- #31
LightbulbSun
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Mccain: DRILL! DRILL! DRILL!
Presidential Debate #3: Fireworks or Stale Bread?
- Context: News
- Thread starter Ivan Seeking
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Discussion Overview
The thread discusses the third presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain, focusing on expectations for the candidates' performances, strategies, and the tone of the debate. Participants express opinions on whether the debate will be confrontational or subdued, and they reflect on the implications of negative campaigning and public perception.
Discussion Character
- Debate/contested
- Exploratory
- Technical explanation
Main Points Raised
- Some participants speculate that McCain may become aggressive in the debate, with one suggesting he is flailing and desperate, while Obama remains composed.
- There are concerns that if McCain adopts a negative tone, it could alienate undecided voters who prefer a more dignified approach.
- Some participants recall previous debates, questioning why McCain should not use similar tactics as Hillary Clinton did against Obama in the Democratic debates.
- Others argue that McCain's negative campaigning has backfired, with polls indicating that voters perceive him as more negative than Obama.
- Several posts express skepticism about McCain's ability to connect with voters, suggesting he is out of touch with current issues.
- Participants note McCain's emotional responses during the debate, with some interpreting them as signs of weakness or instability.
- There are mentions of specific topics raised during the debate, such as associations with controversial figures like Ayers and Wright, and how they may affect public perception.
- Some participants express a belief that Obama is dominating the debate, while others remain uncertain about the overall impact on the election outcome.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants exhibit a range of opinions, with no clear consensus on the effectiveness of McCain's strategies or the overall tone of the debate. Some believe McCain is losing ground, while others suggest he may still have a chance to recover.
Contextual Notes
Participants reference various polls and public sentiments regarding negative campaigning, indicating a complex landscape of voter expectations and reactions that may influence the debate's outcome.
- #32
Astronuc
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McCain is totally wrong on nuclear. We are not going to build 45 nuclear plants right now! It is physically impossible, even if we had the cash sitting in the bank - which we don't.
There are a number of licensing submittals before the NRC. Several pressure vessels and large components are on order, but those plants may be started in the next 2 to 4 years. They will each take 5-6 years to bring on-line, and tie up people building those plants. Then we might get others started while those plants are being contructed.
The biggest problem is that we don't have enough people who have been qualified at the grade for nuclear. That's going to take some time to qualify enough people.
Recycling doesn't contribute to new energy. It just deals with the back end - and that is certainly something that needs to be worked out.
There are a number of licensing submittals before the NRC. Several pressure vessels and large components are on order, but those plants may be started in the next 2 to 4 years. They will each take 5-6 years to bring on-line, and tie up people building those plants. Then we might get others started while those plants are being contructed.
The biggest problem is that we don't have enough people who have been qualified at the grade for nuclear. That's going to take some time to qualify enough people.
Recycling doesn't contribute to new energy. It just deals with the back end - and that is certainly something that needs to be worked out.
- #33
LightbulbSun
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I laughed at the same time Obama did when Mccain brought up Obama meeting with Chavez without any preconditions.
- #34
LightbulbSun
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Mccain is talking to Joe The Plumber now.
- #35
Math Is Hard
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Is Joe the Plumber the same guy as Joe Sixpack?
- #36
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McCain seemed to do well in the beginning, but he has definitely taken a dive... uh oh, there's Joe the Plumber again... worms go negative...
Anyway, he is often coming off as grumpy and mean. And like LisaB noted, his darting eyes make him look very deceptive.
Just now he corrected McCain about good ole Joe. McCain looks stunned!
Anyway, he is often coming off as grumpy and mean. And like LisaB noted, his darting eyes make him look very deceptive.
Just now he corrected McCain about good ole Joe. McCain looks stunned!
- #37
LightbulbSun
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Mccain: Congratulations Joe, you're rich!
But I thought he was Joe The Plumber, and not Joe the billionaire?
But I thought he was Joe The Plumber, and not Joe the billionaire?
- #38
mathwonk
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which chavez was that? cesar? the grape boycott guru from the 60's?
- #39
LightbulbSun
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Does anyone else notice that Obama and Mccain are sporting ties that represent their opposition's party?
- #40
Evo
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Ha, McCain caught in a lie. He just said he wouldn't appoint a Supreme Court judge because they supported his views on overturning Roe V Wade, and it was on The View, that he stated that he would appoint a judge that supported his views on overturning Roe V Wade.
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- #41
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Uh oh, now McCain is going for his base with abortion. He already has his base.
