Obama Didn't Give Secret Code to Terrorists; Wins Debate

Tonight was an easy game plan for Obama; don't accidentally say the "C" word and don't grow a beard at the last second and talk about banning kite flying. Because of a slew of frankly insane emails that have circled this country for the past few months claiming that Barack is actually a Muslim terrorist and that he introduced Lindsay Lohan to drugs and once tried to kidnap the cute kid from Jerry Maguire, mostly what Senator Obama needed to do tonight was show up and be his articulate and knowledgeable self. Mission Accomplished, which of course now means things get super ugly and complicated.

Obviously McCain couldn't ask Senator Obama if he planned on having us all wear burkas in the next four years, although honestly, you know they discussed it for at least 30 seconds. "Come on John! What's the worst that could happen? He'll say no and have to deny it!" "That's enough out of you Phil!"

This option being off the table they went for the next best thing: treat Obama like a young upstart. Words like "naive" and "adorable" and "here's a quarter for shoveling my walk" were bandied about with abandon by McCain. At one point I think McCain told Barack he didn't care how many packs of seeds he was away from getting a volleyball, he didn't want to buy any. But Obama is awfully hard to make look naive. He's one icy mofo and he's sharp as hell. He can out-world-leader-reference McCain any day of the week and would thrash him in a game of "measured but strong" (who remembers that game? We used to play it after Kick the Can. Honestly, it was not fun).

But the most baffling part of the debate was both candidates reluctance to talk about the economy. Now I know this debate was to have a foreign policy emphasis but still. Aren't the economy and foreign policy really, really close cousins? Shit, aren't they making out behind the above-ground pool?

Now I get why McCain would avoid the subject given that his whole career has been based on stripping away the regulations that had held our economy together since the FDR administration. But why did Obama back away given how comically vulnerable McCain is? I kept waiting for Obama to go "Oh really..." to McCain's claims of cleaning up corruption and waste in the Senate. I can only theorize that Obama knew that McCain would go after him based on experience and decided to draw his battle lines on that subject rather than go for the soft underbelly and fight him where he lives (God war analogies are fun). But I would say that was a mistake. Sure he mentioned "the fundamentals of the economy are strong." But that was on every bumper sticker in the lot. How about Phil Gramm's systematic deregulation of the mortgage industry and the fact that he's McCain's chief economic advisor? How do you not wear a pin next to your flag pin that says "P.G.D.M.I.A.I.M.C.E.A?"

The one moment in the debate that came close to a "You're no Jack Kennedy" moment was when McCain named or rather bracelet-dropped the name of the dead soldier he was wearing around his wrist. He talked about how he had promised the parent victory in Iraq. Immediately Obama whipped out his bracelet with a deceased soldier's name on it and talked about how he had promised that grieving parent "never again." It was a sad and telling moment that showed the two ways America views that war and the terrible losses parents have suffered. We must win. Or we must learn and never make that mistake again.

I did half expect McCain to then produce an ankle bracelet after Obama and talk about the soldier that gave it to him Iraq who said "Obama is not experienced enough." Then Obama unveils an earring given to him by a National Guardsman who said "McCain is another four years of Bush." Stick pin, pinkie ring, barrette... audience's heads back and forth like a tennis match.... etc. etc.

But overall it was an edge to Obama just because most of America now gets to meet him and see what we've all being seeing for years. But in the future Obama had better go after McCain hard on the economy. That was an opportunity lost. And it turned a home run into a double. Now let's see how I did on my predictions:

Obama will trounce McCain because Obama isn't completely bought and paid for and he's thoughtful and intelligent. He will then get a two point bump that will disappear in the subsequent debates as McCain surfs the tide of low expectations ala Kerry vs. W. Bush 2.

Okay, he didn't trounce him but he beat him. Fortunately McCain was fairly competent except for his Pakistan failed state comment. So he won't get the "he can't do any worse" bounce which is quietly the biggest victory of all.

Obama will use the word "firewall" more than he uses "regulation" or "deregulation" because those words sound restrictive and technical. "Firewall" seems both scary and protective at the same time. And how often does that happen within one word besides "military" and "government?" Look for this sentence: "Senator McCain and George Bush have dedicated the last thirty years to destroying the economic firewall set up by FDR after the last great depression."

