This political analyst from the Des Moines Register agrees with you. Read what he says and then read the comments from readers.
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On Politics
McCain Wins Round 1
desmoinesregister.com
Posted 9/26/2008 10:21 PM CDT on Des Moines Register
It was one of the most substantive debates in recent presidential campaign history and John McCain won it.
The Arizona senator was cool, informed and forceful in Friday’s first presidential debate of the general election campaign.
He repeatedly put Barack Obama on the defensive throughout the 90 minutes session. Obama did little to ease voter concerns that he’s experienced enough to handle foreign and defense policy. That was his number one task Friday night and he failed.
Instead he was often his old meandering self, unable to state a quick, forceful position. Polls taken in the coming days should show McCain holding on to his trump card in the race - the view that he’s better equipped to be commander in chief.
He condescendingly called Obama “naive” at a couple points in the debate, like an old master lecturing a young understudy. Obama never seemed able to attack back.
McCain’s victory came at a good time for him in the race. He has fumbled around for a week on questions involving the economy and the federal bailout of Wall Street. His vice presidential candidate has become a running joke of late night comedy shows. As a result, his poll numbers sagged.
The debate came against the backdrop of a close presidential election at a time when the country faces its greatest economic crisis since the 1930s and some of its greatest military threats since World War II. The nation’s adversaries - Russia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela and Taliban terrorists - seem to be on the ascendancy.
It has rattled Americans and between the two, McCain came off as the most reassuring. The crabby, grumbling, hotheaded McCain was nowhere to be seen. Instead we saw a calm, seasoned commander in chief . If you looked at your television and squinted slightly, you could better picture him addressing the country during a time of national crisis than Obama. Obama was often left flashing his smile and shaking his head at McCain.
McCain was expected to win on questions of foreign policy and national defense. That’s been his background. Where he routed Obama was on economic and spending questions as he repeatedly accusing Obama of using earmarks and wanting to spend too much.
When Obama tried his line about how McCain voted with George W. Bush 90 percent of the time, McCain slapped back by ticking off a lit of issues where he has disagreed with Bush - like torture, conduct of the war in Iraq and federal spending and Guantanamo Bay. McCain never got rattled or flustered, he just constantly stayed focused on the attack.
The only good news for Obama is that any pain from this debate is likely to be short-lived. On Thursday, Sarah Palin meets Joe Biden in the only vice presidential debate. She can be painful to watch on television.
Comments from readers:
pharmer22 wrote:
Not sure what you were watching - McCain couldn't even look Obama in the eye. McCain lies about his opponent and interrupted him constantly - Obama dropped it - didn't go after him like he should have, but he's a gentleman not a brute. Sure glad he mentioned the POW camp again - didn't remember that. Oh - and those soldiers that reupped so their kids wouldn't have to go over there - they WILL be going over there if McCain is elected - he has already said that we could be over there for 100 years...
9/26/2008 10:53 PM CDT on Des Moines Register
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FlamingoRoad wrote:
David - what debate were you watching? McCain looked like a bumbling fool - times ten. "Let me tell you about the good ol' days!" Sad, sad man. It was embarrassing, to say the least. McCain was flustered and rattled the entire time. And always on the defense. He was as painful to watch as was Palin in her Couric interviews. And why would he never look Obama in the eye or converse with him? Can't look a "black man" in the eye? Or someone with more intelligence? Let's hope the voting public has more sense than you when casting their votes.
9/26/2008 10:59 PM CDT on Des Moines Register
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Sparky9179 wrote:
David, let me get my resume in order. Man, if you can write a column like that, and get paid, sign me up. What's the saying? If you take a thousand monkeys and a thousand typewriters and let them bang away for a year, one of them will become a Des Moines Register political columnists.
The "old master" lecturing the young understudy? Yep, old is definitely right. Sen. Obama couldn't attack back because the old man kept rambling on about the "good old days". Those days are gone Dave. We need new direction, not old story's of our past failures, that we'll repeat if the 'old master' is in office.
Let me know when my check is in the mail.
mikeindm wrote:
You really think he won? Are the people of North Korea really 3 inches shorter? He seemed more annoyed than confident. At least when he wasn't appearing rattled. And, things are a fact simply because he repeats them?
No, I think it was far from a win.
HRoark wrote:
McCain won. Go to Drudge Report, it is a landslide.
9/26/2008 11:47 PM CDT on Des Moines Register
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Blowtorch wrote:
Of course John McCain won B.H. Obama is running on nothing but tax and spend and knows nothing about foreign policy.
9/26/2008 11:48 PM CDT on Des Moines Register
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pharmer22 wrote:
Go to MSN's poll - quite a different "landslide" - and 4 times as many votes.
9/26/2008 11:53 PM CDT on Des Moines Register
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curbshoppin wrote:
Obama is a DICK
9/27/2008 12:12 AM CDT on Des Moines Register
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MerleHaze wrote:
"McCain was expected to win on questions of foreign policy and national defense."
Where have you been? He was expected to not show up; the weasel.
"On Thursday, Sarah Palin meets Joe Biden in the only vice presidential debate. She can be painful to watch on television."
Spell, "s-l-a-u-g-h-t-e-r." |
