Presidential Debate 2008 Commentary
by Jeff on Sep.26, 2008, under Uncategorized
These comments are being written as I watch the Presidential debates. Did you watch? What did you think?
- During the first question regarding their position on the economic bail out plan, I think both candidates spent entirely too long thanking the university and commenting about things unrelated to the question, especially since they only have two minutes to answer.
- It was funny that the candidates didn’t speak to each other, despite the best efforts of the mediator. I think the debate winner will be the first one who can speak to the other candidate and not to the camera directly.
- I might have to check out this website titled Citizens Against Government Waste. I don’t know what it is yet, but the title alone intrigues me.
- “I don’t mean to go back and forth…” John McCain doesn’t want to go ‘back and forth’ in a debate? What the fuck?
- Barack Obama is the first one to interrupt an answer and speak to the other candidate and not the camera. Somehow I knew he would be.
- Tax health benefits!? You sneaky fuckin’ Republican!
- Whether we are know what the budget is going to be or not, you were both asked what would you first cut or give up – not what you would ensure does happen.
- Google for Government? Must research this… A quick search on this shows that Palin tried to copy this idea, too.
- I like how Senator Obama pointed out that Senator McCain sometimes makes it seem that the war just began in 2007. I liked when he called out several other issues that Senator McCain was wrong on as well.
- Tactic – Short-term method for resolving a particular problem. For example, a tactic for quickly increasing a product market share may be a television advertising blitz. Strategy – scheme: an elaborate and systematic plan of action. So, one’s long term and one’s short term? What’s the point? I can tell you one thing – Later in the debate, John McCain referred to ‘the surge’ as a strategy, not a tactic. Isn’t that an oxymoron?
Aside: It’s 10:00 PM and I’m still watching the debates. I have to tell you, though, I’m not impressed with the answers or performance of either candidate. I think the Vice Presidential debates will be much more exciting, almost comedic. I can hear Sarah Palin now, saying that she doesn’t know the answers to the questions, but she’ll get back to us.
- I loved Barack Obama’s response to John McCain’s bracelet story. It’s good to know that Barack Obama has a bracelet, too, to ensure that no other soldier’s mother suffers the loss of their child to an expensive, endless war.
- “Senator Obama is parsing words…” – John McCain Don’t all politicians?
- After hearing the both of them go back and forth about energy plans, I still like Paris Hilton’s energy plan better – a hybrid of both solutions.
- The likelihood of another 9/11 attack – I don’t think it exists, and I don’t think we have to keep giving up freedoms under the guise of things like the Patriot Act. I feel that our ‘homeland security’ is much better than it was before 9/11, but I don’t think we can ever truly eliminate the threat of terrorism.
Overall, I think John McCain came across as if he were scolding Barack Obama and attempted to point out a lack of experience on Barack Obama’s part. He would use phrases such as, “He still doesn’t understand” or “I don’t think he gets it…”
I expected more from Barack Obama. I feel that his answers were better than John McCain’s, but they weren’t as strong as I thought they would be. But, I am biased, and I already knew going into the debates that my vote is definitely going to Barack Obama.
September 27th, 2008 on 9:12 am
I thought it was interesting that both candidates seemingly forgot that the United States has been involved in Iraq since the early 1990s. Obama mentioned that we have been spending billions of dollars per month in Iraq since 2003. This is not correct. In fact, we have been pumping “war” money into that region for almost twenty years. Majority of that time democrats have had congressional power, so most of the blame for our current situation goes to them. I know because I am a veteran of the Operation Desert Storm. I spent 6 months aboard the USS Saratoga, and have spent much of my time studying the facts.
I became disgusted with both candidates using the bracelet story. This is politics at its lowest. No politician has the right to use the name(s) of a fallen hero(s) for political gain into a debate unless it is to honor the memory of a fallen soldier or sailor. I understand McCain brought it up first, but Obama acted no better by showing his. This was tit-for-tat and tasteless.
Like you, Jeff, I expected more from both candidates, but I understand the choreography that goes into those things. Both sides spend a lot of time ironing out the details of what to say to each other. I use to do it for local politicians. Between the two, Obama has a clear advantage over McCain. Obama is a good looking man and is sexy in his suits, and many people vote by virtue of appearance. Obama is highly intelligent. He would not be where he is if he wasn’t. However, in McCain’s defense, he has much more experience than does Obama. Since I am a business man, experience means more than appearance.
What I would have liked to hear either candidate mention is that the American tax payer should not bail out any of these financial institutions. Anyone who invests their money into the stock market must understand that there is risk. Since this mess began with Bear Stearns, my portfolio has dwindled by almost $70,000.00, yet you will not hear me advocate a government bailout. In fact, before I wrote this entry, I wrote to my elected official and told him of the dangers in government bailouts. Moreover, if Obama can look into the camera and make a public proclamation that he does not support universal health care, then I will vote for him. It’s not government’s place to support a universal health plan; we live in capitalist democracy not socialism.
Finally, I will side with most of the commentators. There was no clear “winner.” Between the two, Obama appears more “presidential.” It looks as though this election will be based on basic principles. For the democrats, it’s more taxes with more government. For the republicans, it’s less taxes and less government, and here republican core beliefs are far more superior to that of the democrats.