News Scoring the Presidential Debate #1: Winners, Kill Blows & Major Subjects

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The debate analysis reveals that Barack Obama was perceived as more presidential and engaged than John McCain, who often failed to directly address questions. Obama effectively challenged McCain on key issues, particularly regarding tax breaks for oil companies and misrepresentations of his policies. His ability to clarify misconceptions about his tax plan and highlight McCain's past support for Bush's economic policies was noted as significant. McCain, while experienced, came off as condescending and avoided eye contact with Obama, which detracted from his performance. The discussion emphasized that the winner of the debate would ultimately be determined by public perception, with early polls indicating a favorable view of Obama. Overall, Obama was seen as calm, knowledgeable, and respectful, while McCain appeared more aggressive but less relatable. The debate's impact on voter sentiment and the candidates' contrasting styles were central to the analysis.

What was the score?

  • McCain won by a large margin

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • McCain won but it was close

    Votes: 9 23.7%

  • Obama won by a large margin

    Votes: 10 26.3%

  • Obama won but it was close

    Votes: 12 31.6%

  • It was a tie

    Votes: 7 18.4%
  • Total voters
    38
  • #61
LURCH said:
BTW; did anyone else feel ripped off by this debate? Throughout the campaign, this has been scheduled as a debate about national security. More than half the debate was about the economy. Now at some point there's going to be a debate about the economy; I sure hope they devote at least half of it to national security.

Not really. I think the debate was relevant to the events that are most topical.

I'm guessing that you want McCain to get the chance to repeat his line about "what Obama doesn't understand" while he throws out some more dumbed-down misrepresentations of Obama's positions, that if McCain truly thinks are his positions, suggests that in his cartoon, cardboard cut out landscape of Foreign Policy, that McCain lacks even the merest rudiments of insight into the positions of our allies or our enemies.

Hopefully, we will have a new President with the skill to use the chess pieces of Diplomacy and National Power with deftness and grace, and not prone to the polarizing demands of his ideology, nor punctuated by erratic decision making like McCain has displayed, that shows little apparent strategic guile.

Given the potential for intervening events, like Palin thoroughly destroying whatever hope McCain might ever have had, or further deterioration of the economy, it may be that the follow on debates at this point really are only an opportunity for McCain to further embarrass himself, rather than scoring anything damaging against Obama.
 
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  • #63
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aM923sttcs&feature=related

Obama: 0
McCain: 1

I thought McCain made a stronger point on the business tax being very high.

Total:
Obama: 1
McCain: 2

I...I...I...wish...that...that...Obama wouldd.....stop talking...like...like that.
 
  • #64
Cyrus said:
Obama too many pauses like he's thinking about what to say as he's saying it.

Well we wouldn't a President that thought about what he said before he said it.

After the last 8 years it's hard to remember what that was like.
 
  • #65
LowlyPion said:
Well we wouldn't a President that thought about what he said before he said it.

After the last 8 years it's hard to remember what that was like.

Sorry, this is a debate. Know what you're going to say. To be clear, I think obama is a terrible speaker in general. He..he...always pauses for a while....and then...says..says a few words over again.......and pauses to buy...to buy time.

It's horribly annoying.
 
  • #66
edward said:
Which brings us back to Bush.:rolleyes:
I've already said I can't stand Bush. I can cross the aisle and hate both sides. something some people here don't seem to be able to do.

Cyrus said:
He took an oath not to lie to you?

He took an oath to uphold the constitution and laws.

I've always thought you were an intelligent person and seemed like a nice guy, but this one stupid thread has made me not like you. This is why I stay out of this forum, it makes me not like people. I should never have come in here. You just go on thinking its okay to lie. Whatever it takes to get ahead, right? It's a disgusting attitude and you disgust me. I'm done with this f'ing conversation.
 
  • #67
tribdog said:
I've already said I can't stand Bush. I can cross the aisle and hate both sides. something some people here don't seem to be able to do.



