Who won?
I’m giving it to McCain — and you know I’m a tough grader on him.
He was slow out of the gate — a broken record on earmarks and spending — but Obama failed to turn the bailout debacle against him. McCain hit his stride in the second half, schooling Obama on counterinsurgency, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and Russia.
McCain made no major soundbite-able gaffes. It was more a matter of a few missed opportunities for McCain than the commission of any major errors. Major omission of the night from McCain: Did he say a single word in defense of conservative principles and free-market economics?
Obama, on the other hand, committed several gaffes:
1) I have a bracelet, too! Uhhhh, but give me a second because I can’t remember the name on it.
2) Using Joe Biden as his human shield.
3) Using that “John is absolutely right” phrase…already a McCain ad, of course.
4) And answering the question about preventing another 9/11 by babbling about “respect” and “restoring standing.”
***
Reader Ken e-mails:
Michelle, the biggest problem I see with McCain’s performance is that he failed to come to the defense of Reagan-Goldwater conservative principles - especially market economics. He failed to slap Obama down for his ignorance on supply-side theory. He failed to point out that the tax cuts he wants will increase revenue to the treasury, and then cite JFK as proof.
The biggest question, though, lies not with McCain or Obama, but the media. Obama spun a lot of tall stories, but we’ll never hear about them. After all, if Obama lies and the media doesn’t cover it, did he really lie?
Several readers also complained about a stylistic point: They were annoyed by McCain’s refusal to look directly at Obama. They thought the lack of eye contact looked bad. Your thoughts?
***
What did you think?
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Trackbacks
- Who Won The Night? — Brennan Philip Monaco
- Mover Mike » The Debate
- Jules Crittenden » Debate
- Obama: John McCain is Absolutely Right : Stop The ACLU
- Points At The Debate « Quipster
- McTheuselah Goes Down Swinging « his vorpal sword
- some Christian bloggers on Presidential Debate 2008 #1 | blogs4God
- YAWN: “Debate” is over…. | The TIW Blog
- Michelle Malkin » Debate video: Obama can’t remember the soldier’s name on his bracelet
- The Other McCain: Of course Obama won the debate
- Right Wing News
- Election 2008 » Blog Archive » Two Visions
- THE GUN TOTING LIBERAL™
- Webloggin » AOL Straw Poll: McCain 63%, Obama 37%
- Mofo Politics | Everything McCain, Obama, Palin, and that other guy-related» Blog Archive » The Day After: Pundits weigh in on last night’s debate
- Go Mac Attack « Mcnorman’s Weblog
- The College Politico » Blog Archive » The Debate… Who cares?
- Full Video & Transcript Of The First Presidential Debate - 26 Sept 2008 | BigMouthFrog
- Experience: How The Debate Reveals Obama’s Unpreparedness « Pocket Change - Now Lint Free!
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My take on this debate: McCain, though a bit slow in the beginning, peppered Obama all nioght with jabs, and scored several uppercuts on Obama, especially the thing where McCain mentioned that he didn’t even have seal yet, and how Obama apparently knew his itenerary before he was even in the white house. While Obama got uin a couple strong points, basically he was flummoxed, out-foxed, frustrated, irritated, on the defensive, and basically looked like an amateur compaired to McCain. McCain did look at Obama a few times, but to me, it wasn’t such a point of contention that he didn’t look his opponent in the eye (he didn’t need to). McCain basically stayed with his plan, constantly showed his experience over and above Obama, and questioned Obama’s record, which Obama never adequately countered. The next couple of debates will be interesting, but I figure if McCain sticks to his guns, stays straight, and keeps his poise as he did tonight, he’ll murder Obama….
As far as the coming Biden-Palin debate, I’m really looking forward to see how the old pol takeso n the committed reformer in Palin…
I never said I hate Republicans, or that Europeans are justified in their hatred. But I do think it’s a important distinction that when Malkin claims the rest of the worlds hates America, she’s not telling the truth. They hate Republicans. That’s why they protest Bush’s appearances, but 200,000 of them show up to an Obama speech. I’m just stating the facts.
Also, don’t lecture me on hatred. A Republican is no position to lecture anyone on hatred.
The collectivists won the debate.
In terms of McCain not looking at Obama, I thought that was great. It was almost as if Mac was saying “you just aren’t worth my time, pup!”
