Barack Obama: We'll never forget what's-his-name

From the presidential debate Oxford, Miss. Sept. 26, 2008, between Sens. John McCain, Republican, and Democrat Barack Obama.

--Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[Deward Bowles]

It is ironic that McCain would try this line of attack against Obama since it is one of McCain's greatest weaknesses. Rove campaign style all the way.

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America - John McCain rating: D; versus Obama's B+.

Disabled American Veterans - John McCain rating: 20%; Obama's rating: 80%

Vietnam Veterans of America - John McCain rating: 15 votes against/ 9 votes for; Versus Obama's rating: 1 vote against/13 votes for veterans.

McCain was even against the recent Webb Veterans bill.

[jane]

In the last night’s election event, Obama had a significant challenge of debating against a veteran politician, Senator John McCain. It is not uncommon for any one who has not been involved in national politics for a considerable amount of time in Washington to be considered naive. I am sure Governor Sarah Palin would go through the same thing when debating against Senator Biden. First let me say that I am an Independent voter and was leaning towards the McCain /Palin ticket in this election but after the last night’s debate, I am sorry to say that I am no longer. I found that McCain is a typical old-tradition politician who believes that anything fresh or introduced by any one else is wrong. Bob Dole had similar views when he run against Bill Clinton in 1996 but he lost.

While Obama was able to face McCain and present ideas or answering questions on point-by-point with well-crafted sentences, John McCain was in his daily express “wise-guy” bus. Instead of addressing the current issues and problems that face the country and the world, he was talking about Gen. Dwight Eisenhower during the Normandy invasion and lots of “I have experience and I know what's good for you”. Repeatedly he called Obama, a first-term senator, naive and didn't understand whatever foreign or domestic challenges that they were discussing about. John forgot that it was the listeners/voters who had the duty and responsibility to make such an assessment and not the candidates. The event looked Obama was debating his grandparent. He overly respecting McCain and strongly withheld himself from temptations of confronting him when he mis-characterized his record on Veterans with mambo-jumbo. This was possibly due to a potential fear that the public would rebuke him for criticizing a Vietnam War Hero. I think Obama needs to quickly consult Serena, the currently ranked number one female Tennis Player in the world. Serena could give one or two tips on how she has managed to marginalize her much stronger and powerful sister Venus in Grand slams Tennis competitions while maintaining a well balanced love and peace between the two of as well as within and outside her family. Based on Serena’s strategy, Obama needs to completely forget McCain’s heroic stature and think of as him as an average politician from Arizona. I expect to see the pit bull mom Governor Sarah Palin, to hold no bounds when debating Senator Joe Biden next week.

Routine nature of things, trials and errors as well ability to witness and learn from failures and successes of others tend to give a false sense of ego to old folks. It is not limited to McCain but wide spread. Although experience has proven that given the same amount of time or less and the same amount of exposure, a smart and well educated or grounded individual could be a better performer than the old guard. That is how things should be if would we would like to transform this nation to its next phase. Steadfast holding of old tactics and strategies into retirement age or does not render progress to any nation, organization or company. In order to prosper fresh ideas and energy are constantly required. If the old guards have done a good job in nurturing the young generation, they are to comfortable and ready to trust the handover leadership rather than competing for while they are past their retiring age. That is the picture I got from looking at the two candidates. I wished it was Mitt Romney or Huckabee debating against Obama.

If you carefully listen to a young person, take a good note of his/her thinking, vision, reasoning, formulation of strategies and answers to questions, you can definitely know whether the person would potentially be a super fine, average or below average. Having said that, I would like to suggest that each one of the currently uncommitted voters is to make an effort in listening to the three most recent interviews of Sarah Palin. Each one is entitled to make his or her own judgment regarding the readiness and potential abilities of Sarah being a heart beat away from Senator John McCain.

