McCain as the Alpha Male - David Broder ( wtf ? )

[steve2470]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/27/AR2008092701357.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

There were no knockout blows in the first presidential debate of the fall, but John McCain out-pointed Barack Obama often enough to encourage his followers that he can somehow overcome the odds and deny the Democrats the victory that has seemed to be in store for them.

It was a small thing, but I counted six times that Obama began a sentence with the words that McCain was "absolutely right" about a point he had made. No McCain sentences began with a similar acknowledgement of his opponent's wisdom, even though the two agreed on Iran, Russia and the U.S. financial crisis far more than they disagreed.

That suggests an imbalance in the deference quotient between the younger man and the veteran senator -- an impression reinforced by Obama's frequent glances in McCain's direction and McCain's studied indifference to his rival.

Whether viewers caught the verbal and body-language signs that Obama seemed to accept McCain as the alpha male on the stage in Mississippi, I do not know.

more at link

WTF ? An Alpha Male would have NO trouble looking at his adversary.

[sufrommich]

1. Since when is the "alpha male" afraid to look

at his opponent?

[1corona4u]

5. Exactly what I was thinking....

[featherman]

2. Hahahahaha... thanks for the laugh... Broder and McCain... a match made in heaven

At least NOW we know what the "don't make eye contact" strategy was... McCain was PRETENDING to be an alpha male. I guess the McCain campaign had to tip off Broder to get it out there because everybody else in the world... SEEMS TO HAVE MISSED IT!

(ps.It's the other way around, you morons.)

lol

[Jade Fox]

3. Here's what one person had to say about alpha males.....

"I've fired a lot of McCains in my career.

I grew up working for these guys - smart, terrible listeners, can't work with women or in teams - and when I took over the company I fired them or moved them into finance. Only Republicans and folks stuck in an authoritarian my-way-or-the-highway groove (i.e., fundamentalists, extreme right-wingers, guys obsessed with keeping that lawn tractor spotless, Talk Radio hosts, cigar store owners, etc.) resonate to that kind of command-control style of management.

I watched (the debate) as someone who hires managers, looking for leaders.

No one today wants to work for the McCains.

I can see millions of young (and old) people wanting to follow Obama: He listens, he can inspire, he can change his mind, he can formulate a plan of attack, he can delegate, he can lead. We've seen it with his own campaign.

I felt I was watching Bush debate Obama. Only the generational issues were more stark.

Time for a Change."

[Coexist]

4. the dominant male makes eye contact, the submissive one avoids it.

does he not watch The Dog Whisperer?

[DemsUnited]

6. COMPLETELY WRONG! Alphas look, beta's keep eyes averted.

Plus, Obama only looked at McCain when he was taking the oldster to the woodshed. Otherwise, he was looking at the camera & speaking to the audience.

Pathetic spin. Everyone knows you look your opponent in the eye or you look weak.

[MissWaverly]

7. David Broder, we are still waiting for Bush's bounce

Bush continues to poll below 30% in popular polls as he did when you predicted his bounce.
Another astute observation, Mr. Broder.

[Overseas]

8. Broder is a crabby old grouch himself so doesn't realize that crabbiness is a sign

of deteriorating mental prowess. You get frustrated and angry when faced with a smarter, more alert opponent.

Mr. Angry Crabbyman is not Mr. Alpha Male. It is Mr. Brain Shrinkage.

He's trying desperately to pretend that McLame being angry makes him appear strong. But it doesn't. His unwillingness to engage in a true debate, brushing off his opponent instead of engaging, makes him look like he just can't handle a real exchange.