debates, But 'Town Hall' Idea Officially Dead

 Barack Obama and John McCain will debate head-to-head three times - and almost certainly only three times - according to an acceptance letter Obama’s campaign manager sent to the Commission on [...]