Flatlining the Debate [Updated]

Since John McCain has already declared himself winner of the first debate (even if he is not Miss Congeniality), does it matter that he seemed like a doddering old party stuck in another era of politics? He was better than Ambien, better than Lunesta in putting the electorate to sleep.

Watching the "debate" with the blue, red and green lines rising and falling, it was stunning to watch the lines go flat as voters of all persuasions dozed off. McCain seemed intent on giving us a tour of all the war zones he'd visited and I'm afraid he occasionally dragged Obama down to his snooze-fest level. He mentioned Ronald Reagan almost as much as he mentioned his war-zone visits and everyone fell asleep.

He seemed to think "You're wrong!" was a rhetorical flourish.

I wish Barack Obama had lifted himself above Mc Cain's snooze-lines. At times, he seemed infected by McCain's lethargy. But Obama was clearer and cleaner in verbal style than he's ever been. I wish he weren't so generous in acknowledging McCain. Perhaps he is too kind to his mean-spirited rival. He is more gentlemanly than he needs to be. It must be a great burden not to seem "uppity." But his new clarity was certainly welcome.

I do hope Obama will continue his clear, direct delivery. I would still like more fire from him. He is authoritative and knowledgeable but at this point. his cool may be self-defeating.

What a bind he must be in! He has to be cool for the people who think he's uppity. He has to be knowledgeable for the people who think he's a new newbie. He did both well. But let's have the fire next time.

UPDATE, 9/27:

Watching the first debate with two friends from the UK--one a Member of Parliament and one a novelist who is a life-long Labour Party supporter, I became aware of things Americans might not notice: One was McCain's low level of fact checking and consistency, his assumption that the electorate would not notice his many reversals and descents into gobbledy gook. The other was my MP friend's commentary on rhetorical mistakes: the over use of sentences beginning with "I" by both candidates, the misunderstanding of the art of debate (better honed in the UK).

But we all agreed that in substance Obama was the most presidential, the most prepared to lead this complex country and the most open-minded. He has both intelligence and emotional intelligence. We could all imagine him negotiating with foreign powers, deliberating calmly on domestic problems, and bringing his far-reaching intellect and obvious goodwill to bear on all matters.

In no way do I mean to slight Obama for his cool deliberation. It is a great strength in a public servant. Sometimes the campaign trail calls for more emphatic statements. Obama is learning that as he goes along.

The main point is: we would all feel comfortable with this smart, humane man in the White House. His values are sound. His brain is capacious and wise. We all wished he were already there!

Read more reactions to the first presidential debate from HuffPost bloggers, including Nora Ephron, Bob Shrum, Madeleine Albright, Paul Reiser, Arianna Huffington, Sean Penn, Sheryl Crow, and more.

Comments

[dahpunkster]

I felt the same way. Mccain was blathering like and sputtering like old dragon and huffing and puffing all around
I hope Obama gets it,I am gonna do whatever I can to help him.Knocki­ng on doors and that kind of thing .I sincerely hope he takes a page from Hillary's book and defends himself a little more.Diplo­macy is one thing,but letting the other candidate bully you is another thing.

[oncethere]

Interesting perspective from the Brits. My sense is that it is very difficult to debate with or engage in dialogue (or mutual relations) with rigid conservatives. Have you ever had that opportunity, on a personal level. There are few experiences in life that I would consider less rewarding. They are bullies, easily frustrated, unreasonable and most of all prone to mis-perceive reality, mis-characterize things and make ridiculous comparisons---like O's clinging to his view that the surge was not a success evidenced the same stubborness exhibited by Bush.

Obama is going to have to figure out how best to deal with people who project, rationalize, deny, suppress, compartmentalize and so on. I know that when I dialogue with a rigid conservative, I quickly give up any hope of having a meaninful conversation.

[allonfla]

ENOUGH! I'm starting to believe that you people will not be happy until Obama literally starts barking and growling while he is speaking. Obama did great in his delivery and was more agressive than he has been in other debates. Even his pausing sounds was a lot less. Seriously, give these guys a break, yes McCain too. These guys do everyday what most people fear worse than death, public speaking. Think about this while you sit at home and type your critiques ANONYMOUSLY (spelling?). Hindsight is 20/20. Both candidates missed opportunities - that is what happens when you are timed and have to choose the most effective attack in a moments notice. You at home are not under the same pressure. Say what you want about Obama's performance, NO ONE commenting here could have done better. DON'T KID YOURSELVES!!!!

[TenThings]

John McCain was Rigid . Obama appeared to have immovable resolve. There is a difference, McCain's rigidity was in his "Words", and in his "Wording", which reflected a man that was adamant about being unreasonable - and this in itself is self defeating, for Mccain.

In the long run, Obama was not self defeating, read Sheryl Crow's post, which laid it out. The perceptions most people saw in McCain is a man whose own condescending, and even stubborness is self defeating.