Omu, yes I can imagine U.S. citizens living in other countries and voting in U.S. elections. You simply did not make it clear that was your situation as you expressed solidarity with the general (and generally boring) Eurabian anti-U.S. opinion.
Oops, I keep forgetting - it’s not anti-U.S., or anti-American, it’s just anti-Republican. Is that all Republicans, or do you pick and choose? Do you hate any Democrats? How about races and religions? Do you and your friends hate any of those over here? Could the president of DCU send us all science books so we know what are acceptable lines of thought?
Just wondering who we have to become to make y’all love us.
Some clown demonstrated his lack of knowledge by stating:
The Republican party is the party of civil rights. The Democrats are the party of the Ku Klux Klan. It was true in the 1860s, it was true in the 1960s. When Woodrow Wilson, Democrat, became President, he dismantled a lot of of Republican initiatives that had favored the advancement of blacks within the federal government.
If all of this history is too dusty for you, check into how the Democrats treated Clarence Thomas when he was nominated for the Supreme Court. If that isn’t modern enough, look through this site and see how the Democrats treated Michael Steele back in 2006.
Stick your assumptions in your ear and try some facts.
On September 27th, 2008 at 9:01 am, Omu said:
Remember OMU, as I have told my children, “Our ancestors, who came to America, were the peope who looked at their European neighbors, their values ,and how they lived and said, ‘These people are no one I want to be around. Let’s get out of here and go to America.’”
So if Euopeans hate us that’s cool. My great grandparents would have approved and viewed their hating us as a confiormation we had the right values. Republicans are primarily the people who held on to those values.
If you want to live like a Texan live in Texas. If you want to live like a European live in Europe. Personally, I am grateful my ancestors got me away from there.
Turns out as noted before, Odopeysnortersellerama shouldn’t have been so anxious to debate. Even with three full days of “debate school” (which most people take in High School) instead of not being bothered by the crisis in Washington regarding the rescue plan the only benefits those “practice sessions” provided was he managed to keep his um’s, er’s and uh’s down to less than 1220.
My wife and I were both a little annoyed at McCain’s refusal to look Obama in the eye. I tried to envision Ronald Reagon up there and didn’t see anything near his personableness in McCain. I also tried to give him the benefit of the doubt and figured maybe, like raising his arms, it might be difficult to turn his head to the left without turning his whole body.
As to the debate, I felt McCain started slow but picked up steam. He did have a number of missed opportunities.
Obama started out fairly strong but seemed to go down hill about half way or a little beyond.
Over all, I give McCain a slight edge.
Too bad McCain couldn’t have brought this piece up about Obama’s gestapo like tactics by Missouri prosecutors and sheriifs. Disgusting.
See the article here from St. Louis.
No wonder BO did not want to debate John McCain…
Senator McCain has plenty of ammo left in the box for the upcoming debates, all of Obamas bullets are used up already.
It’s Killin em and
I Love it!!!
McCain/Palin 08′
Image: Odopey camp trying to load a cap gun while a tank runs them over.
Michelle, I did think McCain won. I was disappointed he didn’t highlight his attempt with Dole, Shelby, and others in 2003 to properly regulate Freddie and Fanny. Maybe he’ll hit that in the next debate.
Calling Obama on meeting with Iran prez without preconditions, and invading Pakistan, were right on. Obama tried to conflate his statement on foreign leaders with that of Kissinger which any thinking person can see has been a huge lie all the time. And when asked about threatening to invade Pakistan, Obama said, no, I didn’t say that, I’m just threatening to invade Pakistan! Ha! I also remember Obama telling Iraq he WOULD NOT leave any US bases there. What a terrible negotiating point to set up. Regardless whether we’ll have them, he shouldn’t give away that up front. That’s terrible. His foreign policy statements are so amateurish, he gets an “F”. If he has anything to do with foreign policy it would be a disaster!
O RLY? Looks like you said exactly that. Unless you can find a difference in “justified” and “legitimate reasons”
Which are what? Besides, when are “talking heads” worthwhile to listen to and believe?
Okay, it’s time to take a look at what is good for us, versus what is good for them. Folks, what is good for the United States may not be good for Europe. And they’ll think about their own interests. Think about Russia, if they had real, fair elections, and it was Putin running against some young fella with no experience. A lot of the world would want to see the other guy win. Many Russians, thinking about their own country, may well feel that Putin was the best to protect their country and their interests.
