one fact check they pointed out on nbc after the debate was this claim that mccain saw the mortgage crisis two or three years ago when he called for regulation. mccain was actually referring to the raines accounting scandal. i also thought obama gave a very good answer on when intervention should be used. it was much more informed as to mccain's answer of when we can make sure we leave the area in a better situation. I'm glad that mccain didn't go sleazy although i don't think he really had a chance to.
McCain's too much of a coward to say the things his campaign and his attack bull dog have been saying to that one's face.
McCain has a history of poor judgement, it will be his undoing in this campaign. He is no Maverick, he is just a hot headed blow hard with poor judgement. DD
It was a push...no major scores nor no major gaffes by either Obama or McCain. McCain had to make a major score or Obama had to make a major gaffe in order to swing the momentum back to McCain's side. Since that didn't happen, push=Obama win. November 4th....bring it on!
I wouldn't mind a slight lean, but the way they do it is incredible and unwatchable...I don't know how MSNBC is but, I really think FOX is trying to start a cult... One of reasons why I primarily watch CNN...I like their balance of Rep/Dem...one complaint is that they have TOO many people (like 10 people in their panel) I think John King and David Gergen do a great job
My personal interpretation of last night Winner: Tom Brokaw Q: With the economy on the downturn and retired and older citizens and workers losing their incomes, what's the fastest, most positive solution to bail these people out of the economic ruin? O: It was their fault, outlined his general economic plan, did not directly answer question. M: Outlined his general economic plan, did not directly answer question. Winner: push, both fail. Q: Hank Paulson says he won't stay on. Who do you have in mind to appoint to that very important post? M: mentions Buffett and Meg Whitman O: mentions Buffett, returns to general economic plan Winner: push Q: Senators, through this economic crisis, most of the people that I know have had a difficult time. And through this bailout package, I was wondering what it is that's going to actually help those people out. M: It was their fault, bailout not enough, need reform in DC, does not directly answer. O: It should help unfreeze credit, which is a lifeline to small businesses and you. It wasn't our fault, it was their fault. Winner: slight edge to Obama for actually answering the question. Q: Is American economy is going to get much worse before it gets better and they ought to be prepared for that? O: No, but we have work to do. M: It depends on what we do. Winner: slight edge to McCain Q: How can we trust either of you with our money when both parties got -- got us into this global economic crisis? O: Everyone's to blame, but it's more them to blame than us. Inserts general health and economic plan. M: I fight against the machine that you're frustrated with and he feeds it. Tosses in general economic plan. Winner: push Q: Health policies, energy policies, and entitlement reform, what are going to be your priorities in what order? M: We'll tackle them all at once. Provides general plans. O: Energy, Health Care, Education. Returns to spending differences. Winner: slight edge to McCain. bonus for backing nuclear power moreso than Obama. Both docked equally for supporting "clean coal" (bogus). Can't decide if Obama inserting Education in place of Social Security gets or loses points. Q: As president, what sacrifices -- sacrifices will you ask every American to make to help restore the American dream and to get out of the economic morass that we're now in? M: Reduce big govt spending. O: We and the people need to start cutting back and living more efficiently. Winner: Obama Q: How would you, as president, try to break those bad habits of too much debt and too much easy credit, specifically, across the board, for this country, not just at the federal level, but as a model for the rest of the country, as well? O: He's a debt machine and wants to cut taxes for the rich, I want to put more of the burden on them (including myself). M: He's a taxer. I want to give a health care tax credit. Winner: Obama in a big way. Q: Would you give Congress a date certain to reform Social Security and Medicare within two years after you take office? O: Maybe within 4 years rather than 2. Revisits tax debate. M: It's not that hard, we just have to do it. Revisits taxes. Winner: Slight edge to Obama. Neither were very interested in talking about social security or medicare. Q: What would you do within the first two years to make sure that Congress moves fast as far as environmental issues, like climate change and green jobs? M: Lean on nuclear power, other alternative fuels. O: Invest in solar, wind, geothermal, and some nuclear. He's voted against them. Winner: personally, I agree more with McCain that nuclear plants have to take over the bulk of the energy grid. Both weren't directly answering the question, opting to focus on energy plans. Q: Should we fund a Manhattan-like project that develops a nuclear bomb to deal with global energy and alternative energy or should we fund 100,000 garages across America, the kind of industry and innovation that developed Silicon Valley? M: Yes, but hand it over to the private sector later. Returns to spending, drilling discussion. O: Not given a chance to respond. Winner: McCain by default. Q: Do you believe health care should be treated as a commodity? O: General healthcare discussion plans and differences. M: General healthcare discussion plans and differences. Winner: push Q: Is health care in America a privilege, a right, or a responsibility? M: Responsibility. Wary of mandates. O: Right. Rebuttals regarding mandates, differences regarding healthcare. Winner: Slight edge to Obama Q: How will all the recent economic stress affect our nation's ability to act as a peacemaker in the world? M: We have to be judicious about where we go and don't go, I am seasoned and he's not ready. O: Iraq hurt our ability through our international ties, and he's responsible. We need to repair our international relations. Winner: Neither directly answered, slight edge to McCain. Q: What is your doctrine for use of force that the United States would send when we don't have national security issues at stake (Rwanda, Somalia)? O: We still have a moral responsibility in absence of a national one. We need to repair our international relationships. M: Chides Obama over Iraq (insurgency). There are times when we have made a mistake becoming involved (Somalia, Lebanon), and I can better make those judgements. Winner: Slight edge to McCain. Neither directly answered the question. Q: Should the United States respect Pakistani sovereignty and not pursue al Qaeda terrorists who maintain bases there? O: If they won't take him out, we will. M: We have to work with the Pakistan govt. Winner: Slight edge to Obama. Q: How do you reorganize Afghanistan's strategy or do you? O: Shift forces from Iraq, improve Afghan govt. M: Employ modified insurgency principles from Iraq. Winner: push - time will tell. Q: How can we apply pressure to Russia for humanitarian issues in an effective manner without starting another Cold War? M: I've warned about Putin, Ukraine next, must provide support for former USSR nations. Won't be a Cold War. O: Need to provide support, must be proactive rather than reactive. Use energy as leverage. Winner: push - both on same page. Q: Do you think that Russia under Vladimir Putin is an evil empire? O: Not quite. M: Maybe. Winner: push - both on the same page. Q: If, despite your best diplomatic efforts, Iran attacks Israel, would you be willing to commit U.S. troops in support and defense of Israel? Or would you wait on approval from the U.N. Security Council? M: We'd go immediately, China and Russia would try to stall. Have to deal with Iran sternly now. O: Have to deal with Iran now, keep military as a possibility. Does not actually answer the question. Winner: Slight edge to McCain, but both mostly on the same page. Q: What don't you know and how will you learn it? O: The challenges as President are ones you don't expect. Closing statement. M: I don't know what's going to happen next. Closing statement. Winner: push - neither were interested in answering the actual question. Style points: Obama. McCain lost plenty with poor attempts at humor and came across as petty oftentimes with "crony" remarks and other jabs. Overall - it's a push. McCain did the slightest bit better in terms of answering the questions (directly and by his answers), but undid all of that with his bitter attitude toward Obama who stayed diplomatic in his responses. While McCain can boast about his seasoned experience, Obama has come out looking like a true statesman. If anyone won me over last night, it was probably Obama, despite the fact that I don't agree with his energy plan nor do I have as much confidence in his capability in foreign affairs.
Good post. Regarding nuclear: I'm wary of any large-scale plan that does not address waste storage immediately. Both candidates have yet to even mention how on earth they will handle that political and technical monster.
I also very much like and agree with emjohn's post. I would change one or two things slightly... maybe. McCain: by a tiny percentage, more direct answers. more attacks. But kudos for not going at character. That would have been a big loser for him overall, even though his base wants that. So I have more respect for him, or at least his common sense if not decency, on that front. Obama: much more presidential, poised, and calm. more intelligent. more fluid. Even more comfortable on the weird chair/stool. I did not learn anything new about the candidates. And I feel Obama could have scored a real knock-out with undecideds by directly answering each question quickly before going onto larger talking points. I voted "draw," even though the debate will clearly help Obama more than McCain in the polls.
