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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: diamond6

Yes, did you see the cover of NewsWeak Mag during the primaries in which they had Romney’s mugshot and a caption
“Mitt Romney - A Mormon Journey” ???

They were trying to label him hard for being a Mormon.

What if they did the same for Obama (”Obama: A Rev Wright Journey???”)


241 posted on 10/08/2008 12:26:10 PM PDT by AlanGreenSpam ("Celebrate Diversity! Look at the world with all it's problems - Isn't "diversity" so beautiful?)
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To: conservativepoet

I am talking about looking back at things like “if we had elected George Allen (in 2006) or Romney, or Hunter, or.... “ that is all water under the bridge, we do nothing constructive looking back, what is.. is.... and we have two choices, I hope we all choose wisely.


242 posted on 10/08/2008 12:26:14 PM PDT by Arizona Carolyn
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To: Arizona Carolyn
"~LOL~ No, I’m not a PUMA. I just find it very interesting they are more passionatly supporting the GOP candidate than many so called Republicans."

Well then I have my answer. I should be a good party voter. Bad news for you, I am a Conservative, registered as an Independent. Once every 3 1/2 years I switch to republican so I can vote in the primaries. For 20 years I was registered as a Republican and will become a Republican again when the party returns to its conservative values.

243 posted on 10/08/2008 12:34:46 PM PDT by Americanwolfsbrother (Its not whether you get knocked down but whether you get back up. Vince Lombardi)
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To: Americanwolfsbrother

Good luck with that if Obama is elected. OTOH if McCain is elected he likely will only serve four years and Palin will be ready to run.


244 posted on 10/08/2008 12:52:04 PM PDT by Arizona Carolyn
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To: Arizona Carolyn
"Good luck with that if Obama is elected..."

Tired, worn out line. Get use to the idea of socialism because its coming in January.

P.S. I already voted for Palin.AWB

245 posted on 10/08/2008 12:59:51 PM PDT by Americanwolfsbrother (Its not whether you get knocked down but whether you get back up. Vince Lombardi)
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To: TitansAFC; meandog; onyx; MARTIAL MONK; GulfBreeze; Kuksool; freespirited; Salvation; furquhart; ...
The McCain List.

Praise for John McCain's debate performance:

Thanks to FReeper 1035rep.

ABC News’ Rick Klein: “[M]cCain is roaming the stage, playing to his strength. And comes out with a policy proposal to help people stay in their homes — a strong lead answer, to have a meaty response to that. McCain looks confident early.” (Rick Klein, “Live Debate Blog,” ABC News’ “Live Debate Blog,” blogs.abcnews.com, 10/7/08)

The New York Times’ Katharine Q. Seelye: “Mr. McCain is developing a chatty rapport with Mr. Brokaw about the candidates exceeding their time limits. He seems relaxed, as if he knows he is making a connection on a personal level. He roams the stage. Mr. Obama, who once stood in front of classes as a college professor, stands still while delivering his answers, and this one on health care sounds more like a lecture.” (Katharine Q. Seelye, “McCain Warms To The Setting,” The New York Times’ “The Caucus” Blog, thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com, 10/7/08)

The Politico’s Jonathan Martin: “McCain, taking a question from a naval retiree, gives him a pat on the shoulder and a firm handshake. ‘Everything I ever learned about leadership, I learned from a chief petty officer,’ says one old sailor to another. It was surely a moment that won a lot of nodding heads from vets all over the country.” (Jonathan Martin, “Vets And Servicemembers Had To Love This Moment,” The Politico’s “Jonathan Martin” Blog, www.politico.com, 10/7/08)

* Martin: “McCain unveils a new pork-barrel project to be condemned: an overhead projector for a planetarium in Chicago that was included in Obama’s earmarks.” (Jonathan Martin, “The New Bears In Montana!!!” The Politico’s “Jonathan Martin” Blog, www.politico.com, 10/7/08)

* Martin: “A strong close by the GOPer with: ‘We can’t afford somebody who needs on the job training, my friend.’” (Jonathan Martin, “McCain In Comfort Zone On National Security,” The Politico’s “Jonathan Martin” Blog, www.politico.com, 10/7/08)

* Martin: “Right at the outset, [McCain] offers empathy: ‘Americans are angry, they’re upset, and they’re a little fearful.’” (Jonathan Martin, “McCain’s ‘I Feel Your Pain’ Moment,” The Politico’s “Jonathan Martin” Blog, www.politico.com, 10/7/08)

