THE SYSTOCRAT PAPERS

Fellow Systocrats:

WELCOME TO OUR LIVE COVERAGE OF THE THIRD PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE!! 

TD: Good evening, and welcome to our live coverage of the last presidential debate.  Tonight, I'll be joined in the virtual TSP studio by Paddy O and Mary J, who will provide expert political commentary as events unfold.  If you'd like to weigh in during the debate, email me at td@systocracy.com. 

Here's my take on tonight's event.  The stakes are higher than ever for John McCain.  At 72, he must be coming to terms with the fact that his last conceivable bid for the presidency now stands on the brink of failure. According to the most accurate projections available to us, if the election were held today, Senator Obama would claim over 360 electoral votes(!), and Obama is also holding a significant advantage among early voters in swing states.  McCain, ever the fighter, has vowed to "whip Obama's [ass]" tonight in order to get back into this race, but he'll need more than mere bravado to turn the tide in his direction.  The McCain campaign needs a clear, well-conceived strategy to counter Obama's gathering strength in these final weeks, which is something that's been lacking since the beginning of McCain's presidential run. 

Mary J: Well TD, it probably goes without saying that tonight's debate is important for McCain.  With his numbers declining in just about every poll, it is more important than ever that he come off as uber-confident.  If he can pull that off and look a lot less tired that he has of late, he'll provide assurance to those undecided voters that he can work well under pressure and that he'll make a fine President. 

Those same undecideds will be watching Obama as well.  Any big snafus on Obama's part are going to give credence to McCain's arguments that Obama is just a short-term superstar with no experience.  My money is on Obama who is always cool under fire, confident and smart.  That's just what America is looking for after all these years with W looking scared of his shadow.  Even among those of us who have already decided who to vote for, there's nothing like a good debate, and I think folks in my true-blue state are looking forward to tonight's event. 

Paddy O: IT'S OVER!!  Tonite is nothing but an afterthought.  If Obama loses this election he'll go down in history with the Yankees as the biggest choke jobs. 

I was trying to think of a theme for this opening but there were really too many to choose from including "STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES" for McCain, his campaign and Sarah Palin's pathetic interview answers.  His campaign, as Tom Cruise said in A Few Good Men is GALACTICALLY STUPID!!!!!  Not once have they ever even attempted to define Obama.  You don't define your opponent by he's liberal once or twice in debates.  You do it INCESSANTLY, 500,000 times on commericals, TV appearances etc.  This campaign is clearly just as bad as Gore's and Kerry's.  Gore foolishly ran away from Clinton, Kerry ran a cowardly campaign by refusing to address the negative perceptions of him and McCain quite simply it seems has no plan; it's been FUBAR since he won the nomination.  It certainly has been non-confrontational.  Sure he's lobBed a few attacks the last week  - BIG FRIGGEN DEAL!!  He's let softball after softball pass without any mention.  He should have been running Ayers commericals when there were 7-8 primaries left in the Dem nomination process AFTER Obama had the nomination locked up.  He should have been SCREAMING that he's the most liberal member of the Senate from day one.  He should have had Tony Rezko ads running non-stop in Ohio, PA and Mich.  He hasn't once brought up the clings to guns and religion remark, he hasn't once brought up the fact Obama broke his word on campaign funding.  He hasn't once mentioned Barney Frank's and several Dems defense of Fannie/Freddie.  He hasn't once brought up the fact that Obama's tax plan mirrors Clinton's and Clinton RAISED taxes.  He hasn't once brought up Rev. Wright.  He hasn't once brought up Chris Dodd's KICKBACK from Fannie/Freddie in a below market home loan. 

Quite frankly, his campaign, is two things, PATHETIC and for lack of a better word, has sucked and therefore, Obama will be the next President, McCain will forever be a footnote to history and regardless of who his handlers are McCain will have nobody to blame but himself for failing to display the intestinal fortitude to confront his opponent on a plethora of areas where his opponent was weak.  As Robert Plant said, "Nobody's fault but mine/It's nobody's fault but mine/Try to save my soul tonight/Oh, it's nobody's fault but mine."

TD: And we're off!!  Bob is reminding me of Bob Barker (the Price is Right) with that tie.  Another awkward embrace at the middle of the stage to start the debate. 

TSP fashion consultant Mucho joins us in the studio: What's with all the striped ties??????  Are ugly striped ties a requirement for this event? 

TD: McCain just told Obama that it's good to be with him again. Could this be a kinder, gentler McCain? 

Paddy O: McCain.....YAAAAWWWWWWWWWNNNNNN.  How can he mention Fannie/Freddie and NOT mention Barney Frank and Christopher "kickback" Dodd?

Mary J: I'm going to have to second Paddy O in his sentiments about McCain being weak.  He says "friend" a lot (not so far in this debate) and is just too nice.  He started out the first debate by telling us that Teddy Kennedy is in the hospital again.  Tonight he starts off saying Nancy Reagan is in the hospital.  We get it, John, you are a nice guy.  I get that but let's see something beyond a nice guy.  Get a pair!!!

