This won't be long because I don't think there is much to write about on tonight's debate. I don't think there was a clear winner, and that is not good news for McCain because he needed to turn things around tonight. I agree with most pundits that he didn't do it.
Actually, it was kind of a bore. There was very little of substance that could be called notable. There is no question that Barack Obama has a superior stage presence compared to McCain. If body language and presence is important to you, then Obama did better. He didn't say much beyond generalities and spelling out the problems-without really giving us his solutions. Of course, some of McCain's answers were also empty of specific solutions.
There was one question where I think McCain gave a better answer. That was when the candidates were asked if they would defend Israel were it attacked by Iran-without going to the UN for permission. McCain's answer was a round-a-bout, diplomatic way of answering yes. Obama gave a round-a-bout answer about preventative measures, diplomatic pressure, etc. He never said whether he would defend Israel if Iran attacked.
McCain was supposed to attack Obama tonight. Beyond linking him to Fannie Mae and the contributions he received, McCain didn't do much effective attacking. No mention of Bill Ayers-though the questions asked didn't open that door.
A comment about the debate itself: This was supposed to be a town hall meeting-McCain's strong suit. To me, Tom Brokaw pretty much controlled the debate-kind of like government getting into areas they should not be involved in and exercising control.
Finally, I shifted around the networks to see how the talking heads evaluated it. My impression is that most commentators said there was no clear winner, which represented a loss for McCain since he did not succeed in turning the race around.
Of course, MSNBC, as is their wont, called it a knockout for Obama. Keith Olbermann, banished from the debate coverage due to his bias came on and proceeded to lead his merry band of leftists in a group bashing of everything McCain said and did. Olbermann bashed the way McCain talked and they way he walked (around the stage).
He should call his show "The Spin Room". Only house conservative Pat Buchanan gave a balanced view of the debate. Chris Matthews pointed out the fact that McCain did not mention Bill Ayres-with his own spin. Matthews said that McCain was not willing to say to Obama what he had his VP running mate (Palkin) say at rallies, implying that McCain was a coward.
So there it is. McCain has one last debate to turn things around. Hopefully, the door will be opened for him to bring up Bill Ayres and ACORN (whose Las Vegas office was raided by the Nevada state authorities today.) If that's not a campaign issue, I don't know what is.
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In terms of substance, I thought neither of them really scored a knockout. But like you already said, it simply isn't enough for McCain at this point to just survive. In terms of stage presence and performance, I actually thought McCain did better. I could tell that this format was indeed his strong suit, because he seemed much more natural than the last time, standing behind a podium.
I think it's silly that you're questioning Obama's commitment to defend Israel, though. He has expressed his support for Israel countless times, as did his running mate during in the VP debate.
As for McCain attacking Obama, well, it just wasn't the right format for it. As one talking head on PBS put it, it would have been like trying to have a knife fight at a PTA meeting. He's not going to mention Ayers or ACORN because the polls are showing that undecideds don't give a damn about that stuff right now. It's all about the economy.
Tom Brokaw did a fine job as moderator. He did what moderators are supposed to do. Otherwise things could get chaotic. He had to assert his authority a little more because BOTH candidates kept going over the time limit. I know this because I was paying attention to the lights they have set up for them to tell them when to stop speaking, and both would often speak well into a red light.
I agree with Matthews that McCain won't say what Palin says at rallies. She's the attack dog now, her job is to rally the base. McCain isn't going to get as ugly because that will turn off undecided voters. This strategy isn't all that uncommon for a presidential campaign, Gary.
Believe me, bringing up Ayers or ACORN at the final debate will only hurt McCain.
I'm with you. I really think it would be dishonest to call it a "knockout" for Obama. That's why I don't watch pundits - I don't need them to tell me what I should think.
I could maybe see somebody giving a slight edge to Obama - but I could also see somebody saying that about McCain. I probably lean toward Obama, but it probably has more to do with the fact that he says the things that I want to hear than anything else.
Anyway, I didn't want to say it, but I'm glad that you did:
Actually, it was kind of a bore.
Bryan,
It was a yes or no question regarding Israel and he ducked it. McCain more or less implied he would defend Israel. neither answer satisfied me, but Mccain's was better.
Somebody needs to bring up Ayres and ACORN because the mainstream media won't do it. There are a lot of people out there that don't even know about them. If McCain brings it up in a debate and forcefully, it forces it onto the national stage and cannot be ignored. What's he got to lose?
It all depends on which network you watch afterword. MSNBC says it was a knock out for Obama. Fox News poll gave it to McCain 87%-21.
