McCain-Obama Debate Exposes Sharp Differences in Policy

Thought it was pretty good. I was surprised with Obama's knowledge on foreign affairs. I thought it was a mistake on McCain's part not to look at Obama during the entire debate, but McCain held his own. Learned a little more about each on their policies/issues. Both did alright. We'll see.....

It was good. McCain smiled, provided wisdom and insight, Obama was the usuall canned speach BS.
Obama also apeared nervous and at a loss numerous times.

The vote is for the debate people, not the election. McCain won this one by a landslide to anyone with more than two brain cells.

The Obamanation is beginning to sweat.

This debate was the only one in which John McCain had a "decided advantage" coming in, which meant that he should have dominated the debate. He didn't by my measure - it was a draw.

I used to play competitive chess. When I was matched against an opponent with a significantly higher rating and managed to play to a draw, I considered it a win. In the final analysis, I think that Obama "won" the debate only because he held his own very well in McCain's strength area.

I couldn't help but think of the first Godfather movie while watching the debate. I remember Tom being removed as Consigliere because they needed a "wartime consigliere" and Tom was too balanced to serve in that role. McCain stating that he would essentially "place domestic policy on auto-pilot" while whipping the rest of the world into shape said to me that he was telling us that his presidency would be a one-trick pony (sorry about the mixed movie metaphors). I'm hopeful that the Undecided Voters saw the same thing and became very worried about what will happen during the next four years.

Young people, those less than 45, can be so naive.

The clear choice was shown tonight.

As I type this, there is that American Express commercial showing how blatant the stupid American is to the rest of the world.

Strong business is what moves this country forward. Obama has shown he will take us backward. Rob Peter to pay Paul. They keep trying, but continue to fail. Just like their Public Health Plan.

Remember when Bill Clinton assigned Hillary to this? Another miserable failure, yet they are trying to sucker your again.

As I have stated before, perhaps we need a president like Obama to show folks how bad things can get. If Obama is elected, taxes will grow to the point that many will walk away from their homes, unemployment will grow, businesses will fail, and everything will turn to crap. Then Democrats will whine even more, and find more things or people to blame for their woes.

The government will go back to Republican, just as it always has since the GOP was founded.

Yikes! I think I must have bumped my head pretty hard before coming back and reading your comments, Deucalion! Who commenting on this thread do you think is "less than 45", Oh Condescending One????

"If Obama is elected, taxes will grow to the point that many will walk away from their homes, unemployment will grow, businesses will fail, and everything will turn to crap." LOL - As opposed to now and the past several years, for instance? What flavor of kool aid is it that you're drinking? I know, it's GOP Red!

"As I have stated before, perhaps we need a president like Obama to show folks how bad things can get."

LOL - If they get much worse than they currently are, we'll all be speaking another language. Face it, the current meltdown happened on Dubya's watch, and the GOP Cowboys in the House are playing "flinch" with Dubya. You're not putting alcohol in that kool aid, are you?

I don't think there was a clear winner in this one but I think the next one will be different. Obama must and will come back with the killer blow: McCain is MiniBush.

Great article Robert. I think Obama was certainly more presidential in temperament tonight. McCain did make a number of gaffes the fact checkers are already talking about, plus took credit for things he had nothing to do with.

What I can't believe, on a number of levels is why the line--when McCain said something like "and I think the American people would like to know Obama's definition of rich is..." is not getting more heat. That is the moment I knew what to expect from McCain during the debate. As if McCain has any room to even talk about that subject.

Blevins-Please don't whine or complain like a little girl if I hit a nerve. May I please be allowed to express my opinion without being banned? IF you think, and that's a big IF, Obama won the debate tonite, think again. It was his absolute army of advisors, lawyers, campaign staff that won-Not Obama. Obama has no real record or no real experience. WE are voting for a President, not someone who is a rock star, or gives great speeches(from his cadre of advisors, lawyers, campaign staff). And Obama is no President.

People don't seem to realize that Halliburton, the company with deep Republican ties, sold the nuclear technologies to Iran..... I think I see a pattern in Republican foreign policy (think about all of the following: Bin Laden, the Taliban, Saddam Hussein and next Iran): Let's arm a country with dangerous weapons and then go to war with them because they are a threat to our security.

Continued war and violent conflicts only adds to the profits of weapons companies and other defence contractors that receive military contracts. Blackwater Worldwide, whose founder and owner Erick Prince was an intern in the Dubya White House and is a major financial backer of Republican candidates and causes, has received MORE THAN 1 BILLION dollars in such contracts! Halliburton has received contracts in Iraq surmounting 18 BILLION dollars! This just to name two such companies!

If John McCain is elected you can be assured that the Rovian policies of the past 8 years will continue to fatten the pockets of these war profiteering corporations that have financial ties to the Republican party. For the Republicans the longer the war lasts the better. The more the taxpayers pay for wars at the expense of funding for domestic programs, the more profits for the friends of John McCain and the Bushes.