"I didn't immediately see this, but it's another moment in the theater of the debate: McCain doesn't take Obama's offered hand. UPDATE: As a reader notes, it would have been their second handshake -- they shook immediately after the debate." http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/
If he continues to only come outside at night and drink his morning embalming fluid smoothies he should be good to go for another 10.
I give McCain the benefit of the doubt that he did not see Obama's extended hand just like I give Obama the benefit of the doubt that he did not see Hillary's hand.
Which is exactly why I hate Town-Hall format. The questions are ALWAYS complete softballs, for both the Dems and the Repubs. It's like the people in the audience knew they were going to a nationally televised, potentially crucial debate, yet couldn't be bothered to do a little research and ask an intelligent, insightful question instead of asking for rehashed talking points. My grandfather once said, "Think how stupid the average person is. Then think about this: by definition, half the people are more stupid than that." I think the lower half loves to attend Town-Hall debates.
Excuse me, but it was an aircraft carrier, and it said "Mission Accomplished". Let's not diminish our great victory with misleading facts.
To be fair, there were thousands and thousands of questions submitted - it probably was the moderator that picked the simple questions out of the bunch. I don't know that it's too unreasonable. People want to know where the candidates stand on the big, broad issues, not on some random specific thing that doesn't apply to most people. There are only so many ways to say "talk about your health care plan" or "where do you stand on the bailout".
Pretty good debate. There are more substance in this debate than the VP one, that's for sure. My opinion is that once again, there is no clear winner coming out of the debate. There is no major gaffe, no amazing punchline, no knockout blows. Nevertheless, good energy from both participants. From the POV of an independent however, Obama is going to have a slight edge. One debate tactic that Obama (and Biden) exercise, that McCain apparently have yet to figure out, is to agree with the opponent when they are at their strongest moment. One clear example is that after McCain came off a strong delivery on a foreign policy issue, Obama would start from some of McCain's positions, and then go on to detail his own subtle adjustments in order to transcend the idea one step further. Obama has been using this tactic to "share" McCain's brightest spotlight, as well as a more bipartisan image. Speaking from experience, I think Obama won the independents. Not because he had a much more superior debate performance. Not because McCain won't look at him or any other silly games. Not even due to the facts or figures or quotes. It is all about his character, who he is and what he will become. The Obama brand become stronger every time he gets on national stage. Independents who listen will eventually realize the vast potential this man possess. And when they do, his skin color, or his funny name, or any other silly excuses that had been holding them back, would all of sudden become insignificant. Even if doubts on his experience or leadership remain, Obama had successfully overcome these stigmas by demonstrating that he is a fast learner. Even though in my mind Obama wasn't a clear winner in either debates, he had exceeded expectation set by media narrative. By setting his bar a little higher every time, independents will latch on his capacity for growth. And it could only had been possible by debating McCain, who set a high benchmark by offered a fine performance of his own. If the debate is between Obama and Palin or Bush, this performance subtlety would had been wasted (aka. Kerry vs. Bush). The McCain campaign's last ditch smear attack is not going to little effect on the independents. People who still have not make up their minds will not take any news or propaganda for granted. They are going to spend the extra effort to find the truth, to look deeper into the surface. Ayers or other similar smears are a double edge swords for the McCain campaign, because the mere mention of Obama will directly feed into independents hunger for curiosity.
Earlier... <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3K_MKwVBZRY&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3K_MKwVBZRY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Can someone please tell me what the Obama's economic plan looks like? Good grief, the guy has been focused-group'd to death to the point where now he just repeats the same words (McCain was for deregulation, no golden parachutes, Wall Street greed). That is not a strategy, people. Obama is a marketing creation -- I've been saying it for a year. He works out, puts on the makeup, smiles big, and repeats the lines his handlers feed to him after testing them over and over with focus groups. He is a trojan horse. He lacks experience, he lacks conviction, and he lacks good ideas. He is has been packaged up and sold to you like American Idol and Dancing with the Stars has been packaged up and sold to you. His policy proposals are anything but new -- they are retreads from Jimmy Carter's 1970's proposals. Obviously the opposition party benefits from negative news, and the financial crisis has rescued his campaign and vaulted him into the lead in polls. Nothing Obama actually did led to this, it's more of a reflection of the fact that the election has become a referendum on Bush now that things have spiraled out of control in the markets. It doesn't matter who is running, so long as they have a D in front of their name on the ballot. Well, I take that back, any other Democrat would have a 30+ point lead in national polls right now. Obama's lack of experience and radical associates are the only thing keeping this close. The financial markets are everything these days. It doesn't matter how many times McCain utterly dominated Obama tonight (not raising taxes in an economic downturn, the foreign policy titty whipping, Herbert Hoover, voting for Bush/Cheney energy bill, not answering how much the health care fine is, the overhead projector, etc) -- everything boils down to where the S&P 500 is. If it's up, McCain benefits, if it's down, Obama does. That's the story from here on out.