For the person who invented the blueberry, the stagnant mind of McCain disappointed me. In addition his demeanor and temperament leaves much to be desired. Condescending is not the quality that I expect in any national leader. What about forgetting the new thinking and advice of Dr. Kissinger that our leaders need to have dialogue with our adversaries? Unfortunately, McCain has surpassed the threshold of undesirable values that I had set for the two candidates prior to the debate. In my simple opinion, Barack Obama won the debate and, therefore, he has earned my vote!

[LaDonna in WV]

John McCain was arrogant, condescending and grumpy. He would not look at Barack Obama(below him in status and class and therefore unworthy of even a glance?) during the debate and acted like he was above it all in his self image of superiority. He can't identify with the middle class nor with a retired senior like me who is his exact age. My vote is for Barack Obama. America needs an intelligent president and not a smart mouthed hot head.

[Allan]

John McCain: I refuse to to meet with Akmanda, uh, Achoomanda, uhm, Ahmadinejad! [Insert smirk here.]

[richard mcenroe]

Defining phrases of the debate:

"What Senator Obama just doesn't understand..."

and

"I agree with Senator McCain..."

Oh, and remember how under President Bush, critics and dissenters would be persecuted?

Yep--

http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2008/09/breaking-gov-matt-blunt-releases.html

[matt]

the liberal nutcakes really do believe their own horse manure. Almost every one of the 20+ web sites I visited today scored the debate a tie and you come out blowing more smoke than a 76 Pinto with a blown head gasket. Obama was on the defensive most of the evening, and held his own. Feel good about that.

But then look at the debacle on Wall Street and in Washington and the foolish policies that have put the financial future of our country in doubt, and realize we are days from a new Great Depression. The fiasco is owned by the Democratic Party lock, stock and barrel. Maxine Waters, Chris Dodd, Chuck Schumer, and many others of our leaders are personally responsible for the Fannie Mae/Freddy Mac bankruptcies. WaMu, Merrill, Lehman, Countrywide have all failed and more will do so next week if a simple, transparent, and pork free bill is not passed immediately. Call your Congressperson now before its too late.

[Joe Fredericks]

Keep hatin' lefties!

[bobby b]

"I am an Independent voter and was leaning towards the McCain /Palin ticket in this election but after the last night’s debate, I am sorry to say that I am no longer."

- - - -

I call BS. Your comments - your use of many of the oft-parroted insults of the bots, and also especially your repeated use of many items that have become a part of the inside Obama-workers vernacular - make it clear that you're a long-committed Obama partisan, trying to convince readers that the oh-so-brilliant performance of your . . . . uh . . . excuse me, THEIR . . . candidate has epiphanized you.

Does your candidate lack so badly in appeal, in qualifications, or in support that you feel you need to lie to everyone in order to market him? If he were half as good as you all think he is, wouldn't the truth be the best sell?

The fact that you feel the need to lie about him speaks volumes about Obama.

[mrkwong]

I see the Obamabots are in the comments, we've got jane's dissertation and LaDonna's nonsense etc.

Fact is, McCain looked and sounded Presidential. Obama sounded like a first-term Senator from an academic background who thinks very highly of himself.

[Paul]

Yes we need a terroist associating, coummunist loving, racist church attending, in Bill Clinton's words Chicago Machine "Thug" in the Oval Office. What is unreal is this guy really thinks he is "the one" who turns water into wine and will save us all. And if you don't get with the program his goons/lawyers will come around to get your mind right. Oh and lets not forget the start of Lord Obamas reactions to McCain's slams " Da Da Da Da, well, well....

[red]

Gee - McCain doesn't get support from Lefty Veteran's groups. I'm shocked.

McCain was condescending? Who called whom by their first name?

Obama was flustered and sometimes angry and did the old Al Gore 'teacher teacher!!! call on me oooh oooh I know' thing.

