[UnsilentMajorty]

The debates are intended for those "undecided" voters and swing voters more than those who have already sided with a candidate. This is who the candidates are targeting with the televised debates more than anyone.

I think people on both sides were hoping for some knock-out blows to be dealt by either candidate, but that didn't happen. I think this was hyped up more than any other debate in recent history and this is the fault of the media and people's own unrealistic expectations more than anything.

Obama did what he had to do when it came to demonstrating how tough he can be as Commander in Chief and defending America when he gave the example of taking out Bin Laden even if we find him inside a sovereign state like Pakistan. This was a plus because Democrats have traditionally been portrayed as weak on foreign policy in the past... Even in light of the Imperialistic actions taken by the Bush administration in recent years. This hopefully put that old stereotype to rest in voters mind.

McCain did what most Republicans do best: Manipulate the heart strings instead of argue logically. His anecdote about the soldiers re-upping and the mother of one of the fallen soldiers asking him to let them win in Iraq is what I am referring to. All emotion, no substance. However, Obama was tough and kept bringing it around to the fact we never should have invaded Iraq in the first place. He also kept pounding home the message McCain was wrong on Iraq on three major points over and over again which is probably going to be the next new campaign ad.

So, again, in my opinion, it really doesn't matter who "won", or "lost". This debate was more for the undecided voters who still haven't made up their mind.

By the way, not to sound contemptuous, but if you (people in general) are still undecided this late in the game (less than 40 days until the election) you need to seriously evaluate your priorities, IMO. It might be cool to be non-committal in high school, but not in national politics where things might get worse if the wrong, or no choice is made. There is too much at stake in this election and this isn't just hyperbole this time. You need to take a stand and put yourself out there in a meaningful way that says you want your voice counted, regardless of who you choose as your next president. There is a saying that says, "Either lead, follow or get out the way". Which group do you want to be in?

[Cristofle]

It seemed like Obama was appealing a bit more to independents, though. He got in some good comments about McCain's similarity to Bush (Bush is crushingly unpopular in this country right now, his approval rating is at what, 27%?), and he also hammered home McCain's stance about Iraq, which is not going to be liked by the independents. And this was supposedly McCain's debate to win, since foreign policy is basically all he cares about. That all polls have them even or leaning towards Obama is not a good sign for McCain. He needed a clear-cut victory the way he's been trailing in the polls. He didn't get it. And he's not likely to in the upcoming debates where he's even more out of his league.

Hee.

I can't STAND his condescending smirking, as an aside. He just comes off as so bratty, so entitled. It's like he thinks he's so obviously paid his dues that he should just slide into the White House and shouldn't be bothered with any of this.

[collide]

A CBS poll said that 46 percent of the independants had a better opinion of Obama last night.

Time Magazine.......

Overall Grade for Obama: A-
Overall Grade for McCain: B-

Grading the First Presidential Debate - TIME

[metal heart]

mccain looked like he had adhd last night... i was just waiting for this

[courtneybangelcakes]

I was very proud of McCain last night, he had a point and he got it across. I agree McCain should of looked at Obama more - seeing as it's a debate. But McCain knew what he was talking about, while it seemed Obama was unsure about something. He didn't look ...I don't know the word.

Obama, I don't know how many rude smirks a man can have. Everytime they showed Obama, he was smirking about something McCain was saying. I was like, "can you please be professional?"

I don't think there was a clearcut winner, both had strong points. But neither wowed me to an extreme. I think Obama started off better and then McCain ended better. So who knows.

[ceilirose]

McCain's continuous smirk from last night is getting more criticism from the media than I thought possible.

Biden said that he wouldn't be as condescending to Palin as McCain was to Obama last night - now that's the debate I really want to see. Hopefully Palin is still around for it.

[courtneybangelcakes]

I heard more people bring up Obama's ongoing smirk last night.

McCain was able to laugh at himself, I thought that was interesting too.

[ceilirose]

Originally Posted by courtneybangelcakes (View Post) I heard more people bring up Obama's ongoing smirk last night.

