Presidential Debates

[Winnow]

I watched the entire first debate and would call it a draw.

Negatives for McCain:

-didn't look into the camera
-didn't look at Obama at all

Negatives for Obama

-didn't really do anything to make be feel better about his international affairs competency


Good debate. Didn't like the moderator though. Hope he's not doing every one of these. He sucked IMO for both candidates.

[Fairweather Pure]

We knew Obama was going to be a better speaker, so no shocker there. Given that foreign policy is McCain's strongpoint and Obam's weakest (in the eyes of the public), I think it went well for Obama, all things considered.

McCain handled himself much better than I expected. While I don't agree with his take on how to handle forgeign policy, I understand his views. I think that is an important thing to get across. I was really only turned off by the fact that he kept a cold shoulder to Obama the entire time, and had that "republican sneer" like Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld. I also didn't like all the downtalking. I guess it's all part of strategy and making talking points, but I thought it was uncalled for. Obama took everything he threw at him with grace and dignity. He was very Presidential. I also didn't like the fact that McCain just didn't acknowledge some of Omaba's criticism. I was happy to hear them both mention military and foreign leaders by name. They both seemed quite comfortable discussing the world stage.

I just cannot help but look at the current world view of America and believe what we have been doing is working. We need a very strong change. The fact that McCain was so against everything Obama was saying made me think perhaps Obama is right. It was old view vs new view right there for everyone to see.

I disagree with Biden and other Democrats that are calling it a slam dunk win. I thought they both just shored up their respective bases. I was dissappointed that both seemd to skirt the current buyout crisis. Neither one tackeled it head on. I would've liked to have seen that.

Some of the fact checkers had some great information based on the various talking points of the candidates. One was how the Disabled American Veterans scored McCain a mere 20/100 based on his history of voting, which ranked him 459th out of the 462 member of Congress that were rated. Seeig that fact so soon after McCain's lead out, realy crushed what he just said. It made me think he will say anything.

Obama should've been more aggressive on the financial side of things. He was too gentlemanly. I did really like his method of "agree on what you can, then discuss your differences".

I would rank them as such:

Obama 8
McCain 7

Neither said anything mind blowing or truely awesome IMO. However, after the debates, McCain's responses left me with a lot of questions like why won't he sit down with Spain and what is his plan to get us out of Iraq? Why won't he talk to these hostile countries like so many respected advisors suggest is the way to go? Btw, throwing Kissenger back at McCain was a decent zinger. McCain didn't even acknowledge that one.

The only question Obama really left me wondering was what was that white thing on his lip that appeared as he was talking?

So, Palin vs Biden? That should be fun. Biden said he wouldn't do all the talking down like McCain displayed tonight. I will hold him to that and be watching for it. Personally, I think it would be very hard not to talk down to Palin, or anyone else that was so unqualified being put on stage to debate me.

[Xatrei]

I don't have time to go into a lot of detail, but I think Obama had a pretty strong performance. McCain was unimpressive, and at times quite unpleasant and dismissive. McCain got some minor facts confused, and misused a word repeatedly, highlighting his general confused state of being (he kept saying "dividend" when he was clearly referring to "deductions" during the early part of the debate). He kept falling back onto false claims that have been disproved repeatedly (e.g. claims about Obama's tax plan, among several others). When are people going to drop the pretense of politeness and start calling McCain what he seems to have become: a liar? Obama stayed on message, he didn't overuse the infamous "uh," he came across as thoughtful, likable and magnanimous (too magnanimous, IMO). Most importantly, he showed that he is well versed on the subjects at hand and that he has both the knowledge and demeanor necessary for the job he's seeking. Overall, I think that the night was Obama's, although he didn't completely run away with things. I'd say 60/40 split in favor of Obama, and so far much of the early opinion polling on the night is reflecting that.

I liked Lehrer in his role as moderator, but I wish he'd been a little more firm enforcing time discipline on both candidates.

[Forthe]

I watched the entire first debate and would call it a draw.

Negatives for McCain:

-didn't look into the camera
-didn't look at Obama at all

Negatives for Obama

-didn't really do anything to make be feel better about his international affairs competency

Good debate. Didn't like the moderator though. Hope he's not doing every one of these. He sucked IMO for both candidates.

I think content wise McCain came back and edged out Obama after a rough start. Visually tho Obama won hands down and McCain looked twitchy and angry several times (besides the two points you made).

SurveyUSa had a flash debate poll from Washington state with McCain winning 40-38. McCain leads on the foreign policy questions by healthy margins, Obama leads narrowly on the economy. So content wise you could call it roughly a draw if not a McCain edge. However, on the question of who was more presidential Obama leads by a healthy margin.