I've always thought you were an intelligent person and seemed like a nice guy, but this one stupid thread has made me not like you. This is why I stay out of this forum, it makes me not like people. I should never have come in here. You just go on thinking its okay to lie. Whatever it takes to get ahead, right? It's a disgusting attitude and you disgust me. I'm done with this f'ing conversation.

:smile: Geez tribby, relaxxxxx. :-p

You love me. I'm old enough to realize there are some things that I don't care about in terms of other people's lives. If he had sex, that's his business. If he lied to me about it, I really don't care. It's not an important issue to me. I don't see how he was going to get ahead by lying. He was at the end of his second term.
 
  • #68
Cyrus said:
Sorry, this is a debate.

Aside from being ready to handle Press Conferences, the skill of debate seems a bit over-rated as a skill.

Surely it is important for elections to an extent, as the American electorate seems inclined to want to see a bit of a sport made of it. But frankly I would as soon have a President that executed skillfully in developing pragmatic solutions to gain strategic results.
 
  • #69
LowlyPion said:
Aside from being ready to handle Press Conferences, the skill of debate seems a bit over-rated as a skill.

Surely it is important for elections to an extent, as the American electorate seems inclined to want to see a bit of a sport made of it. But frankly I would as soon have a President that executed skillfully in developing pragmatic solutions to gain strategic results.

All that's great. But it's a televised debate. Not a press conference, not a problem solving competition. If you want to win, you have to debate well. Debate is important because it shows who can think on their toes and outwit the other guy and smash him to the ground using facts.
 
  • #70
From FoxNews
FoxNews said:
Who won the first presidential debate in Oxford?

John McCain (52%)
Barack Obama (48%)

This is not a scientific poll.
http://elections.foxnews.com/

There is no doubt at all the FoxNews site is not scientific. It's seemingly totally biased, unashamed, 24/7 McCain all the way.

In fact any pretense at objectivity is wholly unbelievable.

If this number reflects actual numbers of Fox-o-philes, then McCain is apparently facing a landslide defeat.
 
  • #71
Cyrus said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aM923sttcs&feature=related

Obama: 0
McCain: 1

I thought McCain made a stronger point on the business tax being very high.

McCain mentioned that we have the second highest corporate tax rate in the world of 35%.

That was a clever move by the McCain gang. People were then thinking "wow did you hear that." My wife remarked "I didn't know that did you Eddie?" It was a great distraction.

Many people were not yet back on focus when Obama then mentioned that most of those companies pay no taxes at all because of loop holes.
 
  • #73
edward said:
McCain mentioned that we have the second highest corporate tax rate in the world of 35%.

That was a clever move by the McCain gang. People were then thinking "wow did you hear that." My wife remarked "I didn't know that did you Eddie?" It was a great distraction.

Many people were not yet back on focus when Obama then mentioned that most of those companies pay no taxes at all because of loop holes.

No, I took that into account. Why? Small businesses. I don't think they have the same loopholes that major ones do. So, most mom and pop shops would more than likely be stuck with high taxes on their profits.

35% is a solid figure. I'd like to have seen obama present a ballpark figure of how much is reduced by loop holes %-wise, and how many business are able to do this.
 
  • #74
LowlyPion said:
Well we wouldn't want a President that thought about what he said before he said it.

After the last 8 years it's hard to remember what that was like.

:smile: :smile: :smile:

I didn't find Obama's speech pattern in the least bit annoying.

But then again, I grew up watching William Shatner. And one of my favorite speakers spoke with quite extended pauses; Jacob http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mIfatdNqBA"ronowski.
 
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  • #76
tribdog said:
If I trust you and you look me in the eye and promise me you are telling the truth when you aren't then I have been betrayed. It doesn't matter what it is about, it is the act of lying TO ME that I can't forgive.
Every single President has lied to the people. Only some of the lies make primetime though.
 
  • #77
Cyrus said:
All that's great. But it's a televised debate. Not a press conference, not a problem solving competition. If you want to win, you have to debate well. Debate is important because it shows who can think on their toes and outwit the other guy and smash him to the ground using facts.

