Senator Obama, "Do you want victory in Iraq? Who was responsible for 9/11?"

"I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction." – Obama 'The Audacity Of Hope'

Take the gloves off? So juvenile...It reminds me of junior high.

Sometimes i wonder if politicians believe that the population is stupid.

With the ongoing financial crisis i'm pretty sure many americans are looking for solutions not for macho bravado....I think that americans are fed up with the kind of talk Bush has been feeding them in the last 8 years.
If not they will be graced with Palin and ,if God forbid ,McCain dies they will discover that stupidity has no bounderies....

To all you kool-aid-drinking, right-winged, see no evil, hear no evil, nuts...and...speak no evil. Nuts get your way.......Because I don't want the blame for the bad economy and world situation. Blamed on Barack Obama........mccain/palin, if you want to take the so-called gloves off. be my guest.......I will get under my table..put my head between my legs....and kiss my a$$ goodbye.......Just don't blame us LIBERALS .............................

I have a question that I would like your opinion on. When Osbama Bin Lodin said that Alquada would strike America from the belly of the eagle do you think he meant that he would try to infiltrate our Government from the inside. Or if they are trying to somehow with this election?

Ok I will be sitting in Manama in the Kingdom of Bahrain. It will be 4AM in the morning here when the debate starts, but I will not miss this for anything. I have followed the election from day one. Even though I am not an American, I am very much interested to see how tonight will turnout.

I have to admit that from day one I said if Obama wins against Hillary he will win the election against McCain by 8 to 10 percentage points.

I truly hope this debate will be about substance. About how each one will approach the different topics like economy, health care, illegal imigration etc.

Obviously one has had to expect that things will get ugly, but Obama does not need to get down on the level. Should he be able to focus on the topics and give semi detailed answers then I am certain Mc Cain will lose this debate and you will see 48 hours from now the polls showing 50+ for Obama and 42- for Mc Cain.

See you in 6 hours online and on TV :-)

I'm living in a small town in central Texas. Where many believe that Barack is a Muslim because of his last name, that the Mexican Food Restaurant is a mosque because it has domes (owner is from Iran), and where many of these 'born again Christians' freely use the 'n-word' when referring to Barack.

What do Republicans and Car Bombers have in common? When faced with defeat they blow everybody up, including themselves.

Gloves or no gloves, John McCain is history. He doesn't have any fresh ideas or solutions to the ills of this economy or for that matter anything to change the war mongering policies of the Republican administration. All he can do is more of the same. With the poll numbers going down with each passing day, desperation has taken hold and hence you see all smears and shrills coming from his stupid VP pick directed at Obama. Republicans, you have destroyed this economy, people are tired of you all. Get ready to pack up and leave.

how far john maccain is on the opion polls?

I hope the Americans have realized that they are to be blamed for the financial situation as much as President Bush and his failed policies, because they elected him even though they knew he would be very unpopular.

I hope and pray that this mistake will be corrected on the 4th of November. Obama has the ability to restore the image of America with the rest of the world and would not embark on a war that would cost Americans 10 generations payback!

Steve,
You are a complete idiot, one of those extremely ignorant conservatives who is probably still clinging to the myth that Barack Obama is a Muslim. Who was responsible for 9/11? That's a question that John McCain certainly doesn't know the answer to. The real frontlines of the war on terror are in Afghanistan. That is just one of the reasons why every day, thousands of people are leaving you and your radical conservative beliefs behind, and voting for the better presidential candidate.
BARACK OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Plenty of responses, but all any democrat or republican can do is point the finger at the other party like they had nothing to do with the way the government is functioning. T

We wish Senator Obama good luck. We are sure that in tonight’s debate against McCain he will demonstrate again his intellectual strength over the senile, tired, narrow minded opponent McCain, who should look after his grand children instead of harassing the world with his shabby polemics, demagogy and empty phraseology. Neither he nor his running mate Palin live by their own professed ethos. McCain is not qualified to be president, and in picking Palin he shows that he has little respect for the presidency.

Most of the European people are convinced that McCain’s only aim is to continue Bush’s destructive politics which has ruined the US economy and caused inconceivable sufferings in many countries.

It would be a pity if American people voted for a politics of destruction instead of progress and high human endeavour – such as PEACE. It would be a pity if American people opted for stagnation, economic ruin and backwardness.

