Better than all the debates put together...

Kieron

McCain and Obama tear in to each other with some genuinely brilliant quips at the Alfred E. Smith Dinner last night...

McCain (I particularly like the Messiah jibe)...



And Obama. Russian tea room...guffaw, chortle, guffaw.



The perfect anti-dote to an intensifying feud. Nicely done gentlemen.

Typical...

Kieron

I've watched two terrible debates so I think to myself, it's about time Luke did some work. And guess what? It's the best by a long-shot. For a start it actually resembled a debate which was nice.

I won't carry on with the analysis; Luke's post below is a video laden gem. I'd agree that Obama edged it but only because, as last time, McCain did not deliver a game-changer/knockout blow/purple nurple. Obama is calm under pressure, no question.

Two things that did catch my ear though.

Look, if Obama is right, then McCain has more centre-pieces than a Royal banquet.

And, my friends, McCain has zeroed in on those all important autistic, and plumber, and autistic plumber votes!

It reminded me of this classic from the Onion.

Third time lucky...

Luke

I’m not really sure if there is any point in going out to cover this election any more (we leave on Monday, by the way!)Most of the polls already have Obama in front, following on from another disastrous week for Sarah Palin and the economy.

The final debate was in the wee hours of this morning. I say that Obama just edged it, but as always, there are two sides to every story.

Here are some key bits and pieces...

So, first blood Obama. McCain comes back with this one though on perhaps the most pertinent issue at the moment.



Obama had previously referred to McCain as a clone of Bush. Here’s his retort…



I love the way Obama starts with a list of people who probably hate him. They were also asked to speak up about just how downright dirty the whole campaign has become….



And it got fruitier (as much as it can in the sterile and contrived atmosphere of a presidential debate anyway)



Although if you believe Howard Stern, it is never really about policy anyway. These ‘stupid Americans’ features are a little overdone if you ask me.

Real politics...

Kieron

So, over the last couple of weeks as the campaign has got fiercer and the attacks more barbed, it was inevitable that the candidates would be dragged through the mud by the opposition campaign, the press and the blog-a-tron.

Obama is being linked to an organisation called ACORN who register new voters...except they register dead people apparently, and sometimes the same person 72 times. There are a number of claims against them at the moment, and Obama's campaign has given $800,000 to the group.

It goes further back to 1992 though, when Obama headed up a group called ProjectVote in Chicago. 150,000 new voters were registered and Obama was praised for his efforts. The problem is that they might have links to ACORN. Obama's Fight the Smears website has denied that he ever worked for the group but this might run for a while. McCain's already picked up on the line, and it'll pop up in the debate too I reckon.


In McCain land, he's trying hard to formulate a rival economic package ahead of next week's final debate showdown, to jump-start his faltering bid for President. And, he's promised he'll bring up Ayers... which I think is frankly stupid. It'll just give Obama the opportunity to reassure voters and make McCain look scrappy rather than assured.

A crazy article in Rolling Stone suggests that McCain is a spoilt brat and a terrible pilot is good for a laugh, but don't expect Obama to bring a copy to the debate.

One possible line of attack for the Republicans, that doesn't seem to get a mention is Obama's rise in Chicago politics. The Sunday Times did a piece on this - it suggests that Obama played the seedy game of politics to get to where he is today. There's nothing not written about before, but nicely put together.

I guess it doesn't get a mention because, playing seedy political games isn't really news is it... it's just real politics.

This is for laughs from The Times. I give you a clip from The Bugle...

Beg your pardon...

Luke

Sorry, but the last time I checked, I thought it was OK to be an Arab, did I miss a meeting? Even if Obama was a Muslim/Arab (whatever you want to say) that's OK isn't it?

They are insulting the man and every other Arab/Muslim, implying in some way that just being of Middle Eastern/African descent makes him inherently bad.

I think McCain is confusing 'Arab' with 'gigolo'.

Kieron

I wanted to throw in my two cents here. Unlike Luke, I think McCain is dealing with a difficult situation and does OK.

Look in his old weary eyes...you can just see what he's thinking; "Is this what it's become? Am I reduced to correcting a bigoted old lady on basic facts about my opponent? I thought I was running for President."

It's a reflection of how desperate and angry the hardcore red support have become over the last couple of weeks.

I feel sympathy because for the majority of his career the man has worked with both Democrats and Republicans. Whilst I'd question the term Maverick, John McCain has gone up against his party.

But, where my sympathy stops is at the fact that he's letting this grass-roots support turn nasty. The man who pledged a clean campaign back in April only has his himself to blame for having to deal with such ridiculous comments.

Celebs speak out!!

Luke

When Matt Damon isn't busy having sex with Sarah Silverman....



He's bitching about Sarah Palin...



I'm now officially over the Team America 'Maaaaaat Daaaaamon' thing, listen to how convinced he is that McCain WILL die before the end of his first term. And I'm pretty sure he's suggesting that Palin wants to Nuke dinosaurs...in case they come back. I might be stretching it though.

And when Sarah Silverman isn't having sex with Matt Damon, she's reminding us how racist Jewish people can be.



The Great Schlep was talked about in the Independent over the weekend. Made me chuckly. And, it is a very funny video if we're being honest.