CNN’s Candy Crowley: “McCain seemed to answer first question [on a rescuing main street] better.” (Candy Crowley, “How Tough Is Too Tough?” CNN’s “Political Ticker” Blog, politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com, 10/7/08)

CNN’s Bill Schneider: “That’s a pretty fundamental question should there be for profit health care? Obama’s answer...he’s not answering the question.” (Bill Schneider, “Obama Not Answering The Question,” CNN’s “Political Ticker” Blog, www.cnn.com, 10/7/08)

* Schneider: “McCain’s tone is better at talking to the audience...” (Bill Schneider, “Are The Candidates Relating To The Audience,” CNN’s politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com, 10/7/08)

MSNBC’s Pat Buchanan: “I think McCain did come in with more heart and more fight. And I agree with you, he was the aggressor. He was throwing the punches. He did it in a better way than he did it last week when I thought he had won on points. Here he smiled. He looked at his opponent. He looked at Tom Brokaw. He talked to the audience, and he did it in a more calm fashion. And I think he clearly scored more points than Barack Obama did.” (MSNBC, 10/7/08)

National Review’s Lisa Schiffren: “Is it necessary to explain the basics? McCain is doing really well with the audience in the room by doing so. Does it translate to the TV audience? McCain is really sounding clear, energetic and firm.” (Lisa Schiffren, “Talking Down To The Audience,” National Review’s “The Corner” Blog, corner.nationalreview.com, 10/7/08)

Commentary’s John Podhoretz: “This is McCain’s mantra. I know how. I know how. Here’s what I will do.” (John Podhoretz, “I Know How To Do That,” Commentary’s “Contentions” Blog, www.commentarymagazine.com, 10/7/08)

Commentary’s Daniel Casse: “[M]cCain is delivering tight, crisp, and extremely effective answers. Every answer has a similar structure: (a) I care about this issue (b) I’ve stood up against Bush/special interests on this issue (c) Obama has never taken a stand, never acted on this (d) so let’s compare records.” (Daniel Casse, “McCain’s Well-Structured Answers,” Commentary’s “Contentions” Blog, www.commentarymagazine.com, 10/7/08)

CNN’s David Gergen: “I thought John McCain was more effective than he was last time on domestic policy. I thought his answers in general were more organized and he made his points more effectively.” (CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360,” 10/7/08)

Fox News’ Charles Krauthammer: “McCain won the first hour on domestic (issues).” (Fox News’ “Presidential Debate,” 10/7/08)

ABC’s George Stephanopoulos: “I thought Senator McCain started out very strong when he said we have to address this financial crisis by having a plan to buy up all of the bad mortgages in the country showed real compassion and empathy there...” (ABC’s “The Candidates Debate,” 10/7/08)

* Stephanopoulos: “I was also struck in the way that both candidates handled the stage tonight ... As we know Senator McCain wanted these town hall meetings all year long against Senator Obama. He made a crack against that. He is comfortable in this setting.” (ABC’s “The Candidates Debate,” 10/7/08)

ABC’s Charlie Gibson: “I do think if there was any new proposal in the debate, it was what John McCain said about buying up the struggling home loan mortgages and renegotiate them at a new value, have the government do that.” (ABC’s “The Candidates Debate,” 10/7/08)

The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza: “Nice moment for McCain: he claps a man (Terry Scherry) who asks about Iran on the shoulder and they shake hands.” (Chris Cillizza, “The Nashville Skyline Debate,” The Washington Post’s “The Fix” Blog, www.washingtonpost.com, 10/7/08)

NBC’s Chuck Todd: “[M]cCain did get stronger, I think, as the night went on. When it turned to foreign policy, you can see his comfort zone and you could see him getting more comfortable “ (NBC’s “Presidential Debate Coverage,” 10/7/08)

NBC’s Andrea Mitchell: “I think he was very comfortable in the format ... McCain was walking around approaching some of the questioners. Thanking them. Actually coming quite close to them. ... And as Chuck has pointed out, with the economy in such a tail spin, he came armed with a new proposal to have the government buy up failing mortgages ... That was a gutsy move.” (NBC’s “Presidential Debate Coverage,” 10/7/08)

