Presidential Debates tonight

[Anonymous]

After one of Obama's off-topic responses, McCain prefaced his response by saying (with a bit of a smirk) that he would answer the question. Considering how proud Palin was of her unwillingness to be tied down by the questions, it seemed a bit disingenuous of him to brag about his compliance. I was quite aware of Obama's ignoring the questions and the time limits when he felt like it, but he looked so comfortable doing so that I think he managed to pull it off even better than Palin -- no winks, just the look of being in control. Was I succumbing to my bias in making that judgment?

[Anonymous]

Was I succumbing to my bias in making that judgment?

Yes. Both the candidates routinely exceeded the time limits for questions, and both used the questions to make "stump speeches" according to the Associated Press.

I have my own biases of course, but I thought the debate outcome favored Obama - more so than I expected. I have not previously bought into the line that McCain's age would prove a disadvantage in connecting with voters (although the Palin pick made it much more relevant.) But last night, I thought the visuals really hurt McCain - he looked uncomfortable and, even when grinning, kind of unpleasant. I flipped between several channels, and he always seemed to be pacing in a way that didn't work well for TV viewers (maybe it was better if you were in the studio.) Combined with his occasional use of sarcasm and sometimes rambling responses, for me McCain really seemed old and way out of his element - the sort of crochety guy yelling at kids to get off his lawn stereotype. It surprised me, since he was the one who reportedly pushed for the town hall format and reportedly does well in that setting. Obama by contrast seemed fluid and pretty comfortable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have my own biases of course, but I thought the debate outcome favored Obama - more so than I expected. I have not previously bought into the line that McCain's age would prove a disadvantage in connecting with voters (although the Palin pick made it much more relevant.) But last night, I thought the visuals really hurt McCain - he looked uncomfortable and, even when grinning, kind of unpleasant. I flipped between several channels, and he always seemed to be pacing in a way that didn't work well for TV viewers (maybe it was better if you were in the studio.) Combined with his occasional use of sarcasm and sometimes rambling responses, for me McCain really seemed old and way out of his element - the sort of crochety guy yelling at kids to get off his lawn stereotype. It surprised me, since he was the one who reportedly pushed for the town hall format and reportedly does well in that setting. Obama by contrast seemed fluid and pretty comfortable.

I didn't watch it as closely as the first one but I have to say that performance-wise it seemed to be a draw. Obama was much more comfortable in the town hall meeting style than in the past so I think he held his own but I didn't see major slips by McCain. Then again I think I was listening to flow of the words and not so much the meanings behind them.

But it did occur to me that McCain saying "That one" not only harkened back to the use of "you people" to describe Black people, it also reminded me of an elderly person who had had a mental slip and had forgotten Obama's name for a brief moment. I have to go back and look at my recording of that moment to see if it looks that way. This occurred to me this morning and given as I'm getting older and prone to forget terms for things maybe I'm reading too much into it.

[Anonymous]

I agree that McCain looks unattractive, but I don't think it's his age. I think it's his discomfort with his own campaign and the things he and his party are saying. He doesn't really want to go there and is not comfortable in his own skin right now. Anytime you don't feel comfortable in your own skin, you look less attractive, I think. What the public is seeing and feeling is the cognitive dissonance between the person McCain wants to be and the his true thoughts about Obama (I think he likes the man), and what he is being pushed by his party to do. He didn't want to "go there". Now he is, because a lot of Republicans are pressuring him to do. He looks like he has his head in a vise. Not attractive.

[Anonymous]

Boring questions - no way either of them could spice them up really.

Neutral ratings for Obama and McCain, thumbs down for Brokaw.

[Anonymous]

Going off of the PP's comment: on NPR just a few minutes ago they were discussing the debate and pointed out the difference in McCain's body language and attitude when speaking with the African-American questioners in the audience versus some of the white questioners. He was kind of condescending to the man who asked about the economic crisis "you probably had never heard of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac before this," and never looked at an African-American woman who asked a question, but he was all over the white navy veteran.