If you watch the debate with the sound muted there is a stark contrast between the two.

--------------------

The media seems to be giving McCain a pass on his claim that Pakistan was a failed state when Musharraf took over. Musharraf took power in a military coup of a democratic government.

[Nick]

McCain spent too much time coming off like a sneering lying asshole. Too little respect for his opponent and too many lies (his support for the veterans/Gi bill and "against torture"/"but for waterboarding!) etc etc. Both had legitimate elements of substance in what they discussed, but tbh i just simply agree with Obama. I find McCain dishonest, his opinions too absolutist and somewhat small minded.

I think this will be bad for McCain among independents. Which, lets face it, thats who they were both going after.

Obama came across as the more reasoned, rational and intelligent of the two, yet I feel he should have been substantially less polite given McCain's ridiculous behaviour. Obama allowed McCain to look like the condescending twat he tried to be, and it may work, but he also has to invoke a little more passion and fire into his demeanour, only a little, but still a little. I expect we will see that more in the next debates. I expect Obama wanted this debate to frame the following ones and we will see him become more assertive in the next 2 (hopefully?).

It was pretty unbelievable watching how easily McCain is prepared to flat out lie to the American public's faces.

[Markulas]

This first debate won't change anything in the long run. Both candidates did fine. No major gaffes to be replayed over and over and the public's memory is 3-4 days. We need to start preparing for the theatre that will be the VP debate. Drinking words thus far: "bridge", "Alaska", "blink".

[Fairweather Pure]

I like how Biden made the rounds on news networks after the debate. Btw, Palin was offered the same thing but she turned it down. Instead, Giuliani filled that role. I really don't know what else needs to be said about that. McCain and his staff have zero confidence in Palin. They show it every day in the most obvious and striking ways.

[Tyek]

I agree with most of the assessments here. it did little to say me towards McCain. I thought Obama came off as Presidential. I think the fact that Palin did not follow up like Biden did is more telling then anything I heard in the debate.

[cadalano]

Mark, the chug word is " fixin' "


McCain had more emotion and "in my day" stories, Obama presented more relevance to current events and stayed on topic throughout. I think Obama would have benefited from spewing some emotional rhetoric although I don't think its the appropriate thing to bring to a debate.

McCain was much more on the offense than I expected, but most of his attacks were countered well by Obama, i thought. He came off as stretching the truth.

Agree on disappointment over the buyout topic. missed opportunity to shine, for both men

McCain also said "David Eisenhower", so the score is now 2 to 1 on World War 2 era gaffes.

[valryte]

While I don't agree with his take on how to handle forgeign policy, I understand his views.

And you shouldn't, especially when he's just wrong. Pakistan a failed state?

And how many times did he go off on one of his melodramatic stories? Glad to see Obama punch back with his remark, "I have a bracelet too." Obama brought up point after point, all McCain did was sit there, never looking at him, telling stories, calling Obama naive and inexperienced, and repeating the same lies about Obama over and over. At least when McCain brought something up, Obama addressed it, or at least tried to. What did McCain do when Obama brought something up, tell stories and resort to name calling, completely avoiding a real response. One of the biggest example of this is whenever Obama would call McCain out on being flat out wrong about the Iraq war and how McCain would just avoid it and say, but the surge was successful!

[Xatrei]

McCain also said "David Eisenhower", so the score is now 2 to 1 on World War 2 era gaffes.

I'd have to go back and watch it again to be absolutely sure, but to be fair, I'm pretty sure he said "Dwight David Eisenhower," which is correct. I think he was just adding the middle name to appear more familiar with the history, and looked a little douchey in the process.

[Spang]

John McCain is an asshole.

[Canelek]

I didn't see a clear victor here. I thought they both could have been more patient when they did not like what the other was saying. I thought both skirted some questions, although the moderator was not as good as I would have hoped. We'll see how the others do.

One thing that did stand out, and maybe it is just me.... I got really tired of McCain propping General Patreus(sp) up like he was nominating HIM for president. Luckily, his creepy dead stare didn't bother me as much.

Overall, I think it was a wash with both dudes grading at B.

[Winnow]

McCain also said "David Eisenhower", so the score is now 2 to 1 on World War 2 era gaffes.

Don't think he did but that's a lame point as McCain was rattling off leaders in the former Soviet states like nobody's business while Obama had a hard time calling McCain's first name, "John", or remembering the moderators name.

Weak argument there.

The bracelet thing is stupid. Kerry started that shit. I'd bet the next episode of Gossip Girl that Kerry ripped the bracelet off his wrist the second he lost (and would have done the same if he had won)

Bracelets are lame. Next we'll be seeing these candidates wearing womens underwear in honor of breast cancer or something equally gey.

