Too bad McCain wasn't man enough to bring up all the issues for which he has had his "wimmin" attacking Obama.  

I am more interested lately in how many people watch the follow up shows where the facts are separated from the fiction. The information offered in these programs goes much farther in chosing a candidate than the debate itself. However the number of people watching the debate itself does indicate the level of interest, on the part of the voters.
  Another interesting number would be one that tells who watched what follow-up. It's clear to me that your going to get different info from MSNBC than you would get from the one sided FOX.
   Each of these debates should be, as they are, preceded and followed by programming that would offer the obvious conflicting statements made by either candidate, as well as the whole story on each statement. Of course many news agencies try to do just that, but my point is that much more informed decisions are made by people who watch all of the coverage offered than by those who watch only the debate itself.  Too many of the debates only raise more questions than they answer.
 So instead of counting only the number of people watching the debate, take it to the next level. Give us a count on the number of people who watch the additional related programming and maybe even tell how many watch each network.

"Not all Democrats agree with Mr. Frank that such policies are off-limits to criticism. Last week Rep. Artur Davis of Alabama said in a statement: 'Like a lot of my Democratic colleagues I was too slow to appreciate the recklessness of Fannie and Freddie. I defended their efforts to encourage affordable homeownership, when in retrospect, I should have heeded the concerns raised by their regulator in 2004. Frankly, I wish my Democratic colleagues would admit when it comes to Fannie and Freddie, we were wrong.'

"Mr. Davis is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus."

'Rank snobbery'

Camille Paglia, who supports Sen. Barack Obama, has nothing but scorn for the way the media has treated Sarah Palin.

"The mountain of rubbish poured out about Palin over the past month would rival Everest. What a disgrace for our jabbering army of liberal journalists and commentators, too many of whom behaved like snippy jackasses," Miss Paglia writes at www.salon.com.

"The bourgeois conventionalism and rank snobbery of these alleged humanitarians stank up the place. As for Palin's brutally edited interviews with Charlie Gibson and that viper, Katie Couric, don't we all know that the best bits ended up on the cutting-room floor? Something has gone seriously wrong with Democratic ideology, which seems to have become a candied set of holier-than-thou bromides attached like tutti-frutti to a quivering green Jell-O mold of adolescent sentimentality."

To bad we didn't see anything new ...
McShakey against
That One Cool Calm and Presidential ...

Good, so more people see mccain getting bombed, bombed, bombed and annihilated by "THAT ONE." Next stop, the White house.

I watched this debate and I have to say that I was completely disappointed with Senator McCain's performance.  He seems so incredibly bitter and nasty.  I used to like him as a person now I don't like him at all.  It's sad that he's allowed himself to become so overcome with winning that he has seemingly sold his soul just for sake of winning.  

just curious... where's the Rachel Maddow clips tonight????

Does these figures include people who watched the debates over the internet?

Question?  Why does the GOP complain that "Hollywood" supports Democrats?  1. Just look at each candidates websites and see what "stars" support whom.  2. Many of these stars make much, much more than $250,000.00 per year (so, they'll be taxed more), & 3. Are these 'stars' fools?   These stars, singers, actors, producers, directors, media moguls (print, internet, books, tv...)all trend towards democrat....Why???  I think many, maybe most, of these individuals came from poor & humble beginnings and realize that even though they are now "super-rich", they still hold their upbringing to heart.  They know that us poor folks, lower to middle class people go to movies, watch tv, back magazines, so, yes, these celebrities are more intune with us common folk.  These 'stars' are subjected to every race, sex, ethnicity, background, they go to different "locations", etc. etc.  Yeah, they're rich, but "THEY" haven't sold out their roots.  McCain was born into the military...his grandfather was in the Navy, he's actually lived a sheltered, controlled life....God bless him, he's not in touch with average Americans.  Has his water well run dry and to lug water in buckets from the creek?  Has he been on food stamps when his father tore up his back saving what possessions we had during a house fire?  Has he had to eat TopRamen noodles because he can't afford anything else?  Yeah, he was a POW, so were hundreds, maybe thousands of other vets, but he came back to a "pretty" bankroll.  Many vets, POWS, came back with nothing!  For God's sake, he has 13+ houses, 8+ vehicles, He's had health care since he was born, His 5 yrs as a POW is sad, we applaud his survival, but how has he "survived" in our "America"?  Has he rode the bus for 5 years?  Has he foresaken his medications because he has to feed his children and grandchildren?  Has he written a "bad" check, just to buy bread, butter, milk and a pound of processed cheese so his children didn't go to school hungry?  He is not in touch.  Yeah, Oprah is a Multi-millionaire, but she busted her butt to get there...so, she supports a candidate?  Good for her...Everyone talks morals?...Obama...one wife, one house, two beautiful children, hardwork, great education, gave back to his community, speaks his mind, supports his position, etc etc....Yeah Obama and Mrs. Obama have $$ but they worked hard, had their heads on straight, and realize who's who in America.  Mrs. Obama has always looked beautiful and regal...yet, her attire doesn't exude wealth, extravagance, or elitism.  She has said she loves the GAP....what does Cindy McCain do, wear a $300,000 dress to the GOP convention....Yeah, she "understands" me....Heck, I can't even afford the GAP, but a $ 60.00 dress looks 100x's better than the $300,000.00 one!!!

