I've gotten a few e-mails from crazy liberals, claiming I declared McCain the debate's winner because I'm in the tank. Bullshit. This blog is called The Macho Response, not I Write My Beliefs (because I reject beliefs, remember?). So, just to prove my point, here's a few other opinions to show it's crazy liberals who are (still) living in a dream world - in case the fact McCain has already risen by two points in the polls ain't enough. Read 'em and weep:"Before I get spun, I'd say: small, Pyrrhic victory for McCain. McCain wanted to make Obama seem naive and inexperienced. He did about 40% of that. Obama wanted to make McCain seem dangerously ambitious, bellicose and hotheaded. He did 0% of that. But a) the foreign policy stuff came after a long period on the economy, where McCain seemed a bit frenetic and Obama had the upper hand; and b) Obama didn't seem non-credible, which may be enough to carry him through given all the other advantages he has. ..
...Does Keith Olbermann's show make it seem like their guy must have lost because their guy lost--they sound like the Politburo meeting after the Cuban Missile Crisis--or would Keith Olbermann's show make it seem like their guy must have lost even when their guy won?”
-- Mickey Kaus, giving the most accurate reading, for Slate.com.
And here's a roundup from Jennifer Rubin of Pajamas Media:
"On foreign policy McCain simply hit it out of the ballpark.
...Obama’s spinners tended to call it a draw while McCain’s group was ecstatic. William Krstol on FOX said “no knockout but on the offense throughout.” Nina Easton, also on FOX, criticized Obama — “something bland and policy-speak” about him she thought. Juan Williams conceded that Obama didn’t really successfully tie George W. Bush to Obama.
...McCain got some praise from a variety of sources — CNN’s Bill Schneider and Politico’s Jonathan Martin. But the killer quote came from Henry Kissinger whom Obama had invoked to criticize McCain’s stance that we should not meet unconditionally with Ahmadinejad. Kissinger retorted: “Senator McCain is right. I would not recommend the next President of the United States engage in talks with Iran at the Presidential level. My views on this issue are entirely compatible with the views of my friend Senator John McCain. We do not agree on everything, but we do agree that any negotiations with Iran must be geared to reality.”
George Stephanopoulos had this to say: “These guys came to play on each other’s turf. It was really surprising to me is that John McCain came in here with a disadvantage on the economy. Barack Obama had a big advantage, yet I think [McCain] spent the 30 minutes very effectively pounding home the points that have to control spending and earmarks.”
And from NBC’s Tom Brokaw: “That was the most distinctive difference obviously once we got into the area of national security. John McCain bored in on Barack Obama. He’s been reading the same polls we all have. There are grave reservations in most of the polls about whether Barack Obama has enough experience and whether he’s qualified to be commander in chief. And tonight Senator McCain went right after that vulnerability in Barack Obama.”
McCain also got kudos from Tom Yepsen, the most respected reporter in Iowa,...
Roger Simon was equally glowing, declaring “Mac Is Back”
...the best the Obama-friendly pundits could muster was the claim that The One hadn’t been knocked out.
...even The New Republic offered up praise:
McCain also had a clarity of message that Obama lacked. His core message is easy to sum up: Let’s cut waste and spending. I’m a tough leader. Obama is naive and unprepared. Obama, by contrast, had no single message that he repeatedly drove home. He came across as sensible, studious, and thoughtful–but at times abstract and passionless."
There, you cultists. It wasn't pretty but it was a win - for McCain. (I don't know why you guys have such a hard time with the truth.) Whatev. Just don't doubt me again:
I'm the only friend you've got.
I think the debate was indeed a win for McCain because he clearly showed the difference between his real world experience versus Obama's academic knowledge of the world. McCain has been in the world, looked evil in the eye and survived. Obama's knowledge seems to be based on what he's learned rather than first hand knowledge.
ReplyDeleteObama seems like a well-prepared student in an oral exam, regurgitating the answers he knows his professor will approve in order to get the grade. This is apparent in the area of foreign policy. Perhaps Obama thinks the principles of conflict resolution will persuade Putin and Chavez to back off.