Friday, September 26, 2008
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Immediate Analysis
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Posted by:
Matt Lewis at
10:43 PM
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This was, perhaps, the most boring debate I've seen. Rather than trying to win, both candidates were trying not to lose ... to avoid making a mistake. Clearly, McCain wanted to stress experience, and has a much greater command of foreign policy than does Obama. But Obama held his own -- primarily by misrepresenting his past positions (such as support for missile defense, whether or not to negotiate with dictators without pre-conditions, etc.). I don't think that anyone won, which is bad for McCain, as it probably means the trajectory stays the same ...
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i have to agree wholeheartedly. |
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We heard over and over again how this format was supposed to be more exciting.
It wasn't.
No major flub by Obama (except saying "McCain is right" about 1000 times) which makes me think he almost won.
The only bright spot is that I think Obama -- while having obviously rehearsed in order to sound smart -- still lacks passion about confronting our enemies.
For Obama, there is a passion-gap regarding Iran. |
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I saw McCain as confident and in command: qualities I want in a president.
Obama got it handed to him, and came across as peevish.
"Oh, please." |
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I thought McCain won on experience and understanding. Obama sounded like a lot of my liberal friends. They get frustrated when you prove then wrong. Matt you need have a drink an relax best way to watch the debate. |
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you've got to be kidding me. this was a DECISIVE win for mccain, especially after the foreign policy lesson! |
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...that's one way to describe it. I thought it was refreshingly civil.
And beyond Obama's rhetoric, I think McCain did a phenomenal job of exposing Obama as an over-his-head rookie. He made it look easy. Kudos. |
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seansfm writes: 'The only bright spot is that I think Obama -- while having obviously rehearsed in order to sound smart -- still lacks passion about confronting our enemies.
For Obama, there is a passion-gap regarding Iran.'
ME: Interesting analysis, seansfm. This reminds me of the Kerry/Bush debates in 2004.
If a person focused on who sounded "smarter," then I think one would've been more likely to think Kerry won. That was my fear then.
But, those pundits who focused on who "had the passion" scored Bush higher.
The best analysis I heard, then, was that Kerry was speaking to the punditocracy, and Bush was speaking to the folks sitting at home on their sofas.
The latter group is the greater number of voters. |
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It was a slow start, but McCain grew as the debate went forward. Obama diminished. |
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Who looked more Presidential? McCain. He was more decisive and put Obama on the defensive nearly the whole time.
Who got under who's skin? Clearly, McCain knocked Obama off his game and seemed to get him angry.
Who said "he's right" too often? Obama
Who had the best soundbytes? McCain when he whacked Obama constantly with the Iran/Preconditions stuff... when he kept pointing out that Obama "doesn't understand".
The good thing is the Networks think it was even, and they are almost always wrong in hindsight on scoring a debate.
These media guys just don't think like the people out there who are undecided. It never ceases to amaze me.
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and therefore not so great for McCain.
Obama wins domestic / economy
McCain wins foreign policy
It's pathetic, but Obama is going to get away with this crap about giving people who don't even pay taxes a tax cut. I wish Lindsey Gramm would debate Obama on economics. Obama believes there are good Americans and bad Americans. The only war he cares about is the class war. His high taxes on business and productivity will destroy the economy, kill jobs, and lead to a depression. Obama-nomics is based on disproved, misery-inducing policies of the 70's.
I wish McCain could make the case. The next debate will be on this, not foreign policy. |
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McCain provided more detail, while Obama spoke in generalities: we should, we need, we have to...As to how, somehow Barry never got around to that.
I did enjoy watching Obama's eye twitches when McCain was speaking, clearly demonstrating that he was flustered. I also counted quite a few lies and obfuscations on Obama's part.
Unfortunately, though, perception is what matters to most folks, and the debate looked to me like a toss-up. |
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TV ad McCain already has running? These people do not mean to lose. He will fight to the end. I disagree; McCain won, was it a knock out, no, but he stopped the bleeding with Indies, which is were Obama's been getting his bump. If Palin hold her own with Biden, then McCain gets a chance with the townhall to do his thing. A few Indies will come back to McCain tonight; most that moved and can be moved back will go toward undecided again. McCain has a chance to close the deal in the final debate. Let's pray he does, or pray Obama changes his mind about a lot of things. |
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Why does Obama get away with constantly with changing his mind.
