What do you think the Mccain/Obama debates will be like?

[galaxy21]

Obama's very inconsistent in the debates. He really improved in the last two or three, but was off his game on Wedensday (of course the whole thing was a joke anyway, but he fumbled on the serious questions).

Mccain,I saw one or two and he was either laughing at Ron Paul (for daring to suggest America should stop policing the world) or arguing with romney over the most trivial shit imaginable. I never saw any flashes of his famed temper either.

Also, the problem is when Obama's been debating in the last two or three debates, he's had the advantage: all he has to do is stay on the defensive and not screw up badly. It's different because in November, he'll be the one who has to attack.

[islandmkl]

1. Barack will probably be his gracious self...

and occasionally lean over and gently whisper to McCain,

"John, wake up. They just asked you a question about the economy."

[Zachstar]

2. Obama is not going to hold back in the debates.

He stated that he has had to show restraint for Clinton. However, Once he debates McCain he will politically wipe the floor with him.

[scheming daemons]

3. Since they won't be agreeing on 97% of policy (like he and Hillary), the debates will

actually be a lot more interesting.

[John Q. Citizen]

4. Why will he have to be the one to attack McCain? Do you have a theory to

go along with your statement?

[galaxy21]

9. I assume Mccain will be attacking him

[democrattotheend]

5. He can be tougher against McCain

I hate to say this, but he really had to walk a tightrope the other night. He came across as a little wimpy, but if he had come on too strong it would have been worse. She tends to do best when women perceive her as being ganged up on, and I hope I don't get flamed for this, but I think if he had come on too strong there might have been a racial/gender backlash from the image of a black man "attacking" a white woman.

[zulchzulu]

8. It's true

Going after McCain will be a different dynamic. Respect his service but then go for the jugular with McCain's support of Bush policies.

I look forward to those debates.

[Avalux]

6. Completely different that those with Hillary. Here's why....

1. McCain is not a woman. Obama can go attack him and not be accused of being the big man.

2. IRAQ

3. ECONOMY

I'm actually looking forward to it. Obama will have a lot more latitude.

[high density]

7. He won't be afraid to attack McCain

There's no sense for Obama to attack Clinton too much because it doesn't have any positive affect on him.

[malik flavors]

10. Obama would be completely different in the GE debates. He pulls his punches against Hillary...

because he doesn't want to blow up the party, and it hurts her when she goes negative. So he just lets her swing away.

Against McCain he won't show that kind of restraint. He'll take him down when he has the chances.

It's all strategy, adn it's a smart one.

[julialnyc]

11. Unlike Hillary, he's trying not to damage someone who could be the nominee

He's walking a fine line between standing up for himself, but not doing too much damage.

He won't hold back on the Republicans (but will still have a certain finesse)


McCain is unpredictable. Sometimes he comes off as charming to people (in a gritty real way). I know he isn't, but people see him like this sometimes. He also has a short fuse and can turn people off with his temper if he doesn't keep under control.

[Ichingcarpenter]

12. They will be crap unless the league of Women voters handle it

I haven't seen a decent debate this political season.

Lincoln Douglas Debate:
http://www.nps.gov/archive/liho/debate3.htm

Carter Ford Debate
http://www.debates.org/pages/trans76a.html


Nixon Kennedy Debate:
http://www.debates.org/pages/trans60a.html

Obama McCain Debate:

When did you stop beating off in the bathroom?
Mr. McCain? Mr. Obama

[nichomachus]

13. It's entirely possible there won't be any

I don't discount the idea that the GOP will pull a bait-and-switch before their convention.

There isn't a lot of love for McCain on the conservative side. They know he's too old and has a very short fuse, as well as a lot of baggage.

I wouldn't be at all surprise to see them let him run all summer as a stalking horse and then, just before the GOP convention in September, find some reason to replace him with someone who (a) hasn't been really vetted and (b) has very low negatives.

This would wipe the slate clean on their side and give them the opportunity to go as negative as hell on the Democratic candidate -- with only eight weeks until the GE. The Dem would be so busy wiping mud off himself/herself, they wouldn't be able to go after whoever the GOP puts in place.

[karynnj]

14. I assume that he will practice well before each of the debates

On foreign affairs, McCain has seemed incapable of remembering who is Sunni and who is Shiite - Obama doesn't have this problem. The issues in Iraq are really on our side - the bipartisan Baker/Hamilton commission recommended nearly exactly what Senator Kerry was for in 2004 and 2005. I would hope that the debate would be like the dual appearance on This Week of Kerry and McCain. Kerry completely owned that discussion. On other issues, Obama does sit on the foreign relations committee and does ask good questions there. He is an expert on securing nuclear weapons.

On domestic issues - McCain himself says that he knows little about economics - and from his comments, he is telling the truth. Here, the big plus is that every issue is a plus for the Democrats - McCain has moved close to Bush on nearly every issue.

On global warming, McCain when he appeared to be endorsed by Arnold essentially plagiarized some of Kerry's comments from both 2004 and 2005. It was Kerry in 2004 who tied the need for alternative fuel to national security and it was Kerry who spoke of the side effect of a cleaner environment, health benefits etc. What might be strategic for Obama if McCain continues to use those lines is to specifically quote Kerry on that issue before the debates.

[monmouth]

15. Obama will graciously and with much aplomb, desecrate McSame. Obama

has facts, McSame doesn't yet know the difference between the Kurds, the Sunni or the Shia. Will Joe be there for him?

[Warren Stupidity]

16. Obama will be attacked by the immoderators for 58 minutes.

Then they will ask McCain how brave he had to be to survive his torture by the nasty commies. Johnnie will say something like "I was kept alive by god and my love for our flag".

Regardless of that, Obama will have clearly demonstrated that he is far more intelligent, in command of the issues, and in sync with the voters than his mushy-brained opponent.

Regardless of that, the mediocracy will announce that, due to an awkward tilt to Obama's tie for 13 seconds, a clip that will be replayed 184,882,184 times over the next 48 hours, Obama lost the debate. 'We cannot have a president that hangs to the left!" they will chorttle and snicker.

I will be in the bathroom praying to the white goddess after having resumed drinking from a 22 year hiatus.

[KoKo]

17. The "McCorporate Media" will declare McCain the winner...and what will

happen then? :shrug: