Post by Tzalaran on Oct 8, 2008 7:57:49 GMT -6
overall, i thought both candidates were horrible.
they didn't directly answer the questions given them, they didn't mind the time limits for responses, and overall they did nothing to expand on their plans for the country. wait, i forgot about McCain talking about bailing out homeowners and reevaluating their mortgages (although i though that the bailout was supposed to take care of that as well).
McCain was very aggressive, which he needed to be as the candidate that is behind in the polls. i thought that McCain's body language was very condescending, and it highlighted his lack of graciousness when dealing with people who don't agree with him. i didn't like that he repeated the lies about Obama that have been debunked as fiction, and felt that he was attempting to deflect most of the questions early in the debate, but he did finish strong during the foreign policy section, especially on Russia.
Obama said absolutely nothing new. there were few explanations on his policies, only broad generalizations. He repeated many of the debunked lies about McCain as well, but mostly in retaliation to something McCain said. i thought he attempted to directly answer most of the questions, but always turned the subject into something from his stump. that might be a good strategy for him, as his stump seems to really be gaining more momentum as his campaign nears the 2 year mark. i thought his priorities on energy, health care, and entitlement programs was excellent, and he justified this well. i thought he also painted himself as the cool, calm, steady hand, and really got under McCain's skin with the "Bomb Bomb Iran" comment.
overall, i felt it was another draw on issues, with the edge going to Obama for how he carried himself. i think that the McCain campaign has done a horrible job of setting their candidate up for the debates. moving around in this format, even if it is McCain's favorite style of debate, is a huge tactical error. what was showcased last night was McCain's age, choppy movements (not his fault i know...), and his lack of genuine facial expressions. These mannerisms are not good to display against Obama's grace, genuine expressions, and ease of movement. it really highlighted Obama's youth and vigor against McCain's age, and McCain's surrogates should have foreseen this and set up the debates to minimize McCain's weaknesses in this area.
For an election that is going to be decided on issues, it is odd to me how much the appearance of the candidates on stage is impacting the electorate. Obama has gotten the victory in insta polls in both debates solely based on how he carried himself, not necessarily what he says.
EDIT: on review, i think the american people would be better off if Barr and Nader were involved in these debates. false dichotomy of dem repub is shorting the people and i'd like to have heard Nader's answers to the questions given last night...
they didn't directly answer the questions given them, they didn't mind the time limits for responses, and overall they did nothing to expand on their plans for the country. wait, i forgot about McCain talking about bailing out homeowners and reevaluating their mortgages (although i though that the bailout was supposed to take care of that as well).
McCain was very aggressive, which he needed to be as the candidate that is behind in the polls. i thought that McCain's body language was very condescending, and it highlighted his lack of graciousness when dealing with people who don't agree with him. i didn't like that he repeated the lies about Obama that have been debunked as fiction, and felt that he was attempting to deflect most of the questions early in the debate, but he did finish strong during the foreign policy section, especially on Russia.
Obama said absolutely nothing new. there were few explanations on his policies, only broad generalizations. He repeated many of the debunked lies about McCain as well, but mostly in retaliation to something McCain said. i thought he attempted to directly answer most of the questions, but always turned the subject into something from his stump. that might be a good strategy for him, as his stump seems to really be gaining more momentum as his campaign nears the 2 year mark. i thought his priorities on energy, health care, and entitlement programs was excellent, and he justified this well. i thought he also painted himself as the cool, calm, steady hand, and really got under McCain's skin with the "Bomb Bomb Iran" comment.
overall, i felt it was another draw on issues, with the edge going to Obama for how he carried himself. i think that the McCain campaign has done a horrible job of setting their candidate up for the debates. moving around in this format, even if it is McCain's favorite style of debate, is a huge tactical error. what was showcased last night was McCain's age, choppy movements (not his fault i know...), and his lack of genuine facial expressions. These mannerisms are not good to display against Obama's grace, genuine expressions, and ease of movement. it really highlighted Obama's youth and vigor against McCain's age, and McCain's surrogates should have foreseen this and set up the debates to minimize McCain's weaknesses in this area.
For an election that is going to be decided on issues, it is odd to me how much the appearance of the candidates on stage is impacting the electorate. Obama has gotten the victory in insta polls in both debates solely based on how he carried himself, not necessarily what he says.
EDIT: on review, i think the american people would be better off if Barr and Nader were involved in these debates. false dichotomy of dem repub is shorting the people and i'd like to have heard Nader's answers to the questions given last night...