I missed this one hard. Very little economy talk. Though I'm telling you, "firewall" is a good term. Someone grab it. Franken?

Obama does not go after how questionable the Palin pick was because they are terrified to offend Hillary supporters, or far more importantly, allow for pundits to suggest they have offended Hillary supporters.

Dead on here. Though not exactly the work of Nostradamus.

McCain will mention Sarah Palin in one really stiff anecdote about family and bucking the system. Something like "I got some flack for picking an outsider for my Vice President. But Sarah Palin said to me the other day 'It's okay John, sometimes the racoon catches some fish when he's hunting for geese blah blah.....'"

I was very close here. He refered to her as his "maverick" VP pick in a sweaty wink wink kind of way. He then referred to himself as a maverick. How lame is that? If you're calling yourself a maverick and you're not Dirk Nowitzki then you are probably not one. In fact, this rule applies to anyone declaring themselves a "God fearing Christian" or a "Man of the people."

5. Fox News will say John McCain won the debate even if he doesn't show up.

This wasn't a prediction. It was closer to a "pre-fact."

Read more reactions to the first presidential debate from HuffPost bloggers

Comments

[sunnygale]

I agree .... keep Palin on the ticket...the longer she stays (and if she's allowed to speak to the press) the more people will turn away from McCain. If McCain had Romney right now I couldn't sleep at night...but with this babe on the ticket....I sleep like the proverbial baby....

[Sseb]

Bingo - my thoughts exactly. Besides I can't wait to watch the VP debate. Her smart-alecky mouth is no match for Biden's smarts.

[attuned4news]

Obama got in a few good jabs with McCain being wrong on the war, and it was great that he mentioned McCain's selective amnesia on the war, focusing only on the surge instead of its origins. Overall, I thought Obama was very effective. But I'd like for him to do the following in preparation for subsequent debates:

He needs to be coached by a public speaker -- he's a great orator, but he need some help with the stammering and uh's. Tweak that and his speeches would be far more effective.

He shouldn't be agreeable in any respect when it comes to McCain. If McCain goes for the jugular, then so too should Barack.

Which brings me to McCain's tired mantra on Barack being naive and and incapable of understanding the complexities certain issues...

Barack should counter McCain's attacks on his inexperience by stating that experience without sound judgment, just makes one blind. America's future is too valuable to place in the hands of someone who is blind to his own actions, and bound to repeat destructive behavior. Then go on to describe what he, (Barack) envisions for the country.

Counter McCain's self-appointed "Maverick" label by saying Maverick in McCain's case equals someone who is recklessly impulsive. That's the trait of a defiant boy, not a wise man deserving of public trust.

[UNCLEJOE]

Excellent suggestions; I might add that Obama, change his wording. " You are right , (John) and instead say," I am pleased to I see you agree with me on that point, John. however, my view goes beyond your understanding of the facts in that..." ect.."

Obama should never say, " you are righht" to John in a debate.

And Obma needs to come up with some memorable short quips like, "There you go again with your hyperbolic statements.' or 'you sound like Johnny come lately' when tou agre to supporting government regulating industry after 24 years of voting for every dregulation since FDR.
Somethng that identifies McCan's lies and snipping words out of context from Obama's speaches.

And most importasnt, Obama's cool calm deportment is a big plus. Keep that smile going Barark, it's a winner.

[research]

Maverick? you mean

Loose Cannon!

[weg203]

lets hope there are not too many kool-aiders and/or prejudice people out there - i'll have to pray real hard for mankind if mccain/palin get elected

[VivaldiPickpocket]

Obama is JFK, Ali and Tiger Woods all rolled into one politician the likes of which we haven't experienced in this country in at least 3 generations. As a tactician, he is masterfully patient and in no hurry to finish off his opponent when there is still much time to not only exhibit his skills at taking command of and winning the immediate game at hand, but to also instill ample confidence that he's more than ready to bring all of that and more into the Oval Office. Last night was only the first 6 holes at Augusta, or the early rounds in Zaire.

In other words --

he's just getting warmed up, folks.

So sit back, relax and watch a master at work as he barely breaks a sweat by the time the final decision comes in from the judges on November 4th.

