Debate Coaches: 'Lost,' 'Aimless' McCain Must Make Vast Improvements

Top national debate coaches say John McCain needs to make vast improvements if he wants to best Barack Obama in the final presidential debate on Wednesday -- and based on his performance in the two debates held so far, they're skeptical that the old dog is willing to learn any new tricks.

While Obama appeared "steady and consistent" in their encounters, McCain seemed "aimless," said Emory University debate coach Melissa Maxy Wade.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[lissak]

Come on. They want to take all the fun out of the debate. I liked him wandering around looking for Mr. Puddles.

[Kindheart]

Johnny is beyond any help. He does not put the "Country First" and never will.

[lvdragonlady]

Nothing like a me meme me mentality.....
He has always been about what JM wants NOT what is best for America.

[AnalyzeIT]

McCain Gets Lost On Stage Completing a Speech.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW-9zA0x5Sg

OBAMA should use this one in an ad: Under the title of: "McCain can't lead himself, let along lead a nation." OR Are you sure you want to follow McCain."

VOTE: Obama/Biden

For Positive Change and the Good Of America

[patianneb]

while it COULD be that he got "lost" more likely his coaches had told him to employ UPSTAGING if he wanted to distract the audience at home and at the debate itself from Obama and/or what Obama was saying at the time.

[Blue in NH]

McCain has clearly shown that he is a dottering old man not in the least able to take on the demands of the presidency. And the fact that he chose Palin as his running mate shows his utter contempt for the office.

[Msohio]

McCain has had the craziest campaign that I have seen. McCain may have made a tempered attempt to defend Obama against the little old lady calling Obama an Arab. But, McCain never defended Arab-Americans against negative inuendoes or veiled attacks. General John Abizade, one of the most visible faces of the Iraq War, is Arab-American and he posted to cnn.com comments to let it be known. We hate everybody in this country, no matter what their contributions are. We do need change.

[CaptainVideo]

"McCain "meanders through the substance of his arguments," often "getting lost and having to revert back to simple themes,"

That is because his aging brain is suffering from short-term memory problems. He really has reached the mental age at which he should retire.

[bluguy8]

you BETCHA he is

[MurrayAbraham]

This whole argument about debate coaching reminds me of the various courses I took about public presentations.

They always talk about tactics. How you should stand, what to do with your hands etc...

They also always forget the most important thing you need to ask yourself: "what do you have to say?"

IMHO, that is where John McCain's problem lies. Everything he believes in, his vision of America in the world, his understanding of economics, his conception of leadership, has being crashing down around him. His wondering around on stage during the last debate was just the expression of his angst. No coaching will be able to remedy that.

[emily00011]

The text nailed it on the head: can't teach an old dog new tricks! Best to just take a little nap instead.

[DingoDave]

This link appears to contain a trojan virus.
Be carefull before clicking on it. Please make sure that your anti-virus software is up to date.

[munki]

Mc is side tracked to defend his VP candidate...
Otherwise time could easily be used in proactive campaign...
He was never like this... what happened?

[starfire426]

Perhaps Mc could take some lessons from the individual on this link...he was the KEYNOTE speaker of the Dallas TX school's system teacher's convocation. He was speaking in front of 20, 000 and will put you in the mind of another great orator, currently running for POTUS! By the way...he's a fifth-grader!

http://www.dallasisd.org/keynote.htm

[Mildmannered]

He was looking for Mr. Puddles, I think.

[rodhemeon]

The ''High School Bully'' and the ''Cheerleader''........................................
''As Putin rears his head and comes into the airspace of the United States''
Palin the ''Maverick'' grabs her shotgun....If she and McCain begin to spiral downward in the polls....as they will.......The rich and powerful may very likely create a major international military incident.....To allow John McCain to come to the rescue..........

Republican or Democrat....
You will feel a cold chill running down your spine....as McCain and
Palin assume control of the nuclear trigger.

...........Where's the ejection Button

[NoblesseOblige]

During the last debate, Obama had perfect poise and body language as he sat on his stool. On the other hand, McCain wandered around the stage continuously like a lost child looking for his mother. (I wonder if she was even in the audience.)

[patianneb]

enoyed the "lost child" ....................first dictionary definiton of a maverick: motherless calf.
actually McC appeared to me to be attempting to upstage Obama, as in drawing attention away from what he was saying.
On the other hand, who the heck knows.