[Nick]

Obama had a hard time calling McCain's first name, "John", or remembering the moderators name.

Sorry when was this? Was this on some other fictional debate that only you saw? The only one who had a hard time with names was McCain. Achemenedendenujad. Achminujed. Achmedinejaad.

[Spang]

The moderator's first name is Jim. McCain's first name is John. Obama called McCain Jim once, but he corrected himself right away.

[Winnow]

Rewatch the debate dickcheese. Sounds like, if you even watched it the first time, you chose to remember just the liberal bullshit you typically spew...hmmm, sounds like you probably just read a summary on sandalwearers.com

[Funkmasterr]

I would also say there was no clear winner. I got what I expected, both of them trying their hardest to talk about what they want to and avoid the questions asked of them. It's pretty sad when the moderator has to talk to them like they are children (they were both equally as guilty of it) and explain to them that they needed to answer the questions.

I thing I will say is I found Obama's attitude unacceptable. When he was pointing at the mod to imply "can I talk yet", moving his mouth like he was gonna start talking, and shifting around.. pathetic. People in this thread have called that "presidential"? Give me a fucking break, he didn't carry himself any better there than I do here when you fuckheads piss me off.

I did learn a few things from the debate that I didn't know before it, but they were about things that are going on in the world, not either of their policies.

At least neither of them told us to check their website. The first one to do that is the hands-down loser of everything.

[Spang]

You find everyone's attitude unacceptable. You have issues. You need psychiatric help.

[Forthe]

As I said before I thought McCain edged out Obama but it looks like style beat substance.

Rasmussen
Gallup

[Xyun]

Give me a fucking break, he didn't carry himself any better there than I do here when you fuckheads piss me off.

LOL!


hahahahahahaahahhahaahahahahahha.


Funk you hit the jackpot, the best way to diminish Obama is by comparing him to you!

[Funkmasterr]

Give me a fucking break, he didn't carry himself any better there than I do here when you fuckheads piss me off.

LOL!


hahahahahahaahahhahaahahahahahha.


Funk you hit the jackpot, the best way to diminish Obama is by comparing him to you!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Don't address the point I made (not that there is any possible excuse you could make for his attitude anyhow), just be your usual arrogant, egocentric self. VV is a great way for me to remind myself how retarded liberals are. You all exemplify the stereotypes of idiot liberals to the T, which makes the idea that any of you think you are intelligent that much funnier.

[Xyun]

[Siji]

For me it wasn't a slam dunk for either candidate. For intelligent people, Obama being generous to McCain showed class. It showed that he's not afraid to give credit to others or admit when he agrees with an opponent. For everyone else, all they saw was "Obama said McCain was right several times and McCain never said Obama was right, so he must not have been omg!" I don't think you'll see that happening again. I suspect you'll see a much more assertive Barack in the next debate. This was McCain's best opportunity to lay the smackdown, and he failed to do so.

[Tyek]

I just love the the old "republicans are stupid, Democrats are so smart" shit everyone keeps bringing up. Trust me Xyun, there are plenty of dumb ass Democrats.

I am a registered Republican, it just means I vote in their primaries. I make a voting decision based on my personal beliefs, not the ones my designated party tells me to vote for. Anyone who votes solely along party lines is stupid.

Back to the topic on hand

This election Obama holds more of the ideals I am looking for in a President. He also stands for a lot of things I disagree with. I still have a hard time imagining how much of my hard earned money he is going to want to give to other people. I have stated this several times so I will leave it at that. I am trying to make sure that I have money when I get older so I can retire early with my arthritic knees, his plans may delay that.

I do love that he will talk with our enemies, why is this such a taboo idea?

McCain is scaring me with this unhitching of employment healthcare. My son needs growth hormones and I have osteo-arthritis in my knees. No insurance company in the world will touch us without being required too. Even with health care, between deductibles, monthly costs and all the surgeries, I have been averaging 14K out of pocket a year for the last 6 years. Imagine what McCain's plan would do to my family. McCain tried to make his plan sound perfect, it sure did not sound like it to me.

[Funkmasterr]

For me it wasn't a slam dunk for either candidate. For intelligent people, Obama being generous to McCain showed class. It showed that he's not afraid to give credit to others or admit when he agrees with an opponent. For everyone else, all they saw was "Obama said McCain was right several times and McCain never said Obama was right, so he must not have been omg!" I don't think you'll see that happening again. I suspect you'll see a much more assertive Barack in the next debate. This was McCain's best opportunity to lay the smackdown, and he failed to do so.

For me it just isn't about that, and I think it's sad that it has to be.

