For those who thought McCain won the first debate...

I didn't really think that McCain seperated himself much, but I thought Obama lost on three issues: refusal to state what he would cut in a period of declining tax revenues, a blatant endorsement of the dangerous Bush strategy in Pakistan, and the disingenuous gotcha games on McCain's confusion about the Spanish Prime Minister's name.

 

Please read the instructions again, thanks.

 

Too snarky, my apologies.

 

Doesn't matter Romeny proves that Obama is a senator killer lol

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From the standpoint of a bystander it looked like McCain was trying to win on the point of experience. Every other response had some sort of reference to one of his "old friends", Kissinger and Reagan and old senators and situations (freedom fighters in Afghanistan) from times when Obama was not even yet in politics.

From the standpoint of a voter, it came off to me as a grandfather trying to reminisce about his good ol' days. But if Republicans are going to lean on something, this would probably be one of the main points. The other thing I heard McCain trying to push was his conception that cutting governmental spending alone (as well as implied deregulation) would be enough to solve the country's economic woes, and that Obama's spending would harm the country. Same old dogma of course, McCain didn't even go into specifics about what he would cut (outside of peanut jobs like 3M for some bear DNA research--I bet the bear researchers won't be happy to hear about that but pretty much all of academia is liberal already, since the Republicans do nothing but remove funding from them) as much as Obama went into specifics about his priorities in spending, but still, if people are gonna say anything that whole idea of smaller government will be a big point.

 

I thought the question about what spending would have to be curtailed in light of the financial crisis was tailor made for a Republican, and so McCain's answer was a bit more definitive on that end. I don't know if either candidate "nailed" it, but McCain was obviously more willing to admit which programs he'd be willing to cut and he did go into some more specifics, compared to Obama.

 

If I were a Repub, McCain said everything I wanted to hear. Considering that we humans only hear what we want to hear and mostly dismiss the rest, McCain did fine.

I thought Obama did out 'debate' McCain but that doesn't mean Obama wins. John Kerry killed GWB but came out looking like a nice guy which made Kerry look even more elitist. ...so GWB essentially won the debates.

What Obama needs to do is get a really good one-liner in there. But I think these debates will be a draw.

Now the VP debate ...I have no idea. Obviously Palin is no match but how will it come off on TV? It could go either way.

 

Removed

 

If you can break off a quote from the bible, use God as a noun, remind people that russia and venezuela are evil, let everyone know you were in a camp, then you've pretty much won the debate.

 

This was a post for people who thought McCain won the first debate not for Obamabots like you to respond.

 

I guess that means you thought Obama won too, since you haven't posted a reason for McCain.

 

His point is legitimate. If you didn't think McCain won, you have no business posting in this thread, except to call out the multiplicity of fools who need remedial reading comprehension classes.

In a thread titled "For those who thought McCain won the first debate...", you have no business posting your opinion unless... *gasp* you thought McCain won the first debate. Is that really difficult to understand?

 

I don't thing debating who "won" is important. McCain supporters are going to think McCain won and Obama supporters are going to think Obama won.

The guys that are on the fence... this is their opportunity for them to see both guys saying what they are going to do, and they don't have the benefit of just delivering half-truths and smears because the other guy is right there to catch them on it (you actually saw that happen a lot).

 

My bad...and who cares. Just ignore it then. I wanted McCain to win so maybe that's why I chimed in here...but he lost me.

 

I just reread what I wrote. I need to apologize. I was thinking in general terms when I wrote, and didn't mean my comments to specifically apply to you. After rereading the thread from start to finish, I think I sound like a total ass.

Sincerely, I'm sorry for the way it comes across. I was out of line.

 

Doesn't matter... . These political threads tend to run together IMO...and I didn't want to start a new thread to voice an opinion. Obviously, I misplaced my post. No real excuse. I know the original poster wanted specific feedback. I just removed my post...even thought it's been quoted already.

 

I've said in other posts that Neither won.

 

I think the point of this thread is to demonstrate what we've all been aware of for a while now:

If you watched the debate at all, there is an 70-80% chance you favored the Democratic candidate.

I don't have the exact numbers but that's what I remember the pollsters saying. This isn't the first election where it has been true, and it certainly won't be the last. But honestly how are you going to convince anyone of anything when they refuse to

a.) pay any attention to unbiased presentations of the two candidates

and

b.) make any attempt to defend their views in their own words.

Silent majority ftw.

 

I'm breaking the rules as I thought Obama won but very narrowly. I think McCain had some very strong points regarding the surge and Obama didn't look good in his response on the issue rather than dealing with the surge itself but going back to arguing the invasion of Iraq in general. McCain's point that the next President isn't going to deal with the question of whether we should've invaded Iraq in the first place was a good point and I think he won on the exchange about the difference between a "tactic" and "strategy." While I thought McCain won on that point I think the fact that he kept on coming back to Iraq in response to every question though weakened his overall performance though.

Besides Iraq I think McCain handled the questions regarding spending well including talking about his own experience taking on pork barrel spending.