a thread to discuss the 9/26 debate

[gambit]

Yeah, that's what a lot of pundits were discussing. McCain didn't look like he wanted to acknowledge Obama. But to be fair, one of Obama's big mistake(s) was saying "I agree with John" too much. I'm guessing some GOP ads in the coming days will have that spliced next to whatever McCain said.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by rayray

did mccain make eye contact once with obama - it was weird, came off as so angry that he couldn't even look at him. what a bizarre dynamic from a presidential candidate.

Yeah, I thought that seemed a little low-class. Obama would be speaking directly to McCain, and McCain would just stare off into the crowd refusing to return the eye contact, almost like he was pulling a fingers-in-the-ears "la la la la! I'm not listening!" type of thing.

Originally Posted by Deckard

Gotta say, I'm surprised CNN etc are reporting that Obama 'won' the debate. Pleased but surprised.

It seemed like a toss-up at first, with the pundits calling it a draw overall....until the external poll numbers started coming in. That's when they started calling it for Obama. I feel so relieved for the moment.

[kagenaki koe]

Originally Posted by rayray

did mccain make eye contact once with obama - it was weird, came off as so angry that he couldn't even look at him. what a bizarre dynamic from a presidential candidate.

he's that high school chick that sent invites to her party, and then bears an ubergrudge to those who didnt come to her party. re: the tone of his campaign is snarky because Obama refused his townhall meetings (and he repeats this when he said that the debate wouldnt have been important if only obama came to my party)

[bryantm3]

i tend to side with McCain on the town hall meetings. i think that would've been interesting— but we'll see how they do in the next debate, which is a town hall meeting.

personally, i thought it was a draw. McCain made some good points, and Obama made some good points. it was nothing like the first debate 4 years ago when Bush made a complete ass of himself; McCain and Obama are a better match.

[kagenaki koe]

i want you to go to my town meeting

i want you to suspend your campaign as i'm suspending mine

i want a meeting with the president and you need to be there

i want the debates posponed, and you shoud pospone it also.

i did this, i know how to do this.


with that kind of attitude, i don't think McCain would've been acting any differently whether it was a standard debate or a townhall meeting.

[Troy McClure]

Leave it to Chris Rock to uniquely analyze the debate on HBO's 'Real Time with Bill Maher':




Jason

[holden]

Good comments, i agree with y'all!

The debate was pretty entertaining, in that comincally, neither candidate actually answered any questions specifically, but rather gave their canned talking-point responses. Especially brilliant was the final question, which turned into their closing remarks instead of sticking to the issue.

That said, Obama seemed much more confident and willing to engage McCain and called him out on various "facts". Granted, he got some mixed up, too.
McCain did seem a little whiny with his "Sen. Obama just doesn't understand" repetition. Sadly, some folks will fall for that. Age and experience doesn't always equal good judgement. Then again, a strong debaterdoesn't automaticaly equate witha good next president.

[myrrh]

I thought that this debate was pretty poor. They didn't even really debate, they just spoke on different points.

I feel like neither person actually 'won'.

One thing I noticed that I didn't like about Obama was that he couldn't even get McCains first name right! He called him the wrong name 3 times that I heard!

I think that while Obama has some good speeches, and is an excellent orator, his choice of language is too heavy at times for the general American audience. While, McCain, on the other hand, may not have the vocabulary, but when he speaks he does so in simply common language, which more people can quickly pick up on and relate too.

The VP debate should be much more entertaining and sporting event like.

[Sean]

Originally Posted by myrrh

I thought that this debate was pretty poor. They didn't even really debate, they just spoke on different points.

I feel like neither person actually 'won'.

CNN's "poll of polls" just came out showing that the debate changed nothing. The conclusion based on this was that while Obama didn't "win" the debate, the draw plays into his favor as the front-runner, and leaves McCain still hoping for some way to break out.

Originally Posted by myrrh

One thing I noticed that I didn't like about Obama was that he couldn't even get McCains first name right! He called him the wrong name 3 times that I heard!

Yeah, I remember wincing a little when that happened. It scared me given how the campaigns and media today are so ready to pounce on any tiny detail and immediately exploit it.