OBAMA/BIDEN '08/'12

I can't wait until I see First Lady Michelle Obama's White House Christmas!!!

McCain has never been able to pull any kind of crowd. Plus, his fake campaign suspension is the reason so few people watched the first debate. Doggone it, they thought the debate was cancelled.

Betcha 7 million more people watched the VP debate just to see Palin fall on her face. She managed to make good use of her journalistic skills.

Crash some other day.

BROKAW LIKE T BALL MATTHEWS AND BULL MADDOW SUPRESS THE FACT OBAMA HAD A LONG RELATIONSHIP WITH TERROSIST AYERS, IT WLL BE BROUGHT OUT DESPITE THE FACT THE ABOVE SUPPORTS TERROSISM, IF YOU PROMOTE OBAMA.

THIS RACE IS OVER BECAUSE SARAH IS GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT AND I CANT BELIEVE AMERICA WILL SUPPORT A FRIEND OF A TERROSIST OVER A WAR HERO.

IT AMAZES ME HOW LOW JOURNALISTS WILL GO WHEN IT COULD DESTROY OUR COUNTRY

Sorry MSNBC, I was just watching CNN and the "Ask Gerri" segment had "Freddie" from Florida ask the question about whether or not the Fed cutting rates would have an impact on his credit card.  Gerri replied and said the truth that this rate cut was for the financial institutions and not "for you."  A few seconds later while trying to continue the segment she appeared to tear up and had hold off speaking further.  

It was so real and genuine to this rediculous crisis.

I'm surprised that no one called out McCain for talking down to the African American who posed the first question from the audience.  He looked him right in the eye and said "Well you've probably never heard of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac...."  What a racist comment!

Out of the 63 million I know I am definately voting for THAT ONE!!!!!

...And 63 million people all agreed that McCain looked like a creepy old man.

http://myspace.com/bodysugaringlexingtonsc             YOu have to hear this!!!!!!

The bigger crowd for the VP debate was due to so many people wanting to see if Sarah Palin could walk and chew gum at the same time... given her pathetic performance with Gibson and Couric, it was a valid question.

I'm not sure that the question was answered, either, but she does seem able to stand and snark at the sme time... but not much more.

In the end, Obama’s unparalleled ground game will be the difference in the battleground states. Please read my views on the Obama rally in Indianapolis yesterday at:

http://democratictribune.com/obamaownsindiana.html

THE NEXT DEBATE SHOULD BE INTERESTING, NOT BORING LIKE THIS ONE.  OBAMA SAYS FOR MCCAIN TO SAY IT TO HIS FACE ABOUT AYERS=IM SURE THE OLD HERO WILL KNOCK HIM BACK TO DIAPERS.  HE WILL HAVE TO CANCEL HIS PLANS TO RENOVTE THE BOWLING ALLEY.  IS AYERS A BOWLER, IM SURE ALL HIS FRIENDS WILL COME OVER, ESPECIALLY THE MAN THAT THREW HIS POLITICAL PARTY AT HIS HOME.  MORNING JOE SAYS ITS NOT IMPORTANT=IS HE DOING DRUGS.

Yes 63 million watched it..but the amazing thing is that 62 million people simutaniously fell asleep during that debete!

