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TWO HOURS LATER - MCCAIN VS OBAMA II - IMPRESSIONS
Townhall.com ^ | 8 October 2008 | Andrew Roman

Posted on 10/07/2008 9:42:16 PM PDT by andrew roman

Two words kept popping in and out of my head during the second Presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain – disappointing and tedious. Setting aside the fact that the proceedings seemed to drag and on at an agonizingly tortuous pace with little more than eye-watering yawns from my end to disrupt the monotony, this debate had the personality of a lima bean can. Add to it the fact that there seemed to be more passion exuded by Tom Brokaw, the moderator, when asking the candidates to step aside from blocking his view of the teleprompter than anything either of them said on stage, and you’ve got a first-class, bona-fide dud.

Specifically – and perhaps most important – tonight’s “non-debate” debate was not, to quote a phrase, a “game changer” from Senator McCain – and frankly, I was hoping it would be. While I certainly don’t think Senator Obama as the next President of the United States is a foregone conclusion yet, he clearly took another step closer to the Oval Office on Tuesday. If the poll numbers are to be believed, neither candidate will do much in the way of movement as a result of this debate. In short, it was not a great night for the Republicans – and it really needed to be.

There was one moment, I would have to assume, meant to serve as that “game changer” for Senator McCain early in the debate – a grenade lobbed in from left field that, honestly, stunned me and fell well short of its intended target (at least for now). McCain, seemingly from whole cloth, said that when he is President, the federal government would help stabilize the housing market by buying up bad mortgages and refinancing them for home owners at market value – to the tune of $300 billion.

What?

I’ll need more information on that one before I blow a bazooka through it.

My frustration with this particular presentation was that I found myself disenchanted on two fronts. First, early in the debate, I found myself screaming at the television even more so than I had during their first debate, probably because I was yelling at both Obama and McCain, and often for the same things. It seemed to me, primarily, that they were differing on the finer points of similarly held positions.

Despite an all-too-quick and truncated attack by McCain on the Democratic involvement in the current financial crisis – which, by the way, started off promisingly enough and had me thinking this was going to be a feisty performance by him - there was yet again more McCain pandering with fuzzy-middle non-speak about corruption on Wall Street, blah, blah, blah …

Huge mistake.

Entirely too much time was spent on selling bi-partisanship and extending arms across the aisle. It came across as weak and contrived and surely did nothing to endear McCain to anyone.

Second, the number of missed opportunities by McCain to slap back hard at Senator Obama was staggering. My slowly building disgust was fuelled not only by the lack of substance coming from the lips of Senator Obama – which is a given - but in the fact that Senator McCain was profoundly ineffective in countering him as I wanted him to be – and as I felt he needed to be to turn the tide.

Perhaps I’m in a minority here, but I am sick of listening to Senator Obama and the Democratic Party demonize those who provide jobs to a large portion of the American public. I am also annoyed that no one – especially Senator McCain – calls out Senator Obama and his ridiculous assertion that 95% of Americans will get a tax cut under his “save the middle class” tax plan. How on earth is it possible to get a tax cut when you don’t pay income taxes? A little more than 45% of Americans do not – repeat, do not – pay income tax. That means Senator Obama’s “tax breaks” will amount to a welfare payment to those who don’t deserve it.

Senator McCain, are you home?

Can someone also inform Senator Obama that to raise taxes on corporations, as he wants to do and says is somehow “fair,” results in customers and workers bearing the ultimate burden?

I know you’re in there, Senator McCain! Can someone (figuratively only) just slap Senator Obama across the kisser – or anyone else for that matter – who has the utter audacity to call the attacks of 9/11 a "tragedy?" They were an act of war. Period.

This must anger you, Senator McCain! Show it!

Is there anyone with even a remedial knowledge of how budgets work willing to spare an afternoon (or perhaps a weekend) with Senator Obama to explain to him that the ten billion dollars a month being spent on funding the war in Iraq is not – repeat not – being taken away from anyone or anything domestically? It is not being diverted from, say, emergency food and clothing needed for naked, emaciated children in our inner cities. That’s not how it works, Senator Obama.

Answer the door, Senator McCain! The bottom line is … John McCain wasn’t horrifically bad. True, he had me biting my bottom lip when he went on about the conspicuousness of global warming; He had me shaking my head when he once again hoisted his arrows at the “greed” of Wall Street; He induced stomach gurgles when he kept reminding us how much of a maverick he is, pulling names like Feingold and Kennedy out of his hat. (I kept a bottle of Tums next to my cream soda as I watched).

However, let me say, without reservation, that substantively, Senator McCain was the clear winner of this debate. The problem was … he just wasn’t as good as he should have been … and frankly, could have been.

It’s not over by any means … I just wanted more of a “Hell yeah!” taste in my mouth at the end of that day.