"I will sit down without preconditions with Iran", and then he deny's it. |
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Watching with the eye of someone who is not voting for either one of these candidates, I was struck at how many times Mac said Obama "doesn't understand." While I might agree with that premise, he needs to be careful about appearing to talk down to Obama like he is a "kid." He also talked over Obama a few times which may strike voters as being rude and too forceful or even angry. This almost makes Obama look like he is the adult in the room.
Obama stupidly pointed out how "right"' Mac is, leaving me wonder what the point of the debate was. And I felt like I was being lectured but without passion as you might get from someone like Bill Clinton. This bothers me most about Obama. No feeling in the eyes or emotion coming through as he talks about emotional issues. Will this guy have a sense of urgency about anything or will he treat everything so calm, cool and collectively? Frankly, I'd rather have the anger.
Matt is right. Probably the most boring debate I've ever seen. |
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Look allegedly Obama is the much more charismatic candidate. Tonight Obama struggled and stuttered. McCain won. Was it boring Matt, yes it was. But, I breathed a sigh of relief because Obama did not run off with it... |
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One candidate was wearing an American flag lapel pin. Can you guess which one? |
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I understand republicans are about security, national defense and spreading "democracy", and believe me I am for it but achieving it in a reasonable and rational way. But how can the American government, especially republicans, condemn other countries for their aggressive behavior when the American government did the same, like hastily invading Iraq for all the wrong reasons? I believe our government did not set a good example to the world the day we stepped foot into Iraq. So for McCain to criticize other countries for their ill behavior is contradicting. I am really concerned about terrorism and I don't want to hear so much about winning the war in Iraq but the plans or solutions to stopping or containing terrorism, and really focusing on the source of the problem. I would like to see our government stop making hastily decisions and start making more intelligent decisions that will balance our system and our relationship with the world. |
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McCain turned it around. I had to turn it off because my head was about to explode after the first 15 minutes. If McCain does as poorly during the domestic policy debate as he did on the domestic policy segment tonight it will be a long hard election night. As much is it might be true that we need a guy like McCain in a dangerous world. Right now people want a man that sounds confident about talking about our economy. Obama was wrong, wrong, wrong, but sounded like he knew what he was talking about when he said it. McCain should have interrupted him while he was talking and refuted the economic lies coming out of his mouth. |
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provided serious fodder for 527's and the RNC.
-He wants to spend his way out of the economic crisis.
-He agrees with McCain on EVERY foreign policy decision except the decision to go into Iraq, which occurred BEFORE HE WAS EVEN IN THE SENATE.
If McCain IS Bush, then Obama agrees with Bush on EVERY foreign policy decision except the decision to go into Iraq.
And don't think that the fact Obama called McCain "John" while McCain called Obama "Senator" fell on deaf ears. To many, respect is a very important thing. |
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I thought McCain held back on the economy. It would have been easy for McCain to blast Obama, Dodd and Frank on Freddie and Fannie. Why didn’t he?
Because Country First. A deal needs to be made. This weekend. Such an attack would not help.
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Obama is a STUDENT.
He STUDIES.
He LISTENS.
McCain is a VETERAN.
He FIGHTS
He UNDERSTANDS.
Obama is a TEACHER.
He LECTURES.
He SPEAKS.
McCain is a REFORMER.
He ACTS.
He PERSUADES.
Obama talks about what he WANTS TO DO.
BUT we have no evidence he can DO ANY OF IT!
McCain acts on what he says he WANTS TO DO
AND his voting record IS EVIDENCE...HE DOES IT!
I BELIEVE HE'LL FIGHT FOR ME.
I BELIEVE HE'LL TAKE A HIT FOR ME.
HIS ACTIONS, WOUNDS, AND VOTING RECORD PROVES IT.
OBAMA is nuanced and unproven.
MCCAIN is clear and proven.
I DON'T EXPECT PERFECTION, I SEEK AUTHENTICITY THAT I CAN DEPEND ON. |
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There has been so much over-analysis of this debate which was nothing less than a decisive win for McCain. And, ladies and gentlemen, what we all should be most concerned about is the quality of the candidate's ideas, and the sincerity, and forcefulness with which they are expressed. Using these criteria, all Obama could hope for was to avoid a rout, which he managed through a spirited defense of his political philosophies and positions. But the outcome was never in doubt, and, expressed in football terms, had the feel of: McCain 21, Obama 10. Those that had it: McCain 7, Obama 7, must have been dosing or text-messaging. |
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