After 24 hours of letting the debate sink in

[Quixote1818]

the impression that has stuck with me is that Obama left a better impression on the voters. He came across as someone focused on the important things as well as being a gentleman who plays fair and is honest. He seemed like someone who wants to do the right thing and would work hard to do the right thing.

I still think Hillary did well and at times seemed sharper than Obama, however she looked bad several times including the part where she went on the attack and then we found out her husband had pardoned two Weathermen. Notice she didn't even want to try to rebut that. She was left looking stunned that that came back at her like a lethal boomerang. She seemed too willing to go along with the insane line of questioning as though it was relevant to the debate. That made her seem less mature than Obama. After 8 years of Bush and Rove, that was a major mistake as the people are onto that game and they hate it!

Obama had a game plan and he stuck to it like glue! Hillary answered her questions great but failed to do what she needed to do. Both would make great presidents but I think it's clear that Obama will be the last person standing in the next month or two.

[anonymous171]

1. I agree, she looked totally stunned.

"Wolfson told me he wouldn't say anything!"

[Bonobo]

2. She was shameless. A woman with no moral convictions other than to win at any cost.

We do not need another egomaniac and habitual liar in the WH.

[RazBerryBeret]

3. Good Points...

You have to give him kudos for taking the high road again and again. It would have been easy for him to bash her over Bosnia, she certainly didn't take up for him at any point in the debate. But he tried to turn the debate back to the ACTUAL issues a couple times:

OBAMA: Well, look, I think that Senator Clinton has a strong
record to run on. She wouldn't be here if she didn't.
And, you know, I haven't commented on the issue of Bosnia. You
know, I...
STEPHANOPOULOS: Your campaign has.
OBAMA: Of course. But the -- because we're asked about it.
But, look, the fact of the matter is, is that both of us are working
as hard as we can to make sure that we're delivering a message to the
American people about what we would do as president. Sometimes that
message is going to be imperfectly delivered because we are recorded
every minute of every day.
And I think Senator Clinton deserves the right to make some errors
once in a while. Obviously, I make some as well.
I think what's important is to make sure that we don't get so
obsessed with gaffes that we lose sight of the fact that this is a
defining moment in our history. We are going to be tackling some of the
biggest issues that any president has dealt with in the last 40 years.
Our economy is teetering not just on the edge of recession but
potentially worse. Our foreign policy is in a shambles. We are
involved in two wars. People's incomes have not gone up, and their
costs have. And we're seeing greater income inequality now than any
time since the 1920s.
In those circumstances, for us to be obsessed with this -- these
kinds of errors I think is a mistake. And that's not what our campaign
has been about.

[Taxmyth]

4. I disagree

Sticking to a game plan when the game is changing, and not in your favor, is not what a winner does. Adapt, control and when you cannot control, limit the damage an opponent can cause. Senator Obama did not follow the basic precepts of competetition and he has to pay the price for it. Is the price the Presidency? I don't know. But he has to pay for his mistakes last evening.

[madmunchie]

5. In other words, he couldn't be manipulated or goaded into going against

his principles? His MISTAKES were that he stuck with integrity and issues and didn't go the down and dirty mud slinging act/ HRC did/ if that is what you have to do to win/ than losing is always the better option.

[Taxmyth]

6. This is 2008

We've learned what the vast majority of American people respond to. It sucks but it is what it is. Either Senator Obama gets on the offensive or he is stuck being on defense. Defense rarely scores any points and more often than not loses the game. If losing is the better option then I pray you don't have children. I do and the oldest boy is going to be draft age next year. I don't want to lose this battle for his sake.

[FrenchieCat]

7. Actually, a lot of people DON'T respond to it......

cause you can't fool them all of the time. We may be stupid, but we're not that stupid. :eyes:

[Taxmyth]

9. WE may not be that stupid

but you're giving more credit to the electorate as a whole than they deserve. Or should I say WE deserve.

[ClassWarrior]

18. Most people who consider themselves superior to the masses...

...usually are compensating.

NGU.

[kid a]

22. that shows your elitist attitude

[madmunchie]

8. My son was in Iraq, so join the club. If you can't honor your soul

than the few short years we are on this earth and the suffering that we may do will pale in comparison to what an eternity of Hell will be.

The fact is, that people have RESPONDED to Obama and his way of doing things. HRC has been all but shut down because people are hungry and thirsty for someone who maybe won't go in the gutter. If Obama has shown that, than I don't know what will. He has risen from nothing to be beating the person who was "destined" to win, the giant with a phenomenal warchest, the "inevitable" Democratic Nominee...how did she LOSE so much grond if her way is THE WAY?

My son came home safe and sound - thank God. And if you think that HRC is going to be a whole lot different on Iraq and her plans for the military for the ME, than you weren't really listening to the bombshells that were dropped last night on the debates.

[Taxmyth]

12. First, thank your Son for me

anyone that went into that hell and came back to talk about it deserves a big thank you from me. I'm very glad he came back to you safe and sound.

Were those bombshells dropped last night?

I took them as warning fire. The one fact that escapes most Americans (or they ignore) is that OUR way of life is totally dependent on THEIR oil. I wish it weren't so but it is what it is. The US needs to be a protectorate in the Middle East until we can wean ourselves off of their oil. It would mean a massive change to our lifestyle and probably one that most Americans are not ready to embrace.

