B- for McCain; B+ for Obama
My readers know that I am a committed Obama supporter and have been since this time last year. However, if I were doing a backstage post-mortem with him, I would at this moment be calling his attention to one bit of his behavior during the debate. Perhaps because of overconfidence, Obama often was smirking while McCain spoke and was seen doing so on camera. Not good. He also came close to the line on a couple occasions of speaking disrespectfully to the more senior McCain. Also not good. Nothing serious but nonetheless a bit of a blemish on an otherwise positive performance.
Four weeks from tonight, Americans will choose their next president. Barring some unforeseen event or surprise, Obama-Biden are on their way to what could be a decisive victory.
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Comments:
Posted Tue, Oct 7, 11:40 p.m. inappropriate
McCain's bad manners: Ted--it is odd that you point out that Obama might have been smirking. The far more significant expressions of contempt came from John McCain. First, he referred to Obama as "that one" during an answer. That one? This is the Senator from Illinois, a man judged by most including many Republicans, to be qualified to be president. Secondly, if you watch C-Span or a video clip of the family handshake at the end of the debate you will clearly see John McCain refuse Barack Obama's hand and instead shove him towards his wife. He then proceeds to leave the debate hall almost immediately while Obama stays to meet the audience. It sure looked to me that Senator McCrankypants had a hard time keeping his cool in this relatively mild debate.
McCain's temper is legendary in Washington and he has a hard time not losing his cool in a debate. Perhaps he might be an unstable president as well.
Posted Wed, Oct 8, 6:21 a.m. inappropriate
That One Delivered a Drubbing: All of the "reaction groups", even Fox News, confirm that That One mopped the floor with the other one.
Actually, over the next three days as the tracking polls update we will find out who won the debate. The final judgment on presidential debates is all about the perception of the Independent voter, the votes of partisans and debate coaches don't count.
Posted Wed, Oct 8, 12:04 p.m. inappropriate
Things, not Events: The actual Emerson line is "Things are in the saddle and ride mankind." Emerson was talking about something very different from "events." The line still works, though, with the change.
Posted Wed, Oct 8, 12:29 p.m. inappropriate
stool: One of the commentators on Rasmussen made a really interesting point today. He said the wandering around the stage by McCain was likely the result of the failure of his staff to see that he had a comfortable stool. The one provided was too high for him and would have left him sitting with his legs dangling like a four year old at the Thanksgiving table. McCain's necessary response was to stay on his feet and move around the stage. Obama, on the other hand, relaxed comfortably on his stool, looking graceful and reliable.
I think there is some truth there. McCain's people should have seen that he was given a stool as comfortable for him as Obama's was. The consequence was a wandering, random performance and probably significant tiredness for his 72 year old legs.
I think Obama rightly won the debate, but I do have a bit of pity for McCain's stool dilemma.
Posted Wed, Oct 8, 1:14 p.m. inappropriate
More seriously, I was disappointed that neither candidate seemed aware of the nature of the current global financial crisis. Neither offered any relevant solution. Instead, they fell back on formulations relating to general economic/tax policy and having nothing to do with the current situation.
There is one debate left. Let us hope Obama/McCain both offer something relevant then, if not before. Markets will fall again if the realization dawns that the next President doesn't get it. Obama, presumably the next President, will have a doubly difficult job in January if he has not prepared public opinion beforehand for what is to come.
Posted Wed, Oct 8, 2:31 p.m. inappropriate
John McCain isn't supposed to be the inspiring orator - he's the guy who slugs it out despite a body broken and battered by the whips and chains of North Vietnamese torturers.
Barrack Obama, on the other hand is supposed to be inspiring us with grand visions of change and hope. Instead, last night we got a litany of stale old Democrat Party income redistribution, massive government spending, and wacky foreign policy proposals - Henry Wallace would be proud.
Here's a question for everyone: When Obama says he'll give a tax cut to 95% of all Americans, how will he be able to do that? Especially when 40% of all Americans - nearly half of Obama's 95% - don't pay taxes in the first place?
How does that work?
Income redistribution, that's how - government checks will go to people who aren't taxpayers, with those checks covered by increased taxes on real taxpayers.
As Johnny Drama would say, "Sweet!"
The Piper
Posted Wed, Oct 8, 3:28 p.m. inappropriate
RE: Van Dyk comment: "When Obama says he'll give a tax cut to 95% of all Americans, how will he be able to do that?"
By reversing Bush's tax cuts to the wealthiest 2%. Did it occur to you to actually read the plan before offering your "critique"?
Posted Wed, Oct 8, 6:38 p.m. inappropriate
The Piper
Posted Wed, Oct 8, 8:33 p.m. inappropriate
RE: Van Dyk comment: Gamesmanship? Frankly, more of us are concerned about a Mesopotamian war that is costing us $10,000,000,000 on a monthly basis; a Wall Street / Bank bailout costing us $700,000,000,000--$1,000,000,000,000; today's statement by Sec. Paulson promising additional bank failures despite this bailout; retirement portfolios down 20-25% since mid-summer. Most of us are more concerned with how we will pay for all of this in the coming years. Are we just going to print more money? Borrow more from the red fascists of China? Sell off more of America? Or raise taxes to finally, literally, pay our own way?
Income redistribution isn't some future bogeyman; it is already well under way and happening to real, actual, people today.
Laurence Ballard
Posted Thu, Oct 9, 5:07 p.m. inappropriate
McCain/Obama: The Pulse of Politics: I handed my husband his digital blood pressure monitor as John McCain and Barack Obama sparred on our television screen. No, I wasn't worried about David busting a blood vessel over political rhetoric. Last month he had undergone cardiac bypass surgery and it was time to measure his vital signs. I nudged his dinner plate aside on our round rattan table.
Tom Brokaw delivered the next question to the two candidates. As most of the other selected questions tonight, this one had a predictable feel. The responses sounded scripted. How disappointing. I wanted to learn something more about Obama and McCain, about how their minds worked.
Minds. For two weeks, the possibility of losing David--the "hero" in my life--had gnawed at my mind and stomach with the rat teeth of fear. The hum of the blood pressure meter had become all too familiar. The death rate was one per person. Eventually, tragedy hit all lives. I glanced at the television screen. So how would McCain or Obama function in the face of simultaneous sudden personal loss and national disaster? If either lost a loved one on the same day the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged to 5,000, could he cope? Become the "hero" our nation would require?
I recorded David's vital signs. Blood pressure too low. Pulse rate too high. He'd been having atrial fibrillation. His heart's auricles had shimmied around instead of delivering the full contracted shipment of life blood to his ventricles. A medical analogy for routine governmental operations?
The thump of a tail joined the candidates' vocal beat. Our hundred-pound pooch implored with wistful eyes. I set my dinner plate, now containing his evening treat, on the kitchen floor. McCain and Obama tossed out some dubious financial "facts." If only a meter could measure the pulse of politics, display the truth of all politicians' claims. My published book, Heroes Arise, had been classified as science fiction/fantasy, but I preferred to base my votes on pure reality.
Laurel Anne Hill