Here's how I decide who won the debate

It's a game called "Count the Lies and Distortions" and I play it by reading FactCheck.org

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/factc hecking_debate_no_1.html

See for yourself.

My personal favorite quote from the debate was by Mr. Obama...

"I too, am wearing a bracelet...It's sergeant, uh" <Obama looks down at bracelet and reads it>

Ugh, I hate when they do that whole: "I was talking to a mother from 'insert small town here' who's son was in the military, and she told me 'insert lame/heart-wrenching story here.'

That's adorable.

Now tell me how you're going to make America not suck major d, like it has been doing for the past 8 years. Thanks.

McCain pulls out his POW card and uses it like a get out of jail free card.  He does it every single time.

 

Original Post by wayne_:

My personal favorite quote from the debate was by Mr. Obama...

"I too, am wearing a bracelet...It's sergeant, uh"

I don't believe he was 'reading' his bracelet. His 'umm' was the standard 'umm' that he so often falls back on when collecting his thoughts or trying to remember his rehearsed answers. He's been in enough debates and campaigned enough lately that he should be past having so many 'umms' but he's not yet.

McCain tossed out plenty of 'umms' too, kisteel. 

Thanks for the link, Clairelaine. It certainly clarifies things for me.

You'd think both campaigns would have ample staff to make sure the facts/accusations are correct BEFORE the debate...so factcheck.org doesnt have to call them both out.

I was proud of McCain - he looked less robotic than usual. However, since inviting Gov. Palin to join his ticket he really doesnt have the moral highground on earmarks anymore...the more he talks about "reforming" Washington (after being a senator for over 26 years) the more of a hypocrite he is.

Obama looked nervous but gave the most thoughtful answers.

Obama looked and sounded perturbed to me.

I went to factcheck.org.

This is a wonderful website.  Thanks for sharing this.

#8. I thought so too, not throughout the whole debate, but often when McCain went to his usual and expected answer.

I listened to the debate on xm radio and it sounded like a pretty even debate to me -- wouldn't say that either candidate landed a knock out punch. 

They each communicated effectively, although at times McCain did kind of sound like just a grouchy old man.  I didn't pick up on Obama sounding perturbed.  He sounded cool as a cucumber on the radio.

Apparently, for people who watched the debate, Obama extended his lead just a little bit. (Link)  I wonder how much of this has to do with body language and facial expression and those kinds of things.  Because I bet if you polled people who listened on the radio - there would have been no change. 

Kind of reminds of the Nixon-Kennedy debate (except that I wasn't born yet, so I should say, reminds of when I read about the Nixon-Kennedy debate in history classes).

 

I watched the debate. You could see Obama give a tight slightly grimace smile on a couple of occasions. There were also times when McCain was talking over him and wouldn't let him finish that Obama would smile fairly big, the expression reminded me of when someone gives you a patronizing type of smile that says, "Yeah, I'll let you talk nonsense."

Also during the debate McCain often seemed mad. His cheeks got kind of red a couple of times. He looked kind of angry during portions of the debate.

I just read the article you linked and I agree with the article that Obama looked more presidential. I also thought he looked more like he'd keep his head in times of crisis and not just fly off the handle.

McCain lied about Obama a couple times, Obama was showing too much restraint in those instances. Finally started saying 'that just isn't true', but seemed almost reluctant to brow beat the oldtimer.

McCain often gave that creepy, condesending response I have come to truly detest. His voice gets low and quiet and he just creeps me out.

Will review factcheck, but Couric reported that she confirmed Kissinger's position on pre-conditions. Obama was right. Regardless of how McCain tried to slant it.

McCain also seems to be stealing the 'he just doesn't get it' mantra as well.

Overall I was deeply disappointed in McCain. I expected him to treat Obama with respect and in my view, he treated him like a recalcitrant schoolboy. Rather than underscore Obama's inexperience, he illuminated his own stubborn adherance to outdated policies and positions.

Original Post by kathygator:


Overall I was deeply disappointed in McCain. I expected him to treat Obama with respect and in my view, he treated him like a recalcitrant schoolboy. Rather than underscore Obama's inexperience, he illuminated his own stubborn adherance to outdated policies and positions.

 I agree. Did any of you notice that throughout the debate McCain never looked at Obama? It occurred to me later that he may have been doing that on purpose, trying to get Obama to loose his cool.

McCain remained cool, arrogant, almost condesencing and Obama came very close to loosing his patience. I found that strategy very disappointing...the lack of respect shown for Obama was not impressive, imo.

To me it was apparent that McCain is more knowledgable in Foreign Affairs, but Obama held his own. As someone who's still on the fence, I'm really looking forward to the future debates.

I'm not sure McCain is all that "knowlegable" about foreign affairs.  He is stuck in the cold war mentality.  Back then they all saw commies beind every tree.  Now they see terrorists and react the same way.  He's stuck in the past and can't seem to adjust to the fact that the current situation is nothing like Vietnam. 

Agree. I think the key to our foriegn policy from here on out is our image among our allies. Obama improves our perception, McCain doesn't. Simple as that.

McCain's insistence that 'you don't tell them what you're thinking' is absolutely a product of the Cold War Era, and he mischaracterized Obama's postion, just so he could say it. Not only did Obama NOT suggest doing that, and has even said that there are obviously situations in which the CIC has to play his cards close to his vest, but McCain has been much more prone to announce his intentions, at least when they involve attacking countries.

McCain seems to think the number of troops we have is limitless, as he continues to thumb his nose at North Korea, Russia, Iraq and the ever-present Al Quaida.

I would not be at all surprised to find out that he favors the draft, if elected. It fits with the rest of his thinking.

You guys are spot-on with your analysis of McCain's foreign policy paradigm. He is absolutely stuck in the Cold War. I was looking for the words, but I couldn't have said it any better myself.