Presidential Debate #1: McCain vs Obama

[fullautovalmet76]

I'm curious what the DRTV community thinks of the first debate.

For me, I think Obama bested McCain. Obama looked sharper, more prepared. He seemed to be ready to take the issues to McCain. In contrast, McCain looked as if he had nothing but contempt for Obama while repeating his campaign themes. While McCain may be justified, McCain needs to understand that he is in a fight with this guy and he has to take him on. Obama was the street fighter from Chicago, and McCain looked like the properly disciplined midshipmen in the boxing ring at the Naval Academy- all nice and proper and ready to have his ass beat, but with honor.

Fortunately I already cast my vote- I voted by absentee ballot here in Florida. I voted for Palin via McCain. If I had to base my decision on this debate alone, and I did not have any core positions, I would have to vote for Obama. He was the better of the two on Friday night. 

[Hazcat]

You must have been watching a different debate than I.

Even a lefty newpaper from democratic Pittsburgh says McCain won.


The first debate: Advantage McCain
Saturday, September 27, 2008

Buzz up!


"It is not necessary to understand things in order to argue about them," wrote French playwright Caron de Beaumarchais in "The Barber of Seville." Barack Obama bore an uncanny resemblance to that remark Friday night in the first presidential debate with John McCain.

The often stammering Democrat nominee showed yet again -- to borrow a phrase he filched from Hollywood -- that he doesn't get it, especially when it comes to matters economic.

Sen. Obama seemed to blame the current financial crisis primarily on some mythical Republican ideology "that regulation is always bad." And in the World According to Barack, no economic policies predating the Bush administration could possibly have contributed to the implosion.

The junior senator of Illinois also endlessly played the class-warfare card, oddly implying that the investment needed to create jobs -- an investment climate that his policies would kill -- somehow comes from the "bottom up," not the top down.

And Sen. Obama repeatedly misrepresented his proposed massive tax increases as tax cuts for virtually all. It's a neat trick that is political charlatanism at its worst.

Throw in his bumbling, stumbling and naivete on national security and foreign policy and Barack Obama came across last night as exactly what he is -- one of the most inexperienced politicians ever nominated for president.

And John McCain never looked more presidential.


http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/archive/s_590444.html

 

[Hazcat]

"Pittsburg?"

OOPS!!!!!!!!!!  I guess I've been living in Sy Petersburg too long!

[ericire12]

I voted Obama (Ouch that hurt me to say that) because I thought he looked better prepared then McCain did...... Obviously because McCain was in Washington focused on our economic problems and Obama was working with his debate prep team...... "If you need me, call me".

McCain seemed to just be rehashing the same one liners that he has been using on the campaign trail for months, and I found that a little weak.

I also think that at the very least he might have tied McCain, and that in and of itself is a big win for Obama.



He is a great video from the debate where Obama can’t remember the soldier’s name on his bracelet:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r_jTgGeVU4

1:15 Mark "I got a bracelet too.... ummmm... uhhhh"

[Hazcat]

Let's see...

UMMM UHHHH agreed with McCain eight ( 8 ) times, stutterd more than answered, could'nt remember the name on his "me too!" bracelet (that he has been asked NOT to wear http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/warner-todd-huston/2008/09/28/family-told-obama-not-wear-soldier-sons-bracelet-where-media ), and in general came across as angry.

Oh yeah, he done real good! 

[Sponsor]

[fullautovalmet76]

Attacking me does not change the reality- Obama won Friday's debate. I don't really care what newspaper says what happened. McCain has to get over the fact he is facing someone who is not really up to the job- one can see that in the fact that McCain would not even look at Obama during the debate. He has to take this guy on and aggressively hit him on the issues or he is going to get his ass beat. I know that's hard to swallow for some, but that's the reality.

[Hazcat]

Let's see, McCain decides to talk to the person asking the question and the American people (via the camera), marginalizes UMMM UHHH's face time, whoops his butt on every question, calls him out on his Iraq policies, etc. but you say he's not 'taking him on". 

Barry's big moment was "Me too, me too!  I have a bracelet!" and the eight times he stated that McCain was right.  Barry makes a good follower, not a leader.

Quite reading the MSM and listening to the talking heads.  Even they say the best idiot boy did was 'stay even'.  That should clue you into the fact that he actually lost. 

BTW I did not know disagreeing with someone and pointing out facts that go to disproving their stance was "attacking".

[TSB]

I see disagreement, not an attack on what was said.

I don't see a clear winner in the debate and not once did I hear anyone actually answer the question that was asked.  While I don't personally care for either candidate, I think we are at an impass and basically dealing with a "Who can do less damage" over the next four years.  After that, who knows?  Only time will tell if a War Veteran or a unqualified stutterer can do the job.  We are the Government and lets get back to what's important.

Focus on your Senate and House races!  That is where the real change will take place and those are the folks with the checkbook in D.C..  Our RKBA is protected and 38 states are required to change that fact.  Yes, they may alter the interpretation but WE are in the majority regarding the 2nd Ammendment.

We The People...

T

[fullautovalmet76]

Timothy,
I agree that the Congressional races are especially important. I also believe that some of the races are going to be heavily influenced by what happens in the Presidential race. After the decision was handed down in DC vs. Heller, it underscored for me how important this election is.

I agree with you that they really did not give concise answers to the questions. I look back to the Kennedy vs. Nixon debate and remember the lesson about style over substance. You probably remember that those listening by radio thought Nixon won, but those who saw the debate on television thought Kennedy won. The point I'm trying to make here is that style has just as much weight as substance in these debates. Obama seems to understand this principle, though I'm not sure that McCain has it nailed down yet.

Hazcat,
As far as me reading the MSM or listening to the talking heads to let them influence me, you are wrong. I actually think for myself and I know what I believe and why I believe it. I tend to be pretty independent, so the "herd followers", the practitioners of conventional wisdom, and the "Kool-Aid drinkers" don't really like my opinions.

[PegLeg45]

There are many issues at stake with this election, the Second Amendment being (obviously) a big one here on this forum.
The future solution to many of these issues will be as much, or more, dependent on Senate and House elections than the Presidential election since the sitting President needs a willing Congress to get things done.

I think one of the biggest 2A concerns regarding the Presidential election is future Supreme Court Justice nominations.
McCain is apt to nominate conservatives who will likely interpret constitutional law as did the founding fathers.
Obama will definitely nominate extreme liberals who will skew the reading of law to "benefit" liberal agendas and move us farther toward 'big government'.

JMO...FWIW......(about $.02, maybe?)...