I disagree with the binds you think Obama is in but let's be honest, every politician including Hillary Clintons, has their own binds. It's not a take it or leave it mentality, but it's "listen people, you yourselves are your own worst enemy and self defeating if you still think Obama is uppity"

Obama succeeded doing what he had to do, which is to show knowledge and cool for people that think he is a newbie.

It's McCain's "own Fire" that is self defeating. It's called being PIG headed, and Obama doesn't need fire to roast that PIG, McCain's already Bacon.

[krocklin]

Obama was too hesitant. Instead of mentioning the Bomb Bomb Bomb Iran thing, which went right by most viewers because of the hesitant way he brought it up, he should have said "McCain believes in taunting our adversaries with silly ditties." He didn't frame the reference properly.
His repartee on Spain was great though. It had the mocking incredulous tone Bill Clinton or Biden would have used.
In fact Biden would have cleaned McCain's clock, as evidenced in his after debate remarks, which struck just the right attack mode. Biden should coach Obama.
Biggest ommission on Obama's part: not mentioning that McCain has voted against almost every veteran's bill when he started talking about what an advocate for veterans he is. He should have said: "I'm astonished that Senator McCain now professes the "love" veterans hold for him, while voting against every provision that would help them, including the recent one."

[MomWithTwoHeads]

Bill Clinton would have blasted McCain out of the water, too. He's better than Obama is now. But remember, in 1992, Clinton wasn't as good as Clinton is now. Obama is pretty great now, and in eight years after he's cleaned up the country, he will be as good if not better than Clinton.

Point being, it's gard to remember, but Obama is new to all this.

Obama has been on the national stage a few years, not 17 or 18 like Clinton. And he's been in the hotseat for 18 months. The amazing thing to me is, that after 26 years in the public eye, McCain isn't all that great. Rhetorically, he was apt. But his demeanor, anger, beedy eyes, and lack of grace just sunk him last night. By the end of next week, after some reflection, we're all going to be using McCain 08 and NIxon 60 in the same sentence.

Hasn't McCain ever read anything about how to debate on tv? Or doesn't he read? We know he doesn't google.

[shaitan]

Obama's starting off with " I agree with John" statements were a poor way to express his own opinion. He should have just said what he thought by saying "I differ with McCain in the following aspect on this matter- - -" He should also have been more honest. Georgia started the war in South Ossetia. On Iran he could have mentioned the NIE which clearly stated that Iran abandoned its nuclear weapons program in 2003 and then re-emphasized his willingness to talk instead of rushing to war as Bush did In Iraq and as McCain-Palin seem all to ready to do. He could have quoted Palin's "perhaps so" comment about going to war with Russia. Also for the next debates Obama should find at least one phrase that is memorable and stays in the viewers mind. That should be easy for him. McCain was sneering but Obama was flat--nothing memorable

[Fudgefase]

The US needs their politicians to be able to get a little pumped on occasion. Obama needs to get a little more fire.
BUT, and I say this carefully, and I say it ONLY mindful that you have a HUGE right wing media just waiting for the shot - he MUST NOT show the whites of his eyes or flare his nostrils. BOTH are 'Hollywood' speak for angry, dangerous black man, and 'signs' the viewers will be well familiar with.
They're just waiting to get the shots - get fire Obama, but stay contained.

[THEhillbilly]

"But let's have the fire next time."

The rhetorician has spent his life perfecting his carefully choreographed and endlessly rehearsed act. He isn't going to change it now that magniloquence alone has "earned" him this opportunity to beneficently bestow upon us what he sees as the privilege of making him president.

[sufi66]

You are condescending, like McCain's refusal to look at Obama. You are real close to calling Obama "uppity," here so what are you really trying to say?

[ShakeYourComplacency]

Of course we all know it's not an act. So don't even try. But that's what's so frustrating. He's naturally calm and methodical. He'll do well as a president, solving problems and interracting with everyone to resolve differences, and making progress, moving the chains, as they say in football. But yeah, I'd like to see more emphasis on some key points during the debate.

[jacqmac]

Got your check from Rick Davis yet?

[sufi66]

This "bind" idea makes sense to me. Obama has to figure, though, that he's gone this far, so why change?

He's managed to get past the Clintons and he amazingly close to being our first
African-American president.

I salute his tenacity and style.

[Luigi53102]

"his cool may be self-defeating"

I must disagree. As others have pointed out, he is being himself. I learned this morning that my 84-year-old mother, a lifelong Repub, found him very impressive. And that she considers Palin a joke. My Mom has a great BS detector (aside from politics, at least), and if she's impressed with O, it means he came across as calm, cool, intelligent, presidenti­al.... and genuine.

That guy on the other side of the stage couldn't be genuine if you tattoed the word on his forehead. How pathetic to have to define himself as a maverick.