Numerous polls conducted in many European countries revealed a majority of almost 90% who appreciates and supports Obama's politics. The rest of the world needs to regain confidence in a great country such as the US.
We hope that God will deliver America from the evil and the harm that Bush has inflicted not only upon America but also upon other countries.

I marvel & am completely flabbergasted at the fact that even when its clear mccain started the Rovarian style attacks, after stating he would'nt ascribe to such antics, forcing(not willingly) obama to respond...

then coupled by the fact that many voting obama, have repeatedly demanded for obama to start punching back these negative portrayal's by mccain's campaign.

most americans' can't still succintly see the better candidate who's showing true character, true resolve, ready to listen to americans' and drive the policies that most have dear to heart

This last 8 years made me loose faith in america, if obama doesn't win this election, count me out as one of those who once loved the USofA

- Kalu, Abuja-Nigeria

With all the problems currently facing the country, there is a huge financial burden placed on the US if it were to continue the war in Iraq. The results seems to be the mortgage crash, the market crash as well as the bank crash. Assuming that there are no more crashes, what will the next president that will effectively plug up the wound?

Realizing that without plugging up the wound, all of his plans for change would really amount to nothing. No money, no change = lame duck president.

Here's a question: Why does everyone put any stock in what the general populace thinks about anything? Granted, polls can be useful in seeing who might win an election and polls can also give a picture of what the general public might think on a given issue. However, government should not be conducted based on public opinion.

The men and women in Washington, flawed as they are, are elected to represent their constituency to the best of their abilities and to act in what they perceive as the best interests of the nation. A trend I have noticed developing in the last decade or so is the overwhelming importance given to polls. They only thing I can say is that I have vastly more respect for the politician who does what he thinks is right despite public opinion (even if he might be wrong) than the one who simply does what the polls tell him.

scott andrew
don't be so naive dilatory tactics will not help you cynics! I know you think an Alqaeda attack will disqualify obama but your dumbness is a shame. Think twice- think well!

Tuesday night might be the turning point for maverick mcCain but he will ultimately crash if the keating affair is mistakenly brought up into the limelight. Let him remove the gloves and reveal himself

America, as it's well known, is at the heart of the world's stability. As it is now, we are in dire need of a man with the most stable of minds to stabilise this most unstable situation of our present day. A change for the better is what we cringe for. Yes! a change towards stabilised fanacial rates, a change towards stabilised intenational policies, a change towards stabilised lifestyles.

May the man who completely comprehends these copmlexities win! THE WORLD ENDURETH THESE NAIL-BITING MOMENTS!

jonathan am in Accra Ghana and i will be watchin the debate watched the last two,mcsame is done he has nothin new 2 offer done stickin 2 scare tactics Obama wins this hands down

how come journalists never ask,senator if you win who will fulfil the most senior positions in your administration? secretary of state ,defence,reserve bank --and so on. Y will be watching from france at 3 AM wednesday

Lets see what they both have to offer and Scott Andrew? Stop making assumptions make surgery from a psycho terrorist's (usama bin laden) words and on his silly scary tactics that have paralysed and brought the great american economy to a standstill. Seems like americans will never move on or have a life when his name pops up.

i want someone who can win the iraq war and McCain is the right person

I've followed this election for nigh on a year now, from the first debates back in November 07. I've seen the ebbing and flowing, toing and froing. I've read some enlightening media reports and blogs, as well as some dumbfoundingly dim ones.
I have seen comment, thought and discourse that has given me hope that the American public are taking htis seriously and realise the implications of a serious debate and vote, and will vote with heads filled with facts.
Unfortunately I've seen as much comment, slander and poo-throwing that has drained much hope of large sectors looking beyond the colour of a man's skin, false allegations based on how a name sounds, or the lives of others related to them. Fear-mongering, and playing to the most backward denominators.

These debates are oasis of information about the condidates, their attitude, ideas and vision, nestled in a desert of negative public campaigning and media nonsense.

What chance of the debate touching onto issues other than Iraq and Wall Street? How about immigration, healthcare, education, outsourcing, human rights, environment, global responsibility and foreign relations with allies as well as enemies?

(From Belgium.) As with the two previous debates, I will be following the live debate on television. I have been following US elections ever since Bush Jr. won in 2000. The '08 campaign has been a long a tiresome journey, with some climaxes. Seeing McCain taking off the gloves in this debate could be one of them - for better or worse. In my opinion, Obama has tried to use less smear tactics, while the Republican team seems to have lower standards. I highly doubt that most people will view these more aggressive tactics is a sign of strength.

