The best post-debate analysis I heard last night:

[pdxmom]

Was from my son. He's 22 and, while he has always paid attention to the news and world events, this is the first year that he has totally immersed himself. He's become a junkie like the rest of us here. Within just a few minutes of the debate ending, he called me to ask me what I thought. Here are some of his points:

1. McCain was so very pro-Ukraine in NATO and anti-Russia, but he didn't explain why Russia was the country with its ships out helping the Ukrainian cargo ship containing tanks that has been hijacked. The U.S. is "monitoring" the situation, but Russia is the one coming to the aid of the Ukrainian ship. (I didn't even know about this incident, but evidently my son thought this was pretty significant).

2. McCain reminded him of a "teenager" who thinks they know it all and is never wrong.

3. He definitely felt that McCain's avoidance of eye-contact was a sign of arrogance and was just downright rude.

4. Obama's position on the war is what the majority of people believe. He pointed out that none of the talking heads actually ever make that distinction.

5. He thought that McCain's little history lessons were a way to say stuff and use up time without actually making a point. And he felt it made him look back-looking, instead of forward looking.

6. McCain trying to say that the important point about Iraq was what would happen in the future, while spending an extraordinary time talking about the surge, which is in the past. And then McCain didn't talk about plans for the future in Iraq. And he wants to know what "victory" means to McCain.

There were more, but this gives you an idea of the conversation. Or at least what he was talking about. I didn't have to say much...he seemed to hit all the points I had and this was before he was tainted by anything the talking heads had to say. I was very impressed with his analysis and think he does Obama proud.

[Fleshdancer]

1. great analysis

The teenager thing is hilarious because before the debate, Trent Lott told Tweety that McCain has "matured" since 2000. As always, Lott is wrong.

[pdxmom]

5. We have always insisted on family dinners on Sunday in our house, with

a wide-open guest policy, and we spend that time catching up and talking current events. My son reminded me last night how, when he was younger, he would form an opinion and no matter what facts or "what ifs" I threw at him, he would stubbornly stick to him opinion, no matter how dumb. He said he knew he was wrong, but refused to acknowledge the facts. He said that this is what McCain reminded him of.

[av8rdave]

2. I partucularly like point #5

Well put....your son is very astute!

[Sanity Claws]

4. I also agree that Point 5 was very important

McCain came across as looking backwards, particularly toward his own history. Obama came across as forward looking. In one of his first answers, he talked about his plans to get the US prepared for the 21st Century. Nowhere did McCain articulate a vision for the future.

[grantcart]

3. well he had a great mom

great points by the son.

It wasn't rudeness it was fear.

[pdxmom]

6. Thank you, grantcart. I brought up the idea of fear to him, but he thinks

it was that McCain really believes he is better than Obama, and shouldn't have to be up on a stage with someone that is his "lesser".

Whatever the true reason, McCain came across very poorly, and that seems to be the general opinion out there.

[Uben]

7. Russia sent ships because

The hijacked vessel was loaded with weapons from Russia! It's their cargo on a Ukranian ship. At least that is what I thought I heard on the news.

[pdxmom]

8. Correct. It was Russian tanks on a Ukranian ship, evidently heading

to Kenya. My son's point was that, on the one hand, McCain was very pro-Ukraine and anti-Russia, while Ukraine and Russia still have apparently strong relationships, enough so that Russia is coming to help. From what I've read since my son talked about it, this were Russian tanks, but sold by the Ukraine. Here's a link: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/6025983.html