Debate Reviews: Obama Won

It’s going to take some time for the full impact of the debate to sink in for a lot of people, which may lead to more favourable opinions of McCain. Either way, it’s unlikely to have that great an effect on the election. Also, Obama made a few errors as well, and misrepresented things the same way McCain did. So, the conservative version of FactCheck will also be busy.

It’s certainly too early to call it a knock-out for anyone.

From my initial reading FactCheck seems to be calling Obama out more times than McCain in the first debate. I can’t make any personal comment, I’ve not yet watched it and probably won’t have time today.

DGP: I took a gander at factcheck too, and most of Obama’s corrections were ‘he’s right but the number about it was too high/low…’ kind of correction. The corrections about McCain said he was flat out wrong. Kissenger did make the comment about sitting down without preconditions, McCain voted against alternative energy and his story about Ike’s resignation has serious holes in it.<P> I’m going to give factcheck more time to get more online, and then I’m going to post an entry about it.

I agree Obama won, though I’d say that slapping him in the face with his mocking comments about war was exactly how you prove that you need to chill.

Aye I did say initial reading, I imagine they’ll update more comphrehensively. As I said I’ve not watched it so can’t comment accurately but it does look like the McCain camp is twisting the Kissinger thing, did Obama explicitly say he was exclusively talking at Presidential level? And even if he was it’s ridiculous for the McCain camp to be so literal, either way they’ve got a foreign policy heavyweight on their side who essentially agrees with Obama that high level talks should take place and that it would be foolhardy to demand conditions which clearly wouldn’t be met. Ultimately it’ll come down to whether Americans prefer a sabre rattler or a diplomat, I fear its too close to call.

Kissinger has come out and said Obama misrepresented his (Kissinger’s) position. (Also, why the hell does everyone say “preconditions”? Any conditions required before negotiations would be preconditions, so you just need to say conditions.) Still, I want the president to sit down with Ahmadinejad. How are any agreements going to be reached without talking?

Tiamatty: Kissinger can deny it all he wants, but what he said is on the record. This came from fact check: Kissinger Sept. 20: Well, I am in favor of negotiating with Iran. And one utility of negotiation is to put before Iran our vision of a Middle East, of a stable Middle East, and our notion on nuclear proliferation at a high enough level so that they have to studyit. And, therefore, I actually have preferred doing it at the secretary of state level so that we — we know we’re dealing with authentic… CNN’s Frank Sesno: Put at a very high level right out of the box? Kissinger: Initially, yes. But I do not believe that we can make conditions for the opening of negotiations. The highlighted words are the comments McCain denies Kissinger ever made. He clearly said them to CNN, and Obama was right when he quoted him… and that’s why he used Kissinger’s quote to hit him with something from his own staff. Was a good move and McCain was clearly in the dark on this issue.

oh i should watch this huh…

Honestly I don’t think this was a KO for Obama. He did well but so did McCain. I think the reason Obama took this debate is because McCain touted his superior Foriegn Policy experience and the inexperienced Senator for Illinois held his own with him. Obama showed that he may not have experience but he has the judgement and the intelligence.

I’ve watched most of it now (Sadly it kept cutting out, BBC Parliament was having technical difficulties). I also don’t think it was an overwhealming Obama victory. His answers were clearer and easier to understand, but McCain tossing in the personal anecdotes might work after the previous “folksy” Bush won. McCain came across strongest on Pakistan which is one of my contentious issues andone of the areas I’m in disagreement with Obama and that he can at least say he’s been to these countries and speaks from first hand experience might count for something. However he was far more willing to split hairs about nothing and my reading of the Kissinger thing was right, Obama did not say leap in straight away with President to President talks, nor did he claim that Kissinger would back up such an approach. Spot on about the body language, McCain’s refusal to even shift towards Obama when making a direct point about him is very telling.

RYN: That’s pretty much what I said.

*Ryn* Thanks Peter, I’m checking it out right now. I rarely believe anything I see or hear. So his eye was reported droopy as far back as May? Did you notice on Huffington Post that one of the other people mentioned Bells Palsy too? Bells Palsy is not severe normally as it’s only temporary, but at his age we’re really in trouble if his party wins and he dies from a real stroke for we’ll be left with the Pit bull with Lipstick. I sure hope Obama and Biden win.