As for McCain referring to history, your criticism marks you as a real lefty because we all know that with the 'movement' history begins now. Nothing that came before means anything. That's why we get to see millions of bodies in Russian gulags, German concentration camps (Hitler was a lefty -read Liberal Fascism), Chines reeducation camps, Cambodian killing fields, and Sadam's mass graves. But this time! This time socialism will be different!

[Chuck]

I LOVE the people who were voting for McCain, but now MUST vote Obama after [Insert incident here] - (here's looking at you 'Jane' from Chicago)...those are some nice precanned talking points you have there....

Does it feel good to lie to get your candidate in office? I guess so...

[Rex]

Jane, no doubt you were an undecided voter before the debate. The other possibility is that you're a tiresome Obama hack, spamming comment boards all over the internet. By the way, Kissinger later commented that McCain was right, Obama wrong, on dialogue with our adversaries.

[robtr]

I have a bracelet too from unnn oooooohhhh aaaaaaaa uhmmmmm. Jesus on a dollar bill Obama, how is that drug use treating you?

[Eric]

The respectful part...

You mena how McCain kept calling him Senator Obama, a very respectful moniker. Obama? Called Senator McCain John. Respectful? Yeah, OK.

[OhioVoter]

First let me say that I am an Independent voter and was leaning towards the McCain /Palin ticket in this election but after the last night’s debate, I am sorry to say that I am no longer.

*********************************************************************

For a "independent" voter "leaning tow the McCain-Palin" ticket, you have an amazing opinion of both candidates.

McCain did not get suddenly older or more experience last night than he was before. Nor did Obama get any younger.

And, if you didn't see Obama interupt him, you clearly didn't even watch the debate.

Have the guts to put forward the candidate you think best and stop hiding behind stories like the one you presented here. A clear, forthright statement of why you think Obama would be a better choice than fiction.

Can you simply list the reasons why Obama is a good choice? Or is the fact he isn't McCain his only plus?

[Darren]

The first words out of Senator Obama's mouth (after all the thank yous) were an attack on President Bush and the Republicans. The first words out of Senator McCain's mouth (after all the thank yous) were about solving the current financial mess in a bipartisan manner. And that didn't change for over 40 minutes.

I thought McCain was "collegial" for entirely too long, with Obama nipping at his ankles. It wasn't until they got to national security issues that McCain swatted Obama aside like a fly. It was almost like Ali's rope-a-dope.

Neither one impressed me last night, but I didn't see anything that would cause me to think any more highly of Senator Obama.

[Michael Kennedy]

The Times has a readership limited to the far left and we see evidence of this right here. Good luck, folks.

[davod]

Posters here can dissemble all you like but the facts are that Obama did not remember the name on the bracelet.

His reaction to McCain's description of why he was wearing the bracelet was amateurish.

[Sandy]

This reflects poorly on Obama.

As a Navy veteran, I find it insulting.

And as to prior commenters remarking that McCain
has low ratings from military veterans, that is pure hogwash. . .

[fustian]

You people are living in a dream world. McCain mopped the floor with Obama.

Even on economic issues if any of you knew squat about anything.

Obama says he's going to give everyone a tax break, yet he has all these big plans for new programs. How's he going to pay for them?

What he says is that he's going to tax business.

Great idea, except for one thing. You can't tax business without taxing people.

Because, like soylent green, business IS people.

Companies either pass the taxes on as price increases, or they cut back what they do (that means firings), they go offshore where the taxes are lower, or they go out of business.

Which of those do you like?

On foreign policy, it wasn't even close. Even Obama thinks he's a naif on foreign policy. That's why the agent of change himself chose Biden as a running mate. Biden! There's change for you right there.

And I couldn't help but compare the Obama rhetoric with the Obama record.

Right. Nada. Zip. Not one accomplishment. Sure he's put his name on a few bills put together by others, but your man is pretty much an empty suit. He goes where they tell him and he does what he's told.

He doesn't even vote half the time, and never if it might be controversial. His favorite vote is "present", and everything he touched as a "community organizer" turned to crap. You could look it up.

