Tonights Debate?

[Tiffikat]

If you are watching what are your thoughts?

I feel like neither have said much at all, but so far I think Obama is leading and that is also showing on the graph on CNN of uncommitted Ohio voters.

First two questions were a tie with neither really answering. Questions 3-8 have gone to Obama I think though.

I didn't like the way McCain tried to avoid answering the question about prioritizing energy, healthcare, and education.

I'm on a bit of a delay since we had to pause in the beginning to put our son to bed.

I do like Obama's thought of needing to use a scalpel not a hatchet on the budget. You can't eliminate everything because that just won't work. Things do need to be carefully gone through and eliminated with care and thought behind each elimination.

Overall though I just do not think either has said anything new and for the most part both are avoiding the questions themselves and sticking to talking points. I'm biased in that I happen to in general agree with Obama's talking points.

[Susan L]

I've been listening, and I'm not sure that one is shining over the other.

I will share my 8yo son's views, though. Just a few minutes ago, totally out of the blue he said, "All Obama is doing is insulting McCain."

Wow! I didn't realize he was even paying attention to it! :lol

[4noisyboys]

I've been listening, and I'm not sure that one is shining over the other.

I will share my 8yo son's views, though. Just a few minutes ago, totally out of the blue he said, "All Obama is doing is insulting McCain."

Wow! I didn't realize he was even paying attention to it! :lol
How funny! I was thinking the exact opposite, that all I was hearing was McCain insulting Obama!!

[Tiffikat]

I was thinking the same thing Debra.

[Susan L]

Too funny! I know I was a bit annoyed with how they kept jabbing each other about things that didn't even pertain to the question they were "answering" at the time. (Focus, please!) But hey, that's politics!

[SarahMD]

I've been listening, and I'm not sure that one is shining over the other.

I will share my 8yo son's views, though. Just a few minutes ago, totally out of the blue he said, "All Obama is doing is insulting McCain."

Wow! I didn't realize he was even paying attention to it! :lol

Well to me it seems like McCain was making all the strikes... Obama, to me, seemed to have business in mind and didn't slash at McCain. Mostly I think he spent most of his comments about McCain to be Defensive instead of Offensive.

[Tiffikat]

I agree both need to focus on what the actual question is.

[Chreamps]

Yes, I think they both did pretty well, but I missed part of it. Should have stayed on focus and cut out the jabs.

[Microferk ~ Miki Ferkul]

I told my husband to watch- when they were asked a question- the most answer you would get occurred before they turned and circled the stage and delivered the rest of their monologue that hearkened back to earlier questions and/or points.......

[SarahMD]

Unfair Burdenship (says Obama) - I liked that (sorry watching the highlights on CBS, lol)

[ccouch]

I'm done watching for now. ugh. I'm just tired of it all, honestly!
A few thoughts -
If Obama says "fundamental" one more time I'm gonna be fundamentally irked!
McCain seemed a little nervous in the beginning, maybe? I'm not sure, but he kind of tripped on a few of his words.
Obama spoke well, as always. I don't agree with his policies, but he's a great speaker.
Both seemed to be making jabs - I don't know if it was one more than the other to me.


Geez, could we just vote already?!!

[Tiffikat]

Just finished watching, I think Obama did the best overall, though McCain also did well.


Anyone have any thoughts on McCain's use of "that one" in reference to Obama?

[Kim2002]

I only caught the last 10-15 minutes as I was out watching Spamalot with my mom. :) Anyway, I will be watching this thread with interest to see everyone's opinions, but will first need to go catch the debate on the internet.

[Microferk ~ Miki Ferkul]

Just finished watching, I think Obama did the best overall, though McCain also did well.


Anyone have any thoughts on McCain's use of "that one" in reference to Obama?

Underhanded, but not altogether surprising, and quite telling...

[rmcabana]

I was watching the comments on Twitter while listening to the debate. Twitter was way more interesting.

[txmusicmom]

My son said-- when he runs for President, he is going to bring up some kid issues.......

He's 8.

LOL

[snaggletooth75]

Me too LMAO, I went to watch the Rachel Zoe Project instead:lol
They were BOTH getting on my nerves McCain and Obama.

I'm done watching for now. ugh. I'm just tired of it all, honestly!
A few thoughts -
If Obama says "fundamental" one more time I'm gonna be fundamentally irked!
McCain seemed a little nervous in the beginning, maybe? I'm not sure, but he kind of tripped on a few of his words.
Obama spoke well, as always. I don't agree with his policies, but he's a great speaker.
Both seemed to be making jabs - I don't know if it was one more than the other to me.


Geez, could we just vote already?!!

[txmusicmom]

Geez, could we just vote already?!!


:yahoo :yahoo :clap

[strangejen]

well the venue looks like a GREAT place. HA HA HA. just kidding.