I walked away with an “Uh, okay.”


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: 2008debates; blogpimp; debate; mccain; obama; presidential
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To: riri

Ohhhh it will get worse before it gets better, believe me. ;-(


61 posted on 10/07/2008 10:15:29 PM PDT by AmericanInTokyo (Silver Lining to McCain's Defeat: We can, at once, seize the GOP from RINO leadership & clean house.)
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To: AmericanInTokyo

Then why isn’t Obama up 20 in the polls? He has the entire media establishment lying for him, celebrities galore, etc.

Something is keeping Obama flat. We saw it against Hillary, and now McCain. I think Obama has an air of slipperiness that is causing pause in the electorate. People like to watch train wrecks called celebrities, but wouldn’t want them to have their finger on the (nuke) button. Why?


62 posted on 10/07/2008 10:15:54 PM PDT by conservativepoet (The chief aim of order within Christianity is to make room for good things to romp and play.)
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To: Swordfished

“McCain showed us he’s a socialist. We already knew Obama was. McCain’s just less so. I’m not voting for either.”

What is frightening are the number of people around here that think as long as you are pro-life and pro-gun you are not a socialist. Who are these people?


63 posted on 10/07/2008 10:17:44 PM PDT by Sunnyflorida (Unless you are nice and thoughtful you will be ignored. Write in Thomas Sowell.)
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To: All

My favorite part was when McCain referred to Obambi as “This one” and pointed to him...priceless.


64 posted on 10/07/2008 10:17:59 PM PDT by LegalEagle61 (If you are going to burn our flag, please make sure you are wearing it when you do!)
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To: andrew roman

The rebuttal that would have rung Ubama’s bell:

“You know, folks, I always get a kick out of a liberal Democrat who rails on how big our national debt is. This from a man who has voted for a MILLION DOLLARS OF PORK SPENDING FOR EVERY DAY HE’S BEEN IN THE SENATE.”


65 posted on 10/07/2008 10:20:13 PM PDT by TruthHound (You can keep the "change"!)
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To: TruthHound

OBAMA ELECTIONEERING AT TAX EXEMPT MOSQUES: POLITICAL ISLAM AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE

http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/


66 posted on 10/07/2008 10:21:34 PM PDT by OPS4 (Ops4 God Bless America!)
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To: conservativepoet
If McCain wins, it will be nothing short of a miracle.

Then, it is kind of like chasing a jaguar. OK, once you catch him, what do you do?

If McCain wins, at least Obama has been stopped, but the next step will be to strip President McCain of all this socialist crap agenda he is spewing, and stop him COMPLETELY IN HIS TRACKS ON AMNESTY. Is it any wonder IMMIGRATION did not come up!? (The questions were whittled down, remember?).

My question is, will the GOP Conservative base and most of GOP in Congress stand up to him? We will have FREEP THE WHITE HOUSE like we did so many times in eight years ( /sarc ) against "W" whenever he did some kind of RINO/Government Largesse shenanigan?

67 posted on 10/07/2008 10:22:35 PM PDT by AmericanInTokyo (Silver Lining to McCain's Defeat: We can, at once, seize the GOP from RINO leadership & clean house.)
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To: andrew roman
A boring TV dinner version of the last debate, with stale stump speech jabs sprinkled on top.

Boring, didn't sit through the whole thing...

68 posted on 10/07/2008 10:22:45 PM PDT by DTogo (I haven't left the GOP, the GOP left me.)
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To: andrew roman
Entirely too much time was spent on selling bi-partisanship and extending arms across the aisle.

Puke.

69 posted on 10/07/2008 10:23:37 PM PDT by XR7
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To: andrew roman

70 posted on 10/07/2008 10:26:22 PM PDT by weegee (Obama's a uniter?"I want you to argue with them (friends,neighbors,Republicans) & get in their face")
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To: Salvation

My 24 year old son make an excellent observation regarding Obamasiah’s comments about McCain and Bush’s failed economic policies - that being “what other President in the history of this nation has faced as many economic, natural, and man made disasters (9/11, two wars, Korea, Iran, Russia’s invasion of Georgia, the numerous Hurricanes and flooding, and tornadoes, and a sunami, earthquakes, oil prices, mortgage failures, etc) in the time he’s been in office? Are the dimocRATS really expecting to blame all of these things on one man? Especially one man that the dimocRATS consider to be the dumbest man on the planet? And, why isn’t anyone out there making the point of what this President has had to face over the course of the past 7+ years, and the fact that he’s done a pretty good job, all things considered?


71 posted on 10/07/2008 10:26:51 PM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud Dad of a U.S. Army Infantry Soldier, and enthusiastic supporter of McCain/Palin)
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To: AmericanInTokyo

One thing at a time. Let’s get him elected first with more conservative Republicans in the Congress.