Obama is basically the front man for the Chicago machine. Get a clue!

One of the many reasons your side keeps losing is that you guys don't actually believe in natural selection. If your fellow travelers in the press would apply some environmental pressure to your own side now and then by actually doing some honest reporting, you might weed more of these weak losers from the herd earlier. Carter, Clinton, Gore, Kerry, and now Obama. C'mon guys. If there were any legitimate press coverage of these guys early on, they never would have been on the national stage, and you might have found some serious people to advance your agenda.

[Garry]

Unlike those trying to make generic points, I'm responding to the clip in this post. It was disconcerting to see Obama try to make a point "I have a bracelet too", how utterly condescending of the mighty-O. Forget the fact he couldn't remember the name - and had to read the bracelet to get it... He was being defensive and failed miserably.

I completely agree with the poster that we need an intelligent -and- experienced President. Not an empty suit.

[Kevin]

LOL... All these leftists have left... is the personal attack.

Oh, yes, McCain was a wiseguy? Give me a break.

Hollywoods hand pick, bought and paid for politician, just isn't doing so well.

And that's gotta have you leftist sad.

[Chap]

Hey, look at that. The first commenter turns out to be a lifelong conservative who's changing over to the other side.

Gee, never seen *that* happen anywhere recently in this age of astroturfing. ( http://ace.mu.nu/archives/273511.php ) Tell your boss David Axlerod we said hi.

I wonder where that IP resolves to...

[Jill Angel]

Obama had a 5 o'clock shadow, narrow shoulders, whined, put his hand up like a little kid, looked depressed, gave mean grumpy looks....he should have been pleased that McCain let him off easy ....he should have been asked why he blocked legislation of mccain that would have regulated the runaway fannie mae and freddie mac - instead, he hired the bosses of them as his right hand men!....he should have been asked about his relationship with Bill Ayers, Rezko, Daley, Khalid, Odinga, Frank Davis, and why he said he fasted on Sundays, why he went to Pakistan during his Columbia days when Americans were advised against travelling there. As it was, McCain just beat him because we know we can trust him better; we know he is capable and will do the right thing - but Fast Barky? All we know is that he companioned people who were proud of being either Marxist or Muslim radicals and hated America....

Pumas Say Nobama.

[EyeDoc]

Obama got crushed last night and McCain wasn't even at his best. Obama was angry, condescending (calling McCain by his first name), artificial (forgetting the name of the dead soldier who's bracelet he occasionally wears when it suits his purposes) and proved over and over again that he has no grasp of foreign policy and is not even close to being Commander-In-Chief material.

It'll just get harder for Obama now. McCain had some opportunities he didn't take advantage of last night. He won't blow chances like that again. The next debate is a town hall debate, where McCain excels, and Obama does absolutely horribly. Obama is being exposed now as an empty suit, and there's really nothing he can do about it.

[Matt]

Too funny, any post that might be unflattering to Obama ALWAYS brings out the nasty side in his supporters... shocking he isn't farther ahead in the polls. I guess change means unbridled derision and hatred. This should be fun...

Wonder what will happen to these kooks if he, heaven forbid, loses? Do we declare the whole country is racist? Probably easier than ever assuming that people might not agree with him.

[Assistant Village Idiot]

I hate to let facts get in the way, but McCain consistently referred to his opponent as "Senator Obama," while Obama called the Republican nominee "John." You might call that distant on McCain's part, but it is surely more respectful than what he received.

jane, your generalizations about young people and old people are just ridiculous. It wouldn't matter what debate you watched, you would see the same thing.

[Jeffersonian]

I think it's in Obama's nature to look at veterans as a voting block, hence his willingness to purchase votes using the public purse (hey, it's worked for the Daley machine for decades).

Individuals, not so much.

[j.a.m.]

Sen. McCain has proved himself a selfless patriot and a statesman.

Professor Obama has proved himself an insufferable self-absorbed twit and a naive fool.

