Is it just me, or does McSame sound every other republican talking point spouting candidate? “Liberal!” “Tax and spend! Tax and spend!” “Drill baby, drill!” “Health insurance is only for those who can afford it and don’t need it!”
Oi vay. “We’re mavericks!”
This is an open thread.
Update:
Yeah, I should have watched McSame’s train wreck instead of just listening.
Joe Biden has the skill of a trained surgeon with a scalpel and the impact of a lumberjack with a chainsaw. Heh.
Did McSame almost say, “Let’s win one for the Gipper!”
If Sarah Palin can see Russia from her backyard why does John McCain visit Afghanistan?
Did McSame say, “The Iranians have a lousy government, therefore their economy is lousy.”
So, if our economy is lousy, what does that make our government? Just asking.
…seems to bring out the worst in republican candidates.
Irony died when Henry got the Nobel Peace Prize. (Hat tip attributed to Tom Lehrer.)
but McCain didn’t fall flat on his face. So nobody’s mind was changed.
And undecideds don’t stay home on Friday nights to watch debates.
So the only important question is: what is the post-debate media narrative going to be?
McCain kept saying that Obama was naive, and afterward one of his surrogates suggested that Obama didn’t know what he was talking about. I think those kinds of arguments might work during a GOP speech where the audience hasn’t heard Obama (or hasn’t heard him recently), but does not work at all after a debate. Everyone watching the debate could see that Obama had well thought-out positions on all of the subjects. Even if you don’t agree with him, to say that he is naive just comes across as ridiculous, IMO. So I think the Repubs sticking to their pre-written script has backfired on this one.
I thought that Obama was clear about what he planned to do and he “didn’t stumble”, as the media keep repeating, but neither did he take advantage of many chances to nail McCain to the wall by speaking directly to him instead of to Lehrer and accusing him in so many words of helping George Bush bring this economy to its knees. Obama spoke to Lehrer, as if he were too polite to level any real accusations straight at McCain. His language was always more polite than a phrase like “bring this economy to its knees.”
He started go straight for McCain when he spoke about Iraq by speaking directly to him and saying that McCain had supported the war, had said we’d be greeted as liberators, and … I forget what other observations about McCain’s early pronouncements re Iraq he mentioned. I thought, “THAT’s the way to do it, Obama. Keep it up! Then in the next sentence he was bemoaning how “we” took our eye off the ball in Afghanistan. No, “WE” didn’t do that. “George Bush and his Republican congress did it, and John, you were part of that group, no matter how many trips you’ve made to Afghanistan.” I wanted to see him nail the son of a bitch, but he doesn’t seem to know how to close the deal, how to go after that liar.
Why no mention, once McCain kept drubbing him for asking for all those earmarks, of the Keating Five? McCain must have worn holes in the knees of his pants doing obeisance to Keating before that whole deal blew up. He shouldn’t be getting a free ride on it now.
I’m relieved that Obama scored points in the opening by talking about the failed policies of Republicans that have brought us to this financial pass. And of course, over and over again, Obama’s arguments held more water because McCain doesn’t have a leg to stand on. Obama was never rattled and always defended his position logically. But I’m frustrated because more than mere logic is called for. Many voters want to see some force of personality that will demonstrate how strong his convictions are.
…I listened to it.
I despise the entire construct because it’s so artificial. The American public need to take it upon themselves to do the “research” and not be exclusively beholden to artificial constructs like this “debate”.
As for the pundits? George Will in particular has no credibility when he pontificates on any debate.