Point is, just because we think someone is the right President of Russia, doesn’t mean that it would be what is best for Russia. Maybe Europe likes Obama, because they feel Obama winning will be beneficial for Europe. I bet with the good Irish business taxes, they’d hate to see us lower ours, and get some of those businesses that moved to Ireland due to their (now) low business taxes.
I admit it I did not watch.
I cannot bring myself to watch these things. Though I am wanting to see more of Sarah Palin, might force myself to watch a little of that one. With the sound off.
The candidates bore me on these things, our guy, their guy. I just think these debates produce very little. I could live without them and just go vote.
If there are Americans who still sit and wait for the debate to decide how and who to vote for. Then we are screwed. The presidential race is not a sit-com.
I know what my principles and values are. I do not need debates.
With the information we have today at our fingertips, why are we still doing this? Are we waiting and hoping for one or the other to screw up?
Good God, I’m a conservative I do not need Obama to screw-up in order for me to know, I am not voting for a socialist.
Another outdated practice who’s time has come and gone.
Face it…as McCain has said himself, he’s not going to win Miss Congeniality. McCain can be very stiff and grumpy, but we’re not voting for American Idol, or The Bachelor. He has to have the qualifications for this job, and being friendly with the person across the aisle is not a big thing to me. Besides, if we really wanted to talk about that, he’s been very big about reaching across the aisle. I liked the comment about how hard it is for Obama to do that from so far left.
If the biggest problem one has with McCain is his mannerisms, well….that’s all part of the “beauty pageant” society we’ve become.
Now that you mention it, he had his nose up in the air several times, which was comical.
Overall I thought McCain won points… Although it was closer than it should have been. McCain clearly won on foreign policy but on the economy it was at best a draw.
As Ken said he needs to stand up for conservative economic principles… On the credit crisis he needs make the point repeatedly that the Bush Administration proposed legislation in 2003 to rein in Fannie and Freddie and Democrats blocked it… And needs to remind voters that he cosponsored the Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act along with Chuck Hagel, John Sununu, and Elizabeth Dole that would tightened oversight of F&F and Democrats blocked it!
He could/should also hit the Federal Reserve Board and the Bush Administration on monetary policy.
FWIW he does need to make eye contact with Obama in future debates.
Their younger years….
Senator McCain: Served his Country as a Pilot and many other achievments.
Obama: sold and snorted coke. How the he!! did he even make it to the Senate?
It’s Killin em and
I Love it!!!
McCain/Palin 08′
Image: Odoper is NOT ready to lead our Nation.
oh Chicago polotics….
Neeeeeeeeevermind.
that would be the scary part, independents thinking the obamination won…that could me a vote for him in November…bad…really bad….
i do think mccain had duh-one on defense all night. duh-one was not that good on the economy, which according to his camp he is and mccain isn’t, i’m still not see how they come to that warped reality.
there were so many camera shots of duh-one literally being impacted by what mccain was saying. the jab that sticks out in my mind is the reference to bush’s stubborness on strategy change in irag and obama’s stubborness on his stance on irag. that line and duh-one’s face in an ad saying: do you want for more years of stubborness and unwillingness to admit you’re wrong? then flash on that moment in the debate. Duh-One’s comment about four more years of bush is wiped out that line will not work and has been a losing strategy from day one. that ad would put the nail in the coffin.
It didn’t bother me that much that he didn’t look at Obama, I could hardly watch Obama as he fumbled for the name of the soldier and a few other times. McCain did look in the camera, which is more important.
He does need new talking points -other than earmarks- before the debate on Economic policy. We know the earmark thing, its important, bring it up once, but then move on to broader economic policy. And for heaven’s sake take away the Democratic talking point about taxing health care premiums.
McCain won. I’ll take substance over style any day.
I don’t care if he wouldn’t look at Obama. Obama wouldn’t address him as Senator.
I do have to wonder if McCain has trouble turning his head that way w/o turning his entire body. I’d have to check out footage from previous debates and see.
vbmom, i think from what i recall in other debates he was facing a different direction, which might be indicative of the inability to turn towards his left versus the ability to turn towards his right.
i for the most part was not concerned about mccain looking at duh-one. most of the shots of duh-one looking at mccain were smug, elitist and at times dopey. a few times, it actually looked as if an invisible punch hit the jaw of duh-one and sent him realing as the rug was being pulled out from under him. mccain does not want any shots like that for sure.
there was a visual narrative from duh-one that was not provided to the media for mccain. i keep playing it back in my mind, mccain was stalwart looking and duh-one was smug, elitest and swooning from the jabs. that is the downside of looking at your opponent when he is taking jabs at you, in my mind.