[jazzman]

Have you ever watched a real wrestling match? I'm not talking about the WWF ones. I'm talking about the ones they hold in Iowa where two wrestlers seek to maneuver from a down position to get leverage and pin the other wrestler. Well if this had been a wrestling match what we would have seen is Obama hold the dominate position throughout but never quite pinning McCain to the mat. Obama won on points not on pinning his opponent. He had more takedowns and he stayed in control of the match but McCain was not utterly defeated.

[bamxander]

Thanks, now I've got a very strange visual image stuck in my head.

[GrainOSand]

In the words of the Jackie Gleason character Ralph Kramden, you are a riot Mr. McKay. The tennis match analogy was special.

Mr. Obama is the better candidate yet for some reason he has been unable to amplify that in a debate such that it leaves a nation gasping, as he has been able to do with a prepared speech. Debate and prepared oratory are two different planes of the verbal expression prism. One is a structured game of rhetorical warfare with each combatant looking to seize the moment of the topic being discussed. The other is an expression of emotion, gift-wrapped in words that move a mass to stand and fight, or to lie down and go to sleep, the latter being a gift-wrapped empty box.

I suspect as with all things during this contest, Mr. Obama will learn from his experience and that will assist him in being a better leader. The process of running for president contributes greatly to the assessment of the candidate as well as the growth of the candidate. It is for this reason that John McCain is a non-choice because for all of his experience in campaigns past and present, he regresses. He wants to take us back to Bush and Reagan when we are trying to look ahead to a better America. I am no Obama worshiper. I love the man as I love McCain. Mr. Obama embodies an idea. Will he deliver on the promise of his potential?

[Bluebloodsbastardson]

what difference does it make, the other guy would not even bother trying and hasn't all his life . He isn't called Crash for no reason.....

[GrainOSand]

How harsh thy truth!

[FACINGREALIT]

You are correct when you state that Obama does not mention Sarah and why but what most missed last night was McCains attempt to bait him into just mentioning her so that he could change the media cycle towards any comments made about her readiness or pork spending.

McCain was upset last evening that Obama did not take any of the bait!

[thinkworklivelove]

There are still TWO more debates. Be patient. There are still Five more weeks of campaigning. If Obama trounces him too early, McSame will just pull another media stunt like 'suspending his campaign' again. McSame and his UNQUALIFIED running mate need to be RUN out of town.

[research]

Obama gently but completely DOMINATED McCain.

Leaders and Lions look directly at you, while standing relaxed.

Followers and prey avert their gaze, stoop, mutter insults, grump.

[redpepper]

The media did exactly as it was predicted to do: The News Media put their own spin on what peope actually watched. No one won anything in the debate. This is just a part of the Presidential election that take splace very four years. What counts is the vote on November 4, 2008, when people go to the polls. Debates won't matter - ads won't matter. Its just politics as usual. Everyone knows that the Democrats play the role of the savior as usual. Unfortunately, it takes experience and BO does not have it.

[Erdgeist]

McCain by treating Obama like an upstart has, himself, no credibility when we scrutinize all that times he has been to Iraq or Afghanistan, essentially, being in a well protected Pope-mobile, just so he can have bragging rights.

[Sandy972]

Actually, Dick Morris, on Fox News said that Obama won the debate and so did a couple of others. Only Hannity wouldn't give it up. Let's all call up Charlie Gibson and tell him to mention on the next ABC nightly news that BTW Senator McCain was not wearing a flag pin. Let's see if he is man enough to do it.

Sorry, McCain looked like he was about ready to jump out of his skin from the very beginning.­...whoops!

[Buki]

"...Now I get why McCain would avoid the subject given that his whole career has been based on stripping away the regulations that had held our economy together since the FDR administration. But why did Obama back away given how comically vulnerable McCain is?"

Here's why. I'll borrow a leaf from McCain's book and give you the folksy version of the answer; A wise man does not fire off all his bullets in the first volley. Obama will get there, but there are two (three?) more debates yet to go.

[HoldenLitgo]

Two words for McCain and his Clan: flag pin. Where was it? Ain't it the empty gesture by which we judge all candidates?

[walk0nwalls]

Your writing style gets +10 points for awesome