Sen. McCain clearly set out to establish that he knew more about foreign policy and was the experienced Presidential candidate. I think he clearly succeeded in this regard. Sen. Obama uttered no fewer than 7 times that John McCain was "absolutely right". As Sen. McCain detailed his knowledge of every situation he left nothing more for Sen. Obama to say on the matter. A clear example was the question regarding the crisis in Georgia. Sen. McCain gave a highly detailed answer noting the difficulties of Russian emergence, the motivation of energy warfare, the concerns of a warm water port and that the focus of the next President needed to be on establishing the young democracies in the area (see: Ukraine).
Sen. Obama's response? He essentially agreed to everything Sen. McCain said, though he omitted the facts, omitted the specific knowledge of people and places, and omitted the overall strategy for the region. In short, Sen. Obama looked like he was agreeing to the answer given by the Professor.
Sen. Obama's response? He essentially agreed to everything Sen. McCain said, though he omitted the facts, omitted the specific knowledge of people and places, and omitted the overall strategy for the region. In short, Sen. Obama looked like he was agreeing to the answer given by the Professor.
(We call that "getting schooled".)
Sen. Obama continued his unfounded suggestions that John McCain would simply be a continuation of President Bush. It seemed that every other sentence was something to the effect of, "Just the same as the last 8 years, John McCain would (fill in the blank)." He again recited the 90% statistic which is completely misleading (as it only encompasses 22% of total votes). The difficulty with this overall theme is that Sen. Obama suggested that he would be far more similar to Pres. Bush than John McCain did last night, particularly with regard to the size of Federal government. Sen. Obama stated three times last night that he would continue policies of the current administration - we heard no such talk from Sen. McCain.
More general thoughts:
One reader of the blog observed...
"Each time Obama muttered into the microphone things like 'that is not what I said' while McCain was speaking, it reminded me of watching a middle school kid in a debate getting agitated when he knows a great point against his policies or experience is being made."Anyone watching the debate couldn't help but see that Sen. Obama was acting young, inexperienced and extremely impatient. Passion plays well on the stump but in a debate it suggests that (a) you're getting lost in pettiness and (b) you're seeing the debate as a game rather than as a forum for serious ideas. Both suggest a candidate who just isn't Presidential material.
Secondly, who woke up John McCain's sense of humor? I literally said "Oh Snap!" when Sen. McCain said that he didn't have a presidential seal (as opposed to Obama's seal - pictured left). It was a done in a way that reminded me of another President's humor. To put it bluntly, humor helps wins debates. I don't think there is any dispute that Sen. Obama looked agitated, impatient and hostile last night, while Sen. McCain looked at ease on the Presidential stage.
My second point is that the talking heads get ever more ridiculous. Most commentators after the debate mentioned either that Sen. Obama held his own or that John McCain failed to give a "knockout blow". Where is this coming from? First, a debate isn't about being second best - it's not grade school tee-ball where if your ideas seemed reasonable then everyone is a winner. A debate is about the best ideas for the nation. It's about demonstrating that you are more able and more ready than the person standing next to you. For anyone to think that Sen. Obama did fine by just "holding his own" is confused as to what a Presidential election is about.
Last night, John McCain oozed Presidential knowledge and confidence. He showed why he would be a better President. Barack Obama coming close to that Presdential standard, well... close just isn't good enough.
Last night, John McCain oozed Presidential knowledge and confidence. He showed why he would be a better President. Barack Obama coming close to that Presdential standard, well... close just isn't good enough.
Second, who said John McCain needed a "knock-out blow"? Last I checked there are four weeks left in this election, and with Joe Biden on the campaign trail, know that no knock out blow is needed (this is because Joe Biden says stupid things). Last night showed John McCain was a better candidate, but after almost two years of campaigning, expecting anyone to get a "knock-out blow" is simply ludicrous.
Onto Debate No. 2... maybe the candidates should take their answers to "The West Wing" level:
"Bite Me" as an answer would be hilarious...
2 Comments:
You said,"Sen. Obama uttered no fewer than 7 times that John McCain was "absolutely right". "
True, but you clearly did not listen to the rest of the sentences, when Obama each time summarily repudiated Mccain for thinking this way.
This is what happens when you conservative bible pushers think this way about everything: you jump from parable to parable and intentionally disconnect ideas and thought processses to make your own interpretation of things to suit your agenda and make people believe that which is plausible=not fact, but sounds good and therefore must be true. This is otherwise known as "lying."
Dan,
I did listen to the rest of what Sen. Obama had to say. I simply think that the rest of what he had to say didn't amount to summary repudiations as you characterize them. There are clear differences between the candidates, certainly, but to me it appeared that Barack Obama was naive, impatient, and inexperienced.
I dispute that I am (1) a "conservative bible pusher", (2) that I am jumping from parable to parable or (3) "lying".
(1) Where would you get the idea that I'm a bible pusher? If anything I try to avoid "Bible Pushing" on this site.
(2) I didn't mention loaves or fishes once.
(3) Presenting an opinion on a debate isn't "lying". It's an opinion and inherently subjective.
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