Anyone watching the coverage afterward? You know those red laynard tags everyone has their IDs on? I have one . . . think I get can money for it on eBay? ;)

[DirtyFeetDesigns (heb1976)]

I agree both need to focus on what the actual question is.

Obama definitely missed the last question "What do you not know?" Guess that means he knows it all.

I think this debate was so boring. I love town hall debates because they ask different questions ... this one was horrible. I think McCain was much better when talking about Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, etc ... Obama was better at health care - explanation. Obama did alot of his "uh uh umm uhh well uh" that drives me insane. Both of them didn't really say anything new at all.

Can we cancel this election and start the primary's all over again ... I want some new choices!

[Susan L]

Can we cancel this election and start the primary's all over again ... I want some new choices!


My thoughts exactly!

[Chreamps]

You know, Thena, said she would run!

[mama_pajama]

I'm done watching for now. ugh. I'm just tired of it all, honestly!
A few thoughts -
If Obama says "fundamental" one more time I'm gonna be fundamentally irked!
McCain seemed a little nervous in the beginning, maybe? I'm not sure, but he kind of tripped on a few of his words.
Obama spoke well, as always. I don't agree with his policies, but he's a great speaker.
Both seemed to be making jabs - I don't know if it was one more than the other to me.


Geez, could we just vote already?!!

I already have my absentee ballot, it's burning a hole in my desk. I wanted to wait until at least after the next debate to send it in, but now I agree with you. I just want to get it over with and stop thinking about it!

[Scorpiosue1102]

The problem with the "what don't you know" question is just like what McCain said about Russia being evil or something like that. You say yes, it's cold war talk and no, you're not tough enough. If either one says "I don't know how the economic crisis will end" there would be an uproar. I don't have a problem with either answer.

I think that both did well. McCain seemed to do better than the last debate, but Obama seemed more comfortable up there.

I think that there could have been better questions to pick from. I think that there are so many issues to be talked about even homeland security and our ports or something crazy like education.

[Hollie]

I only watched about the first 15 minutes, then I got bored and realized that watching was a waste of my time.

I want to know why it is that, in these so called "debates" no one is really debating. All that is happening is just them talking a bunch about whatever they really want. Or calling each other a lier. We can look at fact check. We can check their voting record. I don't need them to talk about what the other said, didn't say, didn't do, says they did but didn't, etc. It's a waste of their time. A real debate should be one of them (whichever is asked the question) actually answering the question, head on, persuasively, with their ideology, and why it is best (with solid reasoning). Then the other countering it with their own ideology, saying why the first is wrong about their points, again persuasively, and then the first being offered the opportunity to explain further their position and offer reasons why the other is wrong. But instead, they are both just basically saying, "no, you're wrong." Then, "no you are wrong." Then "well you voted this way and aren't telling the truth." Blah blah blah. It sounds like a bunch of first graders. And when they do try to actually answer the questions, it is so vague and round about, and they really don't give any reasons *why* their ideas are correct--I mean really solid evidences and strong arguments. They just basically say what hasn't worked and what they voted for, or how the other messed up. It's not a real debate, IMO.

[Chreamps]

Great point, Hollie, that's the way "they" want it; not, how "we" would like it to be. It takes so long to have to weed through everything to find facts to make up your mind.

[Meme2Gracie]

Obama showed he is cool, calm and collected when under attack by mccain! It was very rude to refer to Senator Obama as "that one". Obama showed his intellegence while mccain showed his age.

[Sharia Braxton]

Is anyone listening to the poll numbers from CNN's debate watchers poll?

they're all very interesting. I'm going to be now, but if someone finds them online, please post. I think people will find all the polling questions and #s of interest...

[Sharia Braxton]

I also found it interesting that AFTER the debate the mccains just left. The obama's stayed for quite a while mingling and, yeah, politicking, meeting people, etc.

I thought they would have both stayed, talk more with people on a one on one basis. Was anyone else a little surprised that McCain did not do that?

And I agree w/ the assessment of the last question that Obama really didn't answer that. I thought it would have shown a little humility had he said something- although the feeling I get from the answer he gave was that you can't know what's going to happen..the unexpected quotient. McCain also used that, in that what don't you know answer.

[vegaschristina]

I actually fell asleep towards the end. Don't really think I missed much either.

[Chreamps]

Sharia Braxton posted:I thought they would have both stayed, talk more with people on a one on one basis. Was anyone else a little surprised that McCain did not do that? I was just reading comments from the poll at CNN (I didn't get to see the very end) and everyone was talking about how the McCains left right away. In my opinion, he just can't stand Obama and had to get away from him or he might have lost it. They were really celebrating Obama on the comments right away - they were really funny.

ETA: On the comments at the polls at CNN, they were also mentioning that McCain was making a whistling sound when he talked? I was watching on HULU, so I didn't catch that.

