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No knockout punches but McCain clearly was on top of his game. Osama, oops, Obama at times was visibly flustered with McCain. It was nice to the see the "celebrity candidate" falter when he is in an 'unscripted environment' In all fairness I thought Obama did well defending himself when talking about meeting with other nations "without pre-conditions". I respect the way he handled that.
I had a real problem with Obama constantly addressing McCain as "John" and not as "senator" or even "Mister" McCain always addressed him as "senator Obama"
Kye - think we watched a different debate. I'm still undecided as to who I should vote for, but my sense was that the edge went to Obama. I thought JM was a bit slow and redundant with some answers. BO was also redundant at times, but seemed to have overall a sharper grasp of the issues. JMO.
5803...the redundancy was done purposely to drive home the points that Obama is inexperienced and lacks good judgment. Remember, this debate was gunning for the Independents who are undecided.
I thought they both showed strengths [Obama - economy....McCain - Foreign policy, National Security]. I just think that McCain came across as more experienced and more confident about his past record and his future outlook.
I thought it was rude and disrespectful when Obama kept on calling Senator McCain 'John' throughout the debate.
They are both fellow senators. In the senate, respect and seniority plays a major role similar to that of the fire service. That's like a probie going up to the chief of dept and calling him by his first name instead of chief.
I thought it was rude and disrespectful when Obama kept on calling Senator McCain 'John' throughout the debate.
They are both fellow senators. In the senate, respect and seniority plays a major role similar to that of the fire service. That's like a probie going up to the chief of dept and calling him by his first name instead of chief.
5803: It's weird, this morning I re-watched portions of the debate with the talking heads in the background and in a half-hour I was convinced both of them won!! I stick by my statement last night that McCain won, but re-watch you can clearly see Obama flustered at times when he went off script. When it was a topic in his comfort zone (economy) it was like a different speaker, very smooth.
Despite my avtar, I am not a huge McCain fan. He gets my vote simply because:
a) the man is a legitimate war hero. Maybe that's naive but that works for me. He was a POW!! that means something to go through that and return home and continue to serve your country.
b) No substitute for experience
c) Slightly out of his mind (the Maverick thing)
d) Lesser of the evils.
If you listen to the media Obama was the clear winner. I disagree. The man looks and sounds fake. Everything he has done since starting this campaign has been scripted, right down to his gestures and mannerisms. To me, it is painful to watch him, whether it is during a debate or a simple speech on the campaign trail. The man came out of nowhere, has done nothing, and is suddenly a cult hero. You have to sit back in awe and amazement at how stupid the citizens of this country, and members of the media really are. I feel like it is 1992 all over again when Bill Clinton emerged on the political scene and everyone was fawning all over that asshole. I never would've thought he'd be elected so what scares me is that it's not only possible but probable that Obama will be.
How does anyone expect Obama to show John McCain any respect by addressing him properly when the man clearly has little respect for the country he lives in and is supposed to work for? McCain is a Senator and he's earned that title. To respond to what Commander said, I'm not even in the fire service and I still walk up to the Chiefs and call them "Chief."
I too would vote McCain simply because the man is a war hero and returned to further serve his country in another capacity. I too like the "Maverick" thing. I'm tired of these politicians doing everything by the book and having to act a certain way diplomatically. The hostile climate we live in now (the constant threat of terrorism) leaves no room for error and calls for strong alternative tactics and strategies. Obama lacks the judgment and experience on every front, not just foreign policy, but having him make decisions in that area may be what frightens me the most.
You are also only as good as who you have working for you. I don't trust that Obama will appoint knowledgeable and experienced people to gov't positions. He will be too busy returning favors to those who paid enough money to get his ass elected.
I thought that both candidates did quite well. To reiterate what someone said here already, I think Obama clearly won on the economy and that McCain did a great job on foreign policy. I'm a fan of Obama but one thing McCain is constantly right about is that -- while the decision to invade Iraq is relevant insofar as McCain's judgment is concerned -- we are there no matter if it was intelligent to invade or not, so Obama deal with it.
