Presidential Debate! Tonight!

@sozobe,

I've wondered how you watch, read and type at once. Guess that only works when you're not THIS interested in the speaker. Always love to get your take though.

I'm glad Thomas thought he won too.

I thought he nudged him out (McCain did better than I thought he would), but I'm not sure I'm unbiased enough to know. Usually, I don't like either, so unbiased is much easier.

Joe Biden just tore McCain up on CNN. BPB would be lovin it if Joe was the man tonight. He looks solid. I pity Palin... Joe Biden is no Katie Couric.

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@OCCOM BILL,

Okay, so one point: how many people only saw the first half of the debate?

Obama clearly won the first part. McCain did better on the second half...

Cycloptichorn

1 Reply

@McGentrix,

I thought that you'd be over at Gunga's compound bow thread.

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@Cycloptichorn,

Cycloptichorn wrote:

I think it's pretty clear that Obama was the winner tonight. McCain had some good points and was comfortable on foreign policy topics, but didn't shine at any point. And his body language was terrible.

This is relative. I expected worse... so I though he carried himself pretty well... for him. I'll grant you his nervous smiles were no match for Obama's knowing-(John-you-know-you're-lying)-smiles... but I expected worse.

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@JTT,

Fact Check on CNN - Obama was right about Kissinger (and other past Sec. of States) having recently said that talks are preferable to isolationist stance against rogue nations.

Kissinger now issuing a statement saying McCain was right that he did not recommend the President meet with rogue leaders.

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@OCCOM BILL,

OBill, "...(John-you-know-you're-lying)-smiles" was too subtle for most to catch or understand.

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@OCCOM BILL,

OCCOM BILL wrote:

Cycloptichorn wrote:

I think it's pretty clear that Obama was the winner tonight. McCain had some good points and was comfortable on foreign policy topics, but didn't shine at any point. And his body language was terrible.
This is relative. I expected worse... so I though he carried himself pretty well... for him. I'll grant you his nervous smiles were no match for Obama's knowing-(John-you-know-you're-lying)-smiles... but I expected worse.

He didn't look at Obama once. Obama stared McCain down during the attacks.

Well, it was mostly a draw, and I'm too partisan to give an unbiased view of the debate, so...

http://mediacurves.com/

The Mediacurves focus group Independents gave it to Obama 61-39. The partisans on both sides gave it to their guy 90%+. The independents deemed that Obama won every single question.

Cycloptichorn

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@squinney,

Quote:

Kissinger now issuing a statement saying McCain was right that he did not recommend the President meet with rogue leaders.

'rogue leaders', that's funny. What is Bush but a rogue "leader"?

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@JTT,

presentation;
Obama factually assertive
Mcain sneering
(yes I am biased)

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@Cycloptichorn,

Cycloptichorn wrote:

Okay, so one point: how many people only saw the first half of the debate?

Obama clearly won the first part. McCain did better on the second half...

Cycloptichorn

I think I agree with that. Obama did as good as he can do. I think McCain can do better, but he was vintage McCain and thats all you can ask.

I was generally frustrated at the shotgun approach in the answers from both of them, particularly at the beginning, the answers seemed to go off on tangents based upon one point, but several points were in great need of being mentioned. Example how will this financial crisis affect how you are president. McCain kept drumming on government spending, corruption in government and wall street, while this is only one point of many that are needed to get this country back into a healthy state. Obama also strayed off into his pet subjects, without offering anything of real substance. The last half of the debate really began to establish more differences, as regards to Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and other issues. Obama did a good job of obfuscating his lack of experience and just general lack of having any record of doing anything substantive in regard to foreign policy.

I don't see any good bump for McCain out of this, which he needs. Obama can afford to coast. But who knows?

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@squinney,

Squinney, the link you gave earlier to the aricle in the Washington Post gave a clear understanding of his, Kissinger's, attitude toward foreign policy.

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@sozobe,

I was carefully watching body language.

McCain with his little smiles and laughs.

Making sure he said at every chance "Obama doesn't seem to understand...."

Making a false comment, being corrected (the kissinger/pre-condition episode comes to mind), being corrected...going ahead and making the same comment....

To me, McCain repeating ad naseum about his "years of experience" made him sound like someone living in the past.

1 Reply

@JTT,

JTT wrote:

Quote:
Kissinger now issuing a statement saying McCain was right that he did not recommend the President meet with rogue leaders.

'rogue leaders', that's funny. What is Bush but a rogue "leader"?

Yes, I knew Obama was full of it on that one, and McCain had it tabbed perfectly.

1 Reply

@OCCOM BILL,

I'm also glad that Gwenn Ifill sp?) will be moderating at the vice presidential debate. The simple fact that Gwenn is a woman (and not Katie Couric) will put Palin in a position of not being able to bluster her way out of factual answers. I think Palin has a way of making men defer to her, perhaps not consciously, but in a way that is instilled in men from the time they are children.

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@okie,

Has this been mentioned - I was impressed with McCains ability to cite names and countries, plus events of history, obviously he has lived and breathed alot of these people and events, thus he doesn't have to cram for a debate like Obama probably does, in order to cite the pertinent things. For his age, McCain does not appear anywhere near Alzheimers, in sharpness of mind.

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@Diane,

Maybeso, but Biden might turn out to be too decent to take full advantage. No doubt in my mind that Obama has the better running mate.

1 Reply

@Cycloptichorn,

Media Curves gives fascintaing information on responses to important issues covered in the debate.

It was interesting that the only area McCain won by a few points, was government spending. I have to admit that McCain's initial answer was short and to the point.

1 Reply

@okie,

okie wrote:

Has this been mentioned - I was impressed with McCains ability to cite names and countries, plus events of history, obviously he has lived and breathed alot of these people and events, thus he doesn't have to cram for a debate like Obama probably does, in order to cite the pertinent things. For his age, McCain does not appear anywhere near Alzheimers, in sharpness of mind.

McCain did have strong points, and it wasn't a weak debate for him by any means.

Cycloptichorn

1 Reply

@Diane,

Olberman asked Biden if he was going to put on the soft gloves for Palin next week.

Biden said he wouldn't be condesending that way, as mccain was, and that he would be directing his responses to the people not Palin.

Good answer.

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@okie,

okie: "Has this been mentioned - I was impressed with McCains ability to cite names and countries..."

McCain could not pronouce names and he called Pakistan a "failed" nation.

1 Reply

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