True, but first you must know the facts and have better answers. Then you need to present them well.

Interestingly, people who have never debated often think debate is about tricks and cleverness. But anyone who has debated knows that it is all about preparation and knowledge of the subject.
 
  • #78
Ivan Seeking said:
True, but first you must know the facts and have better answers.

Yes, exactly. His ummm, well uhh...I ......I'd just like to say...to say that.

Has got to stop. He needs to look at McCain and say 'John, you're wrong because of fact x,y,z, that is in direct opposition to your claims'.

Throw him to the ground and don't stop until he's dead. No mercy. Make him look wrong in every thing he brings up. Don't give him an inch.
 
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  • #79
I file as an LLC, and speaking as a small business owner, I have no complaints about the tax rate. If I had to pay taxes on my net income, my rate would be much higher, but the laws are designed to give tremendous breaks - it you take advantage of them - that reduce my effective rate dramatically. There were years that I did quite well but hardly paid any taxes at all. It was a matter of learning how to spend money to gain the maximum advantage.
 
  • #80
Also, WAY too much. "John, you're right"...'your absolutely right john'

I thought Obama did a good job holding up. But he didnt win. McCain was running the show there.

My vote is in: McCain won but it was close



On the issue of Kissinger, he was dead wrong. Kissinger clearly said to have talks with Iran right away.

When it came to knowing what's going on, on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan, McCain came out on top. He's been there, and he's familiar with the surrounding region. Obama had nothing to say to that when McCain brought it up. That was a big problem.


To be perfectly honest, I don't dislike McCains stance on many issues (military and nuclear fuels with offshore drilling). But Palin is a total fool. For that reason alone, I could never vote for him. Had he picked someone like Tom Ridge, I'd consider voting for them.
 
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  • #81
tribdog; said:
It has nothing to do with sex. I have sex every single night whether I'm alone or not. It is about breaking your vows and lying to me. It is about being a man of your word. THAT means something.

Personally, I believe that great charismatic male leaders more often than not tend to f#$% around. Kennedy, Clinton, FD Roosevelt, and who knows how many more before the advent of modern news. The only ones who might not have are Lincoln and Teddy, but I am not sure about Teddy. Lincoln was obsessed with his wife, from what I've read.

We don't have definitive proof that Benjamin Franklin cheated on his wife. But the lecherous old dude seriously flirted with/ had correspondence with about a dozen women thirty or more years younger than him.

And there was a great leader in our family two generations ago. Did amazing work for the state: reviving cultural arts, implementing foreign management techniques, and doing diplomatic work. The guy was a hound-dog. We found postcards from women from Britain, Canada, etc after he died.

Faithful presidents: John Adams, George Bush II, Reagan, Jimmy Carter.

It might be the testosterone.
 
  • #82
Why do I sense that Obama supporters everywhere need some reassurance...

It's ok relax...Obama won the beauty contest and the sound bite contest...as expected.

But unfortunately, he STILL wants to increase spending!Maybe this will help... Attention Senator Obama:

There is no money, there is no money, we have no money, we can't print enough money to pay for this bailout, the last bailout, the war, the escalating Afghan war, or any of your additional giveaway plans. We appreciate giveaways but someone has to pay for them...and to pay we need better paying jobs.

ALL of the existing programs (like medicare) need to be trimmed of fat and waste...people WITH health insurance have to wait 4 hours in the emergency room with a broken wrist because people on the government health program are in the front of the line with their runny noses and nagging coughs...all spending needs to be reviewed (tell me you want to stop excessive profiteering on foodstamps - so people can have more food for the same amount of money)...we need a freeze on all spending increases - including government wages and benefits (federal workers are oblivious to the fact that we need to borrow money to make their payroll every week)...all the do is complain about their cost of living increases and limits of their cars for personal use.

