Post Debate Thread

Here is the Times transcript.

Mark Halperin is kind to John McCain.

Byron York has interesting background.

I thought Obama's ongoing attempt to run out the clock was successful.

MORE:  The Captain on a couple of Obama's whoppers we can't believe in.

Comments

[Thomas Collins]

Yes, Obama did a good job of running out the clock during the debate. But the final buzzer hasn't sounded. Obama had better hope that the "blame the GOP for the financial tsunami" mantra sticks in voters' minds for the next two weeks. His campaign has stalled. In addition, although I doubt that the polls are way off, it is quite possible that 1.5% or 2% of the electorate is not telling pollsters the truth because they know that the "politically correct" choice in this election is Obama. We still may get our first leftist, subordinate the US to the UN POTUS, but, unlike that Irish bookie, I am not paying off bets on Obama yet.

LUN

[Fisher]

**** Biden trashes Joe The Plumber ****

Questions whether or not he is a real plumber... looks like Obama may have really stepped in it this time. It will be interesting to see how McCain campaign uses this. They should hit this thing long and hard.

For the last 20 days it should be all about taxes, taxes, taxes, taxes and .... taxes!!!

If they were searching for a theme, they aren't going to get anything better than this.

[Jim Hu]

I also wonder if voters on the right are associating the polls with their disgust with the MSM and are refusing to answer more this year than previously. That might explain the oversampling of Dems.

Or not.

[hit and run]

Well early voting started here in NC today and the local paper said it's safe to say that Obama is winning.

There basis for this clam? Because 10 people out of 200 were wearing an Obama tshirt or button, to none for McCain.

Well, I guess that's it. It's all over folks.

[clarice]

TC three says ago the great Jay Cost said on Real Clear Politics that the Gallup pollsters have no good model for likely voters and are operating largely on O hype--the suggestion is that they really aren't doing their jobs,

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/horseraceblog/2008/10/on_gallups_two_likely_voter_mo.html>How likely?

[clarice]

Were the others wearing plumbers' gear?

[clarice]

Anyway, hit, doesn't NC have rules about not wearing campaign stuff into the polling area? Almost everywhere does.

[centralcal]

Diarist at RedState relays a conversation his boss had with an Obama pollster.

Very interesting and enlightening about where they really think they are (approx tied) and what they are most concerned about (Palinmania).

LUN

[Pofarmer]

and what they are most concerned about (Palinmania).

Which explains the media trying to tone down the Palin rallies.

She's effective.

[hit and run]

Interesting Clarice, I'll have to go look.

[Pofarmer]

Just reading a little of the fact checking from last night. Ya know, it's one thing for a politician to stretch the facts. But, Obama is OUTRIGHT LYING in way too many instances. Like saying McCain has run 100% negative ads when the O has spent more money than at any time in history on them. Like saying he doubled charter schools in Illinios when he did no such thing. Like saying the oil companies have got a perfectly good 68 million acres to drill on. Or saying that the U.S. only has 3% of the worlds reserves when they won't even let us EXPLORE ANWAR or the outer continental shelf. Politicians can exagerate and stretch, but this outright lying is just too much. And Biden did it too. Man I wish this would get some press.

[hit and run]

You can wear candidate gear to your heart's delight here in NC.

Foud an article in same paper that says I can wear my Biden blazer or my Palin red pants. I thnk I will wear both.

[mcg]

Joe the Plumber is prime... time.

[centralcal]

A New Poll:

"Cindy McCain’s oatmeal-butterscotch recipe received 54 percent of the readers’ vote, to 44 percent for Michelle Obama’s (bitter, clingy, arugula) shortbread cookies, Family Circle magazine announced this afternoon. Bill Clinton, who submitted his oatmeal cookie recipe before Hillary Clinton dropped out, received 2 percent of the vote.
The cookie contest between the potential first spouses has correctly predicted the presidential winner in every election since 1992, the magazine says:

2004, Laura Bush’s oatmeal chocolate chunks beat Teresa Heinz Kerry’s pumpkin spice cookies.

2000, Laura Bush’s Texas governor’s mansion cowboy cookies defeated Tipper Gore’s gingersnaps.

1996, Hillary Clinton’s oatmeal chocolate chips bested Elizabeth Dole’s pecan rolls.

