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2008 First Presidential Debate Prelude
26Sep2008 Filed under: Barack Obama, DNC, Democratic Nominee, Democratic Party, Hillary Clinton, John McCain Author: grlpatriotThe debate tonight is a go. McCain released a statement confirming his attendance. Of course, we all know that it should be Hillary and McCain debating tonight, but because we now live in Bizarro World, it will be Obama and McCain. Hillary could beat both of them in the debate blindfolded with one hand tied behind her back. So, are you planning to watch? I am and will try not to mute Obama, but the urge might overwhelm me. (Maybe I should hide the remote.)
The debate, which is being hosted at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, starts at 9 PM EST and will be aired on all major networks and cable outlets. You should be able to get streaming video if you want to watch online. PBS’s, Jim Lehrer, will be the debate moderator. The focus of this first debate will be on foreign policy, but I imagine some of the debate will cover the economic crisis and bailout.
In case you miss the debate, You Decide 2008 will post the full, unedited video. They also have the rest of the debate schedule for the three remaining presidential debates and the vice presidential debate.
I’m setting my expectations low because neither one of these guys is a good debater, and at times, I’m sure this will be painful to watch. They are no Hillary that’s for sure. Reuters’ FactBox has some interesting scenarios on the debate:
- The topic for the first debate is national security and foreign policy, a strength for McCain, a 26-year veteran of Congress who has become one of Washington’s leading voices on military policy. Obama aides, looking to set expectations, say that should give McCain an edge in the first encounter.
- The Wall Street turmoil has dominated the campaign for nearly two weeks, and is expected to be raised in the questioning even though domestic issues are not on the agenda. Polls show voters favor Obama on economic issues, and the topic has helped him pull slightly ahead of McCain in some recent polls.
- McCain, 72, and Obama, 47, will present a stark generational contrast when they stand side by side on the debate stage. Whether it looks more like the past versus the future or the old pro versus the callow rookie could play a role in setting voter impressions of the candidates.
- Neither has been a particularly distinguished debater. McCain has a blunt and straightforward style; Obama can be much more cool and diffident. McCain’s reputation for being easily angered can work against him, while Obama will have to fight a tendency to sound too nuanced and professorial.
- The audience for the nationally televised encounter is expected to dwarf the 40 million who watched the acceptance speeches by McCain and Obama at their nominating conventions, and could surpass the 62 million who watched the first 2004 debate between Democratic Sen. John Kerry and Republican President George W. Bush.
It will be interesting to see how these candidates are able to minimize their weaknesses and still be able to handle the issues and come across as knowledgeable, trustworthy, and authentic.
This is usually an exciting event for me and my family. Not tonight. It will be hard to watch the “Democrat” (in name only) and not root for him because I know he is a fraud, phony, and flim-flam-flip-flop artist who shouldn’t even be there because he is not the rightful Democratic party nominee. Only 17 pledge delegates separated Hillary and Obama (after MI and FL were fully reinstated at the convention) and Obama received 59 delegates from a state (Michigan) where he didn’t even have his name on the ballot (4 of which were taken from Hillary and given to him). How many more delegates was he awarded due to caucus fraud? Dozens, hundreds? The man standing before us tonight, the man known as Obama, was selected by the DNC and party leaders and installed as the nominee of the Democratic party. No, I will not get over the Democratic party flushing democratic principles down the tiolet. No way, no how, no deal, NObama!
Crossposted at Alegre’s Corner
[Update: Debate Reaction] Although Obama is more articulate, he lacks authenticity because he lacks substance and experience. He is an actor playing at the role of president. He says his lines, but any minute I’m waiting for the director to say “cut, that’s a wrap.” The less articulate McCain has a gritty authenticity rooted in his experience that is all substance. His short, direct answers are his truth, his word, and his bond. In my opinion, this debate was a big win for McCain. He came across as the man that the American people can entrust this country to during these most uncertain times.
4 Responses to “2008 First Presidential Debate Prelude”
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PS
September 26th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
College supporters of BO should have seen a supporter of his on O’Rielly Tues this week state that Palin was not fit to be VP or president because she grad from Idaho not an Ivy leage college. So much for what they think about grads from Pitt, WVU. Penn state, Ohio state, etc I hope they know OB wants their vote even if they grad from a sub prime school.
ms mississippi
September 26th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
If this election were a choice between Hillary Clinton and John McCain, the election and the debates could be focused on substance.
Since it is a choice between Barack Obama and John McCain, policy issues are secondary to character simply because Barack Obama remains an unknown quantity. Who is he? What does he stand for? What direction does he want to take the country? What does his “change” mantra mean?
So, it doesn’t matter who wins the debates. My guess is that John McCain will. The unanswered questions about Barack Obama will remain, will continue to dog his campaign, and in the end, voters will elect John McCain–a man they know, a man they trust, a man with a verifiable record of serving his country. So, character will prevail on Nov. 4th and that’s a reservoir John McCain has plenty of.
grlpatriot
September 26th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Excellent points, Ms Miss and I tend to agree. I certainly would much rather have a debate on substance vs. Obama’s lack of it.
@ PS - I have also experienced the academic elitism against Palin online and in email exchanges. My feeling is that all an Ivy League education means is that you have an Ivy League education and nothing more. I find this attack against Palin hollow. She worked and struggled for a college degree like many hard working Americans have. She still has more executive experience (with a successful track record) than Obama.
Anne Marie
September 26th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Well, I, too, cannot bear to watch the debates. I have probably worn out my “mute” button lately, because Obama has been flooding the airwaves in PA with his ads. Every time I hear his voice, I automatically lunge for the remote. It is satisfying, however, to know that the millions of dollars worth of PA ads are literally falling on “deaf ears.” PA is “Hillary Country,” and Obama is going to have an extremely difficult time here, except in Philadelphia and its suburbs.
As for all the “ivy league” talk, I am not surprised. Obama is a snob and an elitist (the latter is a state of mind, rather than an economic or class distinction). As such, he can never relate to “real people,” who have an inate wisdom about life and people which doesn’t come from books. “Real people” have a gut instinct, which is seldom wrong. I, for one, will trust their instinct to guide us through this “election.”
Nobama. No way. This baby boomer Democrat is voting for McCain this year. At least I will know that I have voted for a man of character and substance, who has always put his country first. This was a difficult decision, but I am at last happy about it. I hope others find their own decision as easy to live with.
Thanks for all you do!