First Presidential debate running commentary thread

[skoods]

Afghanistan summary:

Obama: Yes, we need more troops. I think we should do it as quickly as possible. The commanders on the ground agree. The Taliban and Al-Qaeda are coming over the border and attacking our troops. I would send two to three additional brigades to Afghanistan. Keep in mind that we have tons more troops in Iraq. Keep in mind that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. That is a strategic mistake. Secretary of Defense Gates acknowledged that the people that attacked us are in Afghanistan and Pakistan. We've got to deal with a growing poppy trade that has exploded over the past few years. We've got to deal with Pakistan where Al-Qaeda has exploded over the past 8 years. Until we do, Americans here at home will not be safe.

McCain: I will not make the same mistake by leaving Afghanistan and allowing the Taliban to come back. On this issue of aiding Pakistan, i'm not prepared at this time to cut off aid to Pakistan. So i'm not prepared to threaten them as Senator Obama is apparently prepared to do. I'm not prepared to threaten the people of Pakistan. You don't say that out loud...

[ps79]

Doesn't McCain look a bit unhealthy? All pale and yellow-ish.

[Kalimantan]

Why is everyone in this thread so hackish?

Personally, I don't think that either of them are doing so well.

Hell, I'm trying not to be hackish. third or fourth question on economy I thought Obama didn't do so well. But the Iraq exchange swung right his way. I think Obama is on a path where he can keep this up for the full 90 minutes, McCain may run out of steam. Obama needs to show he belongs comfortably on the same stage as McCain, thats all - he's doing that no problem

[Alcon]

I'm not saying I'm entirely objective, and I'm definitely not saying I'm representative of the audience:

But, so far, I think this is a somewhat uninspiring win for Obama.

[Joe Republic]

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No, you are not objective.

Are you?

[Eraserhead]

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No, you are not objective.

And you are, of course.

[KeyKeeper]

Why is Sen. McCain blinking so much?

[ucscgaldamez]

Obama is doing really well. A tie is a win.

[Lunar]

Afghanistan summary:

Obama: Yes, we need more troops. I think we should do it as quickly as possible. The commanders on the ground agree. The Taliban and Al-Qaeda are coming over the border and attacking our troops. I would send two to three additional brigades to Afghanistan. Keep in mind that we have tons more troops in Iraq. Keep in mind that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. That is a strategic mistake. Secretary of Defense Gates acknowledged that the people that attacked us are in Afghanistan and Pakistan. We've got to deal with a growing poppy trade that has exploded over the past few years. We've got to deal with Pakistan where Al-Qaeda has exploded over the past 8 years. Until we do, Americans here at home will not be safe.

McCain: I will not make the same mistake by leaving Afghanistan and allowing the Taliban to come back. On this issue of aiding Pakistan, i'm not prepared at this time to cut off aid to Pakistan. So i'm not prepared to threaten them as Senator Obama is apparently prepared to do. I'm not prepared to threaten the people of Pakistan. You don't say that out loud...

Thanks.  Why are there so few wise/analytic posters posting tonight?

[skoods]

Perhaps because he's lying.

[ChrisFromNJ]

Wow!!

Obama nails McCain on signing songs about bombing Iran!

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

McCain got owned on Pakistan.

[Alcon]

Is it just me or is the meter indicating that people really don't know what's going on much?

[Sbane]

I'm not saying I'm entirely objective, and I'm definitely not saying I'm representative of the audience:

But, so far, I think this is a somewhat uninspiring win for Obama.

Agreed. He is playing defense but Mccain comes off as a little smug. Nobody is winning this thing.

[Thomas Jackson]

Great response from McCain!

"Obama didn't know that Pakistan was a failed State!"

[Moooooo]

I can't believe this thing is going to be 2 hours... should be 1 hour, 1 1/2 tops

[MODU]

I'm just going to do a single post for the first hour of the debates (I'll be switching back over to Sci-Fi at 10pm):

Q1) Advantage McCain
Q2) Advantage Obama
Q3) Advantage McCain (even though I am not a fan of fixed price gov't contracts)
Q4) tie (although McCain got under Obama's skin)
Q5) Advantage McCain

Notes:  
McCain has to stop smiling when he disagrees.
Obama has to stop shaking his head and waving his finger when he disagrees.
McCain has to stop telling jokes.
Obama needs to lose the "no no no" studder.
Both need to learn to actually answer the questions asked.
Obama need to keep his chin down.
McCain needs to turn and address Obama directly.

Ok, I have to switch the channel now.  When I see the last 30 mins of the debates, I'll post on that later.

[skoods]

Afghanistan summary:

Obama: Yes, we need more troops. I think we should do it as quickly as possible. The commanders on the ground agree. The Taliban and Al-Qaeda are coming over the border and attacking our troops. I would send two to three additional brigades to Afghanistan. Keep in mind that we have tons more troops in Iraq. Keep in mind that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. That is a strategic mistake. Secretary of Defense Gates acknowledged that the people that attacked us are in Afghanistan and Pakistan. We've got to deal with a growing poppy trade that has exploded over the past few years. We've got to deal with Pakistan where Al-Qaeda has exploded over the past 8 years. Until we do, Americans here at home will not be safe.

McCain: I will not make the same mistake by leaving Afghanistan and allowing the Taliban to come back. On this issue of aiding Pakistan, i'm not prepared at this time to cut off aid to Pakistan. So i'm not prepared to threaten them as Senator Obama is apparently prepared to do. I'm not prepared to threaten the people of Pakistan. You don't say that out loud...

Thanks.  Why are there so few wise/analytic posters posting tonight?

They're probably too busy watching the debate and analyzing it themselves. IMO, they're both straying off their typical party lines. McCain not wanting to threaten Pakistan and Obama being willing to threaten them if they're not going to help us in the War on Terror.

It's interesting. Not sure how it will be reacted to though.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Obama understands that there is a failed Senator in Arizona.

[KeyKeeper]

This is bad for Sen. McCain, he need to win this debate, and it is looking like he isn't going to win.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

What about that Al Qaeda in Somalia, John?

[Alcon]

Follow-me response from Obama.  That's a slip.

He'll need to recover very well.

[Sbane]

Great response from McCain!

"Obama didn't know that Pakistan was a failed State!"

Too bad there wasn't a failed state. Musharaff just took over in a good old fashioned coup. And then he invaded India to become popular.

[Thomas Jackson]

Obama is stumbling bad now.

[Eraserhead]

I can't believe this thing is going to be 2 hours... should be 1 hour, 1 1/2 tops

I'm pretty sure that it's only 90 minutes.

Some more good points from Obama but they were somewhat hurt by too many "uhhs".