One thing I noticed about Obama after awhile - he kept looking at McCain as if he were trying to say “look at me; please make eye contact”. I believe it bothered him that McCain wouldn’t look at him. Minor point but the body language spoke volumes.
All this being said, if you jump to the liberal sites like CNN; MSNBC, etc. you’ll see a whole different viewpoint. It’s as if we are all watching different debates.
iamsaved, i know. but, when you figure how much in the tank these stations are for duh-one do you really think the audience would be non-biased? that is one reason why fox’s audience, i think has an overall balance that, in my opinion, you do not get from the alphabet media.
About the eye contact..makes you wonder what was said by Obama to Senator McCain during the White House meeting. Even I know not to make Senator McCain angry…
Corrected it for ya!
You know, bandwagon appeals and hypostatization statements like “everybody says” or “the Euro-trash favor” seldom score points in a debate.
It was clearly McCain, but of course the MSM is making it look like Odumbo cleaned McCain’s clock on the economy.
I don’t recall anything that would help the economy, and certainly increasing taxes on the top 5% (those who pay the majority as it is) isn’t going to do it.
It’s a typical socialist, populist thing to do, because after all, the “rich” deserve to get gouged.
I think Odumbo needs to go back and look at the charts and the increased revenues that resulted by Bush’s tax cuts. Unfortunately, the media is too lazy to do that.
I would have liked to hear McCain say:
“My friends, this 5% that Senator Obama talks about, they’re the people that own and create the businesses in our country. In tough economic times, they’re the last people we want to hurt even more. You may not like the owner of your company personally, but if we tax him to death, it may threaten your job”
Oh, something else I was thinking about. Obama did the proper socialist thing about the tax cuts, when he said that the rich were getting a tax cut they didn’t ask for or need. Any lib that wants to defend that, that tax cuts need to be based on whether someone needs them, I’d love to say this:
“You know, I don’t think you really NEED that computer you’re typing on. I’m going to take it from you and give it to someone else.”
Think they’d allow that?
Omu - Unless you are a very extensive traveller, I’m pretty sure my passport has more stamps from more places in it than yours. I hear this nonsense about how the world hates Republican principles. Funny but I’ve not heard that in places I go. I’ve heard people in “wonderment” about us letting criminals go free (OJ for one) and them saying “unfortunately, now you are just like us - you used to be different”. I’ve heard them say they wished their countries would adopt a constitution like ours with it’s checks and balances. I’ve heard them say they wished their country would adopt more open market positions like ours. I’ve heard many many many of them want to come here (and not only for economic reasons).
The hatred you speak of either has been hidden from me, is confined to small segments of the society or is completely made up by people like you. I don’t know which it is but I KNOW it’s not a universal feeling toward USA or conservative principles or even the Republican party.
At 9:03am today (saturday) Cnn announced that Barack Obama “connected with middle class Americans” and Obama showed his interest in the middle class while McCain only used the phrase “middle class” twice during the debate. This was not coming from CNN guests. This was right from the mouth of the CNN reporter covering the postdebate news. It is any wonder that CNN’s ratings are even lower than the Rahcel Madow Sominex inducing show on rival MSNBC (Both compete for the aging 1960s antiVietNam war audience).
Obama performed well below his pay-grade in last night’s debate, due to his demeanor and stature: he was smarmy and contrite, obfuscating at every turn - perhaps out of fear of giving a straight answer that would reveal his liberal nature - and appeared generally ill at ease, like he knew he was in over his head.
Visually, he appeared as sickly-thin as his resume; his answers meandered and were as pensive as the expression on his face. The gloomy look on his face seemed to envelope him, like a halo of depression mated to his dreary vision for our nation’s future.
Substantively, his lack of administrative experience screamed incompetence, making his answers to the questions on security and the economy seem insincere and more like suggestions rather than concrete solutions.
After last night’s performances, there is no doubt John McCain will be the next U.S. President!