The Politico’s Ben Smith: “Really, the first of the night. McCain takes a question from a Navy veteran. ‘Everything I ever learned about leadership, I learned from chief petty officer,’ he says, walking over to the man and patting his shoulder.” (Ben Smith, “A Connection,” The Politico’s “Ben Smith” Blog, www.politico.com, 10/7/08)

Commentary’s Jennifer Rubin: “On Afghanistan, Iraq and Russia McCain talks in action words what we will do, what will work and what our goals will be. Although he obviously wants to assure voters he will show restraint, his real strength is projecting a force of will and determination.” (Jennifer Rubin, “National Security,” Commentary’s “Contentions” Blog, www.commentarymagazine.com, 10/7/08)

National Review’s Mark Levin: “And he has shown more energy than usual. Obama is supposed to be the great orator (what happened to the messiah and the fainting?). The 72-year-old McCain has the upper-hand on the 47-year-old messiah, IMHO.” (Mark Levin, “In Defense Of McCain,” National Review’s “The Corner” Blog, corner.nationalreview.com, 10/7/08)

CNN’s Bill Bennett: “The last comments [John McCain] made, I thought, were quite impressive and quite moving.” (CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360,” 10/7/08)

246 posted on 10/08/2008 1:00:29 PM PDT by Norman Bates (Freepmail me to be part of the McCain List!)
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To: Norman Bates
Man, from the comments I had read night on FR, I thought McCain has been blown away in the debate.

I think Freepers are expecting too much from these 'debates'.

They are really for the undecided, not those who have already committed.

247 posted on 10/08/2008 1:06:12 PM PDT by fortheDeclaration ('we don't make compromises-we make Marines')
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To: Arizona Carolyn

I am talking about looking back at things like “if we had elected George Allen (in 2006) or Romney, or Hunter, or.... “

________________

Once again that was not my interest. Sounds like if the words “George and Allen” are mentioned, then you’re reflexively assuming I’m griping about not electing G. Allen in the primaries.

My larger strategic question was:

How do we protect conservatives such as George Allen and Sarah Palin from being destroyed? And it specifically applies to Sarah Palin in the next 4 yrs whether she is elected or not.


248 posted on 10/08/2008 1:55:51 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: jrooney

The foreign minister of Hamas has recently endorsed Obama for president, another story that has sunk like a stone, barely reported other than by Fox and WorldNetDaily, even though Sen. John McCain brought it up on the campaign trail.

In 1998, reports Wallsten, Obama attended a speech by Edward Said in which Said called for a nonviolent campaign “against settlements, against Israeli apartheid.” Later, Obama and his wife were photographed at dinner with Said. “If only Obama could burn this picture,” writes Al Ahram, but the Cairo paper printed the picture anyway.

Abraham Foxman, national director for the Anti-Defamation League, told the Los Angeles Times, “In the context of [Obama] spending 20 years in a church” where anti-Israel rhetoric was repeated, “that’s what makes his presence at an Arab-American event with a Said a greater concern.”

Wallsten reports that Abunimah of Electronic Intifada said he heard Obama call for an “even-handed approach” toward Israel. In 2004, when Obama was running for the Senate, Abunimah quoted Obama as saying that he was sorry he wasn’t talking more about the Palestinian cause, but that his primary campaign had constrained what he could say. (Obama told Jewish leaders in Cleveland recently that a pro-Israel position is not necessarily a pro-Likud one.)

http://www.campus-watch.org/article/id/5080

More anti- American friends of “The One”. Old news but should be remembered I think.


249 posted on 10/08/2008 1:59:12 PM PDT by BARLF
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To: conservativepoet
One way we protect our true conservative is to be supportive of the growing number of moderate democrats who are trying to take their own party back. I think a weak democratic party hurts the GOP. This country needs two strong parties, and while I have never voted for a democrat, we don't elect the strongest people ourselves when the Democratic Socialist Party is trying to destroy anyone who doesn't believe as they do.

This probably doesn't make sense to you, but if we win in November it will be with the help of the people who are sick of the radicals who have bought their party and is funding a crooked media who is trying to destroy people like Sarah Palin, George Allen, etc... anyone they consider a challenge to their radical views... we have to break the radical back of the democratic party...

If they do not suceed in breaking that back, it looks like more moderates will be part of the GOP and that pulls the GOP more to the left than many are comfortable with.

