10.31 pm. It strikes me as a mistake for McCain to end the debate on his commitment to staying in Iraq indefinitely. Obama's emphasis on the broader global conflict and our broader responsibilities will reach more people. hope so. not confident. His vision seems broader, wiser, yes and more focused on ordinary people. A masterful performance tonight, I think. yes but am afraid that will not be the consensus spin. already they are using Obama's statements of agreement ('That's right, John") against him. Giuliani says McCain was helping Obama, giving him lessons in foreign policy. (!! offensive. but that kind of bit sells, dsn't it?) Obama's best ever debate performance. McCain was fine, but it's wrong for him to attack his opponent at the end. And then he gave a slightly rambing defense of his experience. I give Obama an A - and I give mcCain a B.
10.30 pm. Obama ends with a focus on al Qaeda and loose nukes. Vital. Important. People get it. And Obama's nod to McCain on torture was graceful. yes. sad to think that grace may not count for much w a lot of viewers. We may soon end this nightmare of barbarism in the heart of the United States. And then we can bring the war criminals to justice.
10.28 pm. I must say I am grateful that John McCain has now stated twice that the United States has engaged in torturing prisoners. The use of that word clearly is important. It reassures me y that he would, if president, end the shameful record and war crimes of Bush and Cheney.
10.27 pm. On the connection between energy independence and national security, Obama was very strong. He's the most forceful and commanding candidate the Democrats have put up in my living memory. over Clinton huh. (I find him more commanding yes.)
10.17 pm. Does McCain understand that talking directly to the Iranians does not necessarily mean Ahmadinejad? In his foreign policy approach, he seems identical to Bush-Cheney. I can't believe most Americans want to continue the foreign policy of the last eight years.
10. 08 pm. Obama's answer on Iran was strong and cogent. And his deployment of Kissinger against McCain was brilliant. I really say that between the realism of Obama and the posturing of McCain, the foreign policy maturity is on the Democrat's side.
10.02 pm. Obama just pwned McCain on using the troops as an emotional weapon. And then he has kept intense focus on Afghanistan. All McCain can do is suggest that Petraeus opposes Obama which is untrue, and to say how far he's traveled around the world.
9.53 pm. McCain concedes the failure in Afghanistan. Obama seems very authoritative. He seems to be passing the presidential. the test of seeming presidential (reassure ppl who think he's too new) His exchange on Pakistan seemed to me to be a real turning point. He basically outed McCains distortion of his position and yet managed to seem more aggressive in foreign policy than the Republican. He's no Dukakis. He's no Kerry. He's winning on the issue of national defense. That's new. And McCain keeps gong back to claims that he knows more. And goes back to the Reagan era. This is the first exchange on national security in a presidential debate where the Democrat out-hawked, in a responsible way, the Republican. hawk ~ 'war-hawk' ok: [ War Hawk, a term for war inclined politicians ]
9.15 pm. Does McCain really believe that earmarks are the only problem with government spending? They're bad, but they are not anything like the real problem.
9.11 pm. McCain is still defending his silly proposal to fire Chris Cox. Obama keeps bringing it back to ordinary Americans and the recent past. He keeps trying to return to the theme of the Republican responsibility.
No comments:
Post a Comment