I think there's some merit in demanding "say it to his face." But it is a bit theatrical.

was hearing John McCain claim that Obama had run the most negative campaign in the history of the universe...more or less.

I want some of what he's on. An alternative reality would be nice right about now.

Interesting to note that Obama didn't repudiate Lewis.

Become deeply-held principles. We are dead. Barack is not cutting through the crap. He is just trying to fight crap with crap.

AND! McCain just tried to appeal to the vaccines-cause-autism whackos. McCain in shameless, and Barack is punchless.

The biggest (BIGGEST) agency SCREAMING for reform is the DOD!!!

How would that set with Gramps?

The biggest agency (BIGGEST) agency creaming for reform is the DOD!!!

How is that going to sit with Gramps?

"We won't import oil from Venezuela. Canadian oil is ok."

Is he expexcting barrels of crude to start wearing flag lapel pins??

i'm not hearing what you are hearing.

Slow updates....

creaming - screaming... *sigh*

He did say that Lewis was wrong with the comparison to the civil right era south and did come out with a statement at the time saying that.

People need to be open to this idea and not stuck in their little bubbles.

read the transcript. He clearly said he disagreed with Lewis' comparison to Wallace.

The fact that Obama refused to call Lewis a "traitor" or a "terrorist" does not mean Obama agreed with everything Lewis said. (And BTW I happen to agree with Lewis).

I hate that McCain seems to be getting the last word in the majority of these exchanges--the debate feels to be on uneven ground in terms of talk time. McCain's definitely fighting more aggressively, for obvious reasons. Also a little disappointed in Obama's Palin response--tying the question to McCain's spending freeze--that's the best he could do?

The moderator is not good. Glad about the VP question though.

It's not coming. He's playing rope-a-dope 'til election day.

It's not entertaining, but it's risk averse and is a pretty good strategy.

McCain seems to be landing more jabs that go unchecked

Well, he can't shake his finger at McCain and say 'Listen you stupid fucking fossil...' Although it needs to happen...

They want their guy to attack the other guy. McPalin is coming off quite good on this score. Obama is giving nuanced thoughtful answers to questions. That's wrong. McPalin's every answer is "Senator Obama is a terrorist who will raise your taxes".

Am I the only American who believes nuclear power is eternal poison? Barack did not include nuclear in his list of new power inpts. Okay, I guess, but Barack did not make it an attack point against Nuclear Johnny.

Barack stuck with the American Oil fallacy. Whatever oil we take is a percentage of the global oil market. So, more oil is more imported oil. It would be easy for Barack to debunk McCain on this point, and score points. I am afraid Barack does not understand this issue.

But I still will vote for Barack. McCain definitely does not understand, and does not care. For McCain. it's just a talking point.

did not need to tell us what's wrong with Palin. She's already a joke. He would have been accused of being a bully if he had.

You're absolutely right, of course. Many times over the last debates I've wanted Obama to "go in for the kill" at various moments, but he tends to lay low and focus on policy, and that's turned out to be the much smarter long-range strategy, and a lot more respectable.

...as an "intervention"? I could've sworn he slipped in the word "intervention" a nanosecond before he said "tragedy" (or an equivalent - I haven't rewound my DVR yet).

Maybe I'm wrong.

McCain is doing pretty well. He stuck it to Obama when he point-blank said: "I'm not George Bush, so stop bringing up George Bush. If you prefer to debate George Bush, go ahead"

His feelings were hurt by what John Lewis said? Oh, please. I liked Obama's response: The American people don't care about our hurt feelings, they care about the economy.

The crowds at Sarah Palin events are clearly channeling the lynch mob mentality of the old south when people scream "kill him," "off with his head," "traitor" and other obvious hate speech. A white man even felt comfortable enough to bring a toy monkey with an Obama sticker on it to a Palin event. What does that say about the people she, as part of the McCain campaign, is attracting. And when she talks about "palling around with terrorists" she is not talking about Bill Ayers because when Americans think of terrorists in 2008, they're not thinking of some white guy in Chicago!! She's also said, "He's not like us." John Lewis need not have apologized for what he said because he spoke the absolute truth!

Bob Schieffer is a hack.

I wish someone would point out that there are different kinds of negative:

Obama's negative adds have been "attacking" McCain's policies and positions and proposals and judgement.

McCain's negative adds have been smearing Obama's character.

There's no comparison! McCain is negative, Obama is discussing the issues (and McCain's judgement is one of the issues, as would be Obama's if McCain ever addressed it).