Okay, I know quite a few hours remain between now, and the scheduled debate tonight between Senator McCain and Senator Obama. However, without further ado:

Welcome.

This is the FINAL Debate between the United States Presidential Candidates for "Decision 2008".



Location: Hempstead, New York (Long Island).

Date: Wednesday, October 15th, 2008.[/i[

Time: 2100 Hrs EDT (09:00 P.M. EDT).

Format: Sit-down.

Host: Hofstra University.

Moderator: Bob Schieffer, CBS.

Sponsor: Commission on Presidential Debates.

Topic: The Economy and Domestic Policy.

Running Length: 90 Minutes [Including Two Minute Responses, Which May be Followed-up With Five Minutes of Open Discussion {For EACH Discussion}].


In regards to this debate:

1. Are you already Decided upon a Candidate, Or Undecided?

2. If Undecided, What if Anything must a Candidate do in order to Win you over?

3. What must Senator McCain do to Score Points?

4. What must Senator Obama do to Score Points?

5. What did you like/dislike about Senator McCain during the Debate?

6. What did you like/dislike about Senator Obama during the Debate?


Last but not least, be sure to try and list at least ONE Positive and ONE Negative Aspect (Of this Debate) for each Candidate, regardless of whom you are Voting for on November 4th.

Let us try our VERY BEST to keep this a Civil discussion filled with Common Sensed Observations (No ridiculous comments about Movements, Poise, etc.). I understand that you are free to speak as you will, but I am Optimistically entertaining the Hope that we can do our best to act as Professional Pundits Sitting in on a LARGE Roundtable Discussion.



Anchors Aweigh.

If McCain talks about the Galactic Federation of Light I will vote for him!

And I just wanted to say that I will be watching the debate live tomorrow so I should be a contributing poster soon after it ends

Sounds good

Lol, at least you are honest. That is all I am looking for in this discussion, just some honesty combined with good points.

As I said in another thread about tonight's debate (didn't notice this one already existed).....

McCain needs to talk about the economy....about what he will do and how it differs from Obama. And, he needs to do it in simple terms that everyone will understand.

He needs to point out how important character and judgement are in the office of President.....without getting overly specific about Obama.

He needs to get up there and talk like a real person.....not like some slick politician.

And, for the love of all that is holy, please, please, let at least one of them really answer a question without answering around it, over it, under it, or behind it.....just one answer. That's all I want: one simple, straight answer to at least one question.

[edit on 10/15/2008 by skeptic1]

I'm mostly looking for the candidates to answer questions they are asked.

The formula so far as been: 1) make a single sentence response to the question, 2) go back to what the other guy said before your turn, 3) shameless smackdowns... then 4) quick rewording of the question and original 1 sentence answer.

I just want them to answer the questions, stop jabbing at the other guy, and trying to discredit what he said 2 mins ago...

sigh...

reply to post by nj2day

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I agree completely with all that, but I think we are overlooking the fact that every single Presidential Debate has been like that. At least for as long as I have been on this Red and Blue planet.

1. Are you already Decided upon a Candidate, Or Undecided?
- I've been decided for a while: Obama.

2. If Undecided, What if Anything must a Candidate do in order to Win you over?
- Even though I'm for Obama, I would have to think twice about that if McCain offered to legalize it.

3. What must Senator McCain do to Score Points?
- Avoid jokes, avoid the economy, and avoid shapeshifting.

4. What must Senator Obama do to Score Points?
- All he has to do now is not screw up.

edit - I took out stuff about the last debate. I got confused since some of the questions seem pre-debate and some post-debate, so I answered the post-debate questions about the last debate.


[edit on 10/15/2008 by Curious_Agnostic]

1. Are you already Decided upon a Candidate, Or Undecided?
Decided. Obama

2. If Undecided, What if Anything must a Candidate do in order to Win you over? McCain with disclosure

3. What must Senator McCain do to Score Points? look at obama. bring up bill ayers and not let others be hatchet men

4. What must Senator Obama do to Score Points?shut down bill ayers.

5. What did you like/dislike about Senator McCain during the Debate?dislike mccain about his lack of eye contact and snide remarks

6. What did you like/dislike about Senator Obama during the Debate?dislike obama's ums

1. Are you already Decided upon a Candidate, Or Undecided?

Decided for McCain, but wont be 100% final until election day.

