The not looking at Obama thing . . .

[bigtree]

I'm 48 this year and I might not be the best judge of the 'appropriate' manner in which McCain should have regarded his rival tonight. I might not be the best judge because I had my mind in the clouds - dreaming on the improbable scene before me of a young, black Democrat competing in the debate (so overdue for a black American) for the presidency against a rather unremarkable, elderly man.

I know . . . so many arguments against such affinities to characteristics like race or age. But, I do really like Obama and I'm as in agreement with his positions and intentions as I'm opposed to McCain's. And I'm offended by the arrogant attitude McCain CHOSE to present to his sincere and respectful opponent. Not to the point of staging some protest or anything, but I'm mostly disappointed that McCain, the elder, couldn't find a way to acknowledge his opponent as an equal, albeit with a different view of what he'd do as president.

It wasn't just that he couldn't face his distinguished opponent. It wasn't just the assertion that Obama was, somehow, unequipped to serve in the position that he expects the terribly inadequate Palin to step into if he becomes disabled. It was the way McCain delivered his practiced contempt with his condescending assertions throughout that Obama actually 'didn't understand' what he had just finished outlining with eloquence and accuracy.

I'll just have to live with it. I wished for better.

[Lex]

1. in an effort to keep his temper

probably

[bigtree]

2. he looked like a fool

[Cherchez la Femme]

8. You can stiill be firm without being angry.

I guess it's a fine line, the 'black man not wanting to look angry', but I was very upset with Sen. Obama appearing to let McBush walk all over him. IMO, in these kind of debates, you retort point for point -- this election is too important to let anything go; ESPECIALLY standard, immoral Repuke shenanigans. In one case I remember, Mr. Obama had a chance to speak and respond to the crap Mighty Mouse was spewing but instead he just waved it off -- he let McAssholes bullshit go unchallenged and he had plenty of ammunition.

You leave it unchallenged, uncorrected, and people who aren't in the know are going to assume it's true.

McCain got his 'talking points' in time and again; I would have called bullshit -- not swear of course (on TV) but I would have brought up he being condescending and arrogant and told him why he was without merit.

I'm sorry, but I'm not happy with this debate. Obama got his talking points in, made lots of good comments but lessened their overall effect by this.
To the average viewer I mean, of course not to the usually astute DU type -- we know better, but there are LOTS of ignorant prospective voters out there and all they know is what they see on the "Liberal" msm.
Lord help us.

I also would have hit McLame a lot harder on his 90+ percent voting record with King George causing most if not all of our current problems. And where was repeating McSame's own comment about how little he knew about Economics? If it was talked about, I didn't see it.
All this should have been hammered home. As that * said (probably gotten from Rove who while hateful IS effective): "Catapault the propaganda" because,
obviously and unfortunately,
it works much better than polite, considerate, good-natured Truth
especially when executed in fair play.

[Lex]

11. The important thing is how well he did with undecideds. See this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7214285&mesg_id=7214285

[Cherchez la Femme]

12. That's great!

I just hope it gets out in the MSM. (edit: I mean ALL of the MSM, not counting Faux of course)
Doesn't matter who REALLY did better, it's how the pundits TELL the people who won; and there's no reason to believe they've changed the corporate spin they've used for the past 8 (at least) years.

...hope that makes sense, it's late & I'm very tired.

[young_at_heart]

3. It showed a lack of civility and respect for tradition

It became uncomfortable after a while and I found myself wondering what could the reason possibly be?

[bigtree]

5. McCain has been remarkable throughout the campaign in his contempt

I suppose it goes with the territory, but, like I said, I hoped for better. Naive, I guess.

Welcome to DU, dcambron

[dcambron]

4. An attempt to disguise his utter contempt for Obama

Didn't work. Came off as an ill-tempered, mean old man.

[BaracudaCrusher]

6. Is McCain racist? Is that why he wouldn't look at Obama and

kept gritting his teeth and nearly popping veins?

The one thing, though, I really think Obama could have stuck it to McCain a bit more on the economy. When McCain was pandering to working people with, "The working people of this nation are the most innovative, the hardest working, best skilled, most productive, most competitive in the world," I was hoping Obama would come back with something like, "You bet working people are resourceful and innovative--they've had to be in order to survive in Bush's economy, an economy you, John McCain, not only have fully supported but want to continue. I guess you think 7-1/2 years of misery hasn't been enough!" Or something along those lines... Or how about pointing out that although McCain claims to care about working people, he's voted against the pitifully low minimum wage 19 times.

Just wishing Obama had been more fired up 'cause we're hurting out here and that he delivered a few more knockdowns to pull the working person into his camp a little better. My husband, avid Obama supporter and blue collar guy, was unhappy...His hero didn't seem to go for the jugular enough and McCain looked like the street fighter to him.

[bigtree]

7. It may be a generational thing (there goes my age bias)

I don't think he expected to have to present a full economic argument.

3 more debates left.

[redqueen]

9. Good point... he was so contemptuous... and Obama isn't prepared, but Palin is?

On what planet?

I didn't think I could think it was any worse, but I do now.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

10. The derisive smirking also annoyed me

You would expect a debater to maybe smile or smirk at a couple of points an opponent makes when they've been stung. But I think McCain kept smiling derisively quite often throughout the debate, apparently trying to ridicule Obama. It wasn't very presidential, in my opinion.