My impression in general was just that McCain seems angry and desperate, that he can't keep his emotions in check and has made this a kind of personal thing between himself and Obama.

[Anonymous]

11:26, you really think McCain deep down likes Obama? He seems so annoyed to have to share the stage with him!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Going off of the PP's comment: on NPR just a few minutes ago they were discussing the debate and pointed out the difference in McCain's body language and attitude when speaking with the African-American questioners in the audience versus some of the white questioners. He was kind of condescending to the man who asked about the economic crisis "you probably had never heard of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac before this," and never looked at an African-American woman who asked a question, but he was all over the white navy veteran.

Fascinating! Now I really have to go back and look at the recording!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Boring questions - no way either of them could spice them up really.

Neutral ratings for Obama and McCain, thumbs down for Brokaw.

I agree. Very tedious debate. McCain did come across as very old, I enjoyed his confused meandering around the stage.

But for me the real loser was Brokaw. With his tedious questions and petulant complaining about the rules he was an embarrasment to this great nation. I hope he never runs for president.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: He was kind of condescending to the man who asked about the economic crisis "you probably had never heard of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac before this," and never looked at an African-American woman who asked a question, but he was all over the white navy veteran.

Really? And if he said that to a white questioner what would that have meant? I don't think average Americans of any race or ethnicity had even a passing acquaintance with Freddie and Fannie before last month. I'm white, so I may have missed nuance here, but I didn't see that at all.

And McCain ALWAYS relates to the military folks in his audience. Had nothing to do with race either to me, just more of the same.

I was disappointed in the debates - all talking points and when they got into the tax/economy stuff it was too convoluted for anyone to follow - either of them.

What I cannot figure out is how Obama is going to just raise the taxes on the richest 2 - 4%, spend on his programs, and not raise the deficit even more. Can someone show me a balance sheet as to how that works? And the whole idea of increasing the 'refundable credits' to people who don't contribute even one cent in income taxes rubs me the wrong way. I have heard the GOP call it income redistribution and that is exactly how it strikes me - penalize success to the advantage of the less successful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: He was kind of condescending to the man who asked about the economic crisis "you probably had never heard of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac before this," and never looked at an African-American woman who asked a question, but he was all over the white navy veteran.

Really? And if he said that to a white questioner what would that have meant?

That's just the point -- he didn't say that, or anything like it, to a white questioner.

Anonymous wrote: I don't think average Americans of any race or ethnicity had even a passing acquaintance with Freddie and Fannie before last month.

I wouldn't assume that. Whether it's true or not, McCain shouldn't have assumed it either.

I don't fault him one bit for schmoozing the Navy Vet, he was in a comfort zone there with someone that he had something in common with; he probably would have done the same had the Navy Vet been a black guy. But I do think that the examples of his disrespect/discomfort with the black audience members says something about him.

And then there's the "that one" quip, directed at Obama . . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:11:26, you really think McCain deep down likes Obama? He seems so annoyed to have to share the stage with him!

As a colleague and as a person, yes. Remember during the primaries when the whole Rev. Wright thing came up and McCain was saying, "I know Barack Obama, and I know he doesn't think like that." I think part of what we are seeing is McCain's discomfort at having to go after someone he really has nothing against. He was hoping he could just win by a large margin and stay "dignified".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: He was kind of condescending to the man who asked about the economic crisis "you probably had never heard of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac before this," and never looked at an African-American woman who asked a question, but he was all over the white navy veteran.

Really? And if he said that to a white questioner what would that have meant?

That's just the point -- he didn't say that, or anything like it, to a white questioner.

But my point is he would have said just that to any questioner. This whole race thing is like quicksand. Anything can be twisted to appear racist. McCain has a "brown" daughter - I sincerely doubt he is racist. Can't we argue on substance, rather than perceived or imagined bias?