2nd US Presidential Debate
Wednesday, 8. October 2008, 03:11:42
So. What the heck was that? As far as I can tell, it was a loss for both of them. McCain didn't do anything to make me think he was going to help our problems, or be a stabilizing effect on foreign policy in comparison with Bush. Obama agreed with McCain on foreign affairs way too much.
Neither one sounded like they are interested in keeping peace, reaching peace, or even trying to be the "bigger person" to calm situations with Russia or Iran. Heck, I don't see how Obama (or McCain) can keep a straight face when saying that we have to take a firm line with Russia about their actions in going into Georgia is not how Nations are expected to act. Didn't we just talk about Iraq...?
This seemed like both candidates took lessons from Sara Palin on debating. In my opinion Biden showed up both, but it's bad for him to show up Obama in a debate. Can anyone else answer the question with any regularity?
The Economy is not going to magically get better because of our "First Step". No one outside the campaigns is saying that it won't get worse before it gets better. Both are talking about tax cuts, but really, we are spending billions of dollars here. We can't keep borrowing it, so we have to pay for it. I think whoever is president will have to preside over raising taxes.
Health Care seems all messed up. As the book Highwire lays out, personal responsibility is great, but no one can be all things for themselves. This economy is about specialization. Most people aren't going to be great at picking out health insurance. They aren't going to be great at investing for anything, forget about retirement. And we're strapped now, I don't think many would be able to afford professionals to do it for them, they'd spend all their money on advice, and have none for the health care or retirement. Does anyone know of any other countries where health insurance is an employer or employee responsibility? I was under the impression it is mostly either non-existant or government run.
This whole debate was disappointing to me. No new information, no great speaches, no real gaffes. It probably changed nothing, but Obama really fell flat in this format. Luckily, McCain didn't have much that worked better. I'd say the status quo is probably going to continue, though I could see Obama's lead shrinking. I don't see McCain pulling ahead with this debate, but if Obama doens't pick up his game, McCain will have a hell of an opportuninty in the last debate to make this a very close race.
Neither one sounded like they are interested in keeping peace, reaching peace, or even trying to be the "bigger person" to calm situations with Russia or Iran. Heck, I don't see how Obama (or McCain) can keep a straight face when saying that we have to take a firm line with Russia about their actions in going into Georgia is not how Nations are expected to act. Didn't we just talk about Iraq...?
This seemed like both candidates took lessons from Sara Palin on debating. In my opinion Biden showed up both, but it's bad for him to show up Obama in a debate. Can anyone else answer the question with any regularity?
The Economy is not going to magically get better because of our "First Step". No one outside the campaigns is saying that it won't get worse before it gets better. Both are talking about tax cuts, but really, we are spending billions of dollars here. We can't keep borrowing it, so we have to pay for it. I think whoever is president will have to preside over raising taxes.
Health Care seems all messed up. As the book Highwire lays out, personal responsibility is great, but no one can be all things for themselves. This economy is about specialization. Most people aren't going to be great at picking out health insurance. They aren't going to be great at investing for anything, forget about retirement. And we're strapped now, I don't think many would be able to afford professionals to do it for them, they'd spend all their money on advice, and have none for the health care or retirement. Does anyone know of any other countries where health insurance is an employer or employee responsibility? I was under the impression it is mostly either non-existant or government run.
This whole debate was disappointing to me. No new information, no great speaches, no real gaffes. It probably changed nothing, but Obama really fell flat in this format. Luckily, McCain didn't have much that worked better. I'd say the status quo is probably going to continue, though I could see Obama's lead shrinking. I don't see McCain pulling ahead with this debate, but if Obama doens't pick up his game, McCain will have a hell of an opportuninty in the last debate to make this a very close race.
WIDGETIZE