Wow. Having said all that, tomorrow night should be very interesting. I can't help but feel a little empathy for both candidates (that is, if McCain shows up) because it's not like a performance in front of the room or a crowd–it's the world stage. I really have to wish them both luck even though I'm already certain of whom I am voting for.

When is CNN going to research, then list, the pay packages of the CEO's and other top officers involved. This list should cover the past three years and should include bonuses. What a story these details would make. And, dare we say it? They should have to pay some, or all, of their bonuses back. Thieves.

What a coincidences?

Back in June, Economist say the stimulus package will not improve the slow economy what so ever, but republican and their leader Bush assure as it will turn out for better. Now its ever worest that before or any one predicted. They sat on their office chair for two month, and McCain start to drop on polls, one point when McCain lost count of his own house! Two point then he went far enough Pakistan officals find US spy air craft at the moment of Marriott hotel bomb explosion last week in Islamabad, Pakistan, i'm sure McCain like it may be plan it too! And now he drop four point he excuse it saying "our nation need help and solve this economic crisis" our nation McCain need honesty and straight talk. We don't want to attack another country just for you to be elected, national secruity is a big issue but you put to much fear and dirty work. We want pease and ain't got it.

In the 2006 Mexico's presidential elections, the extreme leftist candidate, portrayed by some as the favorite, did not show up for the first debate among the candidates, that coincidently was a debate on economic issues...
That was the main reason he lost the election...
Shouldn't McCain campaign be aware of this, do they even know?...

Is there a misperception or is the Federal Reserve Bank a private bank?
It seems no one is talking about the fact that the only winner in this bail out scheme is the federal reserve bank.
Don't we pay interest to this bank for the loans the government,aka "WE", take out to fund and run the government?
Isn't it true that NEIL BUSH, George W, Bush's brother and father were implicated in the savings and loan scandal in the eighties. Why is no talking about the repeat offenders in the prisident and his cabinet members right now?
Aarn

everyone keeps talking about the issue as to how biden should handle palin- what a joke- no one is asking this woman tough questions- EVERYONE is letting her off easy. I honestly hope that Joe Biden has something to say the Palin- in fact, I hope he makes her cry. someone's got to start treating this woman like a serious candidate. Each day, i lose more and more respect for a woman who claims to be a fighter and a reformer, yet never answers a question sincerely or with any sign of conviction. In fact, if Biden does make her cry, I'd probably respect her more- because I'd finally know that there are wheels turning in that head of hers (not to say that she's uneducated), and that she's finally answering questions without trying to remember what the mccain camp has rehearsed with her. Give her hell, Joe!

I didn't know that the truth was not part of the cnn policy

Debate prep sounds suspiciously like preparing for final exams. I bet the candidates will be glad when the debate is over just like I am when finals are over. At least I don't have to do my final in front of millions of people!

Annie Kate
Birmingham AL

The "secret" of twenty questions isn't necessarily a "secret." It's something I've felt is lacking very much in this campaign; the capacity to move beyond the obvious points (Obama's young. McCain is old. Hooray.) and into different ground. The problem is that everybody really does want to know the answer to these main questions (Iraq, etc) yet once we understand the answers, somehow we feel the need to reiterate to an excruciating extent.

The fact that the candidates become aggressive when confronted with a "better" answer shouldn't surprise anyone. Politicians in general sweat it when they're off their talking points, and become extremely antagonistic if they feel their authority or gravitas or whatever is being challenged. Why should these two politicians be any different?

McCain won't show up to answer the question "What was your first clue that the economy wasn't fundamentally sound?"