Photo: Watching the debate at the Apollo Theater in Harlem.
(NYT)
By Tadias Staff
New York (Tadias) – The New York Times editorial board writes: “The first presidential debate could not have come at a better time. We were afraid that the serious question of picking a new president in a time of peril, at home and abroad, was going to disappear in a fog of sophomoric attack ads, substance-free shouting about change and patriotism, and unrelenting political posturing.”
The paper also points out that Obama won the debate on the economy and that McCain projected an image of a man from a different time in history:
“Mr. McCain fumbled his way through the economic portion of the debate, while Mr. Obama seemed clear and confident. Mr. McCain was more fluent on foreign affairs, and scored points by repeatedly calling Mr. Obama naïve and inexperienced,” the NYT editorial said.
“But Mr. McCain’s talk of experience too often made him sound like a tinny echo of the 20th century. At one point, he talked about how Ronald Reagan’s “S.D.I.” helped end the cold war. We suspect that few people under the age of 50 caught the reference. If he was reaching for Reagan’s affable style, he missed by a mile, clenching his teeth and sounding crotchety where Reagan was sunny and avuncular.”
As to the stage performance of the two candidates: “Mr. Obama has improved as a debater but needs to work on his counterpunch. Still, when Mr. McCain suggested that Mr. Obama was imprudent for talking publicly about attacking Al Qaeda sites in Pakistan, Mr. Obama deftly parried by reminding voters that his rival once jokingly sang a song about bombing Iran. ”
Did you watch the debate? What did you think?
Obama is not a good debater. But I think he held his own tonight. And he effectively lowered expectation for the next round. But he was wrong on how much we owe China. Here is what NYT said:
“And the Number Is…
How much does the United States owe China? Senator John McCain got it right, Senator Barack Obama was wrong.
“We owe China $500 billion,” Mr. McCain said early in the debate. Near the end, Mr. Obama noted the challenges the United States faces with China and added, “they now hold a trillion dollars’ worth of our debt.”
According to the most recent data from the Treasury Department, through July, China holds $518 billion in U.S. Treasury securities.”
I just finished my first debate with John McCain.
Millions of Americans finally got a chance to see us take on the fundamental choice in this election — the change we need or more of the same.
I will provide tax cuts for the middle class, affordable health care, and a new energy economy that creates millions of jobs. John McCain wants to keep giving huge tax cuts to corporations, and he offered no solutions for the challenges Americans are facing in their daily lives.
I will end the war in Iraq responsibly, focus on defeating al Qaeda and the Taliban, and restore America’s standing in the world after eight years of disastrous policies. John McCain wants an unending commitment in Iraq and fails to recognize the resurgent threat in Afghanistan.
Let’s be clear: John McCain is offering nothing but more of the same failed Bush policies at home and abroad that he has supported more than 90% of the time in the Senate.
Americans need change now, and I need your help to get the word out about this movement.
In the coming days, it’s going to be up to you to organize locally and reach the voters that are going to decide this election.
Now’s the time to make your voice heard.
Please make a donation of $5 or more right now to support this campaign for change:
https://donate.barackobama.com/thedebate
Thank you for all that you’re doing,
They both sounded like Boyscouts! Nothing new to expect in the coming debates. The world is facing the worst financial crisis, and the candidates were unable to exploit the situaion to adress the problem accordingly like true statesmen. I was surprised to see Obama stuttering and insecure. McCain bored me with his “you don’t understand…” arrogance.
OBAMA was great. Yes, I am a Democrat. However, I do not have any ill feelings for Republicans. I was disappinted that MCCAIN kept trying to call OBAMA stupied. But then I actually felt better because everytime he said it, he made himself look like a total old fart! OBAMA was great last night. He was presidential, respectful, and ON_POINT…..Such a Democrat!! I am waiting for the vice presidential debate!! BIDEN is going to eat PALIN alive…she is no HILLARY CLINTON…far from it…..