WORLD NEWS TRUST: "Debatably Yours, Part One" -- Whose Opening Advantage? (Mary Lyon)

[Tace]

Mary Lyon -- World News Trust

I’m mixed.

Who won? They both did. And didn’t.

Here’s what strikes me about the opening round of presidential debate season: the one-liners, the facts (or not), the jabs, the international names and one mispronunciation, the energy, and the eye contact. Or in McCain’s case, the lack thereof. Among other things.

I think John McCain won most of the buzz phrase battles at the first debate at the University of Mississippi. No points for rehashing some of the same old lines from how many campaign speeches past (“I will make them famous and you will know their names,” “Obama has the most liberal record in the Senate,” and the ever-popular place-holder “I believe in the United States of America”). He added to his nicknames -- “The Sheriff” now joins the pantheon along with “Maverick” and “No Miss Congeniality.”

McCain did not proclaim himself “The Scold,” per se, but that’s how he behaved. Multiple times, he pushed the same statement -- that Obama “doesn’t get it,” or “doesn’t understand.” Repetition is a very effective and compelling tactic in advancing any argument -- as we’ve seen from the track record of the Bush administration and its many apologists and spinners. From the rationale for war to the justification for spying, looting, cheating, torturing, and shredding the Constitution, if they can repeat something often enough, it seems to become a de facto truth in the management of overall public perception. That, combined with McCain’s gruff facial expressions, his occasional dismissive smirks, and his failure to look Obama in the eye, might leave a slight taste of arrogance and contempt. It also did not serve McCain that while he looked somewhat pasty and pale, the strobing effect of his narrowly striped tie was distracting and
discomfiting.

I admit I was surprised there wasn’t much melodrama or histrionics like those we’ve had to endure from McCain in the past few days, with the world breathlessly wondering “will he or won’t he” even show up. I was expecting McCain to be still flustered over his failed stunt in trying to parachute into Washington to save the country’s economy from Wall Street to Main Street. He did not appear exhausted, or off-balance. But still, there was that dismissive smugness and a relentless offense -- that, at least to me, belied his words a little. His verbal presentation tried to suggest a sense of reasonableness and wisdom derived from long experience, that yes, he would, too, sit down with anybody, even our adversaries. But his belligerence hinted that any future encounters with an international opponent might not involve much diplomacy. Besides, I wondered if he’d be willing to look Putin or Ahmadinejad in the eye more than he did with Obama. At least it wasn’t another roller coaster ride, like the wild and almost clownish misadventure on which McCain strapped much of America regarding the Wall Street crisis this week.

MORE

http://www.worldnewstrust.com/wnt-reports/audio/whose-opening-advantage-mary-lyon.html

[Tace]

1. A Kick For Mary

: )

[calimary]

2. Thanks, Tace.

With these debates, I felt as though I better be as ruthlessly objective as possible. Not easy, though. Not like I want to give mcsame a break. He doesn't deserve it. Unfortunately, I think mcsame scored major snark points with all those nice, kind, lovely people who loved the mean-ness of the palin convention. I think they were dancing in the streets over the job he did.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

3. Kick for (against) McCain's "dismissive smugness"...

That is what will linger over the next few days
more than anything that was said. Hi, Mary!

[calimary]

4. Well, I must tell you that was my own personal reaction, because I'm - um -

shall we say, preconditioned NOT to give him the benefit of the doubt. I HATE that smugness, that arrogance, that whole superior, condescending attitude they have - their convention absolutely reeked of it. The snarky, mocking, full-of-herself Tundra Tart was especially guilty - Miss "Mother of the Year." During these debates, I deliberately hold it all in and try to watch as objectively as possible. MY personal feelings - of course Obama won. I'm always gonna root for my champion. But I try to see it from the perspective of those who will be taken in by that sort of thing from the enemy. Mainly during the debates. I dunno - maybe I shouldn't. Maybe I should remain partisan. But I'm actually surprised that some media people, and a LOT of the public, picked up on that.

Maybe deep down, much of America doesn't really like meanness in our leaders. If so, it's an encouraging development. I've become rather cynical over the last many years - maybe since I watched how the American "brain" was completely acid-washed by ronald reagan. He did such a thorough job that too many of 'em STILL think he should be canonized. It's amazed me that people can be so snowed that they'll embrace the people who actively work to screw them all the way down through the floor, just because the speeches and the sloganeering sounds so good, and the smiles are so congenial. So I, in turn, am now thoroughly preconditioned to expect the worst and the stupidest, from the Joe and Jane Sixpack voters of America. I know I shouldn't feel that way. But it's THEIR stupidity and gullibility in the way they've voted since the 1980s (hell, even farther back - the same assholes fell for nixon, too) that's led DIRECTLY to the mess we're all in, now. So I don't have such high estimation of them, I'm afraid, and I blame them for a lot of what's gone wrong with this country. I should love my fellow Americans more, and have greater faith in them. But I don't.

So this comes as a surprise to me - that these polls, at least, would SEEM to indicate there's a sort of awakening happening - maybe not as many people can be swayed anymore? I don't know. Still sounds a little too good to be true. My cynicism will take a LONG time to ease off.

[grantcart]

5. My take was very similar to hers but as it turns out we were wrong

That's the problem we have that are so close to it. We expect McCain to be fall down stupid and we expect Obama to hit grand slams every time.

The polls show that average Joes - and Mary's saw Obama the clear winner.