some comments at firedoglake ...

[defendandprotect]

The Debate Continues…
By: Eli Friday September 26, 2008 7:23 pm 4
diggs
digg it

Well, my view from 60,000 feet so far is that Obama is winning on substance and getting clobbered on style. It's a total role reversal: McCandycain looks calm, comfortable, and energetic, and he's lying very smoothly, while Obama seems rattled and uncertain, and there's something wrong with his makeup and/or lighting.

I'm especially annoyed that Obama is letting McCain get away with saying condescending stuff like, "What Senator Obama doesn't understand..." (I've heard at least four, and I'm distracted) on foreign policy, without pointing out that McCain is the one who doesn't know the difference between Shia and Sunni, Czechoslovakia and Czech Republic (although he did totally bust him on not knowing where Spain was or whether they were an ally). And he butchered Ahmadinejad's name in truly spectacular fashion.


and

What we've learned so far: all we need to do is cut earmarks and spending and everything will be awesome. The Surge is awesome. Wind power is awesome. Tax cuts are awesome. Petraeus is awesome.

I did like Obama's series of "you were wrongs" about Iraq. But generally I think he's letting McSame getting away with way too much bullshit.

Stylistically speaking, Obama seems to be speaking a bit too quickly, and McSame generally appears to be having a better time. I don't know how that's translating out there in TV land, but it's worrisome.

We'll see how they close.

I agree with latter --

[volatileblob]

1. Style? Well, maybe. But I think McSame's lack of eye contact and

grumpiness go against your style point. And my wife says he looked terrible and sick and angry. So depends on what you mean as style.

[defendandprotect]

2. Hope you and your wife are right --

[Politicalboi]

3. Well Obama

Is going to have to go to the Keating 5 when they talk more on the economy. This orgy of spending.

[ColbertWatcher]

4. Well, if Admiral McCombover was doing so great on style ...

... how can he improve in the next debate(s)?

Foreign policy was supposed to be his strong point, yet Obama went toe to toe with him.

The expectations are very high now for the old fart.