Third Presidential Debate Reactions

Pundits have already begun to weigh on tonight's debate. Here is a roundup of some of the reactions.

Marc Ambinder:

Tonight, we saw a McXplosion. Every single attack that Sen. McCain has ever wanted to make, he took the opportunity tonight to make.   Around 30 minutes in, McCain  seemed to surrender the debate to his frustrations, making it seem as if he just wanted the free television. His substance suffered; it didn't make sense at times.

New York Times:

This debate was a lot more confrontational than the first two, with Mr. McCain repeatedly taking jabs at Mr. Obama. Whether it was enough to reverse Mr. McCain's sagging fortunes remains to be seen.

Josh Marshall:

It seems like we've now seen McCain's Ayers/ACORN primal scream. I'm not sure Obama knocked anything out of the park. But at the end of it, I don't think McCain landed any solid punches either. And McCain was often incoherent and a bit kitchen-sinkish. Basically a draw, though if recent polls are any indication, the draw in debate terms may hurt McCain since people do not like McCain's attacks.

Andrew Sullivan:

McCain seemed almost wistful. Obama ended on "sacrifice, service and responsibility." Obama won this for the third time. A small prediction: there will be YouTube mash-ups of McCain's facial reactions on the split screen. And they will have a longer life, for good or ill, than many of the substantive exchanges.

Johnathan Chait:

I thought John McCain was more effective and coherent tonight than in the previous two debates. He mostly controlled the terms of the debate, in part by defining the average American as a plumber who earns more than $250,000 a year. His points, though often inaccurate, were not always rebutted (in part because Obama simply didn't have time to rebut every allegation.)

However, McCain lost the overall message of the debate. The cost of McCain's sharper tone was that he sounded more like a dogmatic Republican. Obama was softer, let many points go, but was much more effective at sounding like a moderate.

Mark Halperin:

McCain: Substance: Grade: A-
Style: Grade: B+
Offense: Grade: A-
Defense: Grade: A-

Obama: ubstance: Grade: B
Style: Grade: B-
Offense: Grade: C+
Defense: Grade: B+

Comments

[cheeriogirl]

Really Mark? Try watching it without the sound so you don't have to listen to McCains barrage of lies and "misspeaks", and you will see what the rest of us saw. A desparate man acting like a 5 year old in a VERY empty suit. Oh, and special points go to McCain for the nasty air quotes and sneers when Obama was discussing saving the life of the mother. What a classy guy!

[RaderBarbarian]

Gee, since I don't make $250,000 a year, I feel so inadequate. Damn near un-American! I hope President McCain doesn't have been deported for being a failure! Does Cindy have a sister I can marry, President McCain?

[siepmann]

I share your inadequacy and hope that if a President (shudder) McCain deports us for being failures, he'll deport us to one of those horrible "socialist" countries like Sweden, The Netherlands, Canada, etc., where people don't go bankrupt due to medical problems!

[etcetc]

I had to laugh when McCain said "do you want us to have a healthcare system like England or Canada?" (sarcastically!)

Ummm-- Yeah- that would be sweet to have Canada's system.

He's so out of touch.

[DumbDad]

I couldn't believe McCain trotted out that stupid lie that O got an earmark for an "overhead projector" for a planetarium. It was the main planetarium PROJECTOR, an absolutely fabulous teaching device. But that's just a lie. I was glad Obama didn't honor it with a response, though.

[Danigirl65]

I was waiting for him to. It is actually a projection system for the Adler Planetarium which I got to see on a few field trips when I was in school many years ago. From what I've heard, this is the third projection system in 40 years and they have tried repeatedly for the funding, but to no avail. Obama is not the first elected official to try to get funding for Adler and he won't be the last considering the projection system is failing fast.

I really wished Obama had countered this one, it would have made me way happy!!

[NoSillyName]

It seems Obama was at the point of "why bother to dignify this nonsense with a reply."

[Shadow08]

Well it shows Mccain's contempt for any spending that is not for w a r s. The military is his only concern. If he would become president, he would make Joe Lieberman the secretary of defense and the bo mb ing of Iran would be the first oder of business while McCain would freeze every other type of spending and this country would soley exist ona w a r economy. His next move would be to reinstate the draft. This guy would make bush look like a dove.

[Amazed42]

wow we must be a nation of plumbers according to McIdio t, and we all make way over 250K a year...wow i guess the fruit from the earth and trees, pick and package themselves...oh yeah and drive themselves to the Market and factories....

must be them ne wfangled pipes we put together everyday......

and the Debate hands down OBAMA...McCain was lost and clueless once again i don't think they fed him his vitamins and minerals...he looked like a small scared little kid, while he babbled about not much of anything important to us rich plumbers....

