So, What Did I Miss Last Night?
Oh, right, the debate thing…well, obviously I guessed wrong and it did happen. Sorry to go MIA there…I’ll update later with my impressions. Yours?…
UPDATE 12;32 p.m.: It appears that Obama was perceived by most independents as the winner, but the general feeling overall, outside of the hardcore partisans, is that it was close to a draw. Obviously, no knockout blows, but nothing to alter the dynamic of Obama as the favorite in this elelction…
UPDATE 12:45 p.m.: John Dickerson of Slate:
Obama and McCain looked like equals onstage. McCain turned in a marginally stronger performance, but Obama looked strong enough, and in a tough year for Republicans with Obama leading in the polls, that’s a victory for the Democrat. Obama did what he needed to do to convince people he could be commander in chief—his challenge for the night. McCain showed he could talk about the economy—his challenge—but not so brilliantly that he dented Obama’s advantage on the issue.
UPDATE 7:44 p.m.: Okay, we’ve got a quiet bunch today…I’ll throw out another point – Obama is actually a very boring debater. That’s not the same as being a poor debater – but he comes dangerously close to a Dukakisian demeanor. a dispassionate calm that is a pretty good cure for insomnia…
Well, he may not be exciting, but I don’t think he’s boring either.
I guess everyone’s been watching football today. (Go ‘Horns!) Maybe this set of questions (Jim Lehrer, are you listening?) will get some of the regulars to post:
McCain cited Obama’s lack of “experience” once again. POTUS is a very unique position, so it seems hard to train specifically for the job. How exactly does one get experience for POTUS?
Anciliary questions:
What other presidential candidates have had their experience questioned?
Can an actor become president? (Can lawyers become actors and actors become lawyers?…reference to a book Mark and I recently read. One more hint: Metzger.)
Does being governor of Texas count as pre-White House executive experience? (Read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Texas#Executive_branch before you answer.)
James Buchanan had plenty of experience going into office. Did it do him any good?
Another topic for discussion: Anyone read the Kathleen Parker editorial on Palin? Ouch:
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MDZiMDhjYTU1NmI5Y2MwZjg2MWNiMWMyYTUxZDkwNTE
I have to agree on the boring charge – for all the praise heaped on him for being a great orator I found his style, in this debate at least, somnolent. I watched the debate at my sister’s house with a room full of life-long Democrats and they were not pleased with his performance (not to worry, they didn’t embrace McCain). The most common complaints during the debate were that Obama didn’t answer the question posed, seemed to have difficulty staying on topic (or purposely changed the subject), and didn’t say anything of substance. I don’t really agree with that assessment but that is what was said.
The debate was a draw with each asserting their positives and doing little to overcome their negatives.
Mark: thought you would appreciate the license plate I saw this morning — LASZFRE — although not as good as my favorite – JPGANDR –
Yesterday I saw a car with two bumper stickers — one said “Jesus is Lord” and the other was an Obama sticker — not the juxtaposition one would expect to see, at least here in the Bay Area –
Not what you’ll find here in Austin, either…
The Dems aren’t faring much better with their VP candidate. I’m not sure whether I prefer incomplete, garbled sentences, or just plain getting the facts wrong:
http://theboard.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/26/say-what-joe-biden-fdr-the-tv/
Maybe Biden will say that he needs to spend more time at home (i.e., at the Senate) and excuse himself from the nomination?
Whoever wins, please let them survive their term in office.