Watching the Debates....

[ctozrn]

Feeling a little worried while watching the debates.....I love Obama to death but am worried that he isn't being tough enough! He doesn't seem to be responding to the claims that JM is making! When is he going to fight back?! I know that he has to appeal to the masses as a nice guy but he seems to be letting JM get him! I don't want him to play dirty but he is going to have to get tough!

Are y'all watching? What do you think?

[Daniel]

My perception is that Obama stayed on message. And I think that is a good thing. And I thought that he countered McCain's claims effectively, especially as regards financial issues.

McCain continually referred to Obama in a belittling manner. And I don't think this helped him. It's a very trailer trash was of doing things. Very Jerry Springer.

I hope the public is getting tired of that kind of politics. It's stupid.

Obama has the skill and gravitas to be president.

[ctozrn]

Yes, I agree. I also thought McCain was a little edgy. I thought his comment to Tom Brokaw when he said, "not you" was rude.

I certainly didn't want Obama to be rude but I wanted him to be tough with JM. I thought he did a little better as the night went on. I too am SO tired of the negativity. I hope he stays away from the dirty politics. I am just so afraid of him losing. I don't know what we would do!

Is anyone still watching the debate channel? I am watching MSNBC about 10 minutes after the debate is over and Obama and his wife are still in the audience talking to the people, taking pictures, shaking hands. McCain is gone. Hewent into the audience for about 2 minutes and then left. I think that says a lot.

Christine

[tdogg]

With Daniel, in that Obama stayed on task, on message, was clear, cool and convincing. He didn't cave into attacking back. He offered his ideas on change and running things in DC, and even some insight on how he would go about doing that. I thought this was one of his strongest showings yet.

McCain on the other hand, had trouble coming up with words and come-backs. I thought he staggered in places, and while he attempted to act tough, for me it just didn't come off as convincing. Yeah, kinda like trailer trash. I think he and Palin fit - for me, they are both disasters waiting to happen. I prefer those disasters not to happen at the White house!

I normally watch MSNBC for politics. They even let the Republican commentators have a turn. They are all exclaiming how McCain won this one. I am wondering if we saw the same debate? I found it interesting how the opinion grid showed strong support for Obama from the Independents, as that may be who decides this contest in the end.

[BruceChris]

But all of my roomies say that J.Mc seemed to be looking a bit sickly. So if Obama is ahead in the electoral polls, and he does not attack J.Mc, and John goes on to be hospitalized for something, Obama won't have to take the rap on that one.

I think that as long as Obama stays on message, and is clearly calm and in control, he can't lose.

BC

[ctozrn]

Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann just brought up the fact that McCain left right away and Obama stayed and talked to the people. Pat Buchanan is actually admitting that the Republican base are not going to be happy about the mortgage help that JM has offered. It goes against everything they stand for.

I also thought McCain did not look well. Maybe that is why he left.

Christine

[u-dog]

we watched the debate on CNN last night and they had a room full of 25 undecided Ohio voters with audience reaction devices. They displayed the reactions of these voters as a line graph at the bottom of the screen throughout the debate.

What was REALLY interesting to us was that regardless of which candidate was speaking, the graph went up to the top whenever they were talking about their plan and their vision and whenever they had a strong, realistically hopeful tone. It went down into the basement whenever they started talking about either their OPPONENTS record OR THEIR OWN. It went down into the bassement whenever EITHER CANDIDATE began to talk dirt about his opponent. It also went down whenever they resorted to campaign talking points.

What this said to me was that while mudslinging may appeal to decided partisan voters IT DOES NOT RESONATE WITH THOSE WHO HAVE NOT DECIDED YET. I think that if McCain's campaign goes more negative as they get more desperate, its going to backfire.

Did anybody else watch on CNN? What did you notice?

[keltic63]

Originally Posted by u-dog

Did anybody else watch on CNN? What did you notice?

I noticed that one of the guys in the audience looked a lot like me

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by ctzorn

Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann just brought up the fact that McCain left right away and Obama stayed and talked to the people. Pat Buchanan is actually admitting that the Republican base are not going to be happy about the mortgage help that JM has offered.

But it was my understanding from commentary last night that what McCain offered as a new plan is actually part of the current plan.

Originally Posted by ctzorn

I also thought McCain did not look well. Maybe that is why he left.

His shoulders were hunched up to this ears, he kept jabbing with his hands, and his facial expression was one of continual anger, like he couldn't believe that he has to debate 'that one'. A turn of phrase which got my attention. Whether this was old person speak or something with racial overtones, I don't know. But either way, it was a low moment.

And speaking of low moments. The Palin rallies have been something else apparently.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/08/op...hp&oref=slogin

Ms. Palin, in particular, revels in the attack. Her campaign rallies have become spectacles of anger and insult. “This is not a man who sees America as you see it and how I see America,” Ms. Palin has taken to saying.

That line follows passages in Ms. Palin’s new stump speech in which she twists Mr. Obama’s ill-advised but fleeting and long-past association with William Ayers, founder of the Weather Underground and confessed bomber. By the time she’s done, she implies that Mr. Obama is right now a close friend of Mr. Ayers — and sympathetic to the violent overthrow of the government. The Democrat, she says, “sees America, it seems, as being so imperfect that he’s palling around with terrorists who would target their own country.”

Her demagoguery has elicited some frightening, intolerable responses. A recent Washington Post report said at a rally in Florida this week a man yelled “kill him!” as Ms. Palin delivered that line and others shouted epithets at an African-American member of a TV crew.

Mr. McCain’s aides haven’t even tried to hide their cynical tactics, saying they were “going negative” in hopes of shifting attention away from the financial crisis — and by implication Mr. McCain’s stumbling response.

