Obama and McCain Debate

I have been trying to think of a few words to summarise the performances of each candidate in the debate last night.

For McCain I noticed that he never acknowledged anything that Obama had said or done that he didn't disagree with. Never once did he even look at Obama let alone nod in recognition of a point well made. To any observer this was arrogance - I am always right and my opponent is always wrong. This made him look leery and disingenuous.

I noticed that as soon as the debate had finished Obama walked briskly over to McCain, hand outstretched and said for all to hear Good job John but there was no audible reply. When the wives joined them again it was Mr and Mrs Obama who offered hands and kisses but the McCains were stiff and reluctant.

On numerous occasions Obama acknowledged that McCain had made a point on which he agreed (now disgracefully turned against him). That to me showed grace, magnanimity and statesmanlike qualities despite what he had had to endure during the 90 minutes.

In short although it may now sound old fashioned, Obama acted like a gentleman whereas McCain did not.

In my opinion, Obama looks like a ghetto fighter and McCain looks like an Officer and a Gentleman. No question who deserves to be President. Obama has a mouth - McCain has dignity and character.

Mccain should release his medical records we have to know if hes going to die soon.

No matter who I want to vote for, there are some personal observations that I had...

Senator McCain ALWAYS showed respect by saying the words "SENATOR Obama" when addressing Senator Obama.
Senator Obama called Senator McCain "John, Jim, and once I think Senator McCain".
To me I see that as Senator Obama being extremely disrespectful. That would be a disaster in a matter of diplomatic talks, to get names and titles wrong is EXTREMELY bad.

Yeah worse than vomiting on the prime mister of Japan's lap, as at least he KNEW that the "said vomit" came from someone who "respected him, and demonstrated it"... The rest of the world is not America, and they expect to be treated with honor and respect. I don't know if Senator Obama is up to that.

I did notice that most of the night, Senator McCain had to spend half his time correcting what Senator Obama said,

(Interesting that Obama supporters said that made McCain look condescending, but if Senator McCain wanted to make Obama look bad, he could have really done him in pretty easily, McCain was a gentleman.)

and when Senator McCain would bring up issues...

Senator Obama would act overwhelmed, like he just asked him 1,000 questions all at once, and then gave an answer that didn't always pertain to any of the questions asked, or he would pick a favorite, and then he was on the defense so much, it looked like he was super insecure.

When Senator Obama asked about issues to "John, Jim, who ever he was suppose to be talking to right?" Senator McCain pretty much touched on each issue in detail, while all the time Senator Obama was trying to Interrupt Senator McCain.

I felt that Senator McCain handled stress and was at ease, where as Senator Obama kinda flipped and didn't show respect and sometimes didn't even use the correct name for Senator McCain. That could truly offend some officials from other countries if you do that.

With that said.. going to fact check to see how they measured up in telling the truth.

The other was just on how they are at showing common decency and diplomacy.

While I can see how one might be less than happy about Obama addressing Senator McCain as "John", I don't think that's relevant enough to say that he was disrespecting the man. If anything it was pale in contrast to the lack of eye contact and personal addressing that Jim was attempting to promote the entire night. I did not catch McCain addressing the camera OR Obama once throughout the entire night. It was as if they were in sound proof boxes, completely shielded from each others' gaze. Obama made a concerted effort to follow Jim's direction on this point. To me this showed a mixture of arrogance and fear from McCain.

In hearing the discussion in the debate about other country's and foreign policy, I am reminded of something that I read recently. According to a 2006 survey of Americans aged 18 to 24, less than four in ten can identify Iraq on a map.

In my opinion, we have to take care of our education issues here, or American generations to come are going to be left behind in the world economy.

All I can say is that Obama seemed like the one who was more collect in his thoughts. He was asking good questions, and was showing the world that he is ready to take the lead in healing our nation.

It is known within certain military and academic circles that human behavior can be modified by subtle electromagnetic energy manipulation. Microchip technology is also being used for direct interaction between the brains of people and computers, it can help to increase concentration- read this in Jim Marrs new book.My guess is this is the help that got Sen.McCain through a debate he didn't want to have. Electromagnetic mind-control is very real and useful for those who are silently in total control.

I always find it amusing when the republicans bring up their admiration for Ronald Reagan in discussions involving policy. Did we forget that when Reagan left office, he left us with an enormous deficit, the highest in history at that time, and unemployment levels were higher than in the great depression? He went to the White House with an agenda and hardly listened to his highest advisers when he kept cutting back on government programs and adding to the military budget.

When are we going to learn from our past?

Yes, we don't need more of Reagan economics. We need a President who is more concerned with national policy than foreign policy.
McCain will spend most of his time centered around war and foreign policy.
Obama will spend most of his time centered around national issues and American citizens living on U.S. soil.
Which is better because our foreign policy gets us into trouble (wars=rising debt=dollar devaluation=inflation=recession...looks familiar).

You can tell Obama is going to stir things up and that is exactly what we need. Electing McCain would be like giving Bush a 3rd term. NO THANK YOU!