Why has it come to that if you wouldn't indulge us? Why is it Clinton's fault? But seriously, how much power do you believe presidents have on the economy and how much power should they have?
Aw man, you sound a little down tonight. Where's that cheery October surprise? A post or two on the super secret secret that will crush Obama and drive a grateful nation into the arms of McCain should pull you up out of those doldrums big fella. When a man is down, he has a choice... you can either lay there or get back on that horse and ride it hard. Mount up Conquistador! Mount up! (It's hilarious you're now reduced to whining about the size of Obama's lead as if that will suddenly turn things around.)
Yeah, he's basically the end of a bad Scooby Doo episode. He would've gotten away with it too! If it weren't for common sense! I actually think the guy is a virgin. How else do you explain his willingness to be such a Mav in the face of Dirk-like odds?
Umm, several of the Republican correspondents gave him a C on CNN and gave Obama a B on the debate. I mean, I'm relatively new at all this with polling and debates- and I've been watching this one closely- and I fail to see where the "domination" is. I've already stated that I'm an independent leaning towards Obama- but I certainly wouldn't have a huge problem with McCain winning, unlike many on here. But McCain has not convinced me nor the American public that he has anything better to offer than Mr. Obama (by the way, you should be ashamed of yourself for using slurs like Snobama to describe someone who might be the next President). He has not clearly separated himself from President Bush, an important strategic move in light of the dramatically decreasing ratings for Bush that has been going on for quite a while. If you want to put it in terms that you might prefer, it's more that McCain has not distinguished himself- and that is squarely on his shoulders. He has all the information at his hands to make a compelling case for his presidency and has failed to do so aggressively enough to matter. But there is no doubt the economic woes have hurt him somewhat. And with this, I sign off on posting until after the election. Good luck, Repubs and Dems. If I could wish for one thing, it would be that some of you all learn to be more respectful towards each other's candidates and views. Many of you have interesting and valid points. But some- including this poster and some of the Obama supporters- are way out there with your insinuations and put-downs. "...but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."
The Republican sector of CNN's Election Center gave Obama a B grade while giving McCain a C grade. They complimented Obama on what he said and said he looked very presidential when McCain was speaking, especially when he was bashing Obama. They said McCain hasn't told the people why he should be president and why Obama should not and that he was overly aggressive sometimes. I thought neither candidate won but the thing is that works in Obama's favor. He is in the lead in the polls right now and since McCain did not overwhelming win in the eyes of the viewers the debate is not going to help him. It hurts even more for McCain that this was his preferred type of debate and he didn't really get anything out of it. As I have stated before though, it is still early and anything can happen and the only polls that matter are those on November 4. To the Democrats, do not get overly confident because I would not put anything past the Republicans. Remember a month ago they pulled the Palin wild card which put them ahead in the polls and gave them a spark. They have almost a month to pull out another Joker. Let's see....
Talking with a few of my friends who really don't give a damn about politics at all outside of taking amusement in the silliness of it, most of them seemed to think McCain highly out of touch. For me, I was pretty irritated with McCain for his two major whoppers: the 94 tax increases bit, and the "obama wants to invade pakistan" bit. Obama had his share of mischeviously worded barbs, but nothing came close to the outright mistruths presented in those two lines. It becomes even more absurd given McCain's previous agreement with the Obama-doctrine regarding Bin Laden and pakistan. That kind of intentional misrepresentation really disgusts me.