WhiskeyGirl: One thing I'd mention regarding "surrounding yourself with good people" is McCain's pick of Palin. Conservative writers are actually calling for her resignation after she bombed during the Couric interview and seems not to know very much except how to spit out talking points at awkward moments. Apparently they were doing a "practice debate" with Palin and they had to cancel it early b/c it was really ugly.
So in sum, I think McCain will get a bounce b/c he performed very well during a terrible week for him in the polls. Big performance by him, even though I thought Obama also represented himself well.
But I think the VP debates are going to be ugly because love him or hate him, Biden knows the substance of the issues. I don't think Palin really knows that much about international affairs. I know Obama is green and "inexperienced" as well, but he seems to, I don't know, read a lot more than Palin. And that's not a condescending knock on her; I just get the impression that she's a State politician who never really cared about national issues, laws, politics, international affairs, etc.
Obama was clearly disrespectful however McCain's body language said a lot about him as well. At times McCain seemed to be the cranky old man coming up against the young punk kid.. Never looked at him, only looked at the moderator.. However at least McCain allowed Obama to make his point and then made his retort.. Several times during the debate, Obama would try and cut him off.. as though he was a trigger happy cop firing back as the shots were coming his way.. He would have been better off waiting until he got in the sight first there guy..
I thought McCain had the advantage due to the fact that he was like those annoying commercials that reiterate everything over and over like a 1-800 number.. He does have the experience, the knowledge, and the wherewithall.. What shocked me was Obama saying we will take on Pakistan as well.. are u serious guy?? a nuclear power country?? then making statements and completely contradicting them in another breath..
Lastly, McCain and his foreign policy is impressive.. however getting the name of the leader of Pakistan wrong when your touting your experience not so good..
However the Democratic Senator's face was priceless after McCain's rundown of all the countries, allies, and governmental groups he's worked with.. and then musters up an "I agree".. of course! Best statement he could have made all night..
Obama was clearly disrespectful however McCain's body language said a lot about him as well. At times McCain seemed to be the cranky old man coming up against the young punk kid.. Never looked at him, only looked at the moderator.. However at least McCain allowed Obama to make his point and then made his retort.. Several times during the debate, Obama would try and cut him off.. as though he was a trigger happy cop firing back as the shots were coming his way.. He would have been better off waiting until he got in the sight first there guy..
I thought McCain had the advantage due to the fact that he was like those annoying commercials that reiterate everything over and over like a 1-800 number.. He does have the experience, the knowledge, and the wherewithall.. What shocked me was Obama saying we will take on Pakistan as well.. are u serious guy?? a nuclear power country?? then making statements and completely contradicting them in another breath..
Lastly, McCain and his foreign policy is impressive.. however getting the name of the leader of Pakistan wrong when your touting your experience not so good..
However the Democratic Senator's face was priceless after McCain's rundown of all the countries, allies, and governmental groups he's worked with.. and then musters up an "I agree".. of course! Best statement he could have made all night..
WhiskeyGirl: One thing I'd mention regarding "surrounding yourself with good people" is McCain's pick of Palin. Conservative writers are actually calling for her resignation after she bombed during the Couric interview and seems not to know very much except how to spit out talking points at awkward moments. Apparently they were doing a "practice debate" with Palin and they had to cancel it early b/c it was really ugly.
Well I never said I was thrilled with McCain's choice but what I did say was that she's better than an arrogant plagiarizer. People can call for Palin's resignation all they want but if she were to leave the Republican ticket right now McCain could basicially kiss the presidency goodbye. Politics is all about perception -- he would look inept and incompetent.
Like a lot of court cases are tried in the media, presidents are often elected through the media too. And that's what sucks about this country. It's not about who's the best and most qualified person for the job, it's about who looks good on camera, who wears the best power tie, who shows up on Letterman, and who gives the most pandering interviews to the Katie Courics and Matt Lauers of the world. That goes about as far back as the Kennedy-Nixon debates and who was the better-looking of the candidates on the TV screen. What does the average person remember about Hillary and her campaign? Her stance on health care or the fact that she wore pantsuits? It's the latter. And it's ridiculous.
1st Presidential Debate
I stick by my statement last night that McCain won, but re-watch you can clearly see Obama flustered at times when he went off script. When it was a topic in his comfort zone (economy) it was like a different speaker, very smooth.
