A Breakthrough Night for Obama

Tonight was a breakthrough for Senator Obama, who showed himself truly ready to be president. He responded knowledgeably, thoughtfully and confidently to the toughest questions on the economy, Iraq, and terror. Meanwhile, Senator McCain spent so much time attacking his opponent, he neglected to show how a McCain-Palin administration would differ from Bush-Cheney. As a result, Obama answered the threshold question about his candidacy; McCain did not.

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

Comments

[research]

Madeleine: What did you think of the comparative body language?

McCain, Grumpy old fearful, resentful, smirking won't even look Obama in the eye.

Obama, standing tall and open, looking directly at McCain,

Prey and servants avoid eye contact.

Lions and Leaders look directly at you.

TV is all VISUAL.

[kiwijohn]

Madeleine Albright's statesmanship and thoughtful contribution to this world are once again reconfirmed in this latest blog. Putting positive spin on a shambolic state of affairs, however, is risky business if outcomes do not match the predictions. The damage has been done and it will take many years to reestablish global credibility in America and its people - regardless who wins the Presidential Election. In the course of the past few months the world has gained insight into what makes us tick: borderline truthfulness, unpredictable (maverick) behavior, superficiality and fundamentalist bias, bluster, shallow feminism and a unique amalgamation of political correctness and unsubtle racism; a country focused on belligerent posturing and the appointment of its next commander in chief; a country now replete with unrighteous kingship. There is a way forward, however. That path lies in a commitment to the pursuit of the truth as the overriding and unequivocal principle of our endeavor.

[cyndeewi]

Congrats on your new book Secretary Albright.

[akaJohnQ]

One of the last things that John McCain said in the debate was that he didn't think that Barack Obama had the the experience or the judgement to be President. Based on some of the decisions that McCain has made in the last few years, it's obvious that HE is the candidate who shows poor judgement. For example; Obama was able to praise his running mate, Joe Biden, while McCain never mentioned Sarah Palin. Second thoughts, perhaps?

[ClareP]

He did mention her. Second thoughts, probably, but you know the playbook (Rove/Bush)- never admit to lies or mistakes. All bluster.

[AbigailPosts]

Mr. Anti-Earmark can't mention her.

[Heartlight3]

He mentioned her. Didn't you hear him say what a great "maverick" his partner was? He had an enthusiastic (fake) grin on his face like he was trying really hard to convince himself that he made the right choice. It was really funny.

[DShawn233]

GAWDDDDDDD!!!!!! Bagdad Bob-Tucker Bounds is on MSNBC and it is priceless. They pay this man?? The people donating to Mc Gaffe need a refund. As Pail In would say: "Like Nowwww."

[OlderBudWeiser]

Now we have Megan Ortegas who is touting Mc. A match made in Heaven for Tucker Bounds. Both of them need to learn about history, economics, strength and wisdom.

[Icantbelieveher]

And McCain kept saying Obama didn't understand, but it was clear that he did unde rstand. I think McCain was hoping he could make Obama appear clu eless, but he's dealing with an intell igent man here!

Did anyone notice that Barack called McCain by his first name, but McCain kept saying "Senator Obama" in a most condescen ding way! And he kept shif ting on his feet, like he was nerv ous! He didn't look so confi dent to me!

[elbzee]

I excercized EXTREME CONSTRAINT and did NOT put my foot through the TV every time he said that.

[kathy001]

LOL! Me, too!

[seriously29]

Agreed. why are people saying mcsame was confident. He looked angry, and the root of anger is fear. He would say that O was clueless or didn't understand, but that was it. mcsame went on to talk about something that was all over the place. If you are going to say someone doesn't under understand then you need to explain why, and please, please understand the information yourself.

[eshalom]

Icantbelieveher

Personally, I can think of more interesting ways to spend a Friday evening than