[Gary]

Barack Obama: "John was right." (repeat seven times).
[insert smirk here]

[Tim McGarry]

It seems to me that Sen. Obama recalled the name quickly enough. It takes a small person to make an issue of this.

[William]

During the debate, Obama told at leat 10 lies or exaggerations.
He said Kissinger agreed with his position on Iran, Kissinger says no he supports McCain's position.
Obama said he supported the missile defense system, he didn't.
He said no one is Washington has been talking about defeat in Iraq. Where has he been for the past three years?
He said alternative forms of energy would be a major part of reducing oil dependence in 10 years. It won't.
He said he was for designating the IranianRevolutionary Guard a terrorist organization but he voted against the Kyl-Lieberman bill.
Obama said he was against attacking terror targets inside Pakistan but two minutes later he talked about attacking Packistan if they don't take more measures against terrorists.
He said Al Qaeda was stronger than anytime since 2001. Recent anaylsis reports disagree.
He said his opposition to the war was a risky political stance. When the war began, Obama was running for state legiislature in an ultra-liberal district.
He said he played a role in halting earmarks, but, this was only after he started running for president. Obama and Joe may try to outdo one another in telling whoppers.

[indga]

Fascinating how talk is enough and achievement means nothing for many people. When the talker begins to achieve his dream for you all, good luck cuz it will be good night. Take a look at how the talker is attempting to violate the Constitution in MO and other places. That means nothing, I guess, cuz he's got fresh liberal ideas that have been around for 50 years.

[JinnyB]

It's shocking to watch the Democrats morph into an organization that copies, almost verbatim, tactics straight from the National Socialism playbook. Sadly, I suspect that most people have no idea of what is going on here - most people do not recognize the signs of what is happening right here in America today. Students of history should be able to recognize these signs - they are observing a new incarnation of the NSDAP taking shape right before their eyes.

Our educational system and our national media, both print and television networks, are under their control. They now control what someone learns, how they learn it, what gets presented as "truth" in the media, and how it is presented. They've started manufacturing outright lies and propaganda pieces and then present them as objective news reporting. Is there no one left to "watch the watchers"? Is there no recourse?

These Democratic National Socialists will do "anything necessary to save humanity from the evil Sarah Palin, and to that end, anything and everything they do towards that end is justified." To the people in this new incarnation of the NSDAP, well, to Democrats, Sarah Palin represents their own personal version of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and they'd prefer to hurry up and get the hanging over with.

The Democrats have truly morphed into National Socalists, in every sense of what that means:

* Deviating from social norms - their actions against Sarah Palin, for example.
* Playing purely Ideological politics - check
* Doing anything necessary to "Save Humanity" from Sarah Palin, and anything justifies doing it.
* Contradictory promises - (95% of you will see a tax cut)
* Being governing "elites", that pomise to represent "the middle working class"
* Playing social, religious, and racial "games" for their own advantage.
* Controlling what you think, by influencing what you can say, read, and see in the media
* "Fixing" America so it can be "competitive in world markets"

I could easily go on and on, but I'm certain you know enough examples of all of these behaviors on the part of the Democrats without me needing to point out examples.

God Help us all - the National Socialist Party, reincarnated as the New Democratic "Hope and Change" party, lives and breathes right here in America. Once again connsumate evil has begun walking the earth, and no one is even noticing it as it happens...

[Lee]

I was an independent, but after McCain condescending attitude I will vote for Obama.

[Lank Bodkins]

Obama not knowing the name of the soldier on his bracelet was a telling moment...he has no concern for anyone but himself. It was only a stage prop for him, I doubt that he's wearing it right now or even saw it before the day of the debate.

[Marcos El Malo]

I'm sorry to break the news to you McCain supporters, but it's not just lefties that are against McCain. Many Republican voters cannot and will not be able to vote for him in November for a variety of reasons.

