pick based on facial expressions
It’s about the only thing you’ve got to go on in tonight’s debate. John McCain is so dominating the mike with character assassination and really outlandish claims that there’s little else to see but his bullyism and sneers. This time, he’s replaced "my friends" with "Senator Obama" as his perseverative phrase for the evening. I have no way to evaluate what’s happening here, because my visceral reaction to McCain’s C·O·N·T·E·M·P·T is so strong that it’s hard to even listen to what he’s saying anymore.
the face of a bully
From the livingroom: "What an asshole!" "He’s so contentious!" "John McCain is a bully!" [I don’t think she likes him very much].
I don’t like John McCain very much either. But in this debate, it’s his self righteous, arrogant, sarcasm more than anything. He’s talking to Barack Obama, his clear intellectual and tempermental superior, as if he shouldn’t even be allowed to run. Yet, for the life of me, the only thing I can ferret out about his campaign is that he thinks very little of anything Obama says. He’s attacked every answer that Obama has given, but his own answers are vague and confusing, often in response to something in his own life. I’m going to be interested to see if the pundits, less intrinsically biased and perhaps less sensitive to McCain’s hatefulness, are able to be clear about what he’s proposing. Were I Obama, I’d have trouble not counterattacking McCain’s way of being, or walking out.
But as to "who won?" I haven’t a clue. I don’t see being a bully, or being contentious as very presidential. But, I expect McCain’s supporters would see the same things as forceful, assertive, or even passionate. I know that people talk about political campaigns using the term "fight." But this one seemed to me to be in the range of melee, like those disgusting fights on high number channels where they kick, slug, wrestle, and bleed. At least these guys don’t have tattoos [that show].
Sharon’s right. McCain came across as an asshole and a wimp. He was bragging about how he was going to confront Barack Obama on the whole Ayers thing and his “associations” and yet it was Obama that brought it up, and very clearly and unapologetically so.
And how can anyone in one debate taut their health plan, and then later mock a woman and her doctor making a health decision to potentially save her life? blah…I’m going to bed.
Go Obama!
Uncommitted voters in instant polls agreed with you, Mickey. Both CNN and CBS focus groups gave it to Obama by about 2:1. But look at these ratings from a focus group of uncommitted voters in Colorado: numbers = favorable/unfavorable
McCain, before debate: 54/34; after 50/48
Obama, before debate: 42/42; after 72/22
And in CNN instant poll: more likeable? Obama 70, McCain 22.
Time to measure the drapes for the Oval Office.
“less sensitive to McCain’s hatefulness, are able to be clear about what he’s proposing. Were I Obama, I’d have trouble not counterattacking McCain’s way of being, or walking out.”
Yes, that’s what is amazing to me. Dad, I have your genes AND you raised me, and somehow, I definitely seem to have gotten that same kind of sensitivity to the WAY someone is being, not just what they are saying. I also had a lot of trouble even listening to what he was saying, because his facial reactions, blinks, and snorts were SO distracting. It’s amazing to me that there are so many people in this world who don’t see it. It’s another moment of The Emperor Not Wearing Any Clothes for me. Don’t they see? He hates his opponent so much that he is unable to communicate. I always imagine potential leaders sitting at tables with leaders from other countries, trying to make decisions about our world. If that’s how McCain interacts with other world leaders, then we’re sunk! McCain just wants to strong arm his way around situations, and that’s NOT how it’s done, if you ask me.
I found that debate painful to watch.
I had to turn off MSNBC when Andrea Mitchell said that she thought McCain had won the debate last night. It was clear to me that Obama had won last night.
I was watching McCain roll his eyes and interrupt and wondering if that’s what he’d be doing if he were talking with Putin.
Abby, you are dead on. McCain was very painful to watch. And even if you take out the content of his words the stammering and stumbling made what he was saying seem as if he was just making things up.
I really hope that Colorado goes for Obama. It’s been a really tight race here. Really tight. I just hope McCain stumbled enough to give Obama the edge he needs.