09-27-2008, 07:20 AM
09-27-2008, 07:35 AM
I don't think anybody won, but everybody lost. Same old run-around by both parties.
09-27-2008, 07:45 AM
Yeah, it was horrible.
A lot of avoiding the actual question, a lot of blaming, a lot of criticizing each other
A lot of avoiding the actual question, a lot of blaming, a lot of criticizing each other
09-27-2008, 08:37 AM
I thought it was about even, with the traditional jabbing and answering a different question than Jim Lehrer asked.
"Is the race now different than it was at 9 p.m. eastern time?" asked ABC commentator George Will. "The answer I think is no. This wasn't a game changer. Both had their familiar personas. Barack Obama was the rather tweedy professor conducting a national seminar. John McCain was a rather hotter personality, the national scold."
Nice critique by Jane Hamsher at Firedoglake. *Warning, liberal thought content*
Debate wrap-up - Obama didn't hurt himself
McCain controlled the debate tonight. He came off as a brittle, grumpy, mean-spirited old coot, but on the economy -- which should have been Obama's strong suit -- McCain managed to divert the conversation to tax cuts and kept Obama off the kitchen table issues where he excels. McCain was allowed to paint himself as a crusader for reform, and no mention was made of the Keating 5 -- though Obama did manage to tie him to voting for all of Bush's budgets. (McCain's only rejoinder was to refer to himself repeatedly as "no Miss Congeniality." Huh?)
But the biggest problem for me was that McCain had a grab bag of adjectives he consistently used to characterize Obama -- "naive, inexperienced" -- and every time he repeated them, it was like money in the bank. He worked them in at every opportunity, and their cumulative effect wore into Obama as the evening went on. Obama missed the opportunity to do the same and characterize McCain as brittle, rash, impulsive and out-of-touch. His critiques were all over the place, and his failure to tie them together into a coherent narrative about McCain meant that he never really grazed the old buzzard.
The good news? Well, McCain sounded bitter and looked hunched over and mean. He wasn't likeable, and most of the Monday morning quarterbacks on my teevee seemed to agree. Obama can definitely recover in the next debate -- he didn't have any kind of a major falter. And on the plus side, I've had the feeling that up until now, Obama reallly didn't dislike the man -- not the way he did Hillary Clinton anyway. But behind Obama's superbly controlled mien tonight you could see that McCain's patronizing tone and open distortions were really pissing him off.
The anger seemed to focus Obama. His "ums" and "uhs" stopped and he delivered his points with more conviction. Even if he doesn't give it full expression, being a little hot under the collar suits him.
The idea that you can run against a Republican for national office and remain above the fray was a nice one, but it isn't realistic. Obama needs to stop agreeing with McCain and reinforcing his message. It doesn't make him look statesmanlike, it makes McCain look right.
McCain really has nowhere to go except to get more obdurate and bellicose. If Obama can get his footing in the next debate and decide on a tactic for getting under McCain's skin, the cranky old hothead won't be hard to pwn.
"Is the race now different than it was at 9 p.m. eastern time?" asked ABC commentator George Will. "The answer I think is no. This wasn't a game changer. Both had their familiar personas. Barack Obama was the rather tweedy professor conducting a national seminar. John McCain was a rather hotter personality, the national scold."
Nice critique by Jane Hamsher at Firedoglake. *Warning, liberal thought content*
Debate wrap-up - Obama didn't hurt himself
McCain controlled the debate tonight. He came off as a brittle, grumpy, mean-spirited old coot, but on the economy -- which should have been Obama's strong suit -- McCain managed to divert the conversation to tax cuts and kept Obama off the kitchen table issues where he excels. McCain was allowed to paint himself as a crusader for reform, and no mention was made of the Keating 5 -- though Obama did manage to tie him to voting for all of Bush's budgets. (McCain's only rejoinder was to refer to himself repeatedly as "no Miss Congeniality." Huh?)
But the biggest problem for me was that McCain had a grab bag of adjectives he consistently used to characterize Obama -- "naive, inexperienced" -- and every time he repeated them, it was like money in the bank. He worked them in at every opportunity, and their cumulative effect wore into Obama as the evening went on. Obama missed the opportunity to do the same and characterize McCain as brittle, rash, impulsive and out-of-touch. His critiques were all over the place, and his failure to tie them together into a coherent narrative about McCain meant that he never really grazed the old buzzard.