PS – further to my comment above – I'm from the UK, and about to embark on a degree in American Studies in 2009 – hence my interest as a foreigner.

I am tired of paying so much taxes. With Obama is going to get much worse. I do not think it is "patriotic" to still more money from people who spent half of their life in college. I am tired of supporting people who do not want to get job.

Good luck come Nov. 4th, the whole world are waiting for the choosen one. Barack Hussain Obama and proud. '08.

Vis a vis taxes:

If I remember correctly, Obama has stated that taxes will not go above those levels seen under Bill Clinton, a period during which Democratic policy (albeit with relative fiscal conservativism) the economy thrived, and as a result personal prosperity was at a very high level. Artificially low taxes can in fact stifle the personal economy and under Bush this seems to have been the case, as people splashed the cash they *THOUGHT* they had spare with more on tab, on transient luxuries. A more level and flat rate of tax can serve to keep some of this under control which is good for the economy over-all.

Not to mention the fact it resulted in a surplus which has not only been squandered under Bush but reversed into the biggest money-pit in history. It may hurt but taxes returning to Clinton levels are probably what the USA *NEEDS* to move forward for both the nation and the individual.

I agree with Veronica. The USA used to inspire other countries and other people. May Obama win and bring back that inspiration.

It appears McCain has a good idea with the concept of buying up 'bad mortgages' and renegotiating with home-owners at the lower value of the property.
However, the distraction of money going elsewhere on things like foreign energy are pointless without a long term sustainable alternative to liquid carbon fuels brought to the table. Drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico, and in the oil sand of Alaska are not long term sustainables.

McCain needs to get away from the politics of quick-fix and hope for the best.

Obama seems to be a man with a plan for the near term, hand in hand with a long-term vision.

It's time for McCain to stand by his pledge to fight a clean campaign. He needs to stick to the issues and why he would be a better President, not throw mud by tying his opponent to an old radical he barely knows. Instead of trying to distract us from the mess that our economy is in, he needs to tell us how he can help fix it. If he believes that the war in Iraq was the right thing to do, explain why and how he will get our soldiers home. If he has answers for this economic mess, let me hear them. It would certainly be fair for him to bring up Obama's relative lack of experience but he has to let us know how his long experience inside Washington has actually led him to have better judgement, because, in the end if your experience has not resulted in the development of good judgement than you should not be President.

Thank God Obama won hands down in the 2nd debate!

The erratic doddering candidate whose ailments may propel Palin into the Presidency failed pitifully.

Now McCain's 'barbie-doll' drink & drug ingesting wife is getting into the picture, claiming Obama is using "dirty smear tactics"! Has she heard her husband & his 'terrorist name-calling' 'running mate' on the news & ads? Geez! She must really be in a haze!

AMERICANS WAKE UP:

It is unfortnuate that Mc Cain is pitched against Obama in these debates. i mean almost everyone piched against Obama is bound to fail. what Americans forget is that OBAMA is a lawyer and a Professor and with these credentials who can be more eloquent thanj Obama. Obama will win every debate against McCain and i dare to say any person that has less credentials.

McCain is linked to Bush, but he is Bush's VP or Cabinet member? the econmic crisis is a world-wide problem and not just an American generated one.... is Iceland in America or are the Asian and European countries part od America? Guaranted we are in a global village but Americans wake up and have a second look at the map of the world..

S.

I am an ardent follower of the US presidential debates since 2000; and have only missed a few of the debates since then. Yesterday, I stayed awake till 4am UK time to listen to the debates. Like always, I found it very fascinating...I truly respect the American style of politics!
Overall, I thought Obama was impressive in his responses. And one thing that I particularly liked was the prompt way in which Obama responded to all false allegations and smears from McCain.

CIndy McCain … How do you support and love your son and other men and women like him by funding an unnecessary and unjustifiable war? You, along with your husband and Palin all send chills up my spine.

NO MORE WAR!

Obama wants to turn this country into a better place and a leader for peace!

You don't get it either Cindy ... do you ...

Who is running the country as the President of USA now? George W Bush.

Dont you think handing over the presidency to Obama in 4 weeks is millions time better than that?