Anyone else hear Lehrer say "...on the CONTINENT of the United States..."

Whaaaat?!

idiot.

The reality is that both candidates would make good presidents. But by picking Sarah Palin as a running mate, I have to seriously question McCain's judgment. In addition, the whole 'trickle-down economics' bit is bullshit. If you believe that only that creates economic growth and stability, I hate to tell you but I think you've had more than your fair share of the kool-aid, friend.

nobamajon--Don't trust an economic theory when it sounds like someone's peeing on you. At least the democrats might bring some money back to the middle class and get the economy moving again. And not just a $5000 tax credit for medical care. Does anyone know, that's equivalent to like an ER visit and some X-rays. That doesn't solve the health care crisis in our country.

Its like the "kid in the sand box who will play fair" and the one who won't share his toys....people wake up!!!! do we want to pay with the kid that "will veto every bill?"

Both candidates were informative about what they will do as president. You don't need to know who won but who you feel would make a better president.
If you throw away all your initial Red and Blue, you just might see who you want.

How dare McCain compare Obama to this current administration! low blow and completely untrue. I loved how Obama points out that we are doomed to fall as a superpower if we continue to focus all of our energy and resources on the war. if we want to maintain a strong country we need to bring it back and focus on the people - not corporations, not foreign policy. GO OBAMA!

Two idiots are bound to find one another. Rather than degrade myself and resort to name calling I will remain the beautiful black woman that I was created to be. I will pray for you both.

No where you come from is not an indicator of where you are going Joe and his cohorts are stuck because they want to be or they were never taught any better. Barry is a Harvard educated articulate and successful gentleman who travels in any circle and feels adequate enough to do so, those two only feel comfortable in anonymity and with others with the same mindset as theirs and I use the word mind lightly.

The world is changing and the Joe's and the Nobody's or whatever he calls himself will be left behind, angry, broke and afraid. Let's pray that they see that the world is bigger than TVLand sad but his only point of reference is Sanford & Son.

Like it or not we share this world and we are all created equal, fortunately we don't all remain equal, some of us grow or at least grow-up.

So we cannot all two peas in a pod to get rise out of me by comparing a man who they clearly aren't fit to shine the shoes of a drug dealer. He is doing magnificent things what are they doing?

There is a saying that come to mind,"The best trick that the devil ever played on mankind was getting them to believe he doesn't exist." That is the attitude that racists would like us all to adopt but yes it exist and yes I recognize it but it does not affect me.

Joe and Nobody look up the term zeigeist. Be ready for change, because change is coming and the revolution will be televised!

We will see. I think God will have his hand in this too!

Gee, arcticspirit, that was one of the most unbiased reviews I have ever read!!! That was so well done and I think.......uh....I think I just crapped some bull in my pants.

1.) These guys call each other by first name when discussing the issues that affect you and me on the senate floor. Obama has met with foreign leaders and amazingly can remember their names.

2.) No one appeared nervous or like someone got under their skin. They both did well to maintain poise.

3.) They corrected each other quite a bit and talking time was dead even. No one interrupted any one.

4.) I would love to know how your trip to fact check went. I'll bet it was about dead even there.

5.) If McCain could have put Obama away, he would have you moron. He went in to the debate 9 points down. He is not typically described as a gentleman by his cohorts.

I am no doubt an Obama supporter but you all just witnessed 2 great debaters with a wealth of knowledge and an uncanny sense of rhetoric that even Aristotle would have loved to include in his commentary.

Call this what it was. A great debate...... and drop the biases.

I'm coming in defense of Arctic here. I'm neither Republican nor Democrat so I can look at this completely objectively.

That was the most god-awful boring thing I ever forced myself to watch. NEITHER of them made any meaningful points and they skirted around the actual question every time. ALL politicians do that, even your precious Obama. It's 1.5 minutes of talking very generically about the issue and then 30 seconds of giving a vague "I'm going to do this maybe..." answer.

They didn't even talk about the issues that really matter. All I heard was bailout, economy, and war. THAT WAS IT! The only real difference about the two parties is the social issues, and those weren't even mentioned.

I thought McCain's excuse for medical care was horribly laughable as well as Obama flip-flopping on the war. This whole time I thought Obama was for ending the war and bringing our troops home, then he goes and states that we need MORE troops for the war.

What. The. Fuck.

In the end, we should all remember that politicians, regardless of party, charisma, or popularity, are just that. Politicians. Greedy, wealthy people who are only looking out for their second term. I know many of you will object to that last little bit, but all three of my political science classes have pointed out that the #1 goal of all politicians is to secure that future position. Don't kill the messenger.

Did any one catch that comment McCain made about Obama's plan to switch the troop deployment from Iraq to Afghanistan? Of how Obama wanted some military strikes in Afghanistan?

McCain: "You don't say that out loud."

I thought that was just hilarious, then how should we say it John? Behind closed doors just before one of our air-to-land missile crashes into an Afghanistan building?