And in 1992, Hillary Clinton’s oatmeal chocolate chips also defeated Barbara Bush’s classic chocolate chips."

h/t Hillbuzz

[clarice]

Well, I expect that Family Circle has never had a contest where one of the candidates was black. I doubt the demographics are reflective of the voting population but that is interesting news.

As for Joe the Plumber, I live blogged the debate for AT and as soon as I heard McCain raise him, I knew he had a theme for the rest of the election..

[kim]

Maybe Joe'll get his taxes refigured out of it, mcg. That would be nice. I warned you that they'll trash him. This is a culture war. It's not right against left, it's good against evil.
=====================================

[Fisher]

**** MORNING POLLS NO LONGER MOURNING POLLS ****

A quick average of the daily tracking polls now show Obama below 5 points (4.85) for the first time in several weeks. Still waiting for IBD/TIPP later today.

[PeterUK]

Does anyone know how much Obama has spent on his campaign to date,compared to,say building a school or a hospital?

[PeterUK]

"This is a culture war. It's not right against left, it's good against evil.".

Same thing.

[Thomas Collins]

I think they'll come to the same conclusion with Joe the Plumber as they did with Sarah the Huntress, kim, namely, that it is better to ignore him. If Biden's comments reflect the Obama strategy, however, it will benefit McCain. Persuadable voters are likely to conclude that the Dems are trashing hardworking folks who want to improve themselves. I can't believe the Obama campaign is that stupid, however, and I suspect we won't hear any more snide references from Joe the Pontificator about Joe the Plumber.

Of course, if the Obama strategy is to ignore Joe the Plumber, MSM will get the drift and cooperate.

[jean]

Joe must make the Brooks and Buckleys of the word want to hurl.He states conservative views better than they do,and not only did he not go to the right college,horror apon horror he may not have even gone to college.I don't think joe will get a lot of back up from the east-coast crowd

[centralcal]

It is the media that will try to destroy Joe the Plumber -- they have already started -- and Politico seems to be leading the pack.

A sure sign that Joe is a "threat" to their guy.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

I posted this in the other thread before I saw this new one.

______________

To me, a small business is approx. under 50 employees, but in listening to Obama last night, he seems to see only two classes, those he considers to be the majority of small businesses who he claims make under $250,000 (which I question) and those over which he then lumps in with major corporations. So, for instance, the dry cleaners my d-i-l manages that has 43 employees spread over 3 stores and makes more than $250,000 but not by much, is looked at the same as, say, General Motors, Microsoft, General Electric, etc. Did the rest of you come away with that impression?

I think the reference was to who can afford to pay health care costs, but it works for taxes too.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

What's the score here? Joe, a $1700 tax lien; Charlie Rangel, $75,000 in arrears and who knows how much penalties?

[RichatUF]

kim-
I warned you that they'll trash him.

They already are. Over at Politico they've got flagged up he's registered Republican, therefore a McCain campaign plant. They are also claiming he isn't "licensed". I'm pretty sure if he has teenaged kids their traffic violations will be breaking stories. I'm thinking Joe the Plumber is going to be "The Worst Person in the World" today.

Wonder if in Middle America, people not overly concerned with politics, are noticing how this guy is being treated by Dems and the media (but I repeat myself) just by asking Obama a question? Wonder if they are thinking they could be next?

[Charlie (Colorado)]

Here's my favorite post of the day: why Joe Biden doesn't know many plumbers in his neighborhood.

[clarice]

http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZDMxYjNmMzBiNDAyYWM0Y2JiZjdjZGVjNGZkNGVhNTM=>Kill Joe

[centralcal]

Gallup Daily:

Today's results show Obama with a two-point advantage over McCain using this likely voter model, 49% to 47%, this is within the poll's margin of error. --

[SmogMonster (an English lurker)]

Hello all. It's early Thursday evening here, and after watching the recorded debate on C-span (completely sober), my impression was that Obama spent about twice as much time talking as McCain. That may be an auditory illusion due to Senator Obama being such a bore, but has anyone done a breakdown of how much time each candidate took up? I could time it myself, but that would mean having to watch the whole thing all over again, twice. Maybe at the weekend, if the video is still there.

