1st Presidential Debate

[Cynthia]

Obama is weak on the issues of war and military tactics/strategies.

Can he win this debate?

We'll have to see. Senator McCain is tough! wow.

He's spot on about the Irainian president. He will be laughing at the world when the US is attacked again. Don't fool yourselves on this one. I have been reading a lot on the history of the Iranian Revolution as of late. The hate for the west is deep and real. This is true.

Ok...back to the debate.

[Religious Dick]

McCain started out shaky, but he's hitting his stride in foreign policy. Obama sounded confident earlier, but he's sounding ruffled and in retreat mode now....

[Cynthia]

McCain started out shaky, but he's hitting his stride in foreign policy. Obama sounded confident earlier, but he's sounding ruffled and in retreat mode now....

Right.

That's exactly how I see this debate. Wow, McCain is stronger than I ever realized. Good for him.

[Christians4LessGvt]

McCain is too liberal for me, but he does look alot more Presidential than Obama.
Obama looks like a young bright Senator, but McCain looks like a President.
The one thing that alot of Americans will like about McCain is he can work across the aisle.

[Religious Dick]

I think McCain is getting the better of this section. Obama sounds rattled, and his statements are reactive to McCain's. McCain is defining the argument. Obama is retreating into inspirational statements, but he's light on how to get there...

[Michael Tee]

Not working out as I'd like.  I was expecting Obama to wipe the floor with McCain and it ain't happnin.

[Religious Dick]

I'm inclined to say McCain got the better of this one, but that might just be my bias.

[BT]

McCain 5-4

Obama probably explained his position better on kitchen table economics. Conflating gas prices with the wall street crisis.

McCain wiped the floor on foreign policy.

[Cynthia]

I think McCain is getting the better of this section. Obama sounds rattled, and his statements are reactive to McCain's. McCain is defining the argument. Obama is retreating into inspirational statements, but he's light on how to get there...

Wow, Mr. Dick...I must say you have expressed my very experience and reaction to the debate with precision...and so eloquently.

Spot on.  

[Plane]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/presidential_debate

I liked it a lot.

Neither made a serious mistake , but I think McCain was more on the game and stronger on the issues , more specific.


But allowing for how I like McCain better already , perhaps I should say it was a draw.



As a draw it is still usefull in learning what the person is like and what they think is important.

[Christians4LessGvt]

michael i have a sincere question for you.
honestly, do you feel the need to loathe your political opponents?
that seems to be a common theme with you, does it motivate you to make it personal?
it's obvious you are bright, but the deep hatred seems a bit over the top
i loathe Obama's political positions, i think he may have a dark side (Rezko, Rev Wright, ect)
but I don't loathe Obama
on the other hand you seem to have "really fierce personal hatred" of every politcal leader on the opposite side from you
what gives?

[richpo64]

McCain won, but it wasn't a knockout.

I realize I'm biased, but Barry sounded just like he's sounded for the past four months. It's just talking points. He doesn't sound genuine. McCain sounds more like he's talking to you rather than pulling little gotcha's out of a hat.

But again, Obama certainly didn't lose any ground over all. He would have had to really blow it to lose.

[Xavier_Onassis]

I don't think this will change any minds. Both of them did well so far as presentation went.

McCain said something immensely silly: that Ukraine and Georgia ought to be admitted to NATO. No, they should not: both, especially Georgia is a huge liability, neither of them would make NATO stronger in any way.

Not bright, not realistic, not our sphere of influence, and sure as Hell not now. It's not time to kick the Russians in the nuts.

Neither of them was very useful in discussing the Wall Street bailout.

Obama beat McCain on a number of specific points, none of them well known enough to most Americans, who know nothing about Spain or its leaders, just to name one.

[MissusDe]

Unfortunately for Obama, the debate could be summed up thusly:

McCain: "Obama doesn't understand."
Obama: "Senator McCain is absolutely right."

I was following the comments on The Corner and I have to agree with this one:

"I am trying to watch this as independently as possible and I see McCain sounding non-ideological, presidential and smart as hell on foreign policy. I see Obama sounding like the left wing student who doesn't like what his professor is teaching: a little young, and too ideological."

Obama started strong, but finished weak.  His summation was rambling, while McCain's was concise.  Overall, Obama did better than I thought he would, given his reliance on teleprompters, but McCain gets the win.

[BT]

McCain said something immensely silly: that Ukraine and Georgia ought to be admitted to NATO. No, they should not: both, especially Georgia is a huge liability, neither of them would make NATO stronger in any way.

Perhaps you were in the bathroom when Obama said he was for the Ukraine and Georgia joining NATO.