Great article on what McCain means when he talks about idolizing Teddy Roosevelt (I don't think the majority of Americans know about Teddy's policies):

"John McCain idolizes Theodore Roosevelt.  Let's set aaside the reality that Roosevelt was an imperialist who wrote:

Nations that expand and nations that do not expand may both ultimately go down, but the one leaves heirs and a glorious memory, and the other leaves neither.

Instead, I'd like to focus on John McCain's view of democracy and our Constitution.  It is documented fact that, acting without presidential or congressional authority, Roosevelt issued orders for the invasion of the Philippines two months before the U.S. Congress declared war on Spain.  I think McCain's worship of Roosevelt, and his argument about Pakistan, need a lot more scrutiny.

The conventional historical wisdom is that the Spanish-American War (1898) was fought to enforce the Monroe Doctrine of U.S. hegemony in the Western Hemisphere.  Specifically, most histories say, the war was fought to evict the Spanish Empire from Cuba.  In fact, as John Costello exhaustively documents in The Pacific War, Cuba was merely the sideshow.  The Spanish-American War was fought to seize the Philippines as a forward base from which the U.S. Navy could enforce and protect U.S. business interests in China.

What even conventional historians agree upon, however, is that the Spanish-American War opened when Admiral George Dewey spoke the fateful words, "You may fire when ready, Mr. Gridley," and began the assault on Manila.  (In the same battle, Dewey uttered the now immortal "Damn the torpedoes!  Full speed ahead!")

That assault had been ordered on February 25, 1898, not by President William McKinley, but by the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Theodore Roosevelt, acting in the absence of Secretary John Long.  Roosevelt did not even inform Long or McKinley that he had ordered Dewey to invade the Philippines until Dewey's fleet had put to sea.  In a time before radio, this all but assured that the orders would not be rescinded.  Thus, two months before Congress declared war on Spain (on April 25), without notifying his government, Theodore Roosevelt unilaterally ordered the U.S. Navy to begin the Spanish-American War.

This, apparently, is what McCain means by "Speak softly and carry a big stick."  McCain's message to voters seems to be:  Foreign policy is none of your business.

The U.S. Constitution reserves to Congress the authority to declare war, and for good reason.  The Framers recognized that war was the greatest threat to our liberties, as it endowed the president with extraordinary powers as Commander in Chief of the armed forces.  They recognized that presidents would want to exercise those powers, and in order to restrain that impulse they withheld to Congress the authority to declare war.

Their assumption was that such declarations would only occur after public debate, and thus that ultimately the American people - speaking to and through their elected representatives - would have a voice in whether and when they would go to war.  For the entire premise of our constitutional republic was that the people were the ultimate sovereign.  That's why our Constitution begins with the words "We the People."

That is the premise Barack Obama honors when he publicly states his intentions.  By doing so, he invites the American people to debate the question of whether the U.S. should strike into Pakistan to capture or kill bin Laden, if we have actionable intelligence as to bin Laden's location, and the Pakistani government is unable or unwilling to act.

John McCain, by contrast, says "I'm not going to telegraph my punches."  Presumably he means not only before he's elected, but once in office as well.  "I know what to do," McCain says.  "And I'll do it."

For far too long, the rubric of "national security" has been used as an excuse to keep secrets from the American people.  McCain's arrogant claim that "I'm not going to telegraph my punches" ought to be a red-lights-and-klaxons warning to the American people:  Foreign policy is none of your business.  I will act on my own authority, secretly, just like my hero Teddy Roosevelt did in 1898.

Thank you, but no thank you, Senator McCain.  We're not electing a dictator, despite your admission that you wish you could be one.  And your opponent isn't "telegraphing his punches."  He's honoring the core principles of American democracy."

I have never seen a debate where the GOP lied so much.... McCain and Palin are con artest's. They'll do anything to get the GOP to stay in control.

I alrady know what a lier McCain is but
I'd like to know Who and what is the real Sarah Palin?

I watched the debate for a half hour and found it was great for insomnia.  slept like a baby:)

I like "First Read", but because "First Read" is not up and running each day until 9a or after, I "Read" CNN, Politico.com, NYT, Washington Post and Huffington Post "First".  If you want to be "First Read" why are you so late in putting up the first post?  It is now Thursday, 8:50 am and nothing yet.  

Picture this altered moment in history:

McCain, Stalin, & Churchill meet for the post WWII conference. While debating the division of Europe, McCain points to Churchill and say, "well "That One" voted for...."  