If the asymmetry was real, it may even have helped McCain. Senator Government is reputed to be an orator, but I thought he was rattling on endlessly in a monotone, and would have done so for the full 90 minutes if unchecked. McCain's seemingly brief contributions (which made Obama impatient to talk some more), sounded simpler and more telling. I admit to a conservative bias, but we can hope uncommitted viewers may have found McCain's remarks easier to pay attention to, in contrast to Barry's lecturing. I only wish Senator McCain had stifled one or two yawns during these ramblings instead of pretending to take notes.

Our own Neil Kinnock was often called a 'windbag' much to his detriment, but he had nothing on this guy. Without wishing to interfere in your fascinating politics, I feel more could be made of the windbaghood Obama seems to share with Castro and other socialist luminaries. It's a nice simple label that may stick to a politician who can't help himself. Apparently the Illinois Senator is buying 30-minute TV slots in which to favour the nation with yet more of his eloquence - no doubt a foreshadowing of the 4-hour daily speeches that would become a feature of life under an Obama regime.

Great blog, by the way. JoM is a credit to its owner and (nearly) all who participate.

[MayBee]

Yeah, now even Obama is saying "How many plumbers do you know that make a quarter million dollars a year?"

Do not ask Obama a question on a public street when he comes to your neighborhood. They will go after you and your reputation like they've done with Stanley Kurtz, David Freddoso, Jerome Corsi, Ryan Lizza, Hull, Ryan, Bill Clinton, Geraldine Ferraro, and Alice Palmer.

Alan Keyes was lucky he was too ridiculous to be smeared.

[PaulL]

The really important thing in this election is a three-letter word: JOBS.

In a non-liberal world, this would be a bigger deal than potatoE.

LUN

[bio mom]

This all sounds humorous until you realize that Joe the plumber is simply a citizen, not a candidate for anything. So it is very, very wrong for him to be harassed by the press. JOe has the right to ask Obama questions, to support a Republican, or to do whatever he wants regarding who he votes for and what he speaks out about. If he did or didn't make a tax mistake, let his dog poop on the neighbor's lawn, or rip up his latest New York Times editorial page, that is his right. So what!! He is not a public figure in the legal sense of that word and therefore he could sue them if they start on him. He should immediately tell the media to get lost and then go about his business.

[Jim Ryan]

Greetings, Smog.

Multi-hour speeches by O? Thanks. You've put me off my pie.

[Jane]

Welcome Smogmonster.

[centralcal]

Greetings, SmogMonster. Thanks for your very interesting perspective.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

SM, stop lurking, that was very good and very telling. There have been several people who suggested Obama was trying to "run out the clock", but I think you're right: he isn't a clear thinker, is making it all up every time, and has learned to bullshit and bluster to appear eloquent.

"And ev'ry one will say,
As you walk your mystic way,
"If this young man expresses himself in terms too deep for me,
Why, what a very singularly deep young man
this deep young man must be!"

(Patience is required.)

[Pofarmer]

no doubt a foreshadowing of the 4-hour daily speeches that would become a feature of life under an Obama regime.

LOL

I think Obama idolizes Chavez, we know Ayers does. Not sure about Castro.

[SmogMonster (an English lurker)]

Thanks for the welcome, and please pardon the length of that comment. I am evidently a windbag too.

[Jim Ryan]

I am evidently a windbag too.

Bullocks! Stuff and nonsense!

[Pofarmer]

Yeah, now even Obama is saying "How many plumbers do you know that make a quarter million dollars a year?"

IIRC, he was talking about buying his bosses plumbing company, not just being a plumber. However, that not withstanding, there are plenty of small 3-5 man contractors that have been over 100k net easily in the last boom. I have a BIL that's a finish carpenter that, on his own, will probably net over 80k this year. These people may not be educated, but they aren't dumb. Obama and Biden need to sit down and shut up about this or Sarah Palin will tie it around their neck and strangle them with it. It's not about absolutes, it's not about envy, it's about equity. Everybody gets a chance.

[RichatUF]

Smogmonster-

I am evidently a windbag too.

It's how I got my start posting here. And Welcome.

[PeterUK]

It's about time the liberal left realised it is Joe the Plumber who can leave their toilets to back up.What a shower of pathetic Marxists that doesn't recognise the proletariat when they see it.

