Having watched it, I would say that Obama wins on points as a gentleman and McCain loses on coming across as a victim of coaching by brutes like Rick Davis et al.
There will be those, like the oaf Chris Matthews, who will think that McCain's attitude shows him to be a leader. I think it shows that he was not raised well. His refusal to look at Obama throughout the debate, his dismissive tone of voice when continually speaking of Obama in the third person as though he were not there, his inability to say anything good about his opponent, all showed him to be a natural bully or someone who has been taught to be a bully.
I had hoped for a Queeg moment, but, it was not to be... Maybe next time if he keeps sliding in the polls.
At one point he went on and on about his experience and how important that was in a president. He must think that he is immortal. Unlikely. I suppose that he did not see the irony implicit in his choice of Sarah Palin as his designated successor. pl
DaveGood - That BS about McC starting the Forrestal disaster was started by the right-wing Republican freepers back in 2000, when he was running against their chosen one. They swiftboated him the same way they swiftboated Kerry in 2004 and Max Cleland in 2002. We should not be stooping to their level by repeating slanderous BS like that.
However, I have no problem if you want to call McCain a reverse Ace with his score of -5 US aircraft.
Posted by: mike | 28 September 2008 at 04:18 PM
Mike......
Fair point.
If this story originated from right wing Freepers and Swift boaters... I was not aware of it.
How sick must they feel now?
"Reverse Ace" is a phrase that made me grin.
DaveGood
Posted by: DaveGood | 28 September 2008 at 05:24 PM
Pat, excellent post, and important insight from a gentleman and scholar.
Here's my take on McCain's erratic behavior:
http://avuncularamerican.typepad.com/blog/2008/09/officer-vs-gentleman-maverick-vs-leader.html
Keep up the good work.
Jerry Loftus
Posted by: Gerald Loftus | 29 September 2008 at 02:51 AM
Did McCain have anything to do with Georgia's invasion of Ossetia? He had a Noble Leaders Speech ready to go when it happened. I personally am not sure that I am a Georgian Now. Tugging on the bear's tail doesn't make sense right now. Putin can say, "Yeah, you and what army?" The one that has been taught to do counterinsurgency in Iraq, and whose tanks are too warn out to imagining them swarming the fields of Europe?
Posted by: rollingmyeyes | 29 September 2008 at 01:01 PM
@ Sidney O Smith III,
I rather suspect they stayed away from the NIE because it hinges almost entirely on Iranian intentions.
Can't see a pol trying to sell that to an electorate not exactly renowned for its understanding or trust of Iranian intentions.
Posted by: JustPlainDave | 29 September 2008 at 03:45 PM