I do agree with Scott's analysis that both candidates seemed to hold their own, but Obama really came out on top.
One major problem that I have with McCain, is his continued insistance that his age and experience make him the more qualified candidate. In my opinion, that "experience" puts him in the same category as the rest of the lifetime politicians that seem to work very hard at getting nothing substantial accomplished.
It also seems that both candidates tend to agree on what the overall outcome should be on most of the major issues that affect me (the Middle Class), but their "fundamental" differerences occur when the talk shifts on how to accomplish those outcomes. The debate is on how things should be done rather than what should actually be done.
One thing that I am curious about, is whether or not anyone else thinks that Obama kept calling McCain by the wrong name on purpose. Maybe I am reading more into it than I should, but it seemed like a effective tactic to get him (McCain) off his game and try to make his temper have an affect on his statements.
All and all, I was pleased with the format and the moderation efforts. I just can't wait for the Palin/Biden debate. I think that she is going to look like such an idiot that McCain's campaign will be damaged beyond repair.
I only noticed one instance of Obama calling McCain by the wrong name. He called him Tom once ... and I don't think it was on purpose.
There seems to be a lot of talk today though about the fact that he called him John, though, instead of "Senator McCain." I think this is much ado about nothing.
I've read a number of polls today. Dems think Obama won by a landslide. Republicans think McCain won by a landslide. And Independents favored Obama slightly.
It just makes me wonder how 60 million people can all watch the same thing ... and each person sees something different. How bizarre.
I only noticed McCain addressed by the wrong name once as well. But it was surely accidental.
What I found more annoying is that even though Barack made efforts throughout the debate (with some goading from Jim Lehrer) to address McCain directly, McCain did not turn to face Obama once. He kept his eyes squarely on the moderator and the darkened audience behind him. That seemed oddly petulent for someone who touts his bipartisan endeavors to refuse to even look at his opponent.
Other than that, the debate seemed fairly even handed, with Obama winning a slight edge on his approach to Russia and Pakistan. Neither one gave enough specifics on Iraq to guage precisely what their plans would be. Both were well prepared and knew their topics quite well. Still, Obama's answers were more specific on the whole and his points were much more about "putting America first" than McCain's were. Obama came across as more thoughtful, more cooperative, and more open-minded.
I'm not really interested in politics but I want to see the Palin/Biden debate. Simply because Palin is such an idiot.
It is awfully funny what gets left on the cutting room floor when TV stations put together their pre-recorded interviews. I would make no assumptions at this point regarding her level of intelligence. She is being corralled by handlers and access to her is very limited.
By allowing Katie Couric and Charlie Gibson access to her, they have re-energized the base and brought out nearly rabid loyal followers because Couric and Gibson were so "mean."
Everything we are being fed about Palin is first fed through either a liberal or right-wing filter. Don't believe everything you see, or even hear for that matter.
Finally, even if she is, in fact, dumb as a box of rocks, idiocy has never disqualified anyone from the Vice Presidency. Two words: Dan Quayle.
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People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people. - V
No doubt creative editing and taking things out of context can make anyone look bad. But remember, there still has to be footage TO create these crazy clips. And she seems to have a lot of them. Any intelligent thing she does say has been written for her and she has rehearsed.
Couric and Gibson were "mean" to her? Come on. She's running for the vice presidency. She's not in nursery school, she has to grow up and suck it up or she'll never make it as VP.
And Dan Quale was under Poppa Bush. Smarter than Baby Bush but still not saying very much.
I'm not saying they were "mean" - that's why it is in quotes. The rabid right base has been crying foul on those two interviews since they aired.
Which was the point I was trying to make. The handlers have let her loose for 2 interviews - one with Gibson, one with Couric. Otherwise they have kept her completely insulated. I am saying the handlers specifically chose those two media figures due to their track record of "partisanship." By allowing her to be interviewed by two people who have for years been decried by the right for having their own "liberal agendas" (not saying that is true, just saying that is what the rabid right has said), the marketing machine has given Palin apologists an out.
Honestly, if they wanted her out in front of the public to give a right-wing spin to her positions, why not trot her out for O'Reilly or Hannity or Rush? They chose not to. Instead of putting her forth to express her ideals and her positions, they have put her into two situations where the talking heads are talking about the style of the interviews, not the content.