[MayBee]

Can we be sure that Joe the Plumber is not the father of Trig Palin?

[centralcal]

Hey, MayBee, don't let Sully hear you.

[MayBee]

In an interview Joe gave yesterday, he said he wasn't concerned only about small businesses, but anybody making money.
He is just really against the idea of punishing people that have been successful by taking their money and re-distributing it.

I think it's pretty unseemly for Obama to appear to be arguing with a private citizen.

[ben]

http://www.gallup.com/poll/111124/Gallup-Daily-Likely-Voters-Traditional.aspx

[ben]

The trend lines on the above poll are pretty interesting.

[Elliott]

SmogMonster,

Glad you decided to stop lurking. Perhaps you have hit on the reason Obama selected Biden, compared to whom he shows almost commendable brevity.

[hrtshpdbox]

"Can we be sure that Joe the Plumber is not the father of Trig Palin?"

lol, great line.

[ROA]

SmogMonster: Our Neil Kinnock (Joe Biden)was also a windbag.

[ROA]

was sb. is

[MayBee]

Hey, MayBee, don't let Sully hear you.

Are you kidding?
I want someone in Ohio to email it to him as an insider tip.
The tipster can say they met at a hockey game in 2007 when she was visiting Track just across the border in Michigan.

[Extraneus]

From what I've heard of his more recent comments, Joe the Plumber thinks that progressive taxation is inherently unfair, and he seems to be a flat-taxer. He doesn't seem as if he'll be easily cowed into submission, either.

If he gets really po'd, I bet he challenges Obama to a debate on taxes. Heh.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

These people may not be educated, but they aren't dumb.

I have a cousin who had a low draft number and joined the Coast Guard instead of waiting to be drafted during Vietnam. He had just graduated from high school, where he was a straight A student. He scored the highest score ever scored at the time on the CG entry tests and had his choice of almost any field he wanted to pursue.

He chose training in the Coast Guard as a diesel mechanic and found out that he was not only really good at the job, but loved it too, even though he got grease under his fingernails. He'd been a real car buff since childhood and had restored two antique cars by the time he got out of h.s.

When he got out of the CG, he went to work for one of the big national trucking companies as a diesel mechanic and after about 12 years establishing his reputation, he decided to open his own business. He has the reputation in the diesel industry of being one of the best of the best and he is often flying off all over the world to do emergency repairs. Fishing boats stranded out to sea off Alaska, trucks broken down somewhere in Middle America, diesel generators in the world's hinterlands of Africa, the Middle East, or South America.

He built his business from the ground up and now has several employees and because he is so specialized and considered the best, he gets lots of business and does very well.

It was his choice not to go to college, but to do what he loves. Anyone who would equate smarts/brains with education level is the dummy. Some people are mechanical geniuses, some are artistic geniuses, some are academic geniuses. Some are business geniuses.

Oh and did I mention he holds 23 patents on various inventions.

[J Verner]

Hey Hit and Run. You still got my email? If so, drop me a line, I got a question for ya.

[ben]

"I think Obama idolizes Chavez, we know Ayers does. Not sure about Castro."

Well, Obama idolizes Chavez, and Chavez idolizes Castro. Ergo.....

[SukieTawdry]

Ezra Klein: John McCain's Anger Problem

John McCain has an anger problem. But not the one many political observers presumed he'd have. He has not lost his temper at a questioner, blown up at a reporter, or exploded during a debate. Rather than a swift detonation, he has settled into a slow burn. He seethes. His debate performances have been shot through with contempt and resentment. The first meeting saw McCain unable to meet Barack Obama's eye, or begin a sentence without first attaching, "what Senator Obama doesn't understand." The second saw him tumble into a Grandpa Simpson moment, smirking wildly at the camera and referring to Obama as "that one." Last night's meeting, however, was McCain's worst: The seated setting led to split-screen coverage, and McCain's face was alive with fury. He grimaced and smirked and sighed. He rolled his eyes and bulged his neck and shook his head. What he said aloud was not nearly so damaging as what his expressions silently betrayed. And so he lost.

Granted, I didn't have my eyes on the tv screen all that much, but I have to ask, were we watching the same debate?

LUN

[Jane]

The democrat underground has an entire thread dedicated to smearing Joe the Plumber.

