Not Boring, Substantive, and Obama Dominates

I have a brother who is a plumber. His name's not Joe, and he is voting for Obama.

I watched on CNN, which had the squiggly lines from the uncommitted Ohio voters, and often showed both candidates at the same time. McCain seamed smirking and aggressive when he was not speaking. He blinked a lot. But as these things have gone, he did not disgrace himself. He was energetic and tough, even though he often came across as a jerk.

McCain finally had to mention Ayers to Obama's face, but could not say much more than we need more information. That's it? Oh, and McCain's a victim of Congressman John Lewis's comments.

The discussion about the VP candidates was surreal. On energy, McCain's seems more interested in bashing Chavez than dealing with technology.

On trade, Obama's explanation of the various trade agreements (Columbia, Korea, Peru, etc) had one strong virtue -- he said you had to read the details and consider them on their merits... That's at least progress from the view that you are either for or against trade, regardless of the contents.

On health care, it was not close. I don't see people voting to eliminate tax deductions for employee health plans, or thinking the McCain plan is good for them.

McCain does not like Obama's eloquence. I can see why. Obama was comfortable, smart, tough, and the top of the class this evening.

Read more reactions to the Obama-McCain Presidential Debate from HuffPost bloggers

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Comments

[susanava]

I was disappointed by Obama's pacifism. And McCain gave so many opportunities--he showed his Reganomics proudly: "I don't want to spread the wealth"--Yeah, you want to keep it in the top 1% right where it is. Hoover raised taxes? Really? And what did FDR do? A spending freeze? Really? Take MORE money out of the economy during a recession? And how many federal jobs will be cut? And how do you anticipate the private sector will respond to decreased gov't spending? To fewer or no gov't loans and contracts? You don't like Canada or England's health care? Really? Offshore drilling will lower gas prices? Really? When? In 15 years?
And when McCain brought up Ayers, why did Obama not bring up AIP, Charles Keating, William Timmons, Phil Gramm, Vicki Iseman, and Mc's years on the commerce commitee where he all but sold his votes to the highest bidders. McCain has taken so much lobbiest money I can't believe his head doesn't explode when he calls himself a "Maverick". No, Obama should not have traded character smears, but he should have reminded people McCain & Palin also have bad associations and have been caught more than once lying about Obama and about themselves.
He let McCain frame the debate again and did little to discredit McCain's philosophies or judgement.
I'm still voting Obama, but I think he missed a critical opportunity to guarantee a landslide.

[Bagger]

Joe the plumber is not registered to vote.

[idyl]

Obama made his best case to date, not on specific programs but on his deflection of attacks. He showed over and over again he wants to do the job. We've had a President mired in politics and the permanent campaign for 8 years, it's time we had someone who will do some real work, and is tireless about governing and delivering results. His best moment was during the Ayers and ACORN exchange, why, because he showed that scoring political points is a hollow victory. These are the skills I want in an executive when dealing with a highly partisan, fractured, ineffective, and feckless Congress. Let's run up the score, and help Obama win a mandate in November!!

[anothervoice2]

Joe the plumber was already voting for McBush when he spoke to Obama in OH. He is a GOP plant.

BTW, what is McCain saying? We should all be against a middle class tax cut because Joe the "rich" plumber is whining about paying a teeny bit higher federal tax? McCain gets the math wrong too. Joe the rich plumber, still makes out better with the tax credit (for keeping jobs in the US) and health plan credit of Senator Obama. Joe the plumber may not be the brightest bulb so to speak. Let us see how long until he runs that business into the ground.

[CEKChuck]

Did anyone else think it incredibly disingenuous for McCain to try to parade Joe the Plumber to imply that Obama was out to get "average Joe"? The facts are: a) Joe the Plumber makes more than $250,000 a year, and b) Joe the Plumber would be taxed 3% more on the amount he makes above $250,000 a year. Now, one can argue whether or not someone or some business making more than $250,000 a year should be taxed at 39%, but to imply that Joe the Plumber is "Joe Average" is just ridiculous.

[drunktilthefifth]

Damn' you air quotes !!!!!!!! I meant " 'health' of the mother " in a good way. You've betrayed me again.

[rich misty]

Can we start calling him President Obama now?

I like the way that sounds.

