Debate Night 10/15

[Sihouette]

An interesting thing happened during the debate; and I think it illlustrates a forgotten element when discussing who "won" and who "lost" that debate, as well as other public appearances by the two candidates.

The debate just started and the phone rang (of course ), thinking it was a call about a sale I'd advertised, I picked it up. Except instead it was a dear friend of mine who likes to talk a lot. For about 10 minutes I tried to listen both to her and the debate...inching the volume up and down as I could. Then finally I decided that talking to her was more important..since she is a dear friend, so I muted the volume and instead just watched the body language...seeing if I could discern who was getting the upper hand.

Then a funny thing happened. With only the body language left to examine, the chasm between the two men couldn't be wider. On the left was a clearly calm, collected man who's eyes were a bit tired looking, but still direct and diplomatic in his mannerisms. On the right was what looked like a nervous, constipated man filled with barely contained rage...all while smiling and shifting his eyes around. He sat with tightly clenched hands most of the time and his expressions often bordered on mania.

I finally got off the phone and when I turned the volume up, the words they both were saying sort of clouded over the body language. In other words, I found myself paying more attention to the sounds of their voices and their words than the more alarming dialogue I'd witnessed about 30 minutes before.

So I'd say on words alone, McCain lost slightly. On body language, McCain tanked horribly. The clear difference between both men who come from checkered pasts is that one appears humble and repentant...flexible, while the other appears arrogant, resolute and rigid. In these troubled times where world diplomacy may literally determine whether or not we continue to be a nation, I think I know where I'll cast my vote.

 

[TruthAboveAll]

You are right about the FOX commentators, I was surprised to hear that. I switched to CNN for a while just to hear their bull and I was surprised that they were giving McCain high remarks...

I've noticed on several occasions lately that CNN seems to be making a mild attempt at being a bit less biased. Not to say all their programing, but in general in the "news" area. It's possible that someone over there is saying "Hey! Maybe some of this criticism is justified" and reacting to it.

Naw...! I know that's being overly optimistic...

Fox commentators are a great example of Republicans/Conservatives in general. There is a higher standard that we hold ourselves to. We our not afraid to "self-critique" within the party or with fellow Conservatives.

It is a bit of evidence also that Fox is not in the tank for the Republicans. And that the commentators prior to the debate(s) had mixed views on what McCain could/should do.

 

[primerib]

I thought the debate last night was a draw. McCain looked stronger than previous debates but as they say perception is everything. Many people are going to vote for Obama based on style and image. What a waste. I still think McCain can win if the American people wake up. Below are some interesting anti-Obama links.

http://www.antiobama.net/

http://obamaism.blogspot.com/

Spread the truth not the wealth.


According to The Book of Revelations:
The Anti-Christ will be a man, in his 40's, of MUSLIM descent, who will deceive the nations with persuasive language, and have a MASSIVE Christ-like appeal....the prophecy says that people will flock to him and he will promise false hope and world peace, and when he is in power, he will
destroy everything.

And Now:
For the award winning Act of Stupidity Of all times the People of America want to elect, to the most Powerful position on the face of th e Planet -- The Presidency of the United states of America .. A Male of Muslim descent who is the most extremely liberal Senator in Congress (in other words an extremist) and in his 40's. Have the American People completely lost their Minds, or just their Power of Reason ???

I'm sorry but I refuse to take a chance on the 'unknown' candidate Obama... Let's send this to as many people as we can so that the Gloria Aldreds and other stupid attorneys along with Federal Justices that want to thwart common sense, feel ashamed of thems elves -- if they have any such sense.

 

[oceanenvy]

I think McCain won. He did what he needed to do, he kept Obama defensive for most of the night (with some exceptions).

Of course it will all be subjective for the most part between people.

To do what he needed to do to bridge the increasing gaps in the polls, he would have had to knock it out the park and additionally make Obama look bad. He did neither - that constitutes a loss in my book.

 

[top gun]

I've noticed on several occasions lately that CNN seems to be making a mild attempt at being a bit less biased. Not to say all their programing, but in general in the "news" area. It's possible that someone over there is saying "Hey! Maybe some of this criticism is justified" and reacting to it.

Naw...! I know that's being overly optimistic...

Fox commentators are a great example of Republicans/Conservatives in general. There is a higher standard that we hold ourselves to. We our not afraid to "self-critique" within the party or with fellow Conservatives.

It is a bit of evidence also that Fox is not in the tank for the Republicans. And that the commentators prior to the debate(s) had mixed views on what McCain could/should do.

OH, COME ON TAA!!!!!!

Now I'll be the first to admit that MSNBC is just as far Left as FIXED NEWS is to the Right... although MSNBC uses cutting humor and sarcasm and FIXED NEWS uses sarcasm, hate speech and fear mongering.

But still they are both obviously pushing equally for their own perceived sides.

CNN is very centrist and it really just matters the make up of the panel on each event.

But no one in this entire world that's ever listened to Bill O'Reilly or Sean Hannity could ever say FIXED NEWS is fair & balanced. I mean that's not even an arguable position to take.

 

[XCALIDEM]

OH, COME ON TAA!!!!!!

Now I'll be the first to admit that MSNBC is just as far Left as FIXED NEWS is to the Right... although MSNBC uses cutting humor and sarcasm and FIXED NEWS uses sarcasm, hate speech and fear mongering.

But still they are both obviously pushing equally for their own perceived sides.

CNN is very centrist and it really just matters the make up of the panel on each event.

