Presidential Debate Open Thread
I will be live-blogging mainly to make notes before I write my commentary at Blogging the Debates. I'll get started around 7pm. I'm recording the debate as well and I'll post that sometime Saturday.
By the way, Reason magazine is hosting a counter-debate with Bob Barr. You can watch it online here.
Tonight’s debate is on foreign policy, not economic policy, though the financial issues inside the United States has international ramifications and given the news that China is no longer buying our debt, there is no doubt that it will come up. Republicans will no doubt complain about this.
Foreign policy is considered to be John McCain’s strongest issue. He will play the “Country First” line. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear him say, “for patriotism, not for profit” to play on the populist trend we are seeing in American politics.
Barack Obama has to make the foreign implications of economic issues the forefront of his argument against McCain. That’s not to say Obama is right on economic issues, nor does it mean McCain is right on foreign policy. I don’t believe either candidate is best suited for either issue.
Obama has an upper hand on Iraq. He opposed the war and was skeptical of the “surge,” though he admits it paid off by the decrease in violence. McCain supported the “surge,” supported the war and has generally been supportive of President Bush. He contends that he right on the “surge.” However, the American public has been opposed to military actions in Iraq and is supportive of a timetable withdrawal.
This is where Obama could make a “third Bush term” argument by emphasizing the contention of the Bush-style foreign policy that has alienated the United States. It wouldn’t surprise me if McCain’s “100 years in Iraq” comments from earlier in the year could come up at some point.
McCain has to convince voters that Iraq is worth, not only the cost but more American lives. He also has to highlight Obama’s inexperience on foreign policy. He needs to get Obama flustered and off point. Obama is exceptional at delivering speeches, but he is not very good at thinking on his feet and tends to trip over himself.
That is just my two cents, mostly from a political viewpoint, not necessarily my personal political beliefs.
Comments
If they don't show up they could just use puppets. But then again, that might be to close to home. *smiles*
Posted by: Daniel N. Adams | September 26, 2008 11:09 AM
Congratulations on your mention on Instapundit.
Posted by: Doug Deal | September 26, 2008 09:39 PM
I know you were looking for specific political commentary tonight, but I mostly want to comment on how these debates made me feel personally. After 1.5 hours of debating, Obama seemed ahead but only marginally. As with most debates, the candidates are about eqaul, thought Obama was on the offense more often. We'll see if this translates to the mainstream media.
Posted by: Kyle Wegner | September 26, 2008 10:46 PM
Those that watched the Reason counter-debate clearly saw that Bob Barr was the winner and the American people lost by not having him on the main stage.
Posted by: Daniel N. Adams | September 26, 2008 11:09 PM
Thank you Jason for doing such a fine job my friend.
The debate went as most debates usually go each showed their usual agenda.
No real surprises.
Posted by: The Doctor | September 26, 2008 11:12 PM
Since Obama did not commit any gaffes and did not fall on his face, the debate was a 'win' for him. He actually did well at presenting textbook knowledge of Democrat Foreign Policy.
Since McCain stuck to his basic themes and was not pushed to anger or apparent frustration, the debate was a 'win' for him.
Both sides will claim a victory. Both sides got what they wanted/expected fro their candidate.
I wanted to see McCain strioke back on a few of Obama's comments. But he held the so-called high ground so as not to offend any cross-over voters.
I wanted to see McCain come on much stronger in regard to Obma's tax increases and social programs - but he held a very moderate line.
It strikes fear in me that Obama could win the election. Yet I fully recognize that McCain is not the Conservative of my dreams.
Both were lacking on the Economy. McCain was correct, but failed to give depth to the facts of supply-side economics.
Obama pandered to the working poor & middle class: 95% will get tax cuts. But he did not provide det