The Presidential DebateFollow

I agree!

But here's the problem: you're talking strictly about debating, your scope is narrowed to a very particular process. Which would be fine if this debate were the only element of this election, if everyone just went home afterwards and sussed-out a winner. But that's not the case. There's each on-going candidate's campaign and there's the presidency that will follow.

And what Obama's concessions inside the debate arena do outside the debate arena is show that he's willing to have honest dialog. That he's willing to let the reality of the situation influence his thoughts and words, even to the detriment of his own personal agenda (in this case, looking good enough to win the whitehouse). Obama's approach, his willingness to concede and listen, IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF GEORGE W. BUSH, who's basically been plugging his ears and humming for the better part of decade. For Obama, there is no stronger position. And the beauty of it is that Obama probably didn't even realize what he was doing--i.e., its a genuine difference instead of a difference manufactured for political gain.

So, did he really lose ground? In the context of the debate as and only as a debate, with all the debate team rules, yes. In the bid for the whitehouse? No. Not if his campaign lackeys make sure everyone knows how his giving ground contrasts him from Geo B.

And, hell, maybe it will do the world some good to have a leader who will listen.

Its beside the point, but I can't help but chuckle that hard line republicans, who hate the government and want it weak, continue to champion a president who, over the past 8 years, has made the government more powerful than it has ever been (e.g.: is not accountable to the people it serves, can ignore their wishes, can ignore the laws set in place to protect those people, can ignore laws that humankind has held dear for centuries, can decide elections, etc.). And here's a guy who, by the simple action of giving ground, shows that maybe he can give back to the people the powers the government has usurped, and the pubbies don't see it. But I guess to do so would be to concede, and we can't have that.

Actually, Jo, I received it in two different mediums. I watched the first half on television and listened to the second half on NPR while driving home.

I direct your attention to what you quoted from Slate: "McCain turned in a marginally stronger performance." Everything else in that article are just modifiers attempting to mitigate or spin the debate in Obama's favor-- and this coming from a hardcore Left wing website. However, I agree with the gist of the article, which demonstrates my proven ability to rise above mere party cheerleading (S'up, average Asylumite?).

The one thing Slate failed to address is how McCain drove the tempo of the debate for the last 2/3rds of the debate. Obama was defending himself, correcting or explaining himself, and having to do damage control. While it may not register with voters, in a strict debating format that leaves McCain as the clear winner.

Totem

I wasn't offended, I'm just stating a fact.

Can I still give you a man-hug? I promise to press my groin into you and hold you awkwardly and uncomfortably long.

Totem

Hope that gives you comfort.

Looking at the poll posted earlier and the comment section afterwards, Independent voters saw McCain's pit bull style as more rude and condescending. They were really put off by how he wouldn't make eye contact or directly address Obama. So while pundits and GoP may give win to McCain, the people who votes count, give win to Obama.

I felt it was a draw, giving Obama points for facts and appearing personable, while McCain got points for his constant ranting. As an Obama supporter, he looked like the new McCain in pushing same old lies, while showed some of the old McCain polish in not stumbling over memory farts that have riddled his recent campaign events.

Palin acts and looks like a younger version of McCain in heels and lipstick, who feels she only needs to learn talking points and has no actual idea of what she talking about.

I watched some of it. The same BS rhetoric was spewed from both sides. Nothing has changed the way I'm voting.

mccain made points with obamas ear marks and the iraq surge. thats about it.

obama made points with going into iraq in the first place and did a fantastic job pointing out that mccains economic plan looks very much like the one bush has been using for the last 8 years that got us here.

if you think going into iraq was a good thing, then its a toss up depending on weather or not you think the bush economic stratagy is what got us into this economic mess or not.

if you think going into iraq was a bad thing, it was obamas debate.

if you look at fox news, ALL THE REPUBS HAVE is sound bits of obama saying mccain was right with a few of his issues but not the rest of the message showing he is not going far enough with them. basically spinn. nothing about the actual issues, just the sound bites. that in itself should tell you the repubs dont think mccain came out ahead, if they did, they would be showing clips about actual issues.

for me, there is no greater atrocity committed by OUR COUNTRY than invading a sovergn country who posed no threat to anyone, then torturing prisoners of war. WE COMMITTED WAR CRIMES.

that can not be excused. and no american should REWARD that behaviour by handing the repubs another shot at our tax dollars.

agree. the vp debate will be more entertaining.

and the best part, all the repubs can possibly gain from it is not to loose ground.

if palin does a stellar job shredding biden and making him look like a fool, all the repubs will get out of it is acknolegement mccain made a good vp choice and the fight will still be between mccain and obama. thats a best case senario.

on the other hand, if biden shreds palin, even mccains supporters will be wondering why in hell he chose her out of all of the available tried and true republican women that are already well known.

so if she does good, the independants focus on mccain vs obama. thats the best the repubs can do with this one. if she does bad, it makes mccain look like a fool for choosing her. biden has his faults too, but he has tried and proven strengths to go along with them. the repubs can shred biden, and biden can make himself look like a fool, but even the repubs will admit biden was a smart choice. mabe not the best, but certainly a smart choice.

mccain stands no gain with the vp debate and the possibility of a very bad loss. obama stands no loss with the vp debate and the possibility of a very good gain.

The VP debate won't be interesting, it'll be two simultaneous interviews. The debate format is far more strict than the presidential debates, which is unfortunate.

Ehh, it isn't really "stricter"...just more questions with a shorter response time for each. They don't want Palin to have too much time to "talk" to Biden since he'd eat her alive. For those unaware of the debate formats, see below...



Nexa