ETAA: One of the comments to the CNN Polls made this comment: October 7th, 2008 11:43 pm ET
I can't wait to get an "I'm voting for That One" t-shirt!

[Hollie]

No questions of Senator McCain and how he reconciles his conservative convictions with the ever growing burden of the federal government to bail out everything.



McCain has conservative convictions? When did that happen? :lol

[Hollie]

Honestly these are serious times that merit thoughtful and serious debate and I don't think anybody in this mess is addressing the real issues that are at hand.




I totally agree. "Thoughtful and serious debate" is obviously something that they both need to learn about. None of that is going on at all! It's all just childishness. I may as well vote for my 4 year old!

[Chreamps]

Hollie posted: McCain has conservative convictions? When did that happen? :lolThat was before he changed from the time before when he changed:lol:lol:lol

[Scorpiosue1102]

I don't think the "that one" was meant to be nasty, but it just sounded not so great.

[Hollie]

Maybe instead of asking the candidates, "what is it that you don't know and how will you go about learning it?" Mr. Brokaw could have asked something like, "In light of the ever-widening banking crisis that has now gone 'global' what threats do you think America will be faced with in the coming months/year and how do you propose to protect the American people from those threats? ..... just a thought!!


Honestly, they wouldn't have answered this either. I don't think so anyhow. It's also a speculative question. I'd rather see them address a "real" issue or at least a specific potential issue...like "if possibility A occurs, how will you deal with it?"

[strangejen]

I'm voting for Obama, and the "that one" comment didn't bother me. It just reminds me of when I'm talking about Jake and I say "the boy."

[Hollie]

Well, I'm not trying to be contrary but I honestly don't think it is speculative; first, part of a president's job is to access current situations anticipate fall-out, risks/threats and opportunities and, in light of that, determine how the nation should respond. Second, the world-wide banking crisis IS a "real" issue. As to your point about the candidates not answering the question I think if they did refuse to answer the question that would be telling too.

What do you think speculation *is* then? When you ask, "what threats do you think America will be faced with in the coming months/year," the only thing they can do is say what they "think" will happen. That, by definition, is speculation. Yes, the banking crisis is real. But the question you posed still calls for speculation on the part of the candidates. I'd rather see them address a specific issue that we *know* is occuring, or at the very least, be given a specific hypothetical and asked how they would respond. But, that's just my preference in questioning.

[Dee Bee Designs]

I think we are probably just splitting hairs here. I would like to see a candidate's thought process in light of the serious situation that we are facing. I think it is important that each of them would have a threat assessment that they could share with the American people and that they would have thought through what the various options and response could or should be. If that is speculation then so be it. I guess it doesn't really matter though since neither your question or mine was asked of either candidate and I guess it probably won't be. Which leads me back to what I originally posted in that I think these debates are not an effective way to assess a person's readiness to lead this country. Instead it is all about political gamesmanship.

And just so there is no misunderstanding, I do respect your view.

[Hollie]

I think we are probably just splitting hairs here. I would like to see a candidate's thought process in light of the serious situation that we are facing. I think it is important that each of them would have a threat assessment that they could share with the American people and that they would have thought through what the various options and response could or should be. If that is speculation then so be it. I guess it doesn't really matter though since neither your question or mine was asked of either candidate and I guess it probably won't be. Which leads me back to what I originally posted in that I think these debates are not an effective way to assess a person's readiness to lead this country. Instead it is all about political gamesmanship.

And just so there is no misunderstanding, I do respect your view.

Agreed! The main thing is--the debates aren't really doing anything to help anyone make a good assessment of the candidates. There's no intelligent dialogue or debate. It's pointless. Such a shame too.

I hope you didn't take what I said as disrespectful to you though. I was just meaning to clarify a statement. Definitely off topic though :lol

[lunafaerie]

I have heard them both say everything they said before. They got a bit more into healthcare and Obama scored MAJOR points with me stating that healthcare is a human right. It's not a privilege, it's not a luxury, it's a right.

[mlpieters]

booorrrinnggg....

*yawn*

[JCSimon]

I turned the sound off for about 1/2 hour and just watched. The body language was quite interesting. Obama looked relaxed and in charge. McCain looked aggressive and very uneasy. He just couldn't keep himself from scowling whenever Obama was talking. It's clear he really just *does not like* Obama.

It worries me that McCain can't seem to control his reactions to people. What effect would that have when he was involved in delicate diplomatic negotiations?

And the "that one" comment, I think, was deliberate. After the vitriolic speeches coming out of both Palin and McCain the past few days, I truly believe it was another attempt to depersonalize and demonize Obama.

[kjbstevens]

Okay haven't read all of the others yet but I agree with was boring.

McCains walking around annoyed me. It felt like he was wandering. Obama not saying what the fine was going to be on employers bothered me. Obama not wanting to follow rules showed a lack of polish that he usually has. McCain was a little grumpy.