I tell ya, these democrats are something else.

(Typepad doesn't like the LUN - you can find it at Hot Air)

[ben]

Stock market up 2%, McCain within 2 in Gallup poll....might still jump off tall building, but with parachute.

[SukieTawdry]

And then there's David Brooks: He's not the John McCain I knew.

LUN

[ben]

The question is why shouldn't McCain be angry. He is behind a guy he should be burying by 20 points if experience, record, accomplishments etc. had any bearing. He is in danger of losing to someone who wants to raise taxes and surrender in Iraq, whose associates are crooks, anti-American doctrinaires, and terrorist bombers. I'd be kind of pissed off too. In fact, I am pissed off.

[Ranger]

The trend lines on the above poll are pretty interesting.

Posted by: ben | October 16, 2008 at 02:44 PM

Yes it is, especially when you realize that even in the "traditional" turn out model, they have still tweeked the turnout to 60%, as opposed to 50-55% turnout, which they cite as historic. In the other poll they have upped the turnout model to 66%. Does anyone really think there is going to be a 15% increase in voter turn out this time around?

[J Verner]

Anybody know a little about FARC? I know that hard left thinktanks support them (CIP and IPS)--and imply that they're not really narco-terrorists supported by Fidel and Chavez--just regular old freedom fighters!LOL

I've heard the junk about the Columbian government threatening union organizers before--but who is exactly making the charge, and who exactly are these so called union organizers? Are they in reality thugish marxists who are getting money and arms from Chavez, and trying to get into power in much the way the left has done in Ven. and Bolivia? Hmmm.

Let's see what's up there.

[SukieTawdry]

The entire Charlie Rose show can be accessed at LUN.

[MayBee]

Ezra Klein sees what TownHouse tells him he sees.
Earlier this week, he saw criticizing Acorn to be racist. Shockingly, he found Matthew Yglesis and Media Matters to back him up on that.

You may be surprised to hear that Ezra has previously written about McCain being 'erratic'.

[Extraneus]

I get the feeling that some of these "Republican" pundits would be disappointed in a McCain victory a this point. They've already started positioning themselves as reasonable righties, willing to attack their own side to curry favor with their new MSM masters (McCain deserves this). Peggy Noonan's slow descent is a good case in point.

[PeterUK]

"He is in danger of losing to someone who wants to raise taxes and surrender in Iraq, whose associates are crooks, anti-American doctrinaires, and terrorist bombers."

In brief,the kind of people McCain fought a war against.

[RichatUF]

J Verner-

Anybody know a little about FARC?

A while back the Uribe government in Colombia launched a cross border raid into Ecuador to smash a FARC camp. During the raid a computer was recovered in which some "gringos" said to a FARC advisor: 1. Obama is going to be the next President of the US and is committed to talking 2. the free trade deal will get killed AT's write up.

It was a good story all around. The DEA rounded up Viktor Bout in Thailand (though I don't recall his extradition status) attempting to buy surface to air missles for FARC. The Colombian's also got a good line on some of FARC's long term hostages, including Bentacourt and 3 US Northrop Grummann employees, who were eventually rescued.

The media did well in squashing the bit of Obama's supporters singing his praises to FARC.

[SukieTawdry]

Peggy Noonan's slow descent is a good case in point.

Peggy's descent began directly after 9-11 when she became a seeker of peace and understanding among nations. Also, I think she truly despises George W. Bush and has from the beginning.

[clarice]

Doesn't bother me--I adore real people and for the first time in years I'm seeing some in politics.

[ben]

RAS 50 D 46 McCain

Rueters 49D 44 McCain

Hotline 49 D 41 McCain

Gallup 49 D 47 McCain

GW 50 D 44 McCain

IBD 45D 42 McCain

This is a definite improvement, in fact almost too good, no sense peaking too quickly....Dick Morris thinks Obama peaked to early, a nice slow rise for McCain would be great.

[clarice]

Isn't Mr Bank Fraud (Chris Dodd0 palsy with all those south American commies--beginning with his old girlfriend Bianca Jagger?

[ben]

A lot of the Fox Panelists and Peggy Noonan are very tuned in to which way the wind is blowing. They don't want to be seen pining for a loser, they think it will hurt their credibility. But if McCain's numbers improve, they will get off the fence, some faster (Kristol) than others slower (Noonan, and Krauthammer who has invested his capital in Palin bashing).

