The Official Debate Thread (Round 1)

If you're watching tonight's first presidential debate and would like to comment, post here.

(Spare us the litany of YouTube Sarah Palin clips please, just discuss how McCain and Obama are responding to the questions being posed to them tonight.)

First debate and all but neither seems especially convicted. They both have their talking points down but their rebuttals are pretty weak.

I'm going to bet this thread blows up after the debate is over.

Well I thought it was boring. Hoped they would talk more about issues at home.

I've been reading message boards and a lot of people (Mostly dems, independents and undecideds) thought McCain came off as a cantankerous, arrogant old man.

Oh and McCain wouldn't look Obama in the eye. What's with that? If you're gonna present your arguments with conviction, at least look the dude in the eye.

Isn't that the first thing they teach you in debate class?

Anyway. Like I said, this debate was disappointing for me personally. I can't really say who won cause I'm an idiot when it comes to foreign policy and thus I kinda wasted an hour and a half hoping they'd talk more about stuff I could relate to.

Bring on the VP debate, damnit!

Fact Checker (http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/?hpid=topnews) (just some fyi)

I thought that both had their moments, but for the most part were pretty average. McCain liked to remind people that Obama had little experience, while Obama spoke of McCain's similarities to the Bush administration-which McCain seemed to take particular offense to. Same thing we've been hearing for a while now.

I thought it was interesting how many times Obama would say "He's right about that."

This was supposed to be right in McCain's wheelhouse (foreign policy/national security) but he didn't come across as the clear-cut winner. And in that sense, I think he lost this round.

i think mccain had a better showing. i think his energy plan is better/realistic, and i don't think obama should really try to argue on the military... i was watching this at work (*ahem*) and every time he opened his mouth on those matters, well, what he decided to say didn't go over very well. that's a real weak spot for him, yet he kept talking about it.

when asked about how the economy might change their presidency, both mumbled around with answers about saving a few billion in an economy of 14 trillion, so that's really a band-aid for a bullet hole type of answer there.

i liked hearing mccain float punishing the greedy (did he mention jail terms? that'd be nice), but i can't remember anything else specifically, since both did spend a lot of time rehashing old quotes and arguments and repeating talking points.

I think Dennis Green could best sum up the first debate for me.

i think mccain had a better showing. i think his energy plan is better/realistic, and i don't think obama should really try to argue on the military... i was watching this at work (*ahem*) and every time he opened his mouth on those matters, well, what he decided to say didn't go over very well. that's a real weak spot for him, yet he kept talking about it.

when asked about how the economy might change their presidency, both mumbled around with answers about saving a few billion in an economy of 14 trillion, so that's really a band-aid for a bullet hole type of answer there.

i liked hearing mccain float punishing the greedy (did he mention jail terms? that'd be nice), but i can't remember anything else specifically, since both did spend a lot of time rehashing old quotes and arguments and repeating talking points.

You are such a homer. I agree with 50% of your team affiliations. That the Redskins are awesome and the Republicans are awesome.

You are such a homer. I agree with 50% of your team affiliations. That the Redskins are awesome and the Republicans are awesome.

wtf are you talking about? you must have me mistaken with someone else. but thanks anyways for trolling, and i'll make sure i get your approval to have an opinion before posting next time.

wtf are you talking about? you must have me mistaken with someone else.

Stop messing with my mind.