So much for our media.
Gary, I've seen plenty of coverage about Palin's charges over the Obama-Ayers connection in the mainstream media. The BBC, PBS, even the left-leaning Democracy Now. And they aren't outright dismissive of the charge. They simply point out, correctly, that most Americans don't give a damn about it.
I'm assuming you meant the Fox poll was 87-12, not 87-21, which would add up to 108%. Anyways, even the Fox commentators were saying Obama won, from what I read. Of course the Fox News viewer poll is going to be heavily skewed in McCain's direction. It's called a biased sample. Most people that watch Fox News are conservative to begin with and most people that rate who won the debate simply choose who they liked in the first place anyways. The poll is meaningless, just as an MSNBC viewer poll probably would be. So yeah, it doesn't prove anything.
Oh I want to add, however, that McCain referring to Obama as "that one" is probably going to go down as a gaffe. How major? I'm not really sure yet.
Bryan,
Shame on folks who don't care about this connection with the depicable Ayres.
Well, according to Keith Olberman, the comment "that one" was the gaffe of the century. Besides, what are we voting for here, who is the nicest guy?
No, damn it! It was 87-21%, and the.... Oh yeah. You are right. And that 1% doesn't know what planet they are living on.
Well, that's not as bad as Obama having visited 57 states, is it?
Gary, I tell you a reason why I like Obama. Through all the attacks on him and his character, he has kept his cool. He is a class above his opponent and I trust him more to keep his word because he has remained himself through tough times and that is reassuring. McCain seems bitter and sarcastic, and I don't trust him to stay calm when needed, but ready to fight, fight, fight, drill, drill, drill, bomb, bomb, bomb and that he has no idea what danger can come from nuclear power plants and its waste. He wants to build them all over the place, so people can waste more energy instead of learning to conserve, as Obama suggested. McCain is an old man who lives in the past and doesn't care about the future, because he hardly has any left.
Gary, I tell you a reason why I like Obama. Through all the attacks on him and his character, he has kept his cool. He is a class above his opponent and I trust him more to keep his word because he has remained himself through tough times and that is reassuring. McCain seems bitter and sarcastic, and I don't trust him to stay calm when needed, but ready to fight, fight, fight, drill, drill, drill, bomb, bomb, bomb and that he has no idea what danger can come from nuclear power plants and its waste. He wants to build them all over the place, so people can waste more energy instead of learning to conserve, as Obama suggested. McCain is an old man who lives in the past and doesn't care about the future, because he hardly has any left.
Well, that's not as bad as Obama having visited 57 states, is it?
Obama tried to pass that off as a simple flub, but I think that it revealed a much more serious issue: Obama is a time traveler. He was referring to his trip to the year 2203, where we actually have 73 states, and the new ones include states like Guam, Puerto Rico, Iraq, Francany (a unified France and Germany) and that Volcano Island run by SPECTRE in You Only Live Twice. Shocking.
In all seriousness though, at least you, Gary, realize that Fox is biased on the right. I actually have read comments (and heard them) from people who genuinely think that Fox has no biases. (And no, I'm not saying that the other networks don't have their biases too...)
Yes, Fox is biased on the right. Now what about CNN, NBC, MSNBC, ABC and CBS? Can't we conservatives have one network that gives a voice to our side?
Ingrid,
Yes, I think Obama is a gentleman, and he does keep his cool.
As for nuclear power, France gets something like 80% of its energy from nuclear. We have not built a new pl;ant in 30 years. We need to do something, but everywhere we turn, the environmentalist keep blocking us. The only thing left is to keep buying oil for middle east. That is insane to me.
Gary, conserving energy is a must. All it takes is one accident like Chernobyl in a populated area. Will this be the price we have to pay for the unwillingness of the people to curtail their greed and consumption, and politicians who promise that people can go on wasting the way they always have? The truth is going to hurt, we need someone who tells it.
Besides, what are we voting for here, who is the nicest guy?
Funny you should say this, Gary, seeing as how the McCain campaign are the ones that have tried to turn this into a race about character.
Ingrid,
Chernobyl happened because the USSR had zero safeguards and they were an ecological disaster all over the country.
We are not Chernobyl.
Bryan,
A person can be an a------, and still have character. I fully accept that McCain may not be the most likeable guy in the world, and there were times, I was angry over some comments he made. That does not necessarily reflect on his character. It is very possible-maybe probable that Obama is a more likeable guy. That doesn't mean I will vote for him.
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