United we stand.

Says a lot when our guy gets ZERO positive headlines and still is keeping this thing even. Listening to the talking heads, I wonder what debate they watched.

Even Barack seemed to endorse McCain! I LOL’d at this.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160287517059

Unless Obama fell flat on his face it was clear they’d declare him the winner.

But, the larger issue is that the media based on their polls have declared Obama the winner by a substantial margin. The conventional wisdom coming out of this is that McCain lost the debate.

While I may disagree with this along with nearly everyone at this site does as well, the fact is that like the NYT unless McCain fell flat on his face, we’d declare him the winner, right or wrong.

I’m afraid looking back on it that spending the much of the economy debt beating the earmarks drum while failing to address points Obama brought up like McCain’s 300 billion in tax cuts vs the 18 billion a year earmarks are in the budget. McCain rather than branch out spent much of the time on the economy on earmarks which when looking at the bailout (700 billion) and McCain’s tax cut plan (300 billion) Obama made seem very small.

I think it’s things like that which probably caused true ‘undecided’ voters to give McCain the edge. And that’s going to drive the MSM stories and headlines.

McCain may have done something very good when he stumbled over Ach-whathisname’s name.

One thing that will turn off a lot of people who think Obama is too “foreign” or who believe he is either a Muslim or just too influenced by Muslim culture is the fact that Obama pronounces the names of Middle Eastern countries much differently than most people here do.

He says them in a way that sounds very similar to the pronunciations used by the people who live in those countries.

Now, there could be a strategic point to it for Obama. When other countries deal with an Anglo-centric culture, any tiny little bit of perceived respect or cultural knowledge that the Anglo shows means a lot. I work with Japanese engineers often since I work nights on my helpdesk. The structure of our organization is confusing — the engineers and I both work for the same company, but I am acting in these calls as a representative of our client, and am often confused for the customer. Due to our customer’s guidelines, I have to walk the engineer through every step and document it all. This leads to strained relations, as we are perceived as rude and not adequately respecting the engineer’s knowledge. So, even though it is questionable whether or not using -san is truly polite, I use it anyway, and usually say something like “Please forgive me for repeating what Heero-san already knows, but I am required to document everything for our records” — and it is truly amazing how well they respond to someone at least showing they have some knowledge of how to show respect and be polite in their culture.

So regardless of if it’s deliberate or not for Obama to pronounce the names of Muslim countries in a pronunciation similar to that their citizens use, it is effective on foreign leaders.

However, it is NOT effective with the American people and reinforces the “foreign” issue.

McCain endeared himself to quite a few people in contrast by stumbling over Ach-whoever’s name. I don’t know if it was deliberate or not, but it will likely work to McCain’s advantage.

They’re read by liberal urbanites, who are all voting for Obama anyway and believe that Obama’s debarte victory is a fact, not an opinion.

(Incidentally, it is my opinion that Obama won, but the inevitable “I agree with John” video montage may sway a lot of the undecided who didn’t watch the debate.)

I have it from very good sources that after months of hand wringing meditation, intense scrutiny, thoughtful and deliberate process as well as peering for hours at sheep entrails.

After weighing all of the variables including burning incense.

Checking with the most knowledgeable people on the planet as well as two pilgrimages to the Oracle of Delphi.

I have learned one of the most well kept secrets in all mankind.

The New York Times will endorse Barack Obama.

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.

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.

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.

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.

They mentioned McCain stumbling over Ahmadinajad’s name, but completely missed the One stumbling to remember his soldier’s name on the bracelet.

Check my take on this subject at THE MINORITY REPORT