If winning is the question, then Sen McCain won. Though I can’t say that Sen Obama lost. Neither won my vote.
I did not care for Sen Obama saying repeatedly that Sen McCain was right. Though it revealed more about the courtesy Sen Obama gives to his opponent.
I did not care for Sen McCain avoiding addressing Sen Obama directly with eye contact. Though it revealed a level of contempt towards his opponent.
For me it requires a moment of introspection about what I was looking for and my expectations about what is, and is not, in the debate. These are feelings and should play a minimal role in my deciding who I should eventually vote for come November.
In terms of substance it was more Kabuki theater because the candidates often repeated much of their stump speaches. I was looking for more and newer statements. I was looking for direct challenges backed up by facts.
I wanted deeper and all I got was two candidates talking past one another. I’d like to see a debate that included a power point presentation with sighted references used by the candidates. Sort of a fact check in process as the discussion flows. I’d like to see one candidate ask the other, ‘please answer the question … why? … how?’
I don’t think it mattered unless one was in the audience, as most (not all) of the camera shots were focused on the single candidate who was speaking.
Had there been more wide-angle shots of both candidates during the debate, so viewers could better gage the reaction of a candidate to his opponent’s response to particluar question-/topic, it might have made a difference but probabaly not much.
You’re right. Nobody needs to lecture you on hatred. You’re an expert at it. Pop quiz: Which Republican said the following:
For all his supposed “expertise” on the economy, Osama Obama kept repeating that we need to do x, y and z — all budget-busters — and wouldn’t say what he’d cut to make up for the $700 billion going to his Wall Street supporters.
I wouldn’t look at the little slimeball either, particularly if he wasn’t showing any respect by calling me by my first name.
McCain is a bit too gentlemanly to really succeed at throwing the KO punch. I hope he learns soon that he’s not dealing with a gentleman, but rather a petulant, whiny, arrogant child.
Not that it’ll help him with the MSM.
OMU, I agree with you except for your writing Republicans of all people should not be lecturing people about hatred. Liberal Democrats are the experts on hatred. Witness their treatment of Governor Palin.
I gave the debate a tie. McCain seemed more knowlegeable and substantive, but Obama didn’t do anything to convince the choir he couldn’t be president.
I admit that I haven’t read all of the posts so I don’t know if anyone has mentioned the amount of makeup Obama was wearing to make himself look “more black” but that struck me. Also, Obama refered to McCain as “John” while McCain referred to Obama as “Senator Obama”. As far as not focusing McCain’s gaze on Obama, I was under the impression that he was looking at the questioner, Mr. Lehrer.
I would also have appreciated more dual shots, but simply so I could see more of the smirks and starts that I thought Obama made as if to say, “Yeah right! I think your people KNOW I’m right but refuse to accept it!” which is totally and completely wrong of course.
Mr. Obama’s idea of raising corporate taxes is simply going to destroy this country because as all of us here know, corporations simply raise prices so that the taxes they “pay” come right from the consumers who buy their products.
No, although in my heart I WANT to give a slight edge to McCain (who I don’t like by the way) neither one won my vote either. I think this was nothing more then a campaign stop in which both were side by side saying what they’ve been saying all along. I firmly expect that the real difference we will see will be in the VP event. I will watch, and I will NOT watch with the televison’s volume down. I expect that Palin and Biden will be much more animated and make far more points for their respective parties. Also, I expect that this will be precisely what will happen, they will make party points, not undecided voter points. Where is a true Ronald Reagan or in my humble opinion an Alen Keyes or Duncan Hunter when the Conservative Party (notice that I did NOT say Republican party) needs one?!?!?!?
McCain does not look at Obama, because he knows what he is and what he wants to do to this country… and so does the FBI and CIA.
You know damn well that The Tarnished Bovine is kicking himself and his staff for not allowing McCain to postpone the debate. All those claims about how McCain was just using it as an excuse because he wasn’t ready and all the other such nonsense was thrown in his face when McCain cleaned Capt. Big Ear’s clock.
He made him look like a wannabe. He made him look as completely unprepared for the Highest Office. He demonstrated exactly why he has no business being Commander in Chief of our military. He demonstartaed exactly what a little poser jerk he is.
I was smililng and laughing at each and every smack-down McCain did to him. He sent him home to MichelleO with a spanking that only someone who has served his country can do.
