It was impressive to watch John McCain hold his own on issues of the domestic economy while moderator Jim Lehrer lingered for almost the first 40 minutes. I saw McCain smiling and anxious to speak, while Obama alternated between staged confidence, mock impatience, and outright anger. Obama could not shine, but neither could score a knockout. Obama blamed Bush/McCain, but McCain, I think, successfully ejected Bush from the equation, which was what he had to do.
When the switched to foreign policy, the alleged topic of this debate, it was a string of bludgeoning blows. McCain seemed to be traversing familiar ground, and he was. Obama appeared to be reciting memorized cue cards written by David Axelrod more than by any foreign policy expert. Name dropping, Obama dropped the ball when he invoked Henry Kissinger, whom McCain then referred to as his friend of thirty years. Dropping names, McCain dropped Reagan. Obama couldn’t touch it.
McCain was the adult professor, dealing with foreign policy with names and places and issues. Obama… oh, not so much. I’m more comfortable with John McCain. Obama, again, recited Axelrodian foreign policy lines, more political than substantive, and tried to change the subject to investment in early childhood education and such weighty issues.
What matters, though, is what the perception-shapers think. The media. There are many Americans who watched the debate and came away with their own opinions of the performance, but those who can be shaped will be swayed by the media. The ball’s in their court. McCain scored no knockout, so they can argue whatever it is they wish.
This debate was not close, but let’s hear the sounbytes.
Steve Maley
Neil Stevens
Daniel Horowitz
It was twofa
thefruitcakedave Friday, September 26th at 9:51PM EST (link)In the first OB looked like a CO, mad as hell, ready to march on DC
In the second OB saiad John is right
Krauthammer thinks it was a Tie
PaRep (Diary) Friday, September 26th at 10:00PM EST (link)But then again he thought Sarah Palin was a Horrible choice for VP, He is SENILE !!!!!!
Obama: "I've said it before... John is always right".
Rod_Patrick (Diary) Friday, September 26th at 10:05PM EST (link)“Always” points to the fact that Obama uttered “John Is Right” EIGHT times.
No Mark, what matters is what the people saw, not what the media says
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Friday, September 26th at 10:08PM EST (link)I pray for you daily.
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
Dems Talking Heads Dominating Post Debate Cable
Swamp_Yankee (Diary) Friday, September 26th at 10:12PM EST (link)Where are all the Republicans. MSNBC has Olbermann and Maddow. Viden is evreywhere. Palin is nowhere. Libs are represented by forceful voices like amanpour. Weak voices supporting McCain. Get out their people.
The media is the real enemy!!!!!!!
McCain vs. Cassandra
Cate Friday, September 26th at 10:19PM EST (link)OH YEAH,, have no fear … Obama knew EVERYTHING before molecules formed to create such ideas. But yet, (now i know it has NOTHING to do with tonight’s discussion) HE had no idea that over 20 years of attendance… that Rev.Wright’s beliefs and sermons were Controversial and Racist.
McCain was completely in command of tonight’s debate. The ‘Wizard of Uhhs’ was once again pointed to the ‘child’s seat’ to such Adult Topics.
Why do we need to twist in our seat over this? Is it for the unfortunate few that still think ‘the one’ has a point or a purpose?
amanpour is pitiful. nice lips though-Yank, quit obcessing on the swamps you are looking at
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Friday, September 26th at 10:20PM EST (link)The main attraction was decisive.
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
Tie?
Rod_Patrick (Diary) Friday, September 26th at 10:25PM EST (link)He’s either asleep or he’s exchanging the answers between the two candidates.
Why?
Never mind the substance because we’ve heard Senator Obama’s rhetorics before.
Obama was like the talking parrot of all Anti-American groups inside and outside of the country. Kudos to CODEPINK, MOVEON, ACLU, CPUSA and DSA… all in the tank of Senator Obama. You found your messenger… he’s Senator Obama!
Mixed review from listening on the radio
Uma Richie (Diary) Friday, September 26th at 10:44PM EST (link)Okay, okay, so my husband and I are in a small minority of people who listened to rather than watched the debate.
Our conclusion was that Sen Obama sounded more polished, although in some cases very rehearsed. We thought that his vocal performance was much better than Sen McCain’s.
We are concerned that Sen Obama’s vague generalities, outright lies and position changes went unchallenged. A voter tuning in for the first time probably would not have noticed and would have been attracted to this recent convert from the far left.
Informed voters on the other hand were probably shaking their heads at many of Sen Obama’s answers.
HUH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PaRep (Diary) Friday, September 26th at 10:49PM EST (link)With the Ton of AHHHHHHHHS & UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMS & UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHS & ;qnbv;klanbvas;pnj
Yes, really.
Uma Richie (Diary) Friday, September 26th at 10:58PM EST (link)Sen. Obama recited his prepared statements about a world that began in 2001.
Sen. McCain jammed 50 years of experience into two minute intervals.
RedState is my Obamaphobia therapy. If I thought things had gone very well, I’d be asleep right now. The many comments about a sweaty, scowling Obama and a happy, eager McCain are helping me out quite a bit.
