Presidential Debates
A focus group of undecided voters in Florida watched the presidential debate at Hofstra University and thought that Obama won but still don't trust him.
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- MooseStew's blog
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The problem with our educators is the big agenga they have which is forcing the liberalism down the throats of students. Yes, college is that way! The left should stick to teaching the fundamentials; and the rest of them should stop taking drugs. That's why the US is behind the world.
Bonus:
Dick Morris shedding light on Obama's connection to Ayers
Obama Uses Justice Department to Block Ads About Bill Ayers?
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The Mac is back
Roger Simon
Politico.com
John McCain was very lucky that he decided to show up for the first presidential debate in Oxford, Miss., Friday night. Because he gave one of his strongest debate performances ever.
While Barack Obama repeatedly tried to link McCain to the very unpopular George W. Bush, Bush’s name will not be on the ballot in November and McCain’s will.
And McCain not only found a central theme but hit on it repeatedly. Obama is inexperienced, naïve, and just doesn’t understand things, McCain said.
Sure, McCain is a pretty old guy for a presidential candidate, but he showed the old guy did not mind mixing it up. He stood behind a lectern for 90 minutes without a break — you try that when you are 72 — and he not only gave as good as he got, he seemed to relish it more.
At least twice after sharp attacks by McCain, Obama seemed to look to moderator Jim Lehrer for help, saying to Lehrer, “Let’s move on.”
True, the majority of the debate was fought on McCain’s strongest ground: foreign affairs. And true, McCain’s feet were not held to the fire as to why he urged the postponement of the debate in order to secure a financial bailout package in Washington, but then decided to show up without any such agreement in hand.
But it didn’t seem to matter much. McCain just pounded away on his central argument: Obama just didn’t “understand” how to deal with Pakistan; how dangerous it is to meet with foreign leaders without preconditions; how serious the Russian invasion of Georgia was; the price of failure in Iraq. read more »
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Last night during the debate, after John McCain reminded us of a genuine, personal connection he has with the veterans of Iraq and their families, Barack Obama jumped in to say ME TOO, ME TOO!
I have to paraphrase Obama’s words, because he didn’t really make a point. The point was made by NOT convincing us that he cares about veterans and their families.
“I’ve got a bracelet too. It’s from a John, um (looking at wrist trying to read name) Strabinskyhauser (pronounces name incorrectly). That’s right. John Strabin… (looks at wrist again because he has completely forgotten the name) Strabinskyhauser. And Mr. Hauser’s family, I mean Mr. Strabinskyhauser … Staff Sergeant Hauser … he joined a Veterans for Peace movement and told me … his name. I can’t remember exactly why but there was a reason. What are bracelets for? Anyway, my staff told me to wear this bracelet ….”
With that, Sen. Obama nose-dived for the next 45 minutes as intelligent voters decided in favor of a real person, John McCain.
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‘The Moment’ in Presidential Debate One – Yes There Was
Roger F. Gay
The old media is absolutely clear on the fact that there was no decisive ‘moment’ in last night’s debate. John McCain being the more knowledgeable and experienced in foreign policy and security, consistently ahead in polls on these issues, Barack Obama needed only to appear to keep up to win. Talking heads, based on focus groups, were united in their judgement that Obama rose to the level of even. I know focus groups. Focus groups are not necessarily friends of mine. I’ll be the first to admit, I am not a focus group.
In 1960, John F. Kennedy won the first televised presidential debate against Richard Nixon, but Nixon won on radio. I have to wonder how focus groups would have responded had they listened to what was being said rather than watched the candidates saying it. Perhaps I have a different perspective because, after first watching the debate, I buried the browser tab and listened again.
A key distinction Barack Obama has made between him and John McCain is Obama’s willingness to hold diplomatic meetings with enemies and this distinction got some serious play late in the debate. Obama has defended his approach seemingly successfully, while standing alone giving stump speeches to his supporters. It sounds so reasonable. What’s wrong with talking? Obama does talk some talk – paints nice images for the imagination. He makes us think about acting nicely together with other world actors – how nice that would be. Wars will be settled or abandoned. The economy will improve. Just imagine - “change.” read more »
David Yepsen, political guru of the Des Moines Register, has written his review of last night's first presidential debate. His verdict: John McCain won. Yepsen is hardly a pro-GOP pundit, so the fact Yepsen feels this way says McCain definitely did well last night. Here's part of Yepsen's review:
It was one of the most substantive debates in recent presidential campaign history and John McCain won it.
The Arizona senator was cool, informed and forceful in Friday’s first presidential debate of the general election campaign.
He repeatedly put Barack Obama on the defensive throughout the 90 minutes session. Obama did little to ease voter concerns that he’s experienced enough to handle foreign and defense policy. That was his number one task Friday night and he failed.
Instead he was often his old meandering self, unable to state a quick, forceful position. Polls taken in the coming days should show McCain holding on to his trump card in the race - the view that he’s better equipped to be commander in chief.
He condescendingly called Obama “naive” at a couple points in the debate, like an old master lecturing a young understudy. Obama never seemed able to attack back. . . . .
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A robot named Barack Obama has fared well against John McCain in the first presidential debate, according to polls, proving the McCain campaign's theory that robots can be used in a variety of combat situations, particularly if they are programmed well.
The Obama Robot repeatedly used the phrase "John is right" in the debate, indicating that programmers successfully tuned the machine to speak truthfully during much of the 90-minute session.
A frustrated McCain resisted the urge to grab the robot by the throat as it droned on about its Iraq War surrender plan, and audience members were seen trying to unplug the automaton known as Senator Obama. Security guards intervened to prevent the unplugging.
The robot also has a bracelet, just like Mr. McCain, and it wears a flag, too. Because of this patriotic aspect, many citizens are actually planning to vote for the robot.
For more information on how you can be involved in supporting machine life, call 1-800-FONEY-BARRY.
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Here is an Open Thread for you to share your thoughts before, during and after the first Presidential Debate, being held tonight at the University of Mississippi. It begins at 9:00 PM EDT. Add your thoughts by posting comments.
There's a lot riding on tonight's debate between John McCain and Barack Obama - especially for Sen. McCain. Three tracking polls out today show significant movement in Obama's direction. Rasmussen has Obama gaining three overnight and now holding a five-point lead over McCain - 50%-45%. Gallup has Obama gaining three overnight as well, and now leading by three at 48%-45%. Hotline is even worse for McCain, with Obama now leading by seven-points at 49%-42%.
McCain must do well tonight to stop some of the movement in Obama's direction. It will be difficult, because, quite frankly, the endless drumbeat of pro-Obama bias in virtually all of the mainstream print and television media is taking it's toll on McCain. Obama is entirely propped up by the media, and undoubtedly the questions will be skewed in Obama's favor at the debate.
John McCain will do his best, but he is playing against a stacked deck. It's tragic what has happened to the free press in America. It may be free, but there is now no semblance of fairness.
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