[KayDGee]

Dr Scott , below, has pegged why McCain wouldn't look at Sen Obama last night.. the eye thing. Perhaps that is the modern version of Pinocchio's nose? The Obama camp has to come up with one more tweak in that balance between civility and bully. Al Gore moving around the stage didn't work (too tall); John Kerry trying the intelletual approach didn't work (some of his long words had a perspective to them). I believe that Obama has solved the riddle of the sphinx on this one; except that he has to bark back just a little harder when McCain keeps up the dominant dog routine - It's the only language that the Rovian's understand - and I believe even the most hardened Republicans are beginning to see that the proactive Sen Obama has a lot more to day provided that the reactive Sen McCain can be compelled to either pipe down, or come up with something besides 'when I was a young man' stories.

[CBS]

Good observation Erica. I have been telling everyone I know that Obama is the John Coltrane of politics..­.cool, deliberative, brilliant. I think he showed enough fire consistent with his personality. Anything more would have been phony. He clearly has the temperament we need for a president who has to clean up the mess of hurricane proportions left by Booosh and company.

[Marysdude]

But, why oh why didn't Obama jump on McCain every time McCain said something about his foreign travels? If those travels were so important, why did McCain select Palin as his running mate? Obama missed one of the best come-backs in the history of Presidential Debates...

[VicksieDo]

It's not about Palin, it's about a direction for the country. I'm glad he didn't go there. I thought he did very well.

[Brattlerouser]

WWMTS?

What would Matt Taibbi say Erica?

[dct1999]

LMAO

[CaptainStormfield]

One thing that stood out to me was the McCain is stuck in the past. He kept bringing up all these dead people? Maybe with the boomer bubble those that remember George Schultz are a significant block of voters? Why I remember back in 49......

[momof3inGA]

"he kept bringing up all these dead people..."

ROFL!

[justsomeguywhocameby]

ROFL!!!!!

[DetachedObserver2]

Just reciting names of places where McCain has been does not mean he knows about them. And it is impossible for any President to have visited all the places where problems are likely to crop up. What is important in a President is the ability to chose the right people to his cabinet, to be able to listen to their opinions and advise, and make a rational impassionate decsion based on sound judgement. McCain showed none of this in the debate. Obama proved he is the most presidential.
For all his travels, McCain got it wrong on Russia and was wrong to think Musharraf's coup in Pakistan saved a failed state.

[sufi66]

"Just reciting names of places where McCain has been does not mean he knows about them."

This is an old trick from politicians who want to appear more knowing than they really are. You are right: it means nothing.

[jacqmac]

Also, quite a few of these 'tours' were in War Zones. And, McCain spent millions of dollars of taxpayer money in order to be secure---armed soldiers, body armor (funny, they found some for HIM), helicopters hovering overhead---nice photo ops, but there surely could have been something better to DO than tour War Zones. My Dad-a WW II VET-NEVER liked 'dignitaries' that 'toured' the front. He told stories about having to actually move enitre divisions DIVERTED because the great Bob Hope came to entertain. He had NOTHING against the USO-just against the logistics involved. After all, being burned by a match doesn't mean that you've been to Hell.

[fishgirl26]

In my opinion he was trying to pull a "Bush". He was trying to say that he's been to all of these places but he doesn't know anything about them. He must have had a list sitting in front of him. He'd better give the notebook to Palin.....­.that will be a debacle for her!

[dct1999]

Has it ever occured to you that Obama's coolness/iciness is authentic?

Why are so many of you so willing to believe the whole - he doesn't want to appear like the angry black guy- thing?

Can a black person ever just be themselves without all the psychoanalyzing?

[Graywolf48]

If racial bigotry didn't exist as strongly as it does in America, yes a black person seeking a job promotion or elected office could just "be themselves". Unfortunately that is not the case. Everything being seen through a white prism or via white advantage means a black or even a Hispanic must be sure they are not perceived by the white majority as "angry", "lazy", "shiftless" etc. That may have been one reason Obama held back in attacking McCain last night when McCain so invited numerous attacks due to his outright lies and distortions of both his and Obama's records and positions. Obama must guard against being seen as too "uppity" and being too hard or disrespectful of our elderly white war hero. It has nothing to do with "psychoanalyzing". It has everything to do with recognizing the facts about the perception of minorities by those who makeup the current majority of this country.

[dct1999]

Yes that MAY be one reason. But my point is that many people don't even consider that showing anger is simply not his style.

I am black and hispanic and I don't need any lessons on being seen through a "white prism".

IMO, people not having the ability to see that Obama may not even care about the whole "angry black man" theme is a bit r.a.c.i.s.­t in and of itself.

[PadrePio]

I'd rather have a cool Obama in the White House than that f@#king drama queen John McCain. I want all of the asshat liberals to get off of Obama as to cool and start focusing on John McCain as being out of control. McCain is all about injecting himself in as the hero even if it screws things up. Why aren't you writing about that.

[dct1999]

Who are you to tell me what to write about?

My point was that I'm sick and tired of everybody buying into the whole "Obama is afraid to appear as the angry black guy" without questioning it's validity.

IMO, it may be that he doesn't give a d@mn about that, or it may be accurate. We don't know and we should stop repeating it as if it is some sort of TRUTH that cannot be denied.