By the way, McCain did let Palin dish out some pretty intense lines on Obama this week. So give it time.


72 posted on 10/07/2008 10:26:52 PM PDT by conservativepoet (The chief aim of order within Christianity is to make room for good things to romp and play.)
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To: andrew roman
My impressions:

Boring.
Obama didn't take any chances and took a lot of McCain's positions before McCain could speak about them. Obama got far more time to discuss questions and McCain was frequently reprimanded by Brokaw for going over time.
Obama is still the most immature candidate we have ever seen. He just HAD to rebut some of the things McCain said even though he had no time left.
McCain did ask for equal time and I thought ‘it's about time’.
Obama had a much friendlier audience and Tennessee is more Conservative. They must have sought out Leftys to make Obama look good.

These are my thoughts tonight. I wish McCain had been more forceful. I know the MSM pundits will give Obama the win but I think the American people are getting tired of the Obama cheerleading by the Media. That coupled with being accused of racism if you support McCain will do in the MSM and Obama. At least I hope that is the case.

73 posted on 10/07/2008 10:27:06 PM PDT by originalbuckeye
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To: Swordfished
We already knew Obama was. McCain’s just less so. I’m not voting for either.

That means you are de facto voting for Obama.

74 posted on 10/07/2008 10:27:27 PM PDT by XR7
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To: XR7

STAY STRONG FREEPERS

REMEMBER WE ARE FIGHTING FOR AMERICA...NOT MCCAIN!

LOVE SARAH,,SHE WILL KEEP US PUMPED

THIS ELECTION IS TO DEFEAT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA!

WE MUST END AND END STRONG....ODINGA IS NEXT!!! CORSI WILL BE RELEASED....TOMORROW


75 posted on 10/07/2008 10:28:01 PM PDT by Texas4ever ( Who is the real Obama?)
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To: conservativepoet
Did this template work for us, Conservatives, in 2000, and then again in 2004?

We were told to get with the program with Bush because Kerry and Gore were so scary. We got millions of illegals and government largesse/high taxes out the wazoo regardless.

I have heard this plea before.

76 posted on 10/07/2008 10:28:59 PM PDT by AmericanInTokyo (Silver Lining to McCain's Defeat: We can, at once, seize the GOP from RINO leadership & clean house.)
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To: andrew roman

“...tonight’s “non-debate” debate was not, to quote a phrase, a “game changer” from Senator McCain – and frankly, I was hoping it would be.”

Sarah is the game changer. John is 72. He will be the steady hand on the tiller. Of coursse we wanted him to be a red-meat-eating game changer, but it aint happening.

One of the historical criticisms of Mac was his temper, and he is playing it calm. Sarah IS the pitbull with lipstick- mac is the voice of experience, of patriotism, of service. His reaching across the aisle stuff repulses us partisans, but may be precise music to the ears of the mushy middle, the people who have had it with polarized politics and radical differences. that’s his strategy.We’ll have to see if it a winner on Nov 4.


77 posted on 10/07/2008 10:30:02 PM PDT by Canedawg (If the law supposes that, said Mr. Bumble, the law is a ass, a idiot.)
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To: parksstp

and this was no way an “undecided” audience. Not even close from the way the dials were being dialed in.. and six questions and two from blacks when 99% of all blacks are already for Obama.


78 posted on 10/07/2008 10:30:17 PM PDT by Arizona Carolyn
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To: OPS4

No connection here: /sarc

Must-read on Islam connection AND hidden “sell out” AGENDA.

“Dr. Jack Wheeler at To the Point News lays it out for us and outlines a brilliant strategy for Obama, a Moslem in his youth with strong ties to Islam and that region. Interesting that Obama should sidle up to the agitator aligned with Islam.

Of course, Wheeler’s bold strategy is way over Obama Hussein’s head. Don’t expect any such “action” from the actionless but the story behind the Kenya bloodbaths leads to of all places ................. Islam.

Kenya’s Muslim population is roughly 10% - that historical tipping point where the Muslims traditionally assert themselves and their Islamic law (sharia) on the poor, unsuspecting host country.”
...
“And here is the biggest non-surprise: Raila Odinga has, in his own words, a “close personal friendship” with Barrack Hussein Obama Junior.”

J Q Public, do you see any hidden agendas in here??? OR is “just words, just speeches??? You decide.
Get the word out!!!

http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2008/01/obama-islam-and.html


79 posted on 10/07/2008 10:32:43 PM PDT by wubjo (nObama)
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To: GloriaJane

It drove me craze. i wanted to reach in the screen and wrench the microphone out of his grip so he would shut up. I really, really hope someone does and analysis of how long he talked tonight. I think it was at least 10 - 15% more than McCain..


80 posted on 10/07/2008 10:33:25 PM PDT by Arizona Carolyn
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