[clarice]

Here's something I remembered, I know there's more and he's a leader in the group fighting the trade agreement with Colommbia--crooked and commie loving and stupid is no way to go thru life, Chris:
"Quito, Ecuador (AP) _ A top Ecuadorean official says U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd offered to investigate whether Colombia used a U.S. plane to raid a guerrilla encampment in Ecuador’s jungle – but a spokesman for Dodd denied that he said any such thing.

Security Minister Gustavo Larrea told Teleamazonas TV that Ecuador has determined Colombia does not have the technology to carry out the attack, which killed a top leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, and 24 other people this spring.

Larrea said he suspects a third party – such as “mercenaries” or “some official” from the U.S. – was involved.

He also said that during a recent meeting with Dodd, the powerful Connecticut senator offered to open an investigation to determine if a U.S. airplane was used in the
operation. "

http://connpolitics.tv/index.php/2008/06/11/ecuador-dodd-offered-to-probe-farc-raid>Like father,like son

[clarice]

I wish they'd stop that-Are we to forget that not so long ago these geniuses were certain the race would be between Hillary and Rudy?

All we want is people to keep abreast of the facts and give us their best judgment. Only dunces think these pundits know a great deal more than the average listener. Hammer is good at many things..He's very bright. Picking presidents isn't one of those things.

[J Verner]

I remember that Rich. Wonder if the Obama supporter was Ayer's son? He works for Hugo. But there are so many of them...

As for Columbia, and the abuse of trade unionists--no doubt it is still a violent place, but I could not see a single credible source from my brief stroll through google search that would indicate to me that Uribe's government is behind it. He was elected democraticly, and seems to be trying to do a good job.

Of course the democrats killed the treaty. Just look into Chris Dodd and Joe Biden's histories on Latin America. Shameful. The left had a major hardon for the Sandanistas in the 1980s, and love Cuba to this day--not that they want to talk about it--with Obama being such a "centrist" and all that.

The cartoon about Columbia and Cuba on Lucianne a couple of days back says it all.

And to me, that is one of the scariest things about Obama--what he'll do to Latin America.

We need to remember, a member of the hard left, and a friend of Hugo's almost got elected in Mexico last time. Can you just imagine what will happen if a Chavezista get into power just south of the border? But hey, looking at Obama's history, that's likely what he wants.

[ben]

"He also said that during a recent meeting with Dodd, the powerful Connecticut senator offered to open an investigation to determine if a U.S. airplane was used in the
operation. "

Yes, high priority, Marxist drug trafficking terrorists hiding out in the jungle were killed and by God let's investigate who killed them. And whose ammo it was and was it UN approved ordinance. And were the victims properly warned before they were bombed?

[clarice]

That's my point, ben. Chris denied it but we know he's a liar and a crook.

[J Verner]

If I had to pick the most worthless senator, if would be Chris Dodd hands down--even before Obama Kennedy and Clinton.

[Rickter]

More on FARC/Obama from Gateway Pundit. LUN

[Elliott]

Ace has put up a quite amusing post. The highlight for me:

Hey -- I am a living testament to the Bradley Effect. I know a lot of liberals. Here's me discussing politics in real life:

"---"

"---"

(vague nod intended to give the misperception of basic agreement)

"---"

"Where am I politically? Oh, uhhh... I guess I'm a libertarian, I guess you'd say."

Reminded me of the time a professor assumed everyone in a small class I was taking was a liberal. The assumption passed without objection.

[PDinDetroit]

The LUN here describes what President Bush did and said when the 2008 Stanley Cup Winning Detroit Red Wings were at the White House recently. At a time when Detroit is hurting, this speaks volumes of the character of our current POTUS.

I cannot imagine that Obama would ever be able to muster that much class, let alone be a real enough person to care.

I do love my Detroit Red Wings, but I will root against them if Obama gets into office. I never want to see a Red Wings Jersey given to Obama.

This is coming from a fan from the Olympia days...

[glasater]

The Next Vice-President--Senator John McCain

[Elliott]

PD, this, from the President's remarks, demands a fact check:

The Stanley Cup is the oldest trophy in professional sports. It's also very difficult to win.