But no one in this entire world that's ever listened to Bill O'Reilly or Sean Hannity could ever say FIXED NEWS is fair & balanced. I mean that's not even an arguable position to take.

You'd probably say next that Rachel Maddow and Keith Olberman are lovers.... and Anderson is their gay lover... LOL

 

[BigRob]

sidebar: EVERYBODY even Pat Buchanan (who always says McCain won) is hitting McCain hard for belittling the health of the mother issue. That's gonna cost him some votes.

Not among Republicans. I think most people have already decided. The only problem here is that many swing voters tend to not be hard core pro-life, but they also do not single issue vote for the most part on the topic of abortion either.

I think McCain's stance will please the base, upset Obama supporters, and be a wash for the undecideds.

I also would be interested to see internal polling on who the McCain camp thinks has not made up their mind too.

 

[BigRob]

To do what he needed to do to bridge the increasing gaps in the polls, he would have had to knock it out the park and additionally make Obama look bad. He did neither - that constitutes a loss in my book.

At this point McCain has all but lost, doing what he needs to do is go down fighting and show some passion. He did that.

He also kept Obama defensive for half the night, and then backed off, but that was also what he needed to do, show some passion. Polls are still pointless until after the election. You will notice McCain picked up a bit of ground today as well.

So clearly he did something right.

 

[Sihouette]

It is a bit of evidence also that Fox is not in the tank for the Republicans~ Truthaboveall

Thanks for that laugh "truth" Fox not in it for the republicans..

Uh-huh, and fried chicken doesn't taste good with potato salad...

Up is down, black is white, orange is purple...spin spin spin...

The thought is there are enough people stupid enough to be led any thought direction in time to boost McCain's slipping-chances for the election.

I certainly am not into Obama for any image factor. It was that that I hated about him when he was up against Hillary. But of the two candidates left to us to choose from, he clearly is the more intelligent and thoughtful, respectful and diplomatic. The very, very last thing we need is another four years of a hot-headed "maverick"/cowboy in the Whitehouse. We need our world allies' respect again like we've never needed it more in any time in our history.

This isn't any old election. This is THE election...the one that will make or break the US. Following pretzel-logic is the last thing we need to be doing now. We need truth and diplomacy, not fiction and temper-tantrums.

 

[Pandora]

This isn't any old election. This is THE election...the one that will make or break the US.

This much of your post I can agree with you on.

I personally am not a socialist, I am also not a communist
I am not someone who is "into" worshiping my president as some kind of messiah.
I am not someone who thinks stealing from one group to give to anther is ethical or decent.
If "that one" becomes president, it will be through voter fraud first off, and second it will destroy the country as we know it. We will become like every other socialist country out there and the one thing that made us differnt than everyone else will be gone.

So I agree with you its the make us or break us election.

But becoming a pathetic socialist country who is led by a ... my gosh there really are no words to describe your leader.. is not a direction I am willing to go without a fight.

I am trying to think if there is any country who was sucked into socialism but was able to get out of it, and I cant really think of any.... I feel pure dread when I think of it.

 

[Sihouette]

Obamanation (and all the other right-wing-nuts here), you're like one of those Reganesque paranoids who hears the word "socialism" and equates it with demon-worship.

And yet the roads you drive on to get to work, the schools you send your kids, the police and military that protect you...are all socialist structures within our capitalistic society. Hard to imagine 911 without our socialist firefighters there to clean it up eh?

The truth is that no pure political system is good for anyone. The best thing going is a capitalistic society with an infusion of good socialist programs like the ones I just mentioned. Oh, and socialized medicine too. You'd be surprised how productive happy healthy workers can be, and in turn what kind of profits they can make for the free-market companies they work for.

Like everything else, the best things are found in balance and moderation..

 

[Pandora]

Obamanation (and all the other right-wing-nuts here), you're like one of those Reganesque paranoids who hears the word "socialism" and equates it with demon-worship.

And yet the roads you drive on to get to work, the schools you send your kids, the police and military that protect you...are all socialist structures within our capitalistic society. Hard to imagine 911 without our socialist firefighters there to clean it up eh?

The truth is that no pure political system is good for anyone. The best thing going is a capitalistic society with an infusion of good socialist programs like the ones I just mentioned. Oh, and socialized medicine too. You'd be surprised how productive happy healthy workers can be, and in turn what kind of profits they can make for the free-market companies they work for.

Like everything else, the best things are found in balance and moderation..

if you think obamas plan for our country is ballanced then you drank far more than your own share of the kool aid

 

[pocketfullofshells]

In all three debates Obama has been asked this question, and all three times he refused to say what he is going to cut.

I know what he will cut. The military and he knows he cant win if he says it.

The Military is so full of wast , and is such a huge part of the budget. It is possible to make a lot of cuts there, and increase funds in part of it as well.

 

[Pandora]

The Military is so full of wast , and is such a huge part of the budget. It is possible to make a lot of cuts there, and increase funds in part of it as well.

Wow pocket it must be a freaking cold day in hell because I agree with you

but can you also agree with me that the whole rest of the budget is full of waste and much of it because "socialists" Gen taught me that I shouldnt say libs anymore because they are really socialists

can you agree that the socialists in the government have far to many programs that are wasteful and not working and need cutting too?

 

[GenSeneca]

The Military is so full of wast , and is such a huge part of the budget.

Military - 20%

Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and Welfare - 66%

You could fund the ENTIRE military budget by cutting the waste from the above 4 programs and NOT interrupt or otherwise denigrate the services they provide.