Some early Pro-McCain comments from JohnMcCain.com
Swamp_Yankee (Diary) Friday, September 26th at 11:00PM EST (link)http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/NewsReleases/Read.aspx?guid=42b7d4b1-be59-4f16-88e9-a9a706ccd135
Expect More
McCain Left Points on the Table!
tippycanoe (Diary) Friday, September 26th at 11:03PM EST (link)McCain should have beat down the notion that Al Quaida has reformulated. Perhaps they have reconstituted somewhat, but we have decimated their ranks, killed most of their leaders, and driven them out of Iraq. McCain should have seized on the “what will you have to give up because of the $700 billion bail out” question when Obama listed off at least five untouchables (perhaps trillions)that undoubtedly would require raising taxes to pay for. McCain should have argued that Obama supports the surge concept because that is what he is recommending in Afganistan. More importantly, if we send our troops to Afganistan, they certainly aren’t coming home from Iraq. They just be doing a left turn. John Kennedy moment: “I’ve known Henry Kissinger for 30 years. I’m sure he does not enjoy your characterization of him (close enought).” Zinger: to Iran prez “no you’re not.” One last comment: Obama has zero sense of humor. He’s a tool.
Jewish Americans
dld1717 (Diary) Friday, September 26th at 11:36PM EST (link)I will say this and have said it before
I do not know how any Jewish American who wants the state of Israel to continue to thrive can support Obama when he wants to sit down with Iran
MSM perception shapers' grip on Americans is slipping.
stang (Diary) Saturday, September 27th at 12:14AM EST (link)The cognitive dissonance resulting from the ever widening chasm between the reality Americans can see and hear for themselves and what the MSM perception shapers are telling them is making all but the most hard-core libs restive and uncomfortable. Singing to the choir if you will.
Combine that with the widely held view that the media is overwhelmingly biased for BO/Dems and their rapidly disappearing credibility, I suspect that you may be giving the media credit for nonexistent powers of influence.
If you’re an R/conservative, you already discount 99.9% of what we see and hear in the MSM. I think we agree that McCain won solidly tonight but it was not a knockout. More work to be done. Still voting for JMcC.
If you’re an apostle of the Obamessiah, the talking heads at the alphabets are a bunch of neocon dupes. I get *my news at at DKos, HuffPo and O is the man!* Not receptive to reasoned debate. Hopeless. MSM will have no influence at all. The apostles will have noticed that the Great One just sold them down the river tonight. They heard it with their own ears.(although I’ll admit that many of them have comprehension and reasoning issues) How’s the MSM gonna spin that to make things right with the reality based world?
And if you’re a D of the still have my senses variety, you know, the adults that are still Ds, how do you reconcile what you just watched tonight with the talking heads saying BO won the debate in the morning? You know, maybe we might have been a little hasty jumping on this Obamawagon. The MSM has less and less truck with this group every day and more and more of them ain’t buyin’ it anymore.
The genuinely undecided are probably in play for the MSM. It’s wide, but just how deep is that puddle? Don’t know. I suspect a lot of UDs are just waiting to see which way this breaks so they can say “I voted for President XX” or won’t say out of fear of provoking unwanted attention. Wishy washy. Either way, they have a plan, they’re just not gonna talk about it ’til after the election. See Vidal quote below.
It is my fervent hope that the only influence the talking heads have is to accelerate their slide into irrelevance. And thank God for the internet and RedState!
“Whenever the legislators endeavor to take away and destroy the property of the people, or to reduce them to slavery under arbitrary power, they put themselves into a state of war with the people, who are thereupon absolved from any farther obedience, and are left to the common refuge which God hath provided for all men against force and violence.”
John Locke
Not to rain on the parade but...
MadHatChemist Saturday, September 27th at 10:28AM EST (link)I’d say that the debate was at best a draw. And a draw at the debate means an Obama win.
Why? Because it means he comes across as ready enough. THAT is what is keeping him so low in the polls. But if he can convince people that he’s good enough, the election will break towards him big time.
Obama has a silvered forked tongue and he spoke well and directly tot he camera (i.e. to the audience). McCain also didn’t distance himself from Bush…and painting himself as the true alternative to Bush is the ONLY way McCain can win.
There are still two more debates, so it is important to point out to him and his handlers where he was difficient so that he can do better next time.
Not to rain on the parade but...
MadHatChemist Saturday, September 27th at 10:29AM EST (link)I’d say that the debate was at best a draw. And a draw at the debate means an Obama win.
Why? Because it means he comes across as ready enough. THAT is what is keeping him so low in the polls. But if he can convince people that he’s good enough, the election will break towards him big time.
Obama has a silvered forked tongue and he spoke well and directly tot he camera (i.e. to the audience). McCain also didn’t distance himself from Bush…and painting himself as the true alternative to Bush is the ONLY way McCain can win.
There are still two more debates, so it is important to point out to him and his handlers where he was difficient so that he can do better next time.
Not to rain on the parade but...
MadHatChemist Saturday, September 27th at 10:33AM EST (link)I’d say that the debate was at best a draw. And a draw at the debate means an Obama win.
Why? Because it means he comes across as ready enough. THAT is what is keeping him so low in the polls. But if he can convince people that he’s good enough, the election will break towards him big time.
Obama has a silvered forked tongue and he spoke well and directly tot he camera (i.e. to the audience). McCain also didn’t distance himself from Bush…and painting himself as the true alternative to Bush is the ONLY way McCain can win.
There are still two more debates, so it is important to point out to him and his handlers where he was difficient so that he can do better next time.
Not to rain on the parade but...
MadHatChemist Saturday, September 27th at 10:34AM EST (link)I’d say that the debate was at best a draw. And a draw at the debate means an Obama win.
Why? Because it means he comes across as ready enough. THAT is what is keeping him so low in the polls. But if he can convince people that he’s good enough, the election will break towards him big time.
Obama has a silvered forked tongue and he spoke well and directly tot he camera (i.e. to the audience). McCain also didn’t distance himself from Bush…and painting himself as the true alternative to Bush is the ONLY way McCain can win.
There are still two more debates, so it is important to point out to him and his handlers where he was difficient so that he can do better next time.