Debate #2 - Who Won?

Dragonfly · 10-08-08, 07:43 AM

Who won and why?

Don't forget to read this:

FactCheck.org: FactChecking Debate No. 2 <-- click it

Dragonfly · 10-08-08, 09:22 AM

If a gun was pointed to my head and I had to pick a winner or die I'd give it to McCain.

The reasoning?

The format allowed McCain to look less "stiff" and not quite as "old".
He used the floor well and moved around in a way that suited this feeling.

I'd say neither hit any home runs, but neither flunked the test.

I'd call it a dead tie in that I don't think either did a single thing to convince anyone to alter the opinons they already have.
Fence sitters are still on the fence. McCain fans will think McCain won, and Obama fans will think Obama won.

But back to the gun thing....I'd have to give it to McCain, but only by a whisker on a gnats ass.

pxlfreq1107 · 10-08-08, 10:13 AM

As far as 'winning' or 'losing', I don't think it's that black or white (no pun intended). I think the question comes down to one of persuasion. If by 'win', you mean "who was able to better persuade undecided voters one way or the other?", I'd say Obama takes the medal. There's something to be said about having one's thoughts together and speaking with eloquence...period.

His message is the same and is repeated for a reason. He has his values, beliefs, plan, and goals and does not waver from that. The confidence in his voice and mannerisms are a testament of this.

Middleground · 10-08-08, 10:20 AM

I went with neither. He said, she said. Yawn.

Alex · 10-08-08, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Middleground

I went with neither. He said, she said. Yawn.

It was a boring debate, but because I agree with McCain more, I give it to him. I think that is what it comes down to for this one. Obama's message is getting across so far so all he had to do was keep saying it, as he did.

Infinite Chaos · 10-08-08, 10:26 AM

The British press story concentrates on the fact that it was up to McCain to "win" and turn the polls in the US around. Obama did not have to score any punches to maintain his lead - simply had to make sure he didn't step on any banana skins.

Quote:

Dancing Backwards

In practice both candidates went wildly over time on a number of occasions - at one point Mayor Brokaw observed that the debate would be running a bigger deficit than the federal government if they didn't get it back under control.

On paper, the format should have favoured John McCain, who conducts lots of campaign events as town hall meetings, in which he prowls the stage taking questions from anyone who wants to ask one.

In fact, I thought Barack Obama did rather better, measured in manner and clear-minded in content where Mr McCain seemed to spend too much time attempting to score points directly off his rival, with what felt like carefully-rehearsed digs that didn't seem quite to find the mark.

Mr Obama offered a performance reminiscent of a great boxer who knows he is ahead on points and only has to keep dancing backwards around the ring avoiding trouble to win. He didn't land many scoring punches, but then he didn't have to.

Mr McCain, who is now trailing in nearly all the important local and national opinion polls, went into the contest knowing he needed a clear-cut win to change the game.

He duly headed off around the ring on the offensive more than once, but he tended to telegraph his punches and they mostly felt like they missed their target.

At one point he played what is clearly his ace - his relative experience - by saying directly: "There's no time for on-the-job training, my friend."

But in such an intimate forum it felt oddly inappropriate to say it so bluntly - better surely to demonstrate the proposition with a superior grasp of the facts?

2nd Debate analysis

shuamort · 10-08-08, 10:27 AM

I'll be the first to say that I was personally disappointed in the questions.

I think that this is the full list culled from the transcript. I understand that the economy is a big issue and is on everyone's mind. That and Israel, do we need two questions about that? I would have liked to see them go down different avenues and discuss more policies.

Quote:

QUESTION: With the economy on the downturn and retired and older citizens and workers losing their incomes, what's the fastest, most positive solution to bail these people out of the economic ruin?

QUESTION: Well, Senators, through this economic crisis, most of the people that I know have had a difficult time. And through this bailout package, I was wondering what it is that's going to actually help those people out.

QUESTION: How can we trust either of you with our money when both parties got -- got us into this global economic crisis?

QUESTION: Senator McCain, I want to know, we saw that Congress moved pretty fast in the face of an economic crisis. I want to know what you would do within the first two years to make sure that Congress moves fast as far as environmental issues, like climate change and green jobs?

QUESTION: Senator, selling health care coverage in America as the marketable commodity has become a very profitable industry.

QUESTION: Yes. Senator McCain, how will all the recent economic stress affect our nation's ability to act as a peacemaker in the world?

QUESTION: Should the United States respect Pakistani sovereignty and not pursue al Qaeda terrorists who maintain bases there, or should we ignore their borders and pursue our enemies like we did in Cambodia during the Vietnam War?

QUESTION: Senator, as a retired Navy chief, my thoughts are often with those who serve our country. I know both candidates, both of you, expressed support for Israel.

QUESTION: If, despite your best diplomatic efforts, Iran attacks Israel, would you be willing to commit U.S. troops in support and defense of Israel? Or would you wait on approval from the U.N. Security Council?

QUESTION: She says, "What don't you know and how will you learn it?"

That said, I thought it was a close tie, but I'm giving it to Obama for his attack on McCain's "bomb bomb bomb Iran". It made McCain look like a liar and McCain's reply that it was a "joke" was the wrong answer.

Felicity · 10-08-08, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shuamort

I'll be the first to say that I was personally disappointed in the questions.
.

Make that the "second" to say. They were lame--and with no follow-ups, there was no pulling apart their positions to get to the truth rather than mere talking points.
http://www.debatepolitics.com/1057760390-post112.html (Presidential Debate 2)

Hatuey · 10-08-08, 10:46 AM

I didn't watch it. But it seems to me like McCain is looking more and more like a little lamb in what was supposed to be his strength.

Reverend_Hellh0und · 10-08-08, 10:50 AM

It was like watching two retards repeat thier talking points.

McCain may have won in my opinion, but he also lost with his nationalize mortgages plan.

He lost me as a voter.

Socialism=bad.