The Claret Jug is older.

[Elliott]

Why is Joe's background getting more scrutiny than Obama's?

[bad]

I'll bite. What is the Claret Jug?

[centralcal]

Gotta love Drudge! He is trying to freak the liberals out.

He promoted his blurb about the Gallup poll (traditional likely voters) to giant red headline at the top of his page.

Too funny.

[centralcal]

This video is hysterical (found link at NRO).

Liberal elites move to Canada.

LUN

[Elliott]

The Claret Jug is awarded annually to the winner of the Open Championship of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrew's. It is currently held by Ireland's Padraig Harrington. At first, a belt was awarded to the champion, but, when young Tom Morris won the requisite number of consecutive titles for the the belt to became his personal property, a new trophy became necessary.

[M. Simon]

Gallup Trend Lines

[joan]

Great question, Elliott re "Why is Joe's background getting more scrutiny than Obama's?"

The Left, the media, the Dems, goodness, they must hate free enterprise -- they're envious, greedy jerks.

[Elliott]

Liberal elites move to Canada.

Hopefully they don't do their research and move to Alberta where the Tories won 65% of the vote.

[Tom Maguire]

no doubt a foreshadowing of the 4-hour daily speeches that would become a feature of life under an Obama regime.

Heh. Four hours for Barack but what about time for some spiritual uplift from Michelle?

The Joe the Plumber debate inspired a new post.

[hit and run]

SmogMonster:
It's early Thursday evening here, and after watching the recorded debate on C-span (completely sober), my impression was that Obama spent about twice as much time talking as McCain. That may be an auditory illusion due to Senator Obama being such a bore, but has anyone done a breakdown of how much time each candidate took up?

I had done this for the VP debate and wasn't going to do it for this one, but what the heck...

McCain-Obama Presidential Debate: Word Up

I didn't time the candidates but do have the word count...

Obama: 7,356
McCain: 6,642

Advantage Obama.

Plus...word clouds!

[hit and run]

J Verner:
Hey Hit and Run. You still got my email? If so, drop me a line, I got a question for ya.

email on its way...

[Syl]

Chrissy and Nora O'Donnell on Hardball are remarking on the 'faces' mccain made while Obama was talking. (Of course nothing said about the smirks of Obama while McCain spoke).

This overprotective crew makes obama look weak. He's running for president of the United States and perhaps these idiots are worried that maybe Putin will make a face at him? Oh the horrors, poor little weak wuss Obama might get his wittle feewings hurt.

Do we really want a President we have to protect like a child?

[clarice]

When Nora began she was cute and could barely read or pronounce English. She has a fall back--her husband has a couple of restaurants in town--he's a decent chef.

[SmogMonster]

I didn't time the candidates but do have the word count...

Obama: 7,356
McCain: 6,642

Thanks, Hit and Run. I'll take that as vindication, though the difference sounded bigger subjectively. I haven't timed anything yet, too busy catching up with the news & blogs while listening to Hugh Hewitt's podcasts. This is becoming an addiction.

Charlie:
Took a look at the 'Patience' link. The George Weedon pictured must be the one who co-wrote 'Diary of a Nobody'.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

I just spent the afternoon with 8 very good looking 30-something guys. The talk turned to sports (surprise!) and all of a sudden it was pandemonium when one of them informed the rest that the opening of the World Series is being pushed back to accommodate Obama's half hour of TV time he has paid for. These guys were livid.

Every one of them said that no one wants to listen to Barack drone on and on and they sure don't like him interfering with their sports.

2 of the guys have never voted before. I had a couple of blank voter registration forms, so I asked them if they would like to register and both jumped at the chance.

Then the conversation turned to Joe the Plumber, when a segment about him aired on the TV that was on low in the background and they all agreed that he was much more their kind of guy than Obama and makes more sense too.

Right after that, Fox had on the FBI agents who worked on the Ayers case and whew, the one really laid out that Ayers was a very dangerous individual when he was young and still is now. Even went so far as to say that Illinois should be looking into why Ayers is allowed to influence students as a professor. My 8 guys were just shocked, said they'd heard the name but didn't think much about it until they heard that report.

[SmogMonster]

I mean George Grossmith. Weedon was his brother.