Is McCain really the man we want representing our country to other nations, meeting with other national leaders, being the "leader of the free world"?  

Really?

The debate solidified any "fence sitters" and McCain is now toast.  He appeared to be the dottering old man, who is angry...angry that he's having to debate "that one".....you know, the Negro.
And while this seems silly, don't you think someone on the team would buy McCain some Crest Whitestrips for his yellowing teeth?  

All those people tuned into the VP debate to see the freak show that is Sarah Palin... for her inability to walk and chew gum at the same time... and her whacko religious beliefs:

Such as:
Palin's religious background initially was surely seen as a positive by McCain campaign vetters, who assumed that her faith would appeal to the conservative base of the party that has always been suspicious of McCain. But ever since she joined the ticket in late August, the Alaska Governor's various religious affiliations have caused headaches. First came reports that her pastor at the nondenominational Wasilla Bible Church was connected to Jews for Jesus, an organization that seeks to convert Jews to Christianity. Prominent Jewish leaders, including the co-chair of McCain's Jewish outreach effort, have since demanded to know whether Palin also believes that Jews must be converted. The Bible Church became an issue again when Katie Couric asked her about the church's promotion of a program to help gays "overcome" their homosexuality.

And finally a videotape surfaced of a 2005 service at the Wasilla Assembly of God Church, the Pentecostal church that Palin attended for most of her life. In the scene captured on video, Palin stands at the front of the sanctuary while a visiting African pastor prays that God will help her gubernatorial campaign and protect her "from every form of witchcraft." Later in the same service, the pastor complains that "Israelites" held too many prominent positions in business, a comment that has further alienated Jewish voters.

I just voted for Barack obama - absentee ballot.
Here is why i think You - Everybody...!!! -
should vote obama 08.
 We as a nation need to send a message to the world.
that we as a people support our President unanimously.
that we will support his efforts on our behalf.
and most importantly - that we as Americans are united.
i voted for obama because his intelligence is obviously head and shoulders above mccain.
obama has the intelligence and the Will to
define the Real Problems that face the american people. and i guarantee he will work hard to achieve solutions.
i think he will choose the best and brightest to work for him. we will be in Good hands with obama as president.

Mccain - he's a sorry old relic from the Cold War.
not intelligent at all.  You want him making decisions for You and this country - Please -
You are a Traitor if you vote for john mccain.
He's a proven liar - uninformed - erratically
switching from one statement to another contradicting the first and then blaming barack obama and the press.
 Please - john mccain - he's an old man, who has completely abandoned any principles he ever had- and is willing to lie cheat and steal to Win.
 Unfortunately mccains latest victory quest happens
to be for president of the united states.
He's insane with lust for power and Payback oppurtunities.
he has no friends in the republican or democratic party.  he is not a maverick.
he's an old Downer Cow wants to make a mess in a china shop (the world).
don't waste your vote - let's unite behind barack obama - a man with real vision and real ideas,
and most importantly Real solutions!!!

Ok

So 63-million people watched the (non)debate? Here's a question for you; What was the average IQ of those 63-million people? Are Americans really smart enough to be choosing their leaders? From some of the outlandish stuff circulating around the Internet about the candidates, one would think not.

As a matter of history, it used to be that only landowners could vote presumably because the outcome of the elections would have more of an impact on their lives than non-land owners. Maybe it's time we consider a National Intelligence Test in order to qualify to vote. Immigrants have to take a test to become citizens. Numerous professional jobs require a license. Getting married requires a license. Every student takes some form of standardized test prior to applying to colleges. Heck, in order to drive you have to pass a test. Why aren't we requiring voters to have at least a basic level of knowledge prior to voting?

The only reason the Biden/Palin debate had more viewers was because Palin is such a dope and people wanted to see her crash and burn. She didn't do that, but she was pure entertainment for us afterall with her unprofessional sentences (don'tcha knows) and her winks. Pleeze. There's something about having a potential president winking at me that sends chills down my spine......and NOT good ones!  Let's put the SMART guys in the White House this time rather than the Dumb and Dumber ticket of McCain/Palin.  Obama/Biden '08/'12

"but is less than the Biden-Palin VP debate, which watched by 69.9 million"
they wanted the trainwreck but got the "you betcha's" and the stupid winks instead.
We are a nation of lookie-loo's after all...

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):