First of all, most of the democrats voted FOR invading Iraq too.
Secondly, Obama has had only 173 days at most working in the senate, does that qualify to run the country?
Thirdly, Obama hasn't answered one staight question with a straight answer. He's like a programed robot repeating the same thing over and over.
Fourth, the media hasn't forced him to answer the people's questions.
Lastly, he's handsome, wears clothes well, black, and talks a sweet dream, after all that's what's always got the vote in the US.
Just remember all the swooning,,when you get the reality check.
Beware of what you ask for,,cause you just might get it!

I am surprised that senator john Mcain and the American people have allowed this ridiculous soap opera to go on for far too long. in my opinion the race would have been a no-contest a long time ago if the mcain people had not listened to the media and their ‘experts’, and had focussed on the most important issue a lot of people have overlooked. if the mcain people had focussed on character vis a viz Senator Obama, I bet he would have been exposed a long time ago for the fraud that he is.
Character goes to the heart of everything, be it the dire economic situation, terrorism, patriotism et al. The problem on wall street is a result of the deficiency in character of the major players in wall street and Washington..Obama in my opinion is a sitting duck when it comes to issues on character. he has a busload of indiscretions that are already in the public domain. They can be used to good effect to put the benefit of doubt in the mind of voters. i am not referring to incoherent personal attacks but a more articulate and sustained discourse on his bad judgement in the past that could cost the American people dearly if elected president.

One such indiscretion is his association with that radical pastor of his. This is a relationship that dates back many years. For his pastor to have uttered such nonsense after the attacks of September 11 it must follow that he harbours such resentment towards America. that statement must not be treated in isolation as a moment of passion or madness by the pastor, because it goes into the core of his mindset and belief. By my understanding, that statement is not a recent one. It was made a long time ago even before obama thought of running for president. This goes to the heart of Obama’s judgement. I am at a loss as to why he did not denounce the pastor then ( if he did not share such a belief ) when it was not politically expedient to do so?? why denounce the pastor now when it is politically expedient to do so?? Obama cannot tell me that he was not 1) aware of the pastors comments 2) aware of the pastors beliefs 3) aware of the pastors political leanings?? This is a Pastor he respects and a church he regularly attended.
The logical thing was to severe ties with the pastor if he didn’t share the pastors toxic views long before it was politically expedient to do so. How many close friends, associates and relatives is Obama going to severe ties with because they hurt his inordinate ambition to become the first black president, how many? There is an old adage that says, show me who your friends and acquaintances are and I will show you who you truly are! Americans, dont be fooled by Obama, the media and his campaign people, that his actions are just mere indiscretions. THEY ARE NOT! They go to the heart of who he truly his. He is an opportunist, a calculating and dangerous person, who will deny past associations that hurt his inordinate ambition to make history
As human beings, we are all entitled to a few indiscretions in life. to suggest that someone can be squeaky clean is ludicrous. the point however, is that as a human being one must acknowledge those indiscretions and make peace with them long before they become a burden to ones ambitions in life. My point being, i wont have had any problem with Obama if he had long distanced himself from his Pastor, before it became a burden to his blind ambition not to do so. Is Obama suggesting that if he were not running for President, he would not have found his pastors comment offensive? what does that say of him as a person? he worshipped in a church for so long with his family, was aware of his pastors comments and political leanings..he agreed by association with those leanings and comments to further his political career and just suddenly drops it like a hot potatoe when it presents itself has a stumbling block to his aspiration. Are any of you aware of what is referred to as guilty by association? Obama is not only disloyal to his pastor and church members, he is also an opportunist that will readily deny links with anything or anyone in his past, that constitute a stumbling block to his blind ambition.
? The only way the democrats and their supporters can win the forthcoming us election is to deflect objective criticism of Obamas character by accusing observers like us of being red necks. My question to you all is simple. Are all the accusations against Obama fact or fiction? Did he know and have relations with Rezko, Ayers, ACORN, wright & co or not? When did he deny those relationships and severe ties with them, was it a long time ago or more recently? Why did he severe ties with the aforementioned group, was it because a) they hurt his political ambition or b) he honestly wanted to, ambition or not?

unlike most people, I have not let my emotions get the best of me because of the prospect of Obama being the 1st black president in US history. I had rather settle for a competent person with a track record., A stable person who wont deny existing ties at a whim because they hurt is inordinate ambition.

why can't we stop the pharmicitcal companies from advertising??