Israel is our friend not because of who they are but where they are. Other ME nations are our friends not because of who they are but because of where they are. A failure to recognize that and embrace it could mean that the way of life we enjoy now could be short lived. Now I do not approve of what GW Bush did but I do understand it. And if you think the US will be out of Iraq and the Middle East, no matter who is elected, then you haven't been paying attention. HRC will not be a whole lot different on Iraq but neither will BOH. The fact is that they cannot be.

[Quixote1818]

10. He is about to beat Hillary without ever going negative which is stunning

However, he has already stated that he is going to go after McCain much, much, much harder than Hillary. You have to have a different game plan running against a fellow Democrat than when you run against a Republican.

[Taxmyth]

13. Is it because he chose not to?

Or is it because he cannnot? The rules don't really change all that much between the Primary and the General Election. Get the most votes in the most populated States and you win. We are actually priveledged to be having this kind of Primary race this late in the election cycle and it will be the person who can withstand the most heat that will be the nominee. That is just the way American politics works and while you might wish it would change, it won't.

[Quixote1818]

16. Did you not hear Obama punch back at McCain several times?

Not to mention he did it with style, force, humor and charm. Of course the Media is now caught up in the fight between him and Hillary so those instances didn't get that much attention, but once it's between him and McCain, the media will focus in.

Obama has the charisma, likability and style that John Kerry lacked and it seems he will punch back, swiftly and HARD! Hillary on the other hand will punch back hard but without the charisma and charm. It would be a repeat of Kerry and Gore, not to mention the Republican base would be energized beyond belief.


The rules do change a lot between the primary and GE. Obama can't punch back too hard when it comes to Hillary because he wants her supporters to vote for him. He has to straddle a tightrope when it comes to Hillary.

[quakerboy]

11. Right

Yup. Americans are just a big waste of time. Lets just drop down to the lowest common denominator immediately. Or not.

When you are far ahead and the end of the competition is near, you don't have to make desperate moves just because the other team is making up some ground. If you are ahead 4, and they make up 1, you still win. Even if they get 2, you still win. And theres not enough time left to get 3. Why play risky, especially if your strategy has worked against theirs up to this point, and they aren't trying anything new?

[Armstead]

14. Um, who's ahead in the primaries again?

His poor tactics seem to be working

[Bensthename]

19. He was on defense because HE WAS ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS

They made him look like some one he is not and he DEFENDED himself. And did a damn fine job ot it I might add. I loved the debate. It showed Obama's strength of discipline from attacks. That is why his favorably is going up and hers is going down.

[kid a]

21. There were not any mistakes by Obama. HIllary failed to deliver anything.

Well she admitted she lied and admitted to lying earlier about Obama's electablity.

[Kaleva]

15. Hillary needed a knock out blow

and she didn't manage to get one in this debate so little has changed.

[Bensthename]

17. Hillary had to try something but Obama is too disciplined for her.

Her attacks failed. She gave a good show though.

[Frank Booth]

20. I agree. Hillary for the most part is very good at debates.

She's always well-versed on the issues (assuming the debate actually involves issues) and she expresses herself well. But she also has a bad habit of shooting herself in the foot at least once every debate. When she gets angry or goes dirty, she just comes across as so vicious and petty that people react negatively. Whether it's "change you can xerox" or screaming to defend her healthcare position or "35 years of bringing change," getting on people's bad side comes naturally to her.

She's also not good at parrying the shots from the other side. Her reaction to the pardoned weathermen comment was like her reaction to the "Hillary, I'm looking forward to you advising me as well" comment. She gets kind of a dazed, half-smile on her face. Sort of like when a boxer with a glass jaw takes a hard shot to the face.

Obama's not as much in his element in debates because he chooses his words so carefully. The slow responses are a little boring. I think he's gotten much better, though, and he's always been a lot better than McCain, who will be his next debate opponent. Plus, Obama's fundamentally a likeable guy, and doesn't have those hackle-raising moments like Hillary.

[Yes We Did]

23. Believe me Obama was uncomfortable and conciliatory because he had to be...

He did a FANTASTIC JOB! He could have ripped her heart out but he didn't because it would bring him no good. Hillary has more baggage than she is willing to own right now and Obama isn't going to release it because it is destructive to the party.

[BenDavid]

24. if you guys believe this is the last you heard of this, wright, ayers

farrakhan and other stuff just wait if he is the nominee all this will be placed in the livng room of every american. The RNC, the 527's will flood the market with this crap.

What i think is we should all be thankful that HRC is still in this race. Maybe HRC is doing us Democrats a favor so we'll still have a viable candidate for when Obama shoots himself in the foot badly enough that even the whoremedia can't salvage his candidacy.

Sorry, but HRC was “in her element” when she was talking substance. She has done that time and again in these debates, which is why she has been so happy to participate in them.

Obama can try to spin this any way he likes. His supporters can complain about the questions and the questioning. The fact remains that there are many things that Americans are curious about when it comes to Barack Obama, and they seem to be the very things that make him uncomfortable and less…oh, assured, let’s say…than when he’s on script or standing before fundraisers in a mansion.NO, Mr Obama! I wanted and needed to know the answers to those questions in the first half of the debate!!! And still today, I feel the same as I did yesterday. Stop blaming the “Washington game” because when the issues came up last night, your answers were not as clear and detailed as Hillary’s. America is not dumb and stop talking down to us like we are! Obama’s arrogant and sarcastic nature today is because he’s in the comfort of his own territory.