The point when Odhimmi actually brought up Veterans made me cringe. The audacity of doing so showed that he has absolutely no morals or scruples, let alone brains in his head.
I think at that point, you could actually see what was going through McCain’s head…and it was not anything that could be thought of as “tolerant” or “peace-loving”. I take my hat off to McCain for showing his restraint in not leaping across the stage and choking the crap out of him for even suggesting that he knew better or more about Veteran’s Rights or what Veterans need.
Odhimmi has no shame.
I bet he never brings it up again between now and Nov. 4th…at least in a debate.
I find myself wondering why there’s such a teapot tempest over these debates?
Could it be a distraction from the REAL issues?
I watched as much of the debates as I could stand…and I honestly couldn’t say who won.
But the American people lost.
McCain won. This debate was on Foreign Policy, not the Economy. He was smart not to let Obama turn the whole thing into a one-sided dissertation on his “plan” for America. That will be best fought another day in another debate. By keeping the debate on topic McCain was able to completely destroy Obama and show him for what he is - a naive, arrogant, hypocritical light-weight on just about everything, including foreign policy.
The next debate will be even more stark, and it’s on what the Obama campaign thinks is their strong suit. But is isn’t, McCain will show the nation just how wrong Obama is with his liberal tax-and-spend policies designed to move us toward Socialism.
Of course, I just laid out the whole ‘McCain Debate Strategy’ here, but the leftist are too stupid to realize what’s about to happen; so they’ll just ignore this warning in it’s entirety.
Slow and steady wins the race…
News people and frequent blog visitors too often try to equate the average everyday citizen with themselves.
That is wrong. Everyday folks are not absorbed with politics as are the above mentioned.
They want simple answers that avoid political “sophistication”.
This is why Sarah made early points.
Look how she has slipped by mouthing McCain advisors talking points.
McCain needs to talk the language of middle America, and that group includes
people from every state.
Obama is a snob and phony elitist and will all ways come across that way.
The MSM, now in a full court press of wall-to-wall Obama worship likes to say that when Obama says something really stupid it’s “nuanced”. Free stuff for all and 95% of you will get a tax cut while we reduce the deficit is utter rubbish. But it’s a race for the minds of the sheeple…
Europeans have hated the U.S. for generations. This is not a new phenom.
I did not watch the debate but I can definitely HE WON.
In fact, I knew he won before the debate.
And I already know he won the next three debates too.
Sorry left out Obama won - I am so sure I forgot to mention the name.
After last night’s performances, there is no doubt
John McCainObama will be the next U.S. President!Corrected it for ya…
Not true, Europeans don’t hate the U.S. Most Europeans only loathe and detest the Republicans and all that they stand for.
Try to wear a Pro GOP, pro Bush T-shirt while anywhere in Europe and see how people will treat you.
Even European conservatives are rooting for Obama.
Read more here, here and here.
I learned long ago, there is more to life than just capitulating so others will like you. That’s what weak-willed people often do, in an attempt to be liked. I stand for my principles, and if people don’t like me for that, I don’t need them.
Obama is the kid that still desperately wants to be liked by the kids in Europe.
I guess what I am saying to you, Edelweiss, is that frankly, I simply do not care that some Europeans don’t like me or my political beliefs. Screw ‘em. All I have to do is look at England, France, and see the horrors of political correctness, and the bowing down to the strong Muslim communities in those countries.
Do I want to be like those countries? Hell no. Do I care if they dislike me for it? Hell no.
Oh, and Edelweiss, as I said elsewhere, what is good for the United States may not be good for Europe, and vice versa. Why should I trust Europeans to look out for MY best interests? Perhaps they like Obama, because they feel he is better for THEIR interests. As noted elsewhere, with the way the Irish business climate has grown due to low business taxes, I bet they do want to see Obama win, keep our business taxes high, so more corporations will move there to escape our taxation. Getting someone who would lower our business taxes would be bad for them. Goodness, wonder why the Irish talking heads would like Obama?
The analogy I made elsewhere is Putin in Russia. We don’t want him there, he’s bad for us, but his people may well like him, if he’s good for their interests.
You know, that says a LOT more about how totally nasty and disgusting some Europeans can be, if what you say is true. I mean, look at YOU. You are pretty far left, in our country, and I doubt anybody would treat YOU like that on the streets of the United States if you wore a pro- whatever you support shirt.