Going negative. That's a curious way of saying it, isn't it? One might as well say going destructive. Pulling down rather than buildiing up. You know, it's not enough to beat one's opponent this days, one has to pummel them into the ground.

It's the politics of the school yard bully.

[ctozrn]

Daniel,

I think you are exactly right. It will backfire. I was at the Obama HQ on Monday making phone calls to undecided and democrats that had previously stated that they were unsure of who they were voting for or had been leaning Obama. Most people were in their 70s-90s. Most people spoke about the negativity. They were tired of it. They wanted it to stop. I heard it over and over. I think that the more desperate that JM becomes, the uglier he and his pitbull get. People don't want that. It is not working for them. It is backfiring. They are unwittingly helping the very man they are trying to beat!

I worry about Obamas safety though. I see the Republicans getting desperate. I see them call him a terrorist. I hear hateful people here in the south say very ugly things. Obama reminds me of RFK in many ways. I just hope things do not play out in the same way. I hate to bring that up but there are some crazy, desperate people out there.

Christine

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by keltic63

I noticed that one of the guys in the audience looked a lot like me

He wasn't as hunky as you. And I kept thinking that his boyfriend was sitting beside him, as was their kid. And then McCain shook his hand.

Now wouldn't that be a kicker? If he find out the two guys sitting the front row were gay?

I think that would make my day.

[keltic63]

Originally Posted by Daniel

He wasn't as hunky as you. And I kept thinking that his boyfriend was sitting beside him, as was their kid. And then McCain shook his hand.

Now wouldn't that be a kicker? If he find out the two guys sitting the front row were gay?

I think that would make my day.

You're not the only one who had that thought: Sterling txted me to say "is that your boyfriend sitting next to you?"

gayday through the tv screen?

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by ctozrn

I was at the Obama HQ on Monday making phone calls to undecided and democrats that had previously stated that they were unsure of who they were voting for or had been leaning Obama. Most people were in their 70s-90s. Most people spoke about the negativity. They were tired of it. They wanted it to stop. I heard it over and over.

Would be if Obama goes really negative himself in these coming weeks. And that would be a big mistake.

You know, Clinton started this whole 'war room' mentality during his compaign, where one has to set the record straight. It's gotten so intense in subsequent elections that there has been- I feel- a crossing of the line, away from the facts and into character assasination.

That, in itself, is very destructive.

As was discussed last night, McCain seems to have two campaigns going. His TV ads are like acid. And he himself said he was going to take the gloves off last night. Well. He didn't. He didn't make the accusation about Obama and Ayers etc. In that sense, I see him as a man without honor. He can't make his accusation to Obama's face.

[Daniel]

I question McCain's mental health. Here he is calling American citizens his 'fellow prisoners'.

What is that all about? Did that time in the bamboo cage have a long lasting effect on him? One wonders.

See for yourself.



He's losing it.

And if that doesn't speak volumes, then this might?



Now. Is this character assasination on my part? I would say no. McCain's words speak for themselves.

[ctozrn]

Wow! Those are amazing....I just sent them to everyone I know. Why are we not seeing this on the news? Where is the outrage?!!!!!

Christine

[Gennee]

Originally Posted by ctozrn

Daniel,

I think you are exactly right. It will backfire. I was at the Obama HQ on Monday making phone calls to undecided and democrats that had previously stated that they were unsure of who they were voting for or had been leaning Obama. Most people were in their 70s-90s. Most people spoke about the negativity. They were tired of it. They wanted it to stop. I heard it over and over. I think that the more desperate that JM becomes, the uglier he and his pitbull get. People don't want that. It is not working for them. It is backfiring. They are unwittingly helping the very man they are trying to beat!

I worry about Obamas safety though. I see the Republicans getting desperate. I see them call him a terrorist. I hear hateful people here in the south say very ugly things. Obama reminds me of RFK in many ways. I just hope things do not play out in the same way. I hate to bring that up but there are some crazy, desperate people out there.

Christine

Your right, Christine. People are tired of the negativity. The fact that Obama has eschewed 'getting down and dirty' is a credit to him. In life, you don't have to get down and dirty to get your point across. I agree that he may have to get tough but he has withstood a lot of negative comments thrown his way. If you listen to the way McCain answeres questions, it's a bunch of mumbo-jumbo.

Gennee

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by Daniel

But it was my understanding from commentary last night that what McCain offered as a new plan is actually part of the current plan.

I was wrong. Heard on the news tonight that McCain's plan as floated in the debate last night is not part of the current plan. McCain, apparently, wants to use the money in the current plan, that is, about 300 billion, towards buying bad mortgages.

[pnggrad79]

I personally think that McCain is suffering from early onset of Alzheimer's. He seriously needs to just throw the towel in and nominate some other guy to take his place. I don't think he is able to lead this country much less Sarah Palin. This guy can't seem to get his story straight or gay for that matter. I am glad Obama seems to be on an even keel these days, and I hope it carries him through the election.

[tdogg]

I've been saying McCain is in early stages of dementia. And I'm not joking, there is seriously something going on. He has trouble forming words sometimes, and on occasion he'll stutter before he gets the word out.

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by tdogg

I've been saying McCain is in early stages of dementia. And I'm not joking, there is seriously something going on. He has trouble forming words sometimes, and on occasion he'll stutter before he gets the word out.

My husband, who specialized in gerontology for his LMSW, has remarked to me that McCain has trouble with proper nouns that begin with the letter 's' like Suni and Shia. This could mean that he has a hearing loss. However, I have noticed that McCain doesn't know his geography. He thinks that Pakistan borders Iraq. It doesn't. That's odd for someone who has traveled a great deal, isn't it?

It's a concern that when reporters were allowed to see McCain's medical records, there was no mental evaluation.