http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_religious_test_clause

But I am one of those CRAZY liberals who believe in the rule of law.

Initially it seemed he gave a serious response, Warren started to chuckle at the idiotic response, and then McCain, realizing he said the wrong thing, added the "but seriously..." part.

Had Warren and the crowd not laughed would he have added that part?

If they took someone's name off the ballot, or impeached or fired them, or refused to let the winning candidate take office due to religion, that would be an unconstitutional religious test. The electorate can do whatever it feels like and doesn't have to answer for it.

I pretty much agree with your take on the evening, but I was one of those yelling at the television when McCain was talking. If someone is going to, you know, actually defeat evil I have a feeling that a doddering old warmonger isn't going to be leading the charge with what's left of our armed forces.

All the Jesus talk made me a bit uneasy too, (and the fact that Warren and his church is hostile to teh gays). Warren's comment at the beginning of the program that he believes in the separation of church and state was followed by a two hour contradiction of that statement.

Who knows if anyone lost any votes, but I have a feeling that we'll be seeing that smug grin on Pastor Rick's chubby little face for a long time to come.

Why were we listening to the religious responses from someone who has cheated many many times on at least two known wives - usually in public?

Yeah, I meant McCain.

Not that it matters much, but for a bit of trivia: McCain mentioned "Jesus" zero times and "God" once (as in "...thank God"). His responses were not really "religious responses".

2. Since Slog now commenting on Warren forum glad I mentioned it before it took place; you're all very welcome.

3. Obama didn't win this event, actually, consensus is he lost due to answers being too long, too nuanced and in some cases unprepated. See Chuck Todd at msnbc site.

4. There's this continued tendency to slightly hype Obama still. Thus we've had no discussion of how basically this thing is tied. See
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/maps/obama_vs_mccain/?map=10

5. Itneresting VP mention today in realclear -- Sam Nunn -- apparently he opposed Iraq war (twice!) and was in forefront of gays in military years ago.
Unity,

Ew. SusanUnPC agreed with me. How do I get this shit stain off?

that's complete crap. there's no consensus that obama "lost".

i.e.:
http://thepage.time.com/halperins-saddleback-forum-scorecard-grades/

stop making stuff up. thanks.

I stayed sober long enough to watch the whole thing. Obama did not blow anything -- although I thought by answering the names of SCOTUS justices they would not have named, they both demeaned themselves. I would have said "With all due respect, Reverend, each sitting justice represents one of the three equal branches of our government so I am going to respect the fact they are seated and leave it at that." That way he could have underscored the fact he does not hunger for a Super-Executive branch and show some class. That said, by naming Clarence Thomas, he was sending a message to the bumpkins that think if Obama is elected, the whole country's gonna be "overrun with uppity colored people."

In all, McCain came out best. Direct, forceful answers that smacked of red meat Conservatism which the audience clearly wanted. Obama is a rambler...he needs to tighten up for the debates.

As for the good Rev'rum, well, you know his plonker was as stiff as the True Cross when he was in the middle for that 3-way photo op...not bad PR for him, that's for sure. And I thought he did a good job, frankly. While I appreciate a thoughtful man of the cloth, I really do much prefer the ones that talk about whores of Babylon and gay-eating hurricanes.

But that's just me.

And Eli, please tell me you plan to Liveslog the debates???

If by "best" you mean "most simpleminded", then I agree.

When will this country be mature enough to have an atheist presidential candidate?

Obama talked about welfare reform, explained his old position and exactly why he held it, then explained why he now feels he was wrong.

McCain simply said "Offshore drilling" then went into his stump speech on the topic about drilling right now. No mention of how he used to feel about offshore drilling, why he opposed it, nothing.