3 points Obama could have won in the debate.

[riverdeep]

Overall, I think he did a very good job. He 'won' in the sense that all he had to was hold his own, and he did. He was calm, knowledgeable, and direct. But there were places that he could've brought the fight to McCain that he didn't.

1) The surge has worked This has been repeated so many times that it is now the common wisdom. Just because two events occur at the same time, doesn't mean they are related. It's too late now to go back and right this very poor decision to trumpet the surge along with the Republicans, but for the sake of our own clarity, let's acknowledge this concession was wrongheaded. It was a terrible error, both politically and in assessing reality.

The surge DID NOT work. It was not the major cause of decreased violence and it still hasn't provided the framework for political resolution- the REAL point of the surge.

"Essentially, our interpretation is that violence has declined in Baghdad because of intercommunal violence that reached a climax as the surge was beginning," said Agnew, who studies ethnic conflict."

"Satellite images show ethnic cleanout in Iraq"
http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSN1953066020080919

He does get points for the line "John, you think the war started in 2007"- very good line.

2) We are safer now than 9/11 Stunningly, Obama agreed with McCain that we are safer. Wrong. And he knows it, since he was making this point all through the primaries. I have no idea if this was a lapse or a new tactical decision.

Al Queada is strengthened throughout the world, other nations are hesitant to cooperate with us, we are still addicted to oil (and drilling alone won't keep our fix going), rogue nations have become emboldened by our example, and few of the recommendations of the 9/11 commission (which in itself was a sham) have been enacted. Now, being bankrupt as a nation will mean even less safety, but that's another story.

3) I'm a consistent Maverick He's been neither consistent nor a Maverick. There are too many examples of his whiplash inducing cynical shifts in policy, but let's look at just one related to foreign policy, his views on warrantless wiretapping.

"That's when the campaign issued the letter explaining McCain's new views of executive power, and revealing that McCain would, in certain future circumstances, rely on the same theory (as Bush) of executive power in wartime."

"McCain: I'd Spy on Americans Secretly, Too"
http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/06/mccain-id-spy-o.html

The article shows he backed off his original position to appease the conservative base, and we don't know what he really stands for. Not principled, and a good way to introduce turmoil within his base.

[bullimiami]

1. 4) I support veterans and they know it.

Mccain is rated at 20% for his lack of support of veterans funding.

[riverdeep]

2. Another easily shot down point.

Grandpa was getting almost weepy over his 'love' of the veterans. Too bad it's a crock of shit.

"Irag and Afghanistan Veterans of America rating:

Senator John McCain D"

http://www.iava.org/full-ratings-list

and don't forget Disabled Veterans of America:

"John McCain- 20/100 (Barack Obama- 80/100)"

http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_detail.php?r_id=3483

However, I was watching Maddow after the debate, she had on the rep from iava, and basically said it might be politically difficult to attack him too forcefully, since McCain is supposed to be a war hero and Obama is not a vet. He said they will do the attacking regardless.

[dtotire]

3. Maureen Dowd Has A Point

In her column today, she made the following atatement:




(quote) McCain kept painting Obama as naïve, and dangerous, insisting that he “doesn’t quite understand or doesn’t get it.”
Obama should have responded “Senator, I understand perfectly, I’m just saying you’re wrong.”(unquote)

I think she is right on this, and if McCain makes the same remark, this is how Obama should respond.

[riverdeep]

5. That was so obvious a ploy, and yet, Obama didn't have a ready response.

That's surprising. Even with Palin on the ticket, he should have known he might try the inexperience route.

Another line might be, "You have to think about quantity versus quality of experience. If you're just looking for quantity of inside Washington experience, John's wins hands down. He's been part of the gang for years, especially the last eight years. If you're looking for quality, quality of decision making and foresight, I'm your man."

[Jim__]

4. I though McCain's use of the words "inexperienced" and "naive" justified Obama using "confused".

To my recollection, Obama never used it. One time I expected it was when they were discussing the difference between "preparation" and "preconditions". I was hoping Obama would call McCain confused.