Pure marketing.
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People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people. - V
FacePalm wrote: It is awfully funny what gets left on the cutting room floor when TV stations put together their pre-recorded interviews. I would make no assumptions at this point regarding her level of intelligence. She is being corralled by handlers and access to her is very limited.
By allowing Katie Couric and Charlie Gibson access to her, they have re-energized the base and brought out nearly rabid loyal followers because Couric and Gibson were so "mean."
Everything we are being fed about Palin is first fed through either a liberal or right-wing filter. Don't believe everything you see, or even hear for that matter.
Finally, even if she is, in fact, dumb as a box of rocks, idiocy has never disqualified anyone from the Vice Presidency. Two words: Dan Quayle.
The thing is, if she wanted people not to criticize her intelligence, or didn't have ALOT to hide, then she should have granted the press interviews like most candidates of normal intelligence do. Since she has been chosen, every step (or in her case) misstep has been carefully monitored by her handlers. The whole thing has been one big photo op. If these are her staged moments, I would love to see the spontaneous ones! But I suppose it did seem like ingenious marketing at the time, now, not so much!
And I think she did grant Hannity an interview. Bet'cha that was objective, eh?
It is just like the GWB "Town Hall Meetings" when no-one was allowed access unless they agreed with all of his politics and was a registered Republican. And look where that got us!
If she pulls this off tomorrow without becoming the stuff of comedy legend for years to come, I will be amazed. I cannot WAIT to hear all of the right wing tools talk about how "mean and unfair" Gwen Ifill was.
Some talk show host said today that they should check her bee-hive beforehand for a transmitter!
-- Edited by BrattyJenn at 21:40, 2008-10-01
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I'm the secular progressive O'Reilly warned you about!
I'm pretty sure she is from Jupiter - could she act much stupider?
They have already started banging the partisan drums re: Ifill. Michelle Malkin is all over that angle today. Unfair to have an Obama acolyte as moderator of the one and only VP debate.
Again I cite Quayle - he was ripped apart in his debate, but still ascended. Go figure.
If the same people who orchestrated the announcement of her being named as VP are in charge of all this dancing around the media , I can't help but think the Valley Girl/airhead act is all to lull Biden into a false sense of security. If she verbally rips out his metaphorical entrails, won't America be surprised? Won't Biden?
Should be entertaining television.
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People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people. - V
I heard about the Ifill thing... I wonder how that's going to play out.... and who's going to cry, "unfair"...
I'm going to pop some popcorn for tomorrow's debate and was thinking about making it a drinking game.... like... every time Palin says something dumb, you take a drink. I should be trashed in the first half hour. :)
This is more exciting than the Bills in the Superbowl(s)!
I just wish it was on a Friday so I wouldn't have to go to work hungover. Oh well. If it was on Friday, I wouldn't get to hear all of the after-debate commentary, which is all part of the fun.
I have to compile a list of "Palin-isms..." Red blazer or Black? Hair in the Bee-hive or just pulled back? How many times will she drop the "g" from the end of her "ing" ending words? (Gotta admit, I stole the last one. Doesn't mean I can't still use it!)
Good times.
(Speaking of Da Bills, I keep going to the NFL Standings section of NFL.com and giggling diabloically to myself.)
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I'm the secular progressive O'Reilly warned you about!
No doubt creative editing and taking things out of context can make anyone look bad. But remember, there still has to be footage TO create these crazy clips. And she seems to have a lot of them. Any intelligent thing she does say has been written for her and she has rehearsed.
Couric and Gibson were "mean" to her? Come on. She's running for the vice presidency. She's not in nursery school, she has to grow up and suck it up or she'll never make it as VP.
And Dan Quale was under Poppa Bush. Smarter than Baby Bush but still not saying very much.
The McCain camps biggest complaint about the media has been the unfair deluge of "gotcha" questions thrown at Palin.
Asking someone to name a single Supreme Court case besides Roe v. Wade is not a gotcha question.
Asking someone what the Bush Doctrine is, is not a gotcha question.
Some college kid in a hoagie shop stumping Palin with a simple question about terrorism is not "gotcha journalism" as McCain calls it. It's Palin being uninformed and unqualified.