The good news? Well, McCain sounded bitter and looked hunched over and mean. He wasn't likeable, and most of the Monday morning quarterbacks on my teevee seemed to agree. Obama can definitely recover in the next debate -- he didn't have any kind of a major falter. And on the plus side, I've had the feeling that up until now, Obama reallly didn't dislike the man -- not the way he did Hillary Clinton anyway. But behind Obama's superbly controlled mien tonight you could see that McCain's patronizing tone and open distortions were really pissing him off.
The anger seemed to focus Obama. His "ums" and "uhs" stopped and he delivered his points with more conviction. Even if he doesn't give it full expression, being a little hot under the collar suits him.
The idea that you can run against a Republican for national office and remain above the fray was a nice one, but it isn't realistic. Obama needs to stop agreeing with McCain and reinforcing his message. It doesn't make him look statesmanlike, it makes McCain look right.
McCain really has nowhere to go except to get more obdurate and bellicose. If Obama can get his footing in the next debate and decide on a tactic for getting under McCain's skin, the cranky old hothead won't be hard to pwn.
09-27-2008, 09:38 AM
No doubt, it was a push. The first 30 minutes of it put me in a coma.
These next for years are going to be SCARY!
These next for years are going to be SCARY!
09-27-2008, 09:39 AM
I actually heard one of the pundits say that McCain had all the right answers, but wasn't likeable enough to be the President.
I would take someone who has all the answers right now.
I would take someone who has all the answers right now.
09-27-2008, 09:42 AM
I think I'm gonna make up bumper stickers that say "I put up with Bush for eight years, you can deal with Obama".
I'll make a fortune selling them to libs.
Actually, I agree with you re the next four years. The next president is gonna have to jump right in the deep end of the pool, then they'll hand him an anvil and say "good luck, start fixing things!".
I'll make a fortune selling them to libs.
Actually, I agree with you re the next four years. The next president is gonna have to jump right in the deep end of the pool, then they'll hand him an anvil and say "good luck, start fixing things!".
09-27-2008, 09:43 AM
Memphis Blazer Wrote:I actually heard one of the pundits say that McCain had all the right answers, but wasn't likeable enough to be the President.
I would take someone who has all the answers right now.
I'd settle for somebody who was right over 50% of the time, it would be a nice change.
09-27-2008, 01:59 PM
Push.
McCain wouldn't even look at Obama for some strange reason.
McCain wouldn't even look at Obama for some strange reason.
09-27-2008, 07:38 PM
I thought the debate was a tie. Which makes Obama the winner.
McCain lost on "the should we even debate" to the Palin interview. Biden keeps making mistakes but is getting better. The first debate is the most important. The ratings were low for a debate around 58 million. The next two debates I favor Obama but will have less impact. The bailout should be interesting who gets credit for it. This is why the democrats want the republican in on the bailout. There will be more twist. The numbers for new voter and the states they registered should be out by October. Most college students register and do not vote. If they vote it would be to Obama's advantage but Kerry thought he had the same advantage.
McCain lost on "the should we even debate" to the Palin interview. Biden keeps making mistakes but is getting better. The first debate is the most important. The ratings were low for a debate around 58 million. The next two debates I favor Obama but will have less impact. The bailout should be interesting who gets credit for it. This is why the democrats want the republican in on the bailout. There will be more twist. The numbers for new voter and the states they registered should be out by October. Most college students register and do not vote. If they vote it would be to Obama's advantage but Kerry thought he had the same advantage.
09-28-2008, 10:18 PM
BlazerUnit Wrote:Push.
McCain wouldn't even look at Obama for some strange reason.
Three Reasons Why McCain Didn't Look at Obama during the Debate?
1. Ashamed- This campaign has become one of the most bitter of all-times. McCain has built his entire career around being honorable and during the last 2 months his campaign is willing to say/do anything, even if it's a lie.
2. Embarrassed- McCain 2000, would have kicked McCain 2008's ***!
3. Scarred- Obama clearly has the momentum and with the economy being on the front page for the last two weeks, Obama has reaped the benefits. McCain's "suspension" of his campaign only made the situation worst.