First Presidential Debate

**Five-0** · 09-26-08, 11:07 PM

Here are my initial thoughs. There is still a lot of material to digest, and I will fill in more as I collect my thoughts. Everyone feel free to do the same. So here goes:

I heard Obama say that he agrees with McCain 8 times. I felt like McCain delivered some good body blows, but there were no knock out punches. McCain ate his lunch on spending and earmarks though. I felt that every time that McCain led the discussion that Obama fed off his answers. I didn't get that impression with McCain. Obama still can't admit the surge was an amazing success. I can't believe McCain didn't pounce on Obama saying that people don't look at the U.S. the same way they did when his dad came to college here. Last I checked they are still lining up to get here. Not to many people are tripping over themselves to get out.

**Terminator** · 09-26-08, 11:21 PM

Being as objective as I can, I thought this was a good debate, which McCain won.

**Jenna** · 09-26-08, 11:28 PM

I thought McCain made a minor mistake when he said he would freeze all spending and Obama got in a good zinger saying McCain would be "using a hatchet when a scalpel is needed." But overall, in terms of substance, both got their messages across and neither made major mistakes. In terms of style, McCain came across as more condescending (smirking, not making eye contact with Obama, calling Obama naive, claiming Obama didn't understand things, and sometimes not letting Obama get a response in when time was running out) while Obama seemed more polite (saying McCain was right many times, occasionally looking at McCain, and letting it go rather than insisting on getting one last word).

**Terminator** · 09-26-08, 11:36 PM

Originally Posted by Jenna

In terms of style, McCain came across as more condescending (smirking, not making eye contact with Obama, calling Obama naive, claiming Obama didn't understand things, and sometimes not letting Obama get a response in when time was running out) while Obama seemed more polite (saying McCain was right on some things, occasionally looking at McCain, and letting it go rather than insisting on getting one last word).

I can see you're okay with being a blind sheep who doesn't favor impartiality. Obama repeatedly smirked, and laughed while McCain was responding. He also rarely made eye contact. Obama repeatedly interrupted McCain while he was speaking, and went over his allotted time.

I'm okay with you believing Obama won the debate, even though I disagree. But those kind of statements are complete political horseshit. Were you watching the same debate, or did you watch a bootleg copy of it from the Democratic Spin Center?

**Jenna** · 09-26-08, 11:44 PM

Originally Posted by Terminator

I can see you're okay with being a blind sheep who doesn't favor impartiality. Obama repeatedly smirked, and laughed while McCain was responding. He also rarely made eye contact. Obama repeatedly interrupted McCain while he was speaking, and went over his allotted time.

Were you watching the same debate, or did you watch a bootleg copy of it from the Democratic Spin Center?

Maybe Obama talks the way I'm used to talking so it seems normal to me, and McCain talks the way you're used to talking so it seems normal to you.

**Terminator** · 09-26-08, 11:48 PM

Originally Posted by Jenna

Maybe Obama talks the way I'm used to talking so it seems normal to me, and McCain talks the way you're used to talking so it seems normal to you.

So in otherwords, it's okay when Obama does it. Gotcha.

**Jenna** · 09-26-08, 11:52 PM

Originally Posted by Terminator

So in otherwords, it's okay when Obama does it. Gotcha.

**keith720** · 09-27-08, 12:09 AM

Obama tried to come across ac confident, but it came off as arrogance. In my opinion, he's going down faster than a shot of whisky at a Kennedy family reunion!

**Retmilleo909** · 09-27-08, 12:14 AM

In the closing minutes of the debate McCain clinched the debate when he said, "I don't need on the job training, I'm prepared to lead now!!
IMO, the big issue in the upcoming election will be, which candidate is best qualified to lead this country, a conservative, senior senator with 26 years of bipartisanship experience or a liberal, inexperienced junior senator with less than 4 years of experience.

**pgg** · 09-27-08, 03:46 AM

I didn't get to watch any of it. I was stuck on a homicide.

**Just KC** · 09-27-08, 06:08 AM

I missed it all too......damn busy tonight at work.

**pgg** · 09-27-08, 06:16 AM

Originally Posted by Just KC

I missed it all too......damn busy tonight at work.

Same here.. Its warmer this weekend then the last couple.. I haven't seen a single jacket on. Its wierd since its the end of the month. Welfare checks don't normally come out until the 1st

**nsb22** · 09-27-08, 08:12 AM

I started watching it biased, and I couldn't help it. Just the site of Nobama makes me cringe, let alone the thought of him as President.

Listening to him speak, and the lack of respect he showed McCain sinched my decision. Granted I was going to vote McCain anyways.

Sadly, I feel asleep half way through holding my friends daughter, so I didn't get to watch it all. I did wake up in time to watch the after debate debate on PBS and lauged a few times.

**Bob Loblaw** · 09-27-08, 08:58 AM

I don't really watch debates with the intent on picking a winner or a loser..just wanted to see both guys answer the same questions so I can know for sure who stands where on what issue.

**Five-0** · 09-27-08, 10:59 AM

This poll is shaping up a lot like The Drudge Report poll:

http://www.drudgereport.com/

That poll has over 291,000 votes.

**Jenna** · 09-27-08, 11:03 AM

Most other polls say both candidates did well but Obama won.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/...iref=hpmostpop

I think it really depends on the population polled. It's hard for anyone to overcome ideological bias and judge the debate as if they're not already favoring a candidate, and also people whose personal interaction styles are more similar to Obama's (younger and/or nerdier) are more likely to favor Obama, while people whose personal interaction styles are more similar to McCain's (older and/or tougher) are more likely to favor McCain.

**Bob Loblaw** · 09-27-08, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by Jenna

Most other polls say Obama won.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/...iref=hpmostpop

Jenna, those are left-wing liberal biased polls. Unless they say something good about McCain. Then they're OK...until they point out a McCain flaw. Then they're back to being left-wingly biased. Geez......

**Xiphos** · 09-27-08, 12:16 PM

I tried watching it but couldn't make it 30 seconds of listening to that jackass talk.

**CTR man** · 09-27-08, 02:35 PM

Good Grief Jenna, don't you know that CNN is an acronym for the Communist News Network.

**Big Al** · 09-27-08, 07:03 PM

I was unable to watch or listen to the debate due to work. Based on the what the news and talk shows said it seems to me that McCain came out on top, not by much, but was deemed the winner.

No doubt that the left wing media will smear him and declare No-Bama that winner.