McCain has boxed himself in for the next debate

[Quixote1818]

He now has to come out swinging not just a little bit but A LOT! If he comes out swinging a lot he runs the risk of looking desperate and angry and Obama will efficiently shot him down every time like he did in the last debate when attacks occurred. And if the attacks are not about the economy people will say "Who the fuck cares". If he attacks on Ayers, it sounds like Obama has a left hook knockout punch ready and waiting.

And worse yet! If he doesn't come out swinging that hard everyone will be disappointed they even tuned in and he will look like a soggy marshmallow. His supporters will probably kick his ass on the way out the door.

[zulchzulu]

1. McCain already lost the debate when he telescoped that he gonna kick Obama's "you-know-what"

That's punk ass shit some two-bit second-rate boxer would yelp just before he gets knocked on his ass in the first round in some tacky Vegas hotel.

Bring it, Johnny Songbird.... ya wuss.

[liberalmuse]

5. Don't mess with Obama.

He got tired of the crap he got for many years from a fellow Illinois state senator, and finally went out back, got into a body bumping match with the guy, and no one ever bothered him again. People contend Obama cooly and calmly did what he had to do--get into a slightly physical confrontation, in order to win respect with this bunch. And he sure as hell did. Of course I don't expect him to body bump McCain, but he will do what he needs to do.

[ReadTomPaine]

2. He's certainly raised the bar for himself...

Given his erratic public performances of late, that wasn't so wise. Then again, what has he handled well in the campaign so far? It's an embarrassment.

[Quixote1818]

4. I guess he had to raise the bar because he needs a big win

He can't just barely win, he needs to hype this up, win and get some real momentum going. He is probably doing the only thing he can do but it's risky and his parameters for pulling it off just right are very narrow.

[tulsakatz]

3. I just wanna know........

..if he's going to look at Obama!!

I don't expect it will be much different from the other 2 debates but I think he will be under a lot of pressure to score a few points!

But then again he said he thought he did pretty well in the first debate.....until everyone else told he didn't!

[Quixote1818]

8. How about when he got up and said "How much will the fines be!!!"

Remember that one on Healthcare? He looked like such a loser there. He was trying to look tough and land a blow and it came off as trite and poorly delivered.

[Stagecoach]

6. The problem McCain has

is I'm not sure how many people are actually going to sit down and watch this debate. It's not like there's been a dead-split between the 2 through the first 2 presidential and 1 vice-presidential debate. If that had been the case I think more people would plan on watching this final debate. So, I'm thinking the people that are going to watch this debate for McCain are the people that are planning on voting for him anyway to see if he can do any better compared to the first 2 debates. So, even if he does plan on going after Obama hard, I believe it's going to have little impact for him.

[Quixote1818]

12. I was thinking the same thing

I bet this debate gets 1/2 the viewers as the first two.

[Stagecoach]

19. Yup

If this was like the baseball playoffs and they were tied 1-1 and this was to break the tie, then I could see a ratings-driver. However, I don't know why, but I really believe just 3 weeks out, at least 90% of the electorate has already made up their minds, up substantially from just 2 or 3 weeks ago.

[smoogatz]

7. What's the format going to be?

So far Obama's handled him pretty adroitly. I don't see McCain having another gear: I think the first debate was probably his best shot. If he seems too angry or aggressive or negative, the insta-poll dials fall off a cliff and the media announce that he's the loser AGAIN. If he acts conciliatory and respectful, his followers will say he wimped out. I'm guessing, since he's committed to running this delusional base campaign, that he's going to come out swinging. All Obama has to say is, "John, you're a good man and you've served your country with honor. You're too good to stoop to these cheap personal attacks. Now, can we talk about the issues?" Game, set, match.

[Quixote1818]

9. Something similar to the first debate but more on the economy I think. nt

[Stagecoach]

11. Correct

It'll be podium style like the first one. Except this one will be mostly about domestic policy (economy, Supreme Court, abortion, illegal immigration, stem cell research, etc), whereas the first one was more about foreign policy.

[huckleberry]

18. Candidates will be seated at the same table for this debate (AP)

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gZKyRzfsLRRC55-YFZY0l9-iCKUAD93P2CJ00

"The two candidates will sit at the same table for the third debate, so close that they will be able to reach out and touch each other. Schieffer hopes this will encourage more interaction."

[smoogatz]

20. Oh, man.

It's going to be all McCain can do not to ask Obama to go get him a Tab. Obama should crowd his space a little, lean in close, bump his knee under the table and make McCain either retreat with that "Oh my God it's a NEGRO" look on his face, or shrink down into his shoulder pads, scowling like your crazy uncle when the kids next door left a flaming bag of poo on his front stoop. This is going to be hilarious!

[Stagecoach]

21. Oh my

How in the world is McCain going to sit still? LOL He could't stay seated during the town hall format this past Tuesday.

[THUNDER HANDS]

10. domestic issues

ie, no foreign policy questions.

[nc4bo]

14. I thought that's what Debate #2 was supposed to be then Brokie pulled out a bunch of foreign policy

questions. I believe they were mostly Brokie's questions at that. :wtf:

ETA: I guess this means protecting our borders, terror alerts and Homeland Security Issues?

Now I'm confusing myself.

[stillcool]

22. whoops..somebody beat me to it.

[MarjorieG]

13. Although McC can talk about nothing for 10 minute allotment, emptiness will show against Obama's 10.

[Kerrytravelers]

15. And this time, he won't be able to wander around, looking for Mr. Puddles.

Skip to about 9 minutes into the October 8th edition of The Daily Show.

[dgibby]

16. Don't Tutch the But!

[volstork]

23. The but.

Don't tutch it.

[votetastic]

17. Even though McCain lost the first 2 debates..

he is still trying to raise expectations for this one.. HAHAHA.. great strategy, McCain... you forgot that you;re supposed to LOWER expectations.