The final debate

He didn't hit hard enough.

He didn't get in his face enough.

He promised to take it to Obama and did but not often enough.

He was ok... he was good in spots... but a couple of singles here and a double there is well short of the mult-homer ballgame he needed.

If it was anything that anyone would consider to be close, Obama gets the win... and so, in my frustrated, oh so frustrated view, Obama gets the win.

I'll hold out hope that America will focus on the singles and the double and see it as potential.  I'll cling to the idea that the only poll that counts is that poll taken on election day and that poll hasn't been taken yet.  I'll not let go of the notion that character does matter and that the American people will see that Obama is not who Obama is portrayed to be and who America needs to face the challenges before us.

With a little more than 3 weeks to go before this is over, alot needs to happen and will have to happen if the candidate I hope loses is to indeed lose.

I'm hoping to see alot happen.

Comments

[Mommynator]

Rick, dear, I don't know which debate you were watching, but McCain clearly got under Obama's skin and he didn't back off. In fact, several times he went after Obama. A much better performance than I had hoped for, considering that last debacle.

Let's see if people are smart enough to figure it out.

[Leslie]

I confess I only watched a few minutes when they were talking about vouchers and charter schools and I have to say John McCain was singing my song...and in fact, I thought Obama's comments about it made for more of a municipal or state level approach (community organizerish?) rather than looking at it from the broader tent of the federal government.

Too bad I'm not on the voter's list.

[Morgan K Freeberg]

I liked "Why would you want to tax anyone in this economy?"

What he should've asked is "How come I have to answer for one or two isolated individuals at my rallies and Gov. Palin's rallies, but when your fans make up tee shirts like this, you get to say they aren't connected to your campaign and call it good? Do we need this lack of responsibility and accountability in the White House?"

Or...

"Why is it negative advertising when my ads question whether you're ready for the job, but it isn't negative advertising when your ads call me a liar?"

Or...

"You said Republicans and democrats shaped your ideas...what Republicans are those, my hardcore fringe left-wing friend?"

Before this year started, I had *no* faith at all in people who claimed to be "moderate" and "wanted to rise above partisanship". Now I have even less. McCain was nominated above other candidates (who, arguably, could've done better) because of his track record of reaching across the aisle and working with the other side. Obama was nominated because he's slick, and is not known for reaching across the aisle.

Guess where the so-called "moderate" votes are flocking.

He's still got some hope. Send out that non-moderate running mate on the stump. After all, Obama got every single syllable right the first time, no uhs, no ers, no stammering at all, until he started talking about *her*. Then it was like he got an instant labotomy. Uh, uh, uh, I think my teleprompter, er, uh, fizzled.

[tim aka The Godless Heathen]

"I'll not let go of the notion that character does matter and that the American people will see that Obama is not who Obama is portrayed to be and who America needs to face the challenges before us."

I believe this to be true Rick or else OB would be out in front by a mile by now.

Let's all keep faith in our fellow Americans, especially considering the last two elections when the worry meter was also very high, and yet...

(Now if Typepad gets my account straightened out maybe I could post about this.)

[renee]

Watching the debate on Fox, the network Obama is afraid of, and the wired independent group they interviewed afterwards, I felt one man summed it up well when he said, "Obama won the debate but I'm not voting for the best debator, I am voting for a president, and that's McCain." Several more shared that thought, that Obama was calm and collected and the better speaker but McCain had better character, judgement and plan for the economy. I thought that was an interesting observation in considering how to read the polls. "Who won the debate" may not equate to "Who I am voting for". I still have hope for my fellow Americans to pick the better man.

[Mommynator]

renee, I hope that is true.

[Antimedia]

What are you guys worried about? Just before the 2004 elections, Kerry was +12. Just before the 2000 elections, Gore was +12. Obama is half that.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/Presidential_04/il_polls.html

You've bought in to the media hype. You've fallen for the cheerleaders and lost sight of reality.

Buck it up. Vote for McCain. And take are your friends and family with you. Then sit back and watch the left implode.

[Mommynator]

I'd feel more encouraged, Antimedia, if I didn't run into people here at the hospital who, even though they are republican and know what a rotter Obama is, are still going to vote for him.

Today's excuse? Because Sarah Palin said Joe Six-Pack. I kid you not.

It's like there's a mass hypnosis going around to which only some of us are resistant.