The Debate's Crucial Subtext: Reaction Shots

Frontpage Magazine ^ | 09/26/08 | David Horowitz

[kabar]

I agree. Obama’s constant interruptions and his visual reactions to being challenged demonstrated his immaturity. It became readily apparent that Obama is not used to being criticized. He had 19 debates with Hillary and company, but this is the first time that someone has gone after him on the issues and questioned his expertise. The Dem debates were between people who agreed generally on all the issues and were just discussing the nuances.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Good points. The BO scowl is his new trademark.

[Jabba the Nutt]

Scowls, inappropriate smiles, shaking of the head, rude interruptions betrayed the inner roiling of the presidential aspirant's emotions.

Obama says that Bush only has Yes Men surrounding him. A lie, of course...who, but Yes Men are going to end up around Obama, when he acts like this, when being challenged? This would make for a devastating ad.

That leads to another question, why do Republican candidates leave their best arguments on the floor.

[fella]

This gives credanance to the story about him blowing up “The Meeting” at the Whitehouse.

[DeLaine]

I missed the debate too because I had something to do. Is there somewhere I can see it online?

[FrankR]

"Obama sure gets rattled easily. "

McCain played 0bama like a $2 fiddle. He played the "ice man" strategy - wear him down until he does something stupid - and 0bama bit...hook, line, and sinker.

I loved the split-screen shots with 0bama looking like a pubescent teenager with the eye-rolling and under-his-breath objections.

Obviously, whoever raised Zer0bama, never bothered to teach him trait like graciousness, politeness, humility, pride, and/or class...maybe that's why he threw her under the bus.

In a related thought, I opionion of the moderator, Jim Leherer is, he was an idiot. He acted more like a moron fan who sat ringside, trying to incite the contestants to hit harder. But, isn't that what the liberal media does?

McCain was very Presidential while Zerobama was more predudicial.

[elk]

"That proves who freaking THINKS FOR THEMSELVES and who DOES NOT!"

I'm sorry to have to confess running to FR to see the reactions, and was relieved to see that the Freepers had seen the same debate I saw. Listening to the MSM directly afterwards, I thought for sure they saw a different debate than I did.

Obambi looked like a good college debater -- unseasoned, immature, egotistic. McCain looked Presidential, and was deep on the history and facts, strategy and tactics.

So, yes, I did have to come to FR to feel better...

[meowmeow]

Wonder if 0bama will come next time sporting the Reagan dew like Gore did in 2000?

Or maybe he'll wear earth tones...

[Right Wing Assault]

I'm surprised he didn't pump his fist and say, "Yes!" before he mentioned the bracelet.

[carton253]

Some women know the difference between strategy and tactics also.

[semantic]

You let the rookie hang himself!

At one point in the middle of one of Hussein's long, rambling monologues, I turned to my wife and said that Mac was purposely allowing him to drone on,

Clearly, upon studying hundreds of 0's speeches, Mac's team decided that the proper strategy (snark intended) was to let him keep talking.

With his canned replies, Nobama came across as a programmed robot. Even the mildly intelligent are aware that one's stature rapidly diminishes the more one belabors a point.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

I thought I heard wrong!! So now I see that I DID hear what I thought I heard.

Oh yeah, my wife and I both heard him say it. She also believes she heard him call McCain "Jim", but I think 0-bama was probably talking to Jim Lehrer.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

McCain looked Presidential, and was deep on the history and facts, strategy and tactics.

Additionally, McCain actual knows the difference between the two!

[TennTuxedo]

When they used the split screen to show the reactions of the candidates toward one another’s retorts, Obama was acting like a child who needed to go to the bathroom badly. Other times, he grimaced and acted as if he were giving sign language to the hearing impaired. It was an entertaining part of the debate for sure.

[randita]

First impressions aren’t always lasting impressions. After the first Gore vs. Bush debate, consensus was that Gore won handily. Then everyone started to notice that he was continually clucking and sighing while Bush was speaking. When attention was called to that, it’s all you noticed. In subsequent debates, Gore was trying so hard not to do anything distracting like that, he appeared even more wooden than usual.

[Fresh Wind]

Scowls, inappropriate smiles, shaking of the head, rude interruptions betrayed the inner roiling of the presidential aspirant's emotions.

Algore back from the grave.

[kilowhskey]

We should also take note of the fact that Senator McCain slipped in a zinger to the effect that “I don’t have a seal yet.” I loved it when he let that one fly.

[ottbmare]

Nice article. His view is that the media is biased against the Big O, and his proposal is that we “reregulate the media” so that Obama is presented more favorably to the American people! And if they don’t, the Obama Justice Department will ensure that heads will roll.

Nice mental picture, eh? The Constitution be damned.

[Calm_Cool_and_Elected]

Yep, save ‘em till closer to election day.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

[I just wanted the essense of the debate, not necessarilly the point by point “factoids”. I think that’s how the election will be decided, by gut instinct.]

I’ve been pleasantly surprised by people lately. I don’t think people are as uninformed as the Beltway assumes anymore. Even my enviro-wacko father told me that bio-fuels are a sham causing starvation in third world countries.