OBAMA/BIDEN 08/12

[InspiredByTruth]

To McCain and his 9 houses I'm sure $250K sounds dirt poor.

[Aurin]

Obama could have scored alot of punches. Keating 5, Palin's association to a secessionist movement etc... But I feel Obama was smart in taking the high road and turning the other cheek. His goal is to win moderates and undecided voters. Also, unfortunately as we have seen in the recent weeks Race is a factor. If Obama were to play McCain's game Obama might be dubbed "The Angry Black Man". Furthermore, it is not necessary for Obama to take risks at this moment. A President needs to be steady and calm and Obama was the epitome of Presidential.

McCain's goal simply seemed that he wanted to "Win The Debate". Like a short term injection of energy might get him to win the race. As we have seem from the economy to professional athletics to weight loss to the housing crisis to the fad of energy drinks and pills for erectile disfunction, short term boosts, fads, financial planning etc... will always lead to long term losses.

To truly build something that will last a lifetime in any endeavor one must be disciplined and grounded with a comprehensive plan or short term goals that lead to the achievement of long term goals.

Obama displayed to me that he has the strength of character to lead the United States through the most difficult times since the Great Depression.

[Gary47]

Mark Halperin must have been watching a debate on some other planet.

Obama was unflappable, coherent, straightforward. McCain was irritated, erratic, unclear and unfocused; his attacks were ineffective and very well-countered by Obama.

[pons1595]

Mark has a special perceptual problem that allows him to demonstrate the uncomfortable position of having his head up his posterior. We all feel for this posteriorwhole; our best wishes for a severe bout of flatus.

[newpotusplease]

is Marc Halperin some version of Matt Drudge?-- he makes the oddest comments sometimes. I do wonder what he basis the value of his analytical skills on .

[old lady]

Its a pretty good philosopy - say anything that keeps you in front of a camera or mike....
Limbaugh perfected it, Buchanan at least gets a sheepish look when he knows he's pitching dung - but has remained master of the master race

[mongoboo]

Between the African cool, the 'Ashe', the sense of subconscious control of Obama and the dying zietgiest of Republicans emulated in McCains's affectations, uses of the word "I', and unhinged body language there was really no contest here.

I vote for the top of the class at Harvard law school, not the bottom of the class at the Naval Academy. After eight years of Constitutional abuse, I'm ready for a Constitutional scholar!

GO OBAMA!

[Shadow08]

"I vote for the top of the class at Harvard law school, not the bottom of the class at the Naval Academy. After eight years of Constitutional abuse, I'm ready for a Constitutional scholar! "


You got that right!

[JT16682]

To confuse Down syndrome with autism -- not once but twice -- may qualify as early signs of Alzheimer. Whoa...

[Texas4Obama]

McCain just doesn't know Palin very well .. so it is easy for him to get the facts confused.

[old lady]

A six month old with Downs Syndrome may place you at the beginning of a long, arduous learning curve, but doesn't qualify you as an expert. This is spoken by mother of special needs adult.
SP has a long road ahead of her before she knows it all. Good luck - and that is meant empathetically, not sarcastically.

[maying]

nobody can really sympathize with a plumber. aren't they often accused of over charging :)

[ShanniC]

What debate was Mark Halperin watching? There were missteps by both candidates, but Obama by and large dominated the debate.

[Einstein44]

I guess Joe the Plumber dominated the 3rd debate without our knowledge...Ah! there you go again,Joe...Say it isn't so,Joe...

[desertbloom]

What debate was Mark Halperin watching? He found McCain "friendly?" Seriously?! The guy has no credibility!

Halperin gave McCain high marks. Yet, McCain had no substance and even less style. His offense was offensive and his defense was lame.

Obama was firm, clear, steady, and direct. He had every right to appear perturbed by McCain's comments and behavior.

Obama was an A-/B+; McCain a C-/D (for dreadful)

[BluePride]

This is a 1965 Voting Rights Act radio commercial sponsored by president Johnson. Civil Rights struggles are universal... Whether Selma, Stonewall or San Isidro. Things Are Changing:

http://current.com/items/89388751_obama_08_things_are_changing

[Einstein44]

Someone forgot to mention to the American people that Joe the Plumber will join in the final debate with Obama and McCain...What gives ?