I think McCain came out slightly better in this debate, but it was not a homerun, and he needed a homerun to overcome the miscues of this past week. Obama held his own, and for most voters that will be good enough.

McCain hurt himself with his repeated milking of his veteran war hero status. We don't need to be reminded, we already know. The mawkish sentimentality came across as cynical and self serving. It was tawdry and low on substance.

I'm voting for Bob Barr. The McCain of 2008 is not the McCain I ardently supported in 2000. He lost his Maverick spurs a long time ago. And don't even get me started on poor Sarah Palin!

[kdlou]

Kudos to bobby b and ohio voter.

[Mister Snitch]

"I see the Obamabots are in the comments"

And how. They get their material straight off the talking points they're sent. Gee, boys and girls, at lest make it SOUND like it's coming from your own minds.

[Greg]

I was in favor of Obama, but after his obvious lack of respect for the military displayed by not even remembering the name of the soldier's bracelt that he's wearing and realizing his obvious inexperience and radical liberalism I am voting McCain.

To be honest, that's not true. McCain was about my 4th favorite candidate in the Republican primaries because he's too moderate for me, but I have always supported him in the general election. If only the liberals posting here as fake "former McCain supporters" would be so honest.

[J Bradley]

Casting one's vote based on a debate performance is pretty weak.

[Nancy H. Armstrong]

I am a disabled female Navy veteran....I was disgusted at Obama's inability to remember that soldiers name. If he wears that bracelet so often why can't he remember the Sgt's name? I am reminded of his Memorial Address when Obama said he saw dead veterans in the audience. Disrespectful...and I thought he was disrespectful to Mccain. McCain never once called him Barry always referred to him as Senator Obama. The lies the lies were way too much. Not to mention Obama was pretty good at highlighting his flipflops too! I did like McCain's quote from Schultz about aiming a gun....can't quite remember it but I have often said something similar myself!

[Nancy H. Armstrong]

By the way McCain can't turn his head to the left without difficulty because of injuries. He was not being disrespectful. Obama was by calling him John every time he addressed him. McCain never once called him Barack or Barry!

[davod]

"Wonder what will happen to these kooks if he, heaven forbid, loses? "

More to the point, imagine at least four years of an administration filled with with arrogant, pushy, in your face, types backed up by milllions of paid "volunteers marching to the beat of Obamas drum.

[Paul A'Barge]

I've got a bracelet too ... from ...... uhhhh, uhhhh, uhhhh ... oh yeah, from .... uhhhh

[Jaded]

I was an Obama supporter but after that debate performance I cannot support him I will just stay home..

See how that works "former" supporters? Give me a break no one who went into the debates changed their minds by the debate and Thursday's debate ought to be pretty good....that is where the meat of this past week and next week lays.

[NOBAMA '08]

Wait wait, I am wearing a bracelet too!! Let me read the guys name for you. Oh I will just guess. the name doesn't matter. You no what I mean. http://www.bop-o-rama.com

Yep, I am going to vote for McCain!

500 bops on Nobama. Tell five friends to do the same, and I am off for morning coffee.

McCain '08

[Frank]

I think it was pretty clear he started to say the name of the soldier on the bracelet and then he realized he need to say "mother of" first. I might not like him, but I don't feel the need to jump on any crumb to take light off of John's devastating week (can't call him "Senator McCain" when he didn't act like one this week).
Who's this Bob Barr guy? Can't be worse than voting President Palin into office. (I made one huge mistake with Bush, I won't do that again).
How many feel terrible for Sarah? I think she was starting a great career as Gov. of Alaska. John made a huge mistake asking her to run (thinking with the wrong head John?) and she blew her chance to say "no". She must be crying at night with this pressure. She has made her bed, however sad it is. Hopefully, Alaskans will forget about this by the time she is up for re-election as Gov., she deserves a chance to grow in office. Maybe in 20 years, she will be ready to be VP.

[rita s]

There you go again, Malcolm, parroting the National Review. Try to come up with something original for a change.