I haven't. *shrug*

McCain's smirks would have worked if Obama was coming across as ignorant or in over his head. Now I can see that a McCain supporter might not like that Obama was laughing at the lies McCain was telling about Obama but that's politics.

I think it was a draw but Obama held his own.

McCain never looking at Obama when he was talking to him was just plain rude and a little weird.

[*Ledi*]

Originally Posted by courtneybangelcakes (View Post) Obama, I don't know how many rude smirks a man can have. Everytime they showed Obama, he was smirking about something McCain was saying. I was like, "can you please be professional?"

Did we watch the same debate? Because from what I saw, McCain was the one doing that every single time Obama was answering a question. I can back this up with Youtube videos, too.

[Cristofle]

I haven't heard ANY of the news outlets (granted, I don't watch Fox- or as I call it, Faux- News) talk about Obama smirking. Not that he hasn't gotten criticism, but not for that. McCain has been the one who was taken to task for being rude in terms of smirking and refusing to look at Obama even when they shook hands.

I imagine those pundits who try to complain about him not fitting in at (the mythical) Applebees salad bars, take him to task for eating arugula, and accuse him of performing "terrorist fist jabs" are coming up with something, though.

[**SuperGirl**]

Maybe it's just me, but I think that it's odd that so many people get worked up over a look that a candidate gives, or no look in McCain's case. It's the first debate, he gave his answers to the 'moderator' when asked, so I still don't see why everyone's getting all worked up about it.

I had to turn off the debate once Obama said to McCain, "Your President...." did this or that. Uh, excuse me? Last I checked, Bush was America's President. Is he not an American? If you want to talk about disrespectful, look at that.

[ceilirose]

Originally Posted by **SuperGirl** (View Post) Maybe it's just me, but I think that it's odd that so many people get worked up over a look that a candidate gives, or no look in McCain's case. It's the first debate, he gave his answers to the 'moderator' when asked, so I still don't see why everyone's getting all worked up about it.

Didn't you hear the part where the moderator asked that they talk to each other? McCain and Obama were supposed to be there debating each other. Neither was there to answer the teacher's (Lehrer) questions exclusively . A debate means you debate each other - not answer questions from a third party.

I had to turn off the debate once Obama said to McCain, "Your President...." did this or that. Uh, excuse me? Last I checked, Bush was America's President. Is he not an American? If you want to talk about disrespectful, look at that.

That's a loaded question. Bush has never shown any respect to those who disagree with him politically especially Kerry in 2004. I respect the office of the Presidency but not him and have a hard time referring to the man as my President either.

[courtneybangelcakes]

Originally Posted by **SuperGirl** (View Post) I had to turn off the debate once Obama said to McCain, "Your President...." did this or that. Uh, excuse me? Last I checked, Bush was America's President. Is he not an American? If you want to talk about disrespectful, look at that.

Wow, I didn't even notice that. You want to talk about disrespectful, that is what that is called. This man is maybe going to be our President, and he doesn't have enough respect for this country to even recognize that Bush is our President. He may not be the best President, but don't be rude.

Every single time they showed Obama is was smirking. I should of written down all the times he did so. It was a bit crazy. I was beginning to wonder if I was missing something.

Lies? Everything I heard last night seemed to be true. Of course this politics and I won't even deny that things were probably changed around a bit but I have been hearing people confirming several things McCain brought up last night about Obama. Obama should just own up to them. As McCain does, and he even points out his mistakes and regrets. While Obama just denies them.

But I don't think there was a clear winner last night, both held their own.

[UnsilentMajorty]

The "your president..." remark was not disrespectful. Obama meant "your president" in the CONTEXT that McCain is a REPUBLICAN and that George Bush is also a REPUBLICAN. Just the same as if a Republican said to Obama, "Your president, Bill Clinton..." did this, or didn't do that.

[*Ledi*]

Originally Posted by UnsilentMajorty (View Post) The "your president..." remark was not disrespectful. Obama meant "your president" in the CONTEXT that McCain is a REPUBLICAN and that George Bush is also a REPUBLICAN. Just the same as if a Republican said to Obama, "Your president, Bill Clinton..." did this, or didn't do that.

That's how I interpreted it.