[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: The Oct 15 Debate

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
The Oct 15 Debate
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1224127447.shtml


   Was Senator McCain right after all, constantly, publicly repudiating
   various "negative" ads and remarks about Senator Obama? The time came,
   courtesy of Congressman John Lewis, to ask why no reciprocation and it
   caught Obama completely flat-footed. He refused even a cursory
   apology, since it wasn't his campaign. In other words, Obama again
   voted Present while McCain then twisted the Ayers and Acorn knives.
   This debate started slow like last time, like another Vikings 12 Lions
   10 in the making. Like before, McCain stumbled around the bailout
   bill. But like before, McCain then began landing punches, like "Joe
   the Plumber" that Obama couldn't handle either.
   McCain is no Obama on camera, his sole advantage being he doesn't
   Obama's halting speech pattern. And yet it's Obama that's clearly on
   defense, has been since about ten minutes into this. McCain alertly
   quoted Obama's "look at off-shore drilling" remark which of course
   means no drilling.
   I'm sort of live blogging this via DVR, just came to Health Care.
   Obama is pulling a bit of a Gore, physically reacting to Obama's
   statements as if to laugh. But health care and judicial appoints again
   have Obama on the ropes, openly lying in fact, secure in the knowledge
   that his many media friends won't bother to check.
   FYI, Bob Schieffer wins the moderator prize. The questions were great
   discussion starters and he let them talk. Case in point, the last
   question on education.

     Shieffer: The U.S. spends more per capita than any other country on
     education. Yet by every international measurement in math and
     science competence from kindergarten through the twelfth grade, we
     trail most of the countries of the world. The implications of this
     are clearly obvious. Some even say it poses a threat to our
     national security. Do you feel that way and what do you intend to
     do about it?

   Again, I think McCain won the point, speaking of choice, the choice
   both he and the Obamas have for their children.
   Even in the closing statements, where Obama should shine, he did no
   better than a draw with McCain.
   I'm no fan of McCain. I will hold my nose voting for him. He still too
   often reminds me of our own Prime Minister Pawlenty. McCain could have
   done better. McCain has always left us wishing that he had said or
   done something else. And yet I must readily give him the duke tonight.
   Of course, most of the media will probably call it a draw, a few a win
   for Obama. And no doubt millions of Americans will agree. Am I vain in
   thinking that it takes a modicum of intellect and knowledge of current
   events (and the Constitution) to realize that McCain won?