[mmm17]

My Senator, from the Land of Lincoln, was the only one on the stage who was presidential this evening. I am proud of him and will be proud for him to represent us to the world -- an intelligent, eloquent, reasoned and decent public figure. And I think he has the required intellect and character to help the internal crises (plural) that this country is currently facing, which are staggering. To be honest, at times I wanted him to strike harder at McCain and to TKO, as some other bloggers have suggested. The pain and anger at the demeaning character and racial attacks from the Republican side have taken their toll on us all, and made me want "a pound of flesh" and a strident rebuke. But I realize now better that he is already looking beyond the election, toward governing for *all* Americans and bringing us together. His self-control chastens me, and teaches me, as a citizen, to try to overcome the bitter partisanship and think about the larger picture. Thank you Senator Obama, for your leadership and vision. I look forward to the challenges and privileges of being a citizen under your administration. This is what it means to love America -- to try to work for unity and common respect. That has been your message all along, and you have lived it through this campaign, as an example to us all.

[kkuchenb]

Hmm. I want employer health plans destroyed, but that doesn't mean I'd ever vote for McCain.
When will we ever join the rest of the world when it comes to universal health care? These are not the only choices! Sigh.

[JohnnyKay]

I plumbed the depths.

Finding John McCain there, I surfaced just in time for Obama.

[JohnnyKay]

McCain made his usual mistakes, his usual gaffes (lies) on various 'facts', and showed us all that there really can be a future without him in it, that we'll survive much better, as a result.

Barack Obama made his usual elegant approach to real issues facing all of us, and showed us what it will be like to have a president who understands people and can eloquently articulate the difficulties facing us as a people, a President who can tell the truth, and a President....... who actually will be our next President come January 20th.

Excellent job, Senator Obama.

Thanks for giving us hope for a future, far from the erratic quiverings of a trapped quail.

One was enough.

[tjirish44]

McCain cracks me up more than anything. I agree McCain did not do bad debating Obama. But as John Stewart pointed this out late last summer... "McCain has no poker face." McCain just can't contain himself. LOL Their debating and obviously they disagree on almost everything. But McCainst looks soo pissed off when Obama disagrees or attacks him on an issue. I was waiting for McCainto get up and punch Obama inthe face. LOL Plus Obama the way he keeps his cool just seems to make McCain angrier. As I said McCain did well arguing his positions in debate but he basically lost the points because he just cannot keep a poker face.

[DavidNOE]

McCain prefers to gamble with dice, where everything is chance and you don't need to hide your feelings. Obama, on the other hand, prefers poker, where skill (including a "poker face") is paramount, and from what I've read is very good at it.

[BillZBubb]

To be honest, I thought McCain had his best outing in the three debates tonight. I would even go so far as to say he won the first part. He kept Obama on the defensive and dominated the debate. McCain, did however leave himself very vulnerable several times. Obama missed huge opportunities for a knockout blow.

For instance, when McCain said "If you wanted to run against Bush you should have run four years ago", if Obama would have only said something like "Senator McCain if you hadn't supported Bush four years ago and voted with him nearly all the time since then, maybe I wouldn't have to."

By the end, McCain's antics when he wasn't talking probably did him in. He looked like he had ADD. And the eye roll was a killer. He didn't look like someone people would want on the screen for four years.

[drunktilthefifth]

I think that mccain might come across less grumpily if the debates were held a little earlier..... like say 4:30 or so. The darned thing doesn't start until an hour after his bed time.

[sonvolt48]

I'm concerned....I have been watching MSNBC for 30 minutes now, and the post-debate analysis has been about the political implications of McCain's smirks, Obama's smiling, McCain's one-liner about running against Bush.

This was the most substantive debate we have had so far on the issues. Clearly delineating the economic philosophies of "trickle down" (which has served us so well over the last 8 years) versus "middle class empowerment" (which FDR and Bill Clinton fostered).

The MSM is giving me heartburn....please...this is a serious time, with serious issues....enough of the horse race mentality!

[RRonin]

I hope to see an Obama commercial soon where a guy says : "My name's Joe and I'm a plumber and I'm voting for Obama!"

[niesioa]

thank you! I haven't laughed this hard in a long time!

[kbmath]

Unfortunately, Chris Matthews just reported that Joe the plumber is going with McCain. Voting against his own self-interests. I just don't know how we get through to people. I only hope that Joe the plumber is not going to matter too much after tomorrow. Maybe he'll change his mind or Chris is wrong.

[Promise]

Yes! Also t-shirts and bumper stickers saying Joe the Plumber for Obama!