I never want to hear again
McCain - I can do that.
Obama - Pockiston.

I just wasn't impressed I guess.

[andyapc]

You what really REALLY irked me last night?

Tom Brokaw.

This was supposed to be a town hall meeting type of debate. Weren't the questions supposed to come from the audience?

It's bad enough that internet questions were asked (and I'm only saying that because I thought the whole purpose behind a town hall meeting was so that the attendees had an opportunity to ask questions in person. If they want internet questions to be asked, then have a debate for that. There's simply not enough time to do both in one debate.), but how many questions did Brokaw ask himself?!?

And I don't think he was even supposed to ask follow-up questions, but he did.

I think he asked more questions than anybody! Unless I missed something, he doesn't represent the people, does he?

And then the questions he chose from the audience? Did he not think either candidate was up the challenge of answering hard, thought provoking questions?

[mlpieters]

yep. tom bad.

[NellieRose]

Anyone have any thoughts on McCain's use of "that one" in reference to Obama?

We practically jumped out of our seats when he said that...downright rude and could be taken many of way, none of them postive or even neutral.

ETA: It took me back to the RNC when some protestors interrupted his speech...his response to them is telling of a person who can not tolerate others with differing opinions...not a good sign especially when you are looking to be the leader of these people...how can you lead if you can't tolerate difference?

[NellieRose]

Still trying to get through all the pages here so I'm sorry if this was already asked....

Anyone care to share views on Barck and Michelle Obama staying to talk and take photos with the people? Did John and Cindy stay or leave immediately?

From what I could tell they didn't stick around or not nearly as long as the Obamas....that speaks volumes to me as well.

[NellieRose]

The problem with the "what don't you know" question is just like what McCain said about Russia being evil or something like that. You say yes, it's cold war talk and no, you're not tough enough. If either one says "I don't know how the economic crisis will end" there would be an uproar. I don't have a problem with either answer.



I agree...I think they BOTH answered this question as best as either of them possibly could. Talk about playing with fire!!!! :eek

[NellieRose]

I also found it interesting that AFTER the debate the mccains just left. The obama's stayed for quite a while mingling and, yeah, politicking, meeting people, etc.

See....I should have tried to get through all 6 pages before asking for reaction to this! LOL

[Microferk ~ Miki Ferkul]

Well from what I see of McCain's lack of courtesy and self-control, rude treatment of Obama, as well as his seeming intolerance to Oback's company/proximity- and all the other myriad reports about his anger management issues from boyhood on up, I can't say THIS is the type of man I want negotiating foreign policy that can require a deft hand at times.
My mother watched it- and she doesn't like EITHER candidate and she's a ttal Independnet- she said shewonders if he's not showing the begiings of dementia. I told he I didn't think so- it sounds like from all accounts of those who have known him since boyhood that he might just be a mean little man.

[strangejen]

he might just be a mean little man.

ha ha! interesting how you phrased that . . . the Rolling Stones article talked about how he's self-conscious about his height and gets very angry as a result sometimes (like when a podium is too high). LOL.

[FrenchRuby]

I'm watching the debate now on YouTube (none of the networks, not even CNN Europe) carry it in full, and even if they did I can't stay up til 3am to watch, I would probably die.

I am just stunned. What is it with McCain? He's incoherent, wandering, repetitive, aggressive... He says 'I know how...' all the time (is there a reason why he's keeping all the solutions secret?), and appears to be obsessed with pork (in barrels apparently). I can see why Miki's Mom thinks he might be entering dementia, I hope for his sake he isn't, but dear Lord, I cannot see how anyone could vote for him. No offence intended to the Republican folks here, but I think you got stuck with a terrible candidate this time round.

Furthermore, anyone who says with a straight face 'nuclear power is clean' on national TV needs education, or failing that, locking up for their own safety.

[Microferk ~ Miki Ferkul]

ha ha! interesting how you phrased that . . . the Rolling Stones article talked about how he's self-conscious about his height and gets very angry as a result sometimes (like when a podium is too high). LOL.


Well, the quote I keep seeing popping up in first-hand accounts was derogatory and I didn't want to go there, LOL! IT started out "Mean little"- but used a more inflammatory term than man. :giggle

[Gina.Maria]

I came to this thread too late (It popped up when I found myself without internet and I had to wait to watch the debate in full before I'd add anything) but I wanted to make a completely non-partisan comment.

I thought the height of the stools was horrible! McCain looked awfully uncomfortable and even Obama seemed disinclined to stay seated. It made it hard to physically follow them (the cameras seemed to have a tough time of it) because they kept wandering around - probably to get some circulation back in their legs and butts!

[Tiffikat]

Yeah I noticed that about the stools as well and I would bet that it had a lot to do with their "wandering".