Thank you for clarifying that. Just goes to show yet ANOTHER reason I don’t want to bow down, and capitulate, to be more like the Europeans, or have the Europeans like us.
Really? I seem to remember that there were plenty of Carter and Clinton effigies being burned in nondescript ratholes.
Much of the Muslim world’s complaints against the west are “western values” (or, for them, a lack thereof) and, in particular, western movies and television. Now as we all know, that part of western culture is firmly in the grasp of the liberals in Hollyweird and the 80-90% of admitted liberals at the television networks.
How does that mean that they “hate Republicans?” Maybe it is you that hates Republicans, and you are simply projecting.
As for the “200,000 of them (that) show up to an Obama speech,” maybe you should analyze the similarities (being kind here) between the liberals in this country, and the socialists/Communists in yours. They like Øbama because he is one of them. Pure and simple.
Nor is a socialist/liberal/communist. Maybe even less so, given some of the undistilled hatred you find on the liberal web sites.
Sounds like you are the one lecturing.
During the opening minutes of the debate McCain needed to call out Obama on his obvious lies about, among other things, “warning” us that Ms. Mae and Mr. Mac were in trouble waayyyy back in 1802. I damn near threw something at my TV at that part of the debate, I was so frustrated.
Our guy did well during the foreign policy portion, however, esp. when he openly ridiculed The One’s naivete re Iran et al. and when he contested Obama’s ridiculous statements re Kissinger.
As for McCain’s demeanor - not making eye contact with Obama - I had the sense that he didn’t want to lose his temper, and knew that he would if he looked directly at Obama. The man definitely has self-control.
From a purely debate standpoint, it was a pretty close debate. But due to the fact that McCain was mostly on offense and Obama on defense…I’d give the slight edge to McCain. However, this was really a contest to gain support from those voters who are undecided. And it appears that Obama slammed dunked it with those folks.
And on the Veterans comments…can you tell me one legislative vote that McCain has voted for regarding veterans?
p.s. Where were the post debate interviews with Palin? Biden was everywhere. Why is the McCain camp so afraid to let her speak?
Yea, but will anyone else with half a brain see this? Sometimes I think we’re at the mercy of the derranged in America. The left will always ignore facts staring them in the face and chase after the one who makes them feel good.
Sad, but true. We’ve become a country in need of a “fix”, where the citizens are looking at government, and saying “What can you do for ME?” The ideas of a smaller, better government have been trashed by the entrenched in both parties, but I sound like a broken record saying it.
And we care about this becauuuuusseeee why? Mind you, I was born and raised in Canada. I know the sort of “liberal” paradise the Democrats want for me. You think hatred.
I hate that, far more than you can POSSIBLY even imagine. I hate anyone that thinks I should kowtow to ruddy Europeans and “the rest of the world that hates Republican’s” You want socialism.. go and have it. I want none of it.
I’d say it was 6 to 4 McCain because he was on the offensive most of the night which is what you do in a debate. Keep your opponent on the defensive. The audience was eerily quiet…..guess Ole Miss wasn’t about to put up with any interruptions like at the other Universities.
I didn’t like Obama’s smirks I thought that was real petty and the bracelet thing was laughable.
McCain didn’t stand strong enough against Ovomit enough for me and I would have liked him to finish with patriotic statements to counter Obama’s USA bashing.
McCain was not on the top of his game and in watching the replays I don’t think it was because he was tired but I think he had deep concern for his friend Kennedy (who I care less about) because that was his first statement. He did pick up steam and finished strong where Obama did the opposite. Personally I’d like to see him go for the jugular.
BTW Palin is falling in the polls? Where have you heard anything about Palin after the first week??? The MSM is totally ignoring her on purpose. The next debate is Thursday and I predict that Sarah-cuda will take a bite out of Biden!
Nailed it.
Michelle, you are right on the money with how the debate turned out. My husband is not as passionate of politics as I am. I would say he’s very independent. He thought McCain won. He also thought McCain should look directly at Obama when addressing him; especially when he is defending his stance on the issues. He thought McCain was much more intelligent and experienced on all the issues than Obama. He said it best “Obama doesn’t say anything, its just a bunch of babble”.
This is a late comment, but for what it’s worth…
That’s consistent with
the Malcolm X / “Black Liberation Theology” worldview.