I'd like to watch the debates to get a good idea of how they stand on issues, get clear concise answers from each of the candidates that are not clouded with shit talking, just so I can see where they both stand.

I know I don't like Obama, and I know I'm not going to vote for him, however - I would like to know exactly where he stands on issues so that if he does get elected, I know what to expect.

I just wish they would focus less on what they dislike about each other and more on explaining to us all how they feel about the questions asked and why.

[Spang]

If you want to know where Obama stands on the issues, so you'll "know what to expect" once he's elected, do some research, you lazy fuck!

[Sylvus]

Don't tell him to check a website, as that'll make you the hands-down loser of everything. Disregarding the fact that the internet is ideally suited for a candidate to lay out specifically what their plans and platforms are.

[Funkmasterr]

Don't tell him to check a website, as that'll make you the hands-down loser of everything. Disregarding the fact that the internet is ideally suited for a candidate to lay out specifically what their plans and platforms are.

Oh give me a fucking break. The debates ARE FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN THIS SHIT. That's what they are for, people that don't want to research the candidates (this would be the majority of people in the country, I would guess) to learn more. Had I wanted to know everything about him, I would have checked his goddamn website before the debate..

What's so fucking hard to understand about that?

To spang - I'm not interested enough in Obama to go educate myself on the ins and outs of what he wants to do. I know the basics already, and I'd like to be able to derive some info from the debates, and shit talking doesn't accomplish that.

[Spang]

You're so full of shit.

[Aslanna]

Oh give me a fucking break. The debates ARE FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN THIS SHIT. That's what they are for, people that don't want to research the candidates (this would be the majority of people in the country, I would guess) to learn more. Had I wanted to know everything about him, I would have checked his goddamn website before the debate..

Who cares anyhow. The debates are and always have been a waste of time full of their best attempts to skirt the questions asked of them. I hardly think this will sway anyone either way that knows their head from their ass.

I've figured out the person behind Funk's keyboard: Sarah Palin. Don't hate me because I'm beautiful.

[Forthe]

And that is what it looks like to be seriously owned.

Kind of like Fey using Palin's own words in her SNL skit.

[Funkmasterr]

And that is what it looks like to be seriously owned.

Kind of like Fey using Palin's own words in her SNL skit.

How so? Let's re-examine the quotes.

Oh give me a fucking break. The debates ARE FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN THIS SHIT. That's what they are for, people that don't want to research the candidates (this would be the majority of people in the country, I would guess) to learn more. Had I wanted to know everything about him, I would have checked his goddamn website before the debate..

Here I express what the debates should be about - informing people. Specifically to myself, I don't want to research and learn everything there is to know about Obama, but I'd like to get a good overview from the debates. Again, trash talking doesn't help this at all.

Who cares anyhow. The debates are and always have been a waste of time full of their best attempts to skirt the questions asked of them. I hardly think this will sway anyone either way that knows their head from their ass.

Here I express what the debates are, unfortunately. They should be what I said above, but they aren't. Also worth mentioning, there is no way the debates would sway me towards Obama, and my wanting to at least get an idea of where he stands does nothing to disprove that.

So um.. Maybe explain to me how that's me getting owned?

[miir]

Here I express what the debates should be about

Your words do not accurately represent your intent.

[Chidoro]

People seem to vote on personality, taglines, and party title. In these regards, I think they both accomplished what they were trying to do.
People always hear what they want to hear but:
McCain did not come off as overly knowledgable about foreign policy. Just stating that you been around for a long time isn't justification.
While he's likable to a certain degree, he dodged a lot of issues.
While he seemed more personable (something that worked very well for G.W.), you could visibly see him getting pissed off.
Obama did address McCain after Lehrer reminded them both that this was, in fact, a debate.
Some could see Obama as elitist as opposed to just being a really bright guy.
Obama stood up for himself and also was getting visibly pissed.

I disliked how dismissive the candidates were regarding the economy. I know the debate was to be about foreign policy, but what's going on now in this country financially is the most important thing the US has to face, bar none yet it wasn't delved into enough even though the initial questions were asked. Obama definitely should have tried to push that more as companies fucking up and screwing over a lot of middle class people under the Bush admin with McCain's blessings.

Aside note, how many fucking facelifts has Jim Lehrer had? He was one creepy ghoulish sob out there.

[Bubba Grizz]

I tuned in late to the debate but from what I saw I was kind of annoyed by McCain's continuous slamming on the point of experience. But what really got me was the constant blinking of his eyes. The kind of "tell" you get when someone is lying. I wanted to believe that he wasn't lying and he probably wasn't but as they say, "perception is reality".

Still undecided however.