Special guest Chris J joins us in the studio:  This is the last chance for shakes McCain to act like he's got a plan.  I hope Scheffer has his goalie gear on, because these two will be all over the place, again.  Yeah Bob...hitting them right from the start.  We want something else for dinner tonight, not the same old reheated crap.

Special guest Dave L joins us in the studio: I'd like to say a few things about Paddy O's opening.  It is too bad for McCain that he ran a more honest campaign then the Republicans would have liked but I think it speaks about his "maverick" personality.  He even bucks their regular MO of lying to and scaring the general public.  The Ayers issue is actually a non-issue and the "most liberal" rating was from the National Journal for 2007.  He was 10th and 16th the previous 2 years.

We should help out those folks who may loose their houses but we have to make sure this price correction to the housing market is maintained.  We can't let the bubble get that big again or this will happen all over again.

Paddy O: McCain bringing up the plumber is a good idea.

Mary J: I like that Obama ended the first question by talking about the long term financial issues that we face as a nation.  More short term solutions are going to help for just the short term and sink us farther behind as a nation if we don't focus on the bigger picture too.  I haven't seen McCain give more than a nod to the long term. 

Chris J: Is "Joe" real?  Does this mythological "Joe" know how to read and understand tax proposals?  Why the hearsay?

Dave L: I wonder if either of them actually knows anything about the other guy's plans.  Or if they just believe their own rhetoric. 

Paddy O: Another example of McCain not responding correctly.  YES, Oil companies are making a fortune . . . but he needs to tell everyone that their profit margins re: percentage over cost is one of the smallest of any industry. 

This tit for tat re: Joe the Plumber is the best exchange in the 3 debates.

Chris J: Wow . . . so Obama is now labeled as a tax-raising socialist.  Now is the time for Barack to bring up the failure of trickle-down theory. 

Special guest Luke-O joins us in the studio: McCain, Obama just explained how Joe the plumber's tax will not go up.  How does claiming a second time that Joe is going to get taxed make it true?  Are we following the Sarah Palin strategy that merely by repeating something makes it true?

Dave L: McCain doesn't want to raise taxes!!  The national debt is beyond belief and every American owes $2000-$10,000 in national debt (depending on who's numbers you believe). 

Chris J: Great point about responsibility, but unfortunately, American isn't all about responsibility.  If we were, we would not object to higher taxes during a time of war.  Sacrifice shouldn't be on some, it should be on all, if the cause is just. 

TD: So far, I'm hearing the same old, same old from McCain.  A few minutes ago, the tired point about unreasonably high corporate taxes that Obama addressed two debates ago - corporate taxes are high ON PAPER in this country but there are so many loopholes that they are effectively among the lowest corporate tax rates in the world.  The same tired points about raising taxes, etc. 

Re: Obama's comment a few minutes ago, not sure a "pay-go" policy is going to be possible with the huge deficit and economic recession we'll be dealing with over the next few years.

Mary J: Obama's answers so far are going to appeal to folks who are desperate in this economy.  A lot of folks are asking, "how did we get to this point?" and are rethinking the big picture.  He keeps hitting home the points about the bigger picture.  Nice.  Offshore drilling, McCain, is not only a far off solution but just a Band-Aid to help Exxon Mobil.  As a country we are headed nowhere but away from an oil-based economy and McCain/Palin won't acknowledge that. 

Paddy O: Would it kill either of these guys to come up with an original statement we haven't heard in these first two debates?  It's an abomination the lack of thought they put into these things.

TD: Agreed, Paddy, but status quo means victory for Obama.  So far, though, this has been a a repeat of the first two debates, I agree.

Chris J: The planetarium projector line is almost as tired looking as the bags under the hobgoblin's (Cindy's) reconstructed eyes.

Luke O:  Obama, McCain, answer the question of what you will cut or put off as a result of the 700 billion dollar bailout. 

McCain, most of our oil comes from North America, not the Middle East. 

Obama, good point that earmarks are only 1/2 of 1% of the overall budget.  John, do you understand the big picture?  Getting rid of pork barrel spending isnt going to do squat.  What are you going to cut? 

Paddy O: Well done by Obama on the earmarks.  They're small, they suck, we'll fix it, let's move on.  However, if McCain had a campaign staff he would know the exact figure because I bet 1/2 of 1% of the US budget is a BOATLOAD of money. 

Mucho: I feel violated.  I don't want McCain anywhere NEAR me with either a hatchet or a scalpel, that's just a nasty mental picture.  By the way . . . what was the question he was supposed to answer?  Did he ever get to it? 

Mary J: Nice comment by McCain that he's not George Bush.  Not a nice comment that he can balance the budget in 4 years.  It's what he has to say but it's not believable at all.  Clinton had projected surpluses in 8 years and I just don't belive in 4 years they can do it.  If they were a king, maybe, but as a President who executes the laws rather than creates them?  No.  It cannot be done while America fails to weigh in on the Congressional races as much as they do in the Presidential race. 