No money means no money...Obama is like a kid in the cereal aisle talking to his friend..."I want this and that and those and ohhh some of that...my mom says she doesn't have any money but she'll do what I say...help me put them in the buggy...she pays for groceries with her credit card and won't even know until we get home and it'll be too late"...if she notices...we'll blame my older brother.

Be honest, how many times have you heard on the street..."I don't care as long as I gets mine"?

Well, the truth is that everyone who got theirs better enjoy it while it lasts...because we're broke and Obama is determined to make it worse!

Obama is all talk...he has never RUN anything...(and what was that ad about last spring where he said he dabbled in drugs as a teenager?)...he's a one term Senator...who's been pushed onto the national scene because he's trendy and tested well...similar to the way you test a movie then send it back to the director, promote it and do a big premiere. No wonder...he's Hollywood's guy.

If you want to cite interviews...re-watch the 60 minutes spot when the reporter asked him point blank about his inexperience. All he could do was babble.

I'm sincere in my beliefs and respectful of you opinions...so, please allow me to thank you in advance for your kind responses and requests for small donations to the Obama fund.
 
  • #83
Cyrus said:
When it came to knowing what's going on, on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan, McCain came out on top. He's been there, and he's familiar with the surrounding region. Obama had nothing to say to that when McCain brought it up. That was a big problem.
Yes, Obama should have reminded the people that the so-called expert on Iraq doesn't know the difference between Sunni and Shia.
 
  • #84
WhoWee said:
and what was that ad about last spring where he said he dabbled in drugs as a teenager?)

....seriously. You got something better to bring up?

Talk about sleazy cheapshot Whowee...

ALL of the existing programs (like medicare) need to be trimmed of fat and waste...people WITH health insurance have to wait 4 hours in the emergency room with a broken wrist because people on the government health program are in the front of the line with their runny noses and nagging coughs.

People with runny noses and nagging coughs don't go to an ER room...what's your point?
 
  • #85
Well at least I know you read the whole thing...but seriously, why DID he say that? Was that to avoid the whole Clinton inhale thing or to build a street rep for a straight guy?

Any other reason escapes me?
 
  • #86
WhoWee said:
Well at least I know you read the whole thing...but seriously, why DID he say that? Was that to avoid the whole Clinton inhale thing or to build a street rep for a straight guy?

Any other reason escapes me?

Who cares? He was a teenager. Get over it. Move on. Do you want to interview the first girl he had sex with too?

Let's be real here.
 
  • #87
Not really...and I agree and don't care about that...I just don't know why HE would bring it up?

The rest of the stuff...I do care about...Obama worries me...I don't trust him.
 
  • #88
WhoWee said:
Not really...and I agree and don't care about that...I just don't know why HE would bring it up?

The rest of the stuff...I do care about...Obama worries me...I don't trust him.


What do I care why 'HE' brought it up? Maybe he was trying to show he's made mistakes in the past and grew from them. You'll have to ask HIM that if you want to know. I'm not a mind reader.

Explain why you don't trust him? I don't know what you mean by this.
 
  • #89
People on state sponsored medical programs don't go to the doctor...they go to emergency...that is my point.

Go to an emergency room and look around...85% of the people don't have insurance and aren't injured.
 
  • #90
WhoWee said:
Obama is all talk...he has never RUN anything..

He has run a campaign that took down Hillary and is defeating McCain. With all of McCain's experience, one would think there would be no contest. How many campaigns has McCain run? So much for experience. And the same goes for the war in Iraq. A State Senator saw where McCain was blind. All of McCain's experience only led him to the wrong decisions. Why? Because he had the wrong kind of experience! He is an old war dog, so of course he voted for war when there was no need for it.

Last night McCain was in his strong suit - national security and foreign affairs. But the Jr Senator is generally perceived to have won. So much for experience.

It reminds me a bit of my days in competitive swimming. I trained and trained for years - up to eight hours a day all summer long a couple of years - but in the end I couldn't compete against people who were true talents. And no amount of training could make the difference.
 
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