2. If Undecided, What if Anything must a Candidate do in order to Win you over?

Preserve Americans constitutional rights, starting with the 2nd amendment.

3. What must Senator McCain do to Score Points?

Be aggresive, but not too aggressive. Don't act like a smart ass.

4. What must Senator Obama do to Score Points?

Due to media favoritism, all he has to do is sit still if he wanted. To score points in terms of getting undecided and conservative points though, I think he has to assure people his ties with shady people/organizations are nothing to worry about. We already know he wont be capable of doing that though, especially in regards to Wright and Acorn.

5. What did you like/dislike about Senator McCain during the Debate?
Pending

6. What did you like/dislike about Senator Obama during the Debate?
Pending

Speaking as a Brit seems to me you Americans have a difficult choice to make! I wouldn't want to be in your shoes. I think Obama is too slick and tricky for his own good. Everytime I see him JFK immediately springs to mind. And as for McCain. . . He doesn't look in the best of health to me the way he shuffled about the stage during the other debates. If he died mid term that would put you in the hands of Palin!!! Only god knows what she would end up doing.
America needs a decade of peace to get itself right again and heal. Neither Obama or McCain are going to give the ordinary decent Americans the long awaited peace they crave. I have to admit I don't envy you my American friends. . .

Here, I will share some of my points in regards to this Pre-Debate aspect of the Discussion:

1. I am a firmly Decided Voter.

3. In order for Senator McCain to Score Points tonight, he needs to heed the pleas of his support base. He must constantly go forth on an Offensive, and never allow Senator Obama control of the "battle". He must bring forth Senator Obama's questionable connections, but in a way that puts them into a relevant context. Also, Senator McCain must push his new Economic Ideas as hard and convincing as any Salesman worth his Paycheck. If Senator McCain can accomplish all of the Aforementioned, he will Score Big.

4. In order for Senator Obama to Score Points tonight, he needs to weave around any Offensive attacks launched forth by Senator McCain. He needs to justify his statements this past week which have painted him as a Socialist, and clarify his connections to questionable groups and individuals. Senator Obama must also push his new Economic Ideas by clarifying them, and explaining the differences between his Ideas and Senator McCain's. If Senator Obama can accomplish all of the Aforementioned, he will Score Big.

5. In the Pre-Debate sense, I like Senator McCain's tenacity and strength. I do however dis-like his innate inability at conveying the same passion with which his support base is currently rallying.

6. In the Pre-Debate sense, I like Senator Obama's ability to speak forcefully and in the manner which represents the passion of his support base. I do however dis-like his inability at describing issues beyond good sound-bites.

I will add more after the Debate of course. Hopefully this will be a good Debate. Enjoy

Question:

Which tv network is the least biased? I want to watch the debate and watch the commentaries afterward.

Im in Europe (Ireland) watching the BBC, which is hooked up to ABC at the moment, they always cut off before the commentry though.

Looking forward to this debate, should be a step up from the last one - expect to see McCain stand his ground & fight, Obama sit & stay cool, look Leaderlike, the Media is on his side at the mo & seemingly so is the electorate.

Interesting to see McCain's tactics - I have my beer at the ready for one last debate.

BBC are hyping it up as we speak!!

No such thing! lol. Just find one and watch. Come here for commentary.


In regards to the debate: We are less than 3 minutes in and Obama is already agreeing with mccain .

Liked McCains answer. Actual details this time around.

Obama's doing the looking into the Lens (to the people etc etc)

McCain used the word angry 4 times in opening lines.

McCain look nervous.....

Obama confident, but thats not surprising - McCain better loosen up

McCain is doing better this time.

He's actually looking at Obama and addressing him directly!!!

I agree he does look nervous, but he does have a lot riding on this. Hope he loosens up a bit.

McCain is very, very nervous - notice the blinking.

Looks like a REAL debate this time round

reply to post by AndrewTB

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Yep,

IF / When he loosens up we should get a good debate going between the two CANDIDATES themselves not the moderator

Both seem the be loosening up a little. I'm happy to see this isnt the same 2 debates we saw already (so far).

[edit on 10/15/2008 by AndrewTB]