OK, so I took some notes while watching the debate.
I think Bob Schieffer did an excellent job as moderator. He asked great questions, he pulled up the candidates when he thought they were dodging the questions and he let the candidates go at it a bit. He only had to tell the candidates their time was up a few times. I thought he did a really great job. This was the best debate of the lot.
I knew McCain would bring up Joe the plumber. But I think it was a mistake on his part because it gave Obama an opportunity to explain why his tax plan will benefit small businesses and he did that very well. But wouldn't you know it, McCain then brought up the idea of wealth redistribution and tried to link Obama to staunch socialism. I don't think he was very successful in doing so. Btw, did McCain mouth BS when Obama said "nobody likes taxes"? lol. I think this first section of the debate about the economy and taxes really outlined a fundamental difference between Obama and McCain. McCain is more sympathetic to the business owner and the corporate leader whereas Obama is more sympathetic to the working man. McCain is more sympathetic to Joe the plumber now who has enough money to start up a business of his own, whereas Obama is more sympathetic to Joe the plumber 10 years ago when he was working hard trying to make the money to one day fulfil the "American dream".
One of the best debate questions was "say it to their face". Schieffer challenged the candidates to say what they have been saying in their campaign ads to their opponent's face. Neither really rose to the challenge which was disappointing. McCain bought up the George Wallace comparison made by John Lewis and boy, talk about fake choke-ups. A lot of Republicans accused Joe Biden of faking to choke up when he talked about the accident in which his wife and daughter died. Which was shameful on their part. But I think maybe now they'll know what a real fake choke-up looks like after seeing John McCain in this debate. He was playing the victim saying how unfair it was that John Lewis compared him to George Wallace and that "everyone is picking on me". But it gave Obama an oppurtunity to explain why John Lewis made that comparison and brought up the fact that at McCain rallies people have been screaming out very hateful things like "Arab", "terrorist", "kill him", "Obama bin Laden" etc. But unlike McCain, Obama doesn't let these things get to him. Another fundamental difference between Obama and McCain. Obama has the ability to remain calm, cool and collected. McCain is a loose cannon.
I think Obama finally put to rest the Ayers issue. Republicans will keep badgering on about it. But at least now those independent and undecided voters know that Ayers has nothing to do with Obama now and when they did have something to do with each-other, Ayers was a professor not a terrorist. He hadn't been engaged in that sort of activity for years and years. They worked on an education reform committee that a lot of respected people from both sides of the aisle were a part of. There's nothing alarming about the Obama-Ayers connection. Obama made an excellent point in saying that "it says more about your campaign than it does about me".
When talking about their running mates, McCain almost endorsed Obama when he said something to the nature of "it's time for a breath of fresh air in Washington". He was talking about Sarah Palin but it's the same thing that's been said about Obama. I'm sure when most people heard McCain say that they thought of Obama because that the kind of language that's been used to describe Obama so many times before.
When Schieffer bought up the issue of health care, McCain's heart must've sunk into his stomach. Because that's his weak point and it is Obama's strong point. He must've known he was about to get owned and owned he was. I literally laughed out loud when McCain asked Obama what the fine would be for small business who failed to supply their employees with health insurance. Obama looked into the camera and said "Joe the plumber, here's your fine... ZERO!" LMAO @ the look on John McCain's face. OWNED!
All in all, it was a very good debate. Best out of the lot. Obama totally owned McCain. McCain looked like a desperate, pathetic, washed-up old man slinging mud at Obama hoping something would stick. Nothing stuck. Obama wiped it away with ease. Obama appeared so poised and in control. Kind of like a President. I think this final debate made it real clear who is ready to be President.
lol