9:17  Wait, am I hearing things?  That almost sounded like a follow-up!  (Eli)

9:16  McCain dares to talk about the history of housing crises and financial implications? Keating baby  (egr)

9:16  A shared "ethic of responsibility." Good line.  (Attackerman)

9:16  McCain talking about the Depression… possibly from personal experience.  (Eli)

9:15  Spencer — Joe the Plumber was interviewed later by Neil Cavuto & accused Obama of "socialism." That’s what McCain is trying to tap into. It’s bizarre — he’s clearly taking advice from, well, Confederate Yankee-caliber intellects.  (Thers)

9:14  Obama saying that his administration will recoup the $750 billion bailout money.  Wish I could believe that…  (Eli)

9:13  Taxes, taxes, taxes. . . cuts for millionaires posing as main street mom and pop shops.  Is that John McCain or Barry Goldwater?  (Pach)

9:13  Yo! Obama! What about McCain’s plan to increase taxes on health care? Missed opportunity.  (ew)

9:13  The GOP operative who saw Joe the Plumber on Reddit this morning and fed it to McCain right now is drinking a quart of Drano right now  (Thers)

9:11  You’d think McCain’s people would have told him he’s losing partly because people (1) don’t like his attitude and (2) don’t believe him — but he’s already smirking away as his misrepresents Obama’s position.  And it shows.  This is why he’s losing.  (Scarecrow)

9:11  McCain plays the class card in a straw man argument over taxes.  Why does he always look like he’s pinching off a big one when he smiles? (Jane)

9:11  "class warfare" from McCain  (Teddy)

9:11  Should we spread the wealth around?  (WT)

9:11  Obama wants Joe The Plumber to give him all his money to spread around… presumably to Lazy Poor People.  (Eli)

9:09  This Joe the plumber guy McCain is referencing is on YouTube — was interviewed by Fox later. Dude’s taxes will go up like $600 on an income of 250-300K. (Thers)

9:08   McCain gets absolutely lost in his own "Wurtzelberger" story. An opportunity to personalize his economic plan up in smoke. (Attackerman)

9:08  Angry McCain, with direct Obama eye contact!  Wo0T!  It’s Crazy Codger Nite!  (Pach)

9:08  McCain tries to play the "American dream" card for some schmoe in Ohio.  Wonder if Cindy can get that guy a personal cell phone tower, too?  (Christy)

9:08  "It’s da plumbah.  I’ve come to make McCain look connected to the little people."  (Eli)

9:07  You’d've thought McCain’s team would’ve given him a sound bite about the middle class. I can’t believe they let Obama mention them (us) first. Geez, does anyone really think Senator Anheuser really knows Joe the plumber?  (Julia)

9:06  It’s called "rigor mortis", Spencer.  (WT)

9:06 McCain didn’t look at Obama when he said "Good to see you again." (Julia)

9:05 McCain’s face looks oddly distended — like a squirrel with a cheekful of walnut Skoal (Thers)

9:05 Anyone else think McCain’s eyebrows look frozen? (Attackerman)

9:04  Another strobe effect tie.  BRILLIANT!  (WT)

9:04  McCain blaming the collapse on Fannie and Freddie.  Again.  (Eli)

9:03  McCain opens with the Eddie Haskell card, wishing Nancy Reagan well and telling Obama how glad he is to see him again.  (Eli)

9:02  Bob wants the candidates to tell us stuff we haven’t already heard.  Hooray!  (Eli)

8:59  Tweety to Olbermann: Good bye, colleague. WTF?  (Thers)

Well, here we are.  The final debate.  John McCain is 0-for-2; 0-for-3 if you count the veep debate, which I most certainly do.  I don’t see him breaking his losing streak unless Obama totally flubs the Ayers question that EW predicts Schieffer will ask.

I’m hoping that if Ayers does come up, that Obama is aggressive enough to get in a double shot on McCain, hitting him both on his friendship with (and abetting of) Charles Keating, and on the dishonorable recklessness of his smear campaign.  Something like this, perhaps.  And if something that beautiful does come to pass, I hope that it’s early enough in the debate that Mac spends the next 85 minutes fuming about it… if he doesn’t melt down on the spot.

Four things do work in McCain’s favor:

1) Low expectations.  The first debate was largely foreign policy, which is supposed to be his best subject, and the second debate was a town hall, which is supposed to be his best format.  This one’s on domestic policy, and he’s already admitted he’s an econ ignoramus.  So as long as he doesn’t answer any questions with "humunahumunahumuna" he can at least call it a draw.

2) Because he’s not on his subject matter home turf, he’s less likely to go to the patronizing "What Obama doesn’t understand" routine.

3) He’s got nothing to lose.  Expect him to fling a lot of poo in hopes that some of it sticks, or cracks Obama’s composure.

4) Excellent debate prep (see video).