Chris J: I love it when Barack calls McCain on his lies.  One question - what is gollum writing while Barack speaks?

Paddy O: Obama is a great counterpuncher.  Anytime McCain thinks he scores points, Obama hits him right back.

Chris J: All those words to describe McCain (erratic, etc) were absolutely true.

Dave L: I agree, I think Obama will hold all Americans responsible or at least hold them to a higher standard.  Especially if he can hold Congress to a higher standard.  He always talks about the poor people pulling themselves up.  I think that is important, the gov't clearly isn't going to help anyone but themselves. 

Chris J: What an egomaniac.  The campaign turned dirty when Barack Obama decided not to give McCain exactly what he wanted (town hall debates), how childish.

TD: Agreed.  The way McCain is trying to accuse Obama of running a dirty campaign is a laughable gambit that the voters will definitely see through.

Luke O: Poor McCain.  He felt he needed to follow Bush in the years leading up to the election, despite the fact that he disagreed with him.  Now
McCain is trying to prove that he is a maverick.  He was a maverick, in
some regards, and he may continue to be so, but having sucked up to Bush
the past two years does not give his claim a lot of merit.

Paddy O: FINALLY, McCain brings up Obama's lie regarding financing the campaign...too little--too late for McCain.  It should have been his FIRST commercial. 

Obama's avoiding this question better than Palin avoided questions. 

Mary J: Nice.  “I don’t mind being attacked for the next three weeks.”  Good answers by Obama.  I understand that McCain’s handlers told him to be tougher but he’s coming off as a whiny sore loser.  And I liked this guy a couple of years ago.

Mucho:  . . . and the other shoe is on it's way down. Obama is coming across as a calm cool collected individual and John is erratic, interrupting, and making faces when he is faced with challenges from the left.  And with perfect timing, here comes the question regarding "taking he high road" and the "say it to my face!" demand we all heard in 3rd grade.

It's like mediating a grade school fight between two bullies. "you didn't say you were sorry and now I hate you!" (roughly translated) and the rebuttal "look, you started it and I wanna talk about what were supposed to be talking about. Important stuff like how right I am and what an old out of touch tool you are" (again, I may have lost a few key points in translation, but hey I figure it's good enough for government work).

Dave L: Ugh, get over the ads.  They all lie, we know it, we don't believe a word of it!

Chris J: Obama didn't talk about why he abandoned the campaign finance pledge, that's something that I'd like to hear answered.

Wow..McCain is pissed.  He's moving his mouth without speaking.  He looks crazy.  Oh my.  He just said that he's proud of the people who come to his rallies...holy sh*t.
 

Paddy O: Obama is baiting him to bring up Ayers, baiting him.

TD: Obama's telling the country about Ayers.  Good deal, especially when McCain said he didn't care about Ayers after making him the "centerpiece of his campaign," as Obama stated.  Now he's distancing himself from ACORN.

Luke O: The first two debates seemed closer.  In this one, McCain is showing
how he cannot answer a follow-up question.  McCain is getting killed on
the issues.  This like a jousting match between Winnie-the-Pooh, and Sir
Galahad.  John, show that you can think on your feet!

Chris J: 35 minutes in and Ayers and ACORN are brought up.  Ridiculous.  No issues to be found, only tidbits that matter to the lunatic fringe

Dave L: The facts about these topics are easily available all over the Internet, why are we wasting our time on it? 

I am glad to hear about who Obama does associate with.  How can we know MORE about him?  I have never seen any candidate more vetted. 

Chris J: Is Barack dropping his "g"'s to pander to the working class?  No need for that.

TD: Awwwwww sh*t - here come the running mate questions.  I hope Bob asks McCain whether Palin is qualified. 

Luke O: McCain is going down in flames.  If he can't have his major issue be
anything other than Obama's loose past connections to Ayers, etc., he is
in major trouble.  McCain, you need to win on the issues, not the
bogus, lame attacks.

Bob, good question about the relative merits of the respective VPs.  A
legitimate question given McCain's age.  (Holy scary-ness if Palin were
to inhabit the Oval Office.  Yikes!)

Paddy O: McCain can't win this VP question....at least he's making an attempt.

TD: He did all that he could with that question.  He's lucky Bob didn't ask HIM whether Palin is qualified.  I wish McCain had been questioned about Palin's lousy interview answers . . .

Chris J: Of course she understands special needs families, she's about as smart.

Special guest Dennis H joins us in the studio: Okay, this is getting boring...
if this were a boxing match, the ref would have stopped it.
McCain seems battered and unable to defend himself.
McCain keeps repeating about not raising taxes like a punch-drunk
boxer.

TD: Yeah, he's starting to remind me of his little protege, just randomly spewing talking points regardless of context . . .

Chris J: That question was the perfect opportunity for Barack to say, "no, she is not capable of being President, she would be catastrophically dangerous to the safety and sovereignty of the United States".

TD: Yeah, but O doesn't need to go negative.  Her approval rating is so low and her disapproval rating so high, he doesn't need to go there.