Final Debate

[Dr. Shane]

I didn't hear McCain give any straight direction on how he would manage the economy better than Obama. McCain did OK. He certainly stood his ground but I think he needed to do more than that. I have to say Obama won this debate. McCain just didn't do what he needed to do in my opinion.

McCain did good by saying he isn't President Bush but he should have put an explanation point on that by showing how he will handle the economy different than Bush. He needed to do that. For the most part Bush has done good with the economy. The current crisis is only partially Bush's fault. Many of the things Bush has done economically have been good. But McCain certainly is not in a position to make that case. He should have slammed Bush in some economic areas.

McCain didn't convince me at all about his health care program. Since he is against tax increases, why is he going to tax employer-provided benefits? Obama did a better job of clarify that his fine wouldn't apply to small businesses although, that said, it isn't going to have any teeth either.

[Dr. Shane]

A bunch of polls out today show the gap shortened a point of two so I guess McCain did better than I thought.

[Woody]

Yes. He did a GREAT job.

Well ... I have to confess .... I didn't hear any of it. But I hear from FOX that he did great. I was occupied watching the LA Dodgers in the baseball playoffs. I am a big Dodger fan. But unfortunately ... we lost.

But the Nov. 4 date will lift up my spirits ... I am sure.

[carolaa]

I was surprised at how whiny and petty McCain came across. His behavior was far from presidential, imo. The polls I have seen all across Yahoo today show Obama winning the debate, and for good reason.

This was the best op-ed I read today:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20081016/cm_thenation/1372659

[Denise]

IMO, Obama seemed to me as arrogant, condescending, and deceitful. I don't think that is good character traits for a president.

[Woody]

[Dr. Shane]

Quote:

The polls I have seen all across Yahoo today show Obama winning the debate, and for good reason.

Well, that is subjective. If the debate is actually helping McCain close the gap,,, it is kind of hard to give Obama the victory. The way I saw it, Obama won. But if McCain is closing the gap, I guess my take was off.

[Woody]

I just think that slowly but surely ... the public is seeing B.H.Obama for what he is ... an extreme liberal. And that is not what our country needs right now. When McCain says that Obama will take us into a depression ... I think it is real.

[Taylor]

Quote:

The polls I have seen all across Yahoo today show Obama winning the debate, and for good reason.

Well, that is subjective. If the debate is actually helping McCain close the gap,,, it is kind of hard to give Obama the victory. The way I saw it, Obama won. But if McCain is closing the gap, I guess my take was off.

Agreed, Obama kept his cool much better than McCain and for other reasons he "won" according to the polls. However, McCain certainly did close the gap quite a bit last night. I don't think a win for either one is guarenteed at this point.

[Tom Wetmore]

Quote:

The polls I have seen all across Yahoo today show Obama winning the debate, and for good reason.

Well, that is subjective. If the debate is actually helping McCain close the gap,,, it is kind of hard to give Obama the victory. The way I saw it, Obama won. But if McCain is closing the gap, I guess my take was off.

Perhaps this will help confirm your take...

http://news.yahoo.com/election/2008/dashboard

http://news.yahoo.com/page/election-2008-political-pulse-souring-on-mccain

[Dr. Shane]

Yesterday's poll results:

Rassmussen: Obama +4

Zogby: Obama +5

Gallup: Obama +6

Battleground: Obama +4

That is down about a point from before the debate. Going into the debate Obama was about six or seven points ahead. Now he is about five or six points ahead.

[carolaa]

IMO, Obama seemed to me as arrogant, condescending, and deceitful. I don't think that is good character traits for a president.

I've heard others describe him as arrogant, and I just don't see it. He's confident, for sure. I can see how some might have seen him as condescending last night, because of the way he let McCain rant and rave and then responded calmly, like a good parent with a kid having a tantrum, or a therapist with a hysterical patient. I was impressed and considered it a sign of higher maturity that he didn't respond in kind. To me, that's the kind of levelheadedness we need in the White House.

[Dr. Shane]

Many confuse confidence with arrogance.

[carolaa]

I hadn't thought much about that, but you're right.

I don't think an arrogant person would purposely try to surround himself with people who are not afraid to disagree with him, in order to have respectful dialogue. That is a sign of confidence, not arrogance.