Wednesday, October 15, 2008

The Last Barack Obama/John McCain Debate on the Fly


Photo from Newsday
Here we go again, yet another debate in this long campaign, the first of which was over a year ago, if I remember correctly. But this is the last one, perhaps the last chance for John McCain to reverse his flagging fortunes.

As I type this line, we're 1 minute away from the beginning of the end, as it were. As the debate runs, I'll try to type some comments.

- "Joe the Plumber" gets an early mention, direct from right-wing talk radio and blogs. Is it true that Sean Hannity is running McCain's campaign? "Class warfare" dig seems a little off.
- Barack Obama seems steady and reasoned. Definitely Presidential, in this biased liberal blogger's opinion.
- McCain mentions the Great Depression, reminding people that he was alive then. He's starting again on the "I know hows," which didn't play well last time.
- Obama's tying McCain's economic plan to George W. Bush's. Good one. McCain counters that he's not President Bush. Oh yeah? What's different?
- Obama said "screwy." McCain said "goodies." I like "screwy" better.
- Obama gets a dig at FOX "News!" Woo-hoo!
- I don't wanna see McCain's scars or his goodies.
- Shieffer is gettin' tough, asking point blank if both candidates would say to each others' face what they've said in their ads. Answers? McCain: It's all Obama's fault, for not having "town halls." Obama: Suck it up, John.
- Oh the tedium, and I'm only a half-hour in.
- Obama hitting on the tone in the campaign and the "kill him" remarks. Good.
- McCain is gettin agitated.' Sputtering. Matlock!!!
- Oooh, here comes the Bill Ayers and ACORN stuff from McCain. I think Obama's getting ready for a smack down.
- Nailed down the Ayers thing pretty handily. The ACORN thing too. Calm and reasoned. Threw it back at McCain.
- McCain's stickin' to his Ayers and ACORN as though it means anything. Stupid. But he "doesn't care" about Ayers. Right.
- Obama lavished praise on Joe Biden, and sounded like he had a healthy list of "pros."
- McCain is repeating every little nugget we already know about Sarah Palin, which isn't much, so he keeps repeating "reformer" and that he's "proud of her."
- Obama smiles a lot, and looks good when doing it. McCain looks creepy when he smiles.
- McCain says nuclear power and waste? No problem! Because of nuclear subs. Huh?
Nifty comparison video of George W. Bush and John McCain in this debate (quick work!) found at AmericaBlog:


- The Other Half says McCain is still coming off like Mr. Wilson from Dennis the Menace. So true. Grumpy, irritable, crabby.
- Obama by contrast is unflappable.
- McCain just entered a "Debbie Downer" portion of the debate, with a catalogue of health care issues. It just needs a soundtrack of a muted trombone for effect.
- "Joe the Plumber" again??? Fines again??? And now Joe Again??? C'mon, this is stupid.
- Abortion question, McCain's all blinky again. McCain says no abortion litmus test for justices (his base pro'ly hates that answer). Obama has thoughtful answer.
- Good answer from Obama on partial birth abortion too.
- If you're paying attention, Obama has shot down many of McCain's right-wing-talk-radio talking points. That surely doesn't mean that they won't be brought up again and again anyway.
- McCain not nearly so thoughtful or clear. . .words without meaning.
- I know I'm biased, but I see and hear Obama and I see Presidential. I see and hear McCain, and I see grumpy old man. I'm not sure I'll be able to see past that.
- What's the constant link McCain keeps making between autism and Sarah Palin? Her child has Down Synrome, perhaps similar, but certainly it doesn't make her an expert on autism.
- McCain's closing comments sounded sort of like a concession speech.
- Obama's closing comments, very strong as expected.
Favorite quote, from DailyKos: "This is by far Obama's best performance. And McCain is still a scowling lizard, tonguing the air to taste/smell the cool being radiated by Obama"
Who won? For me, Barack Obama all the way. I'm sure others will have different ideas. John McCain will get some high marks for bringing up Ayers and ACORN. Even though Obama put those matters to rest, they'll pretend that he didn't. Any chance that McCain will be declared the clear winner? Doubt it, but who knows? Game changer? Doubt it seriously.

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