- #42
mathwonk
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this is surreal, i am reliving the 60's watching mccain. women used to have a very tough time regarding abortions, and some of those women were my friends.
- #43
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Yeah, I think McCain really hurt himself on that one.
The womens track went highly negative. And I wonder how many people were aware of the potential for 3 SC appointments.
The womens track went highly negative. And I wonder how many people were aware of the potential for 3 SC appointments.
- #44
Astronuc
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McCain "Congratulations Joe, you're rich." Sounds a bit sarcastic.
Obama explained that small businesses are exempt from penalties on health insurance. Large companies, which can afford insurance should provide insurance.
It's interesting that McCain can sit there are proclaim - "I'll (we'll) cut spending" - followed by "I'll give you $5000 for toward your health insurance." With 47 million without health insurance would represent 20 million families or about $100 billion. And McCain wants to balance the budget?
Obama explained that small businesses are exempt from penalties on health insurance. Large companies, which can afford insurance should provide insurance.
It's interesting that McCain can sit there are proclaim - "I'll (we'll) cut spending" - followed by "I'll give you $5000 for toward your health insurance." With 47 million without health insurance would represent 20 million families or about $100 billion. And McCain wants to balance the budget?
- #45
LightbulbSun
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So now the woman's health during pregnancy is an extreme position John? What the hell is he on tonight?
- #46
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Wow! In regards to education, Obama just scored a sustained 100% with both men and women. I think that is a first in any debate.
- #47
Astronuc
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How the heck does McCain expect to give the same opportunity he had or Cindy McCain had in education?! Cindy Hensley came from a wealthy family. McCains family can't be that poor if his father was an admiral.
- #48
LightbulbSun
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Ivan Seeking said:
Agreed. This election is all Obama.
- #49
mathwonk
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this seems to be the most revealing debate yet, and by far the best moderated. i may be biased, but it seems to reveal that mccain is a scripted idiot and obama is a very flexible and articulate future leader. it is hard to imagine the undecided voter who would tilt to mccain after this debacle.
- #50
tribdog
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Does McCain think he is more buff than he really is? He looks like those guys on steroids strutting around. Can he straighten his arms?
I can't vote for someone who is not pro choice.
I can't vote for someone who is not pro choice.
- #51
NeoDevin
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Astronuc said:
McCain went to military college, which is already accessible to everyone (willing to put in the effort).
- #52
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Predictions on the reaction?
I will go with 55-45 Obama
I will go with 55-45 Obama
- #53
tribdog
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McCain's wife is hotter
- #54
NeoDevin
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tribdog said:
But clearly less intelligent since she married McCain?
- #55
Astronuc
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Obama ended on a very positive note.
I think this went something like the Kennedy-Nixon debate in 1960.
Obama wins!
I think this went something like the Kennedy-Nixon debate in 1960.
Obama wins!
- #56
mathwonk
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to me no one could go with mccain except the already committed. so 60-40? obama of course. except i thought mccain wrapped up well, and the "good job, good job" was nice.
- #57
tribdog
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I'm pretty sure McCain was talking about the education he can give his kids and Obama can give his kids, not their own education when they were kids
- #58
lisab
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McCain really blinked a lot, to the point that it was distracting. He seemed twitchy and a bit too smiley.
Obama seemed controlled as always.
Obama seemed controlled as always.
- #59
mathwonk
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well that education remark was absurd, i think only the wealthy can aspire to go to harvard, say, nowadays, as opposed to the kennedy days when there was "no highly gifted child left behind", i.e. merit scholarships that actually paid your way to harvard .
in 1960, a kid in the top 1% of SAT's, and having other top records, could go all tuition paid to harvard, whereas today a merit scholarship pays a tiny fraction of the cost.
the establishment learned the cost of actually making opportunity available to the smartest, and they concluded under nixon, that it resulted in a bunch of leftists taking control of the opportunities.
no one in power today wants to admit students to the best schools based solely on ability, as that may leave out their own children.
in 1960, a kid in the top 1% of SAT's, and having other top records, could go all tuition paid to harvard, whereas today a merit scholarship pays a tiny fraction of the cost.
the establishment learned the cost of actually making opportunity available to the smartest, and they concluded under nixon, that it resulted in a bunch of leftists taking control of the opportunities.
no one in power today wants to admit students to the best schools based solely on ability, as that may leave out their own children.
- #60
Math Jeans
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I'm not touching this one with a 40 ft pole. I don't want to get my head chopped off.