The Official Debate Thread (Round 1)

[SmootSmack]

If you're watching tonight's first presidential debate and would like to comment, post here.

(Spare us the litany of YouTube Sarah Palin clips please, just discuss how McCain and Obama are responding to the questions being posed to them tonight.)

[724Skinsfan]

First debate and all but neither seems especially convicted. They both have their talking points down but their rebuttals are pretty weak.

[DynamiteRave]

I'm going to bet this thread blows up after the debate is over.

[DynamiteRave]

Well I thought it was boring. Hoped they would talk more about issues at home.

I've been reading message boards and a lot of people (Mostly dems, independents and undecideds) thought McCain came off as a cantankerous, arrogant old man.

Oh and McCain wouldn't look Obama in the eye. What's with that? If you're gonna present your arguments with conviction, at least look the dude in the eye.

Isn't that the first thing they teach you in debate class?

Anyway. Like I said, this debate was disappointing for me personally. I can't really say who won cause I'm an idiot when it comes to foreign policy and thus I kinda wasted an hour and a half hoping they'd talk more about stuff I could relate to.

Bring on the VP debate, damnit!

[SmootSmack]

Fact Checker (just some fyi)

I thought that both had their moments, but for the most part were pretty average. McCain liked to remind people that Obama had little experience, while Obama spoke of McCain's similarities to the Bush administration-which McCain seemed to take particular offense to. Same thing we've been hearing for a while now.

I thought it was interesting how many times Obama would say "He's right about that."

This was supposed to be right in McCain's wheelhouse (foreign policy/national security) but he didn't come across as the clear-cut winner. And in that sense, I think he lost this round.

[That Guy]

i think mccain had a better showing. i think his energy plan is better/realistic, and i don't think obama should really try to argue on the military... i was watching this at work (*ahem*) and every time he opened his mouth on those matters, well, what he decided to say didn't go over very well. that's a real weak spot for him, yet he kept talking about it.

when asked about how the economy might change their presidency, both mumbled around with answers about saving a few billion in an economy of 14 trillion, so that's really a band-aid for a bullet hole type of answer there.

i liked hearing mccain float punishing the greedy (did he mention jail terms? that'd be nice), but i can't remember anything else specifically, since both did spend a lot of time rehashing old quotes and arguments and repeating talking points.

[djnemo65]

I think Dennis Green could best sum up the first debate for me.

[wilsowilso]

Originally Posted by That Guy

i think mccain had a better showing. i think his energy plan is better/realistic, and i don't think obama should really try to argue on the military... i was watching this at work (*ahem*) and every time he opened his mouth on those matters, well, what he decided to say didn't go over very well. that's a real weak spot for him, yet he kept talking about it.

when asked about how the economy might change their presidency, both mumbled around with answers about saving a few billion in an economy of 14 trillion, so that's really a band-aid for a bullet hole type of answer there.

i liked hearing mccain float punishing the greedy (did he mention jail terms? that'd be nice), but i can't remember anything else specifically, since both did spend a lot of time rehashing old quotes and arguments and repeating talking points.

You are such a homer. I agree with 50% of your team affiliations. That the Redskins are awesome and the Republicans are awesome.

[That Guy]

Originally Posted by wilsowilso

You are such a homer. I agree with 50% of your team affiliations. That the Redskins are awesome and the Republicans are awesome.

wtf are you talking about? you must have me mistaken with someone else. but thanks anyways for trolling, and i'll make sure i get your approval to have an opinion before posting next time.

[wilsowilso]

Originally Posted by That Guy

wtf are you talking about? you must have me mistaken with someone else.

Stop messing with my mind.

[Beemnseven]

There weren't really any knock-out punches, no major gaffes. I just thought McCain appeared really tense, but that's his usual demeanor.

The one thing I took from it was how well Obama articulated this thoughts without a teleprompter. That was something Limbaugh, Hannity and other right wingers have said over and over, that without a prepared script, Obama cannot think on his feet, and that he has trouble speaking in coherent sentences. Which is an incredible comment from them, considering the speaking abilities of the current occupant of the White House. Obama had no problems last night on that front.

I just wish McCain would have responded to the 'tax breaks for the oil companies' claim by saying something like, "fine -- you go right ahead and nail the oil companies to the wall with higher taxes. What do you think that will do to the price of gas?"

Also on that note -- a tax break is not "giving" more money to anyone. A tax break allows people, or corporations to keep more of the money that they earn. Government isn't "giving" them anything because the money didn't belong to government in the first place.

It would have been nice for McCain to hit Obama with that.

[724Skinsfan]

I thought Obama's only big gaffe was not making it a point to remember the name on the bracelet he was wearing. Kind made me think that someone behind the scenes gave it to him at the last minute because it would look good. McCain's "I will veto any bill...." remark was too close-sounding to Clinton's statement to Congress way back when.

In short, they both have some more polishing before next Thursday (Oct 2nd?).

[12thMan]

I think it was a solid outing for both candidates. Debates should be boring, and in that sense the candidates supplied the pundits and the opponent with very little amunition.

I think Obama did better, or should I say improved his position more. Not so much because he out dueled John McCain, but because voters had more questions about Obama than they did about McCain. So Obama went a lot further to assuage some of those concerns and doubts. The experience argument didn't stick during the Primary and it won't stick now. The experience argument is good fodder for Fox news and Rudi Guilliani, but they're not the ones deciding this election. We're inside 40 days until E-day, and Obama hasn't gotten this far because people are concerned about his experience or lack thereof.

Here's how I see this thing playing itself out. On the campaign trail, not during the debates. People will scrutinize the day-to-day activities of these campaigns more than ever now. And I hate to say it or bring it up, but the fact that Sarah Palin was not available for the spin interviews afterwards, while Joe Biden was on almost every major network last night, speaks volumes. If Biden is smart and prepared, he'll stick to the script and let the debate flow to him instead of the opposite. No need to go for the Palin.

[MTK]

All I know is HD is not McCain's friend. The guy looks like he has one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel.

[saden1]

How can you look Putin in the eyes if you can't look at Obama let alone look him in the eyes? How can you look anyone in the eye if you don't sit down with them? I wonder if using binoculars or spy satellite to look people in the eyes counts?

As for Obama saying "he's right about that" I guess the "but" part of his speech isn't important.

p.s. I am so looking forward to the VP debate so I can post more Youtube videos of Palin.