faith and politics

[il Padrino Ute]

Originally Posted by BarbaraGordon

I know nobody takes me seriously because I'm a junior cali, but I'm okay with that. With that preface...

It's true that everything about this set-up played to McCain's strengths. However, it's no wonder McCain's answers seemed so well-prepared considering the possibility that he heard Obama's half of the q-and-a:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpu...n-the-con.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/18/us...cs&oref=slogin

Even so, with at best thirty or forty minutes to prep (or zero), I still came away very impressed with McCain's ability to work the audience and seem reasonably comfortable with material that would make any of us squirm. If you remember how awkward he was a few years back, and even how incoherent he was last summer, his performance on Saturday was nothing short of miraculous.

Obama's got to come up with a plan and come up with one quick. Because if, for example, they're both reasonable coherent, but one comes across as honest and amiable, and the other comes across as logical and cerebral, I'd imagine the American people will cozy up to the former. Nobody wants to hang with Spock. (Well, I do, but, you know, that's just me.)

Obama's performance Saturday was a demonstration of how woeful Obama is when he doesn't have a teleprompter. No wonder he's afraid to meet with McCain in some town hall meetings around the country.

My dad taped the Reverend Warren event and I had a chance to watch it. Now, I'm biased, but to think that McCain knew in advance what he was going to be asked is really a stretch.

I'm glad to see that you can admit that Obama just got worked by McCain.

[BarbaraGordon]

Originally Posted by il Padrino Ute

I'm glad to see that you can admit that Obama just got worked by McCain.

No, he didn't. He got worked by himself. It wasn't a head-to-head, so it'd be impossible for Obama to get worked by McCain. In a true debate format, Obama would take McCain to the cleaners. Whether that would resonate with the voters is another matter.

I still think it's deplorable that McCain fabricated that story about the prison guard and the cross on Christmas Eve. And I do think it's not unlikely that McCain had a heads up on a couple extra questions, but I don't think it excuses Obama's poor performance.

[il Padrino Ute]

Originally Posted by BarbaraGordon

No, he didn't. He got worked by himself. It wasn't a head-to-head, so it'd be impossible for Obama to get worked by McCain. In a true debate format, Obama would take McCain to the cleaners. Whether that would resonate with the voters is another matter.

I still think it's deplorable that McCain fabricated that story about the prison guard and the cross on Christmas Eve. And I do think it's not unlikely that McCain had a heads up on a couple extra questions, but I don't think it excuses Obama's poor performance.

Well, technically you're right, but just like golf, the golfers are competing against the course, not each other. And just like golf, the golfer who does best on the course is the winner.

In a true debate format? With a moderator and teleprompters? I'd give Obama the upper hand as well. But in something a bit more substantial - where voters can see the candidates as themselves, McCain would destroy Obama.

[BarbaraGordon]

Originally Posted by il Padrino Ute

Well, technically you're right, but just like golf, the golfers are competing against the course, not each other. And just like golf, the golfer who does best on the course is the winner.

In a true debate format? With a moderator and teleprompters? I'd give Obama the upper hand as well. But in something a bit more substantial - where voters can see the candidates as themselves, McCain would destroy Obama.

There are no teleprompters in the debates. Speeches yes. Press conferences yes. Opening statements, perhaps. Debates no.

And I don't know what you mean about the candidates as themselves, but I guess storytelling hour is indeed suited to the one who takes creative liberties with his past.

I honestly don't care what anybody thinks of Obama. He's a politician for crying out loud: of course he's playing politics. Of course he says what people want to hear. But to suggest that McCain is any different, to suggest that he's somehow more honest, more trustworthy, morally superior, or more consistent is just absurd. And anyone who suggests that he is simply hasn't been paying attention.

[Venkman]

Originally Posted by BarbaraGordon

There are no teleprompters in the debates. Speeches yes. Press conferences yes. Opening statements, perhaps. Debates no.

And I don't know what you mean about the candidates as themselves, but I guess storytelling hour is indeed suited to the one who takes creative liberties with his past.

I honestly don't care what anybody thinks of Obama. He's a politician for crying out loud: of course he's playing politics. Of course he says what people want to hear. But to suggest that McCain is any different, to suggest that he's somehow more honest, more trustworthy, morally superior, or more consistent is just absurd. And anyone who suggests that he is simply hasn't been paying attention.

But Obama portrayed himself as a different kind of politician, above all the gamesmanship, pandering, flip-flopping, etc. Now that that narrative has been shot to hell, all we're left with if a doctranaire liberal with little experience and a bunch of anti-American radicals as friends.

[BarbaraGordon]

Originally Posted by Venkman

Now that that narrative has been shot to hell, all we're left with is a doctranaire liberal with little experience and a bunch of anti-American radicals as friends.

I know. Hard to believe it's better than the alternative, ain't it?
:-)

[il Padrino Ute]

Originally Posted by BarbaraGordon

I know. Hard to believe it's better than the alternative, ain't it?
:-)

This was a true laugh out loud comment. Thanks for that.

What's hard to believe is that the choices this time are much worse than in '04.

[YOhio]

Originally Posted by BarbaraGordon

And I don't know what you mean about the candidates as themselves, but I guess storytelling hour is indeed suited to the one who takes creative liberties with his past.

http://corner.nationalreview.com/pos...zJiYTM4MGNiY2U=

[BarbaraGordon]

Originally Posted by YOhio

http://corner.nationalreview.com/pos...zJiYTM4MGNiY2U=

I remain unconvinced, but you anticipated that. There's no mention of the story in his early recordings of his time in prison, even in twenty page accounts. I'd have thought he'd find room for such a moving anecdote.

The truth is that we'll never know. As there were no witnesses if it did happen, and obviously there were no witnesses if it didn't.

[creekster]

Originally Posted by BarbaraGordon

I remain unconvinced, but you anticipated that. There's no mention of the story in his early recordings of his time in prison, even in twenty page accounts. I'd have thought he'd find room for such a moving anecdote.

The truth is that we'll never know. As there were no witnesses if it did happen, and obviously there were no witnesses if it didn't.

What's WROING with you? He is a WAR HERO! How can you even say this sort of thing?