JMHO

250 posted on 10/08/2008 2:58:54 PM PDT by Arizona Carolyn
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To: Arizona Carolyn

This probably doesn’t make sense to you. . .

______________

I was agreeing with you until said the above. Amazing how you’re so patience with moderate Dems, and yet for a fellow freeper none. I can tell you’ve got this template you’re reacting to; you’re not reading carefully enough. So end of discussion.


251 posted on 10/08/2008 3:50:32 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: Norman Bates

WOW. Thanks for the awesome post!


252 posted on 10/08/2008 3:53:41 PM PDT by jan in Colorado (For Barack Hussein Obama TRUTH FILE see my homepage!)
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To: Danae
Um... hello... we are all AMERICANS. Granted, Liberals are far more wrong then they are right, by a long shot, but damn it all to hell, its time to start ACTING like AMERICANS again, and stop trying to cut off our own left hand....

If you can seriously look at Obama and his merry band of communist followers and refer to them simply as Americans, you're deluded. They may have been born here, but as long as they support socialism, they are the enemy. They are certainly not people with which we need to compromise.

It's compromise with the left that has brought us the ponzia scheme known as Social Security. It's compromise with the left that has brought us racial quotas. It's compromise with the left that has given the environazi movement a stronghold on our own energy markets. It's compromise with the left that has brought us the failed Fannie and Freddie. It's compromise with the left that has brought us the housing and mortgage crisis.

The left represents the leeches on our society that take the fruit of the earner's labor for themselves under the guise of "fairness" and with the force of the government. They need to be removed, not accommodated.

When has the left ever "reached across the aisle" except to slap those from which they steal?

253 posted on 10/08/2008 5:35:02 PM PDT by meyer (Go, Sarah, Go!!)
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To: jan in Colorado; 1035rep

Thanks to 1035rep!


254 posted on 10/08/2008 5:35:55 PM PDT by Norman Bates (Freepmail me to be part of the McCain List!)
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To: Danae
Baloney, that attitude got us a Dem controlled congress in 06. Wake up and smell the Democrats crawling up from where the sun don't shine!

No, what got us a democRAT controlled congress in '06 was a Republican-controlled house, senate, and presidency that refused to act like conservatives. People will come out of the woodwork to vote for a true small-government conservative. One like Reagan. But when the right veers too far to the left, people stay home on election day.

255 posted on 10/08/2008 5:42:09 PM PDT by meyer (Go, Sarah, Go!!)
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To: meyer
Are you seriously proposing Civil war?

Then I have to disagree with you. Sorry but that kind of thinking is as much a part of the problem as anything else.

Thank you for the conversation, it was enlightening on several levels.

256 posted on 10/08/2008 7:30:57 PM PDT by Danae (Read my Lipstick: I AM Sarah Palin)
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To: hershey

The speech in New Mexico was great!

I don’t think McCain will ever address Obama’s “issues” in a debate.

However, he had almost an hour with Sarah on H & C tonight, and had no trouble calling Obama out.


257 posted on 10/08/2008 7:49:51 PM PDT by dixiechick2000 (Sarah'cuda Rocks)
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To: Arizona Carolyn

Let them come. I’m stating my fears about what might be a plausible scenereo. If that’s criminal, they can do what they gotta do.


258 posted on 10/08/2008 8:31:31 PM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud Dad of a U.S. Army Infantry Soldier, and enthusiastic supporter of McCain/Palin)
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To: grey_whiskers
If McCain doesn't find a way to become energized, and display the anger that most Americans are feeling right now (not with rants, but righteous indignation and a guarantee that he will pursue criminal prosecution for those responsible for this mortgage fiasco) he's going to lose this election. Obamasiah doesn't have to do much to win. McCain has a lot of work to do if he really wants to be President.
259 posted on 10/08/2008 8:38:19 PM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud Dad of a U.S. Army Infantry Soldier, and enthusiastic supporter of McCain/Palin)
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To: hershey

Disregard my last post to you.
I’ve changed my mind.

After seeing the new ad, hearing McCain name names today,
and seeing that Obama and Biden have asked him why he won’t
say that to their faces, I believe he’s going to call them out,
and name names in the next debate.

I was going to skip it, but I won’t now!


260 posted on 10/09/2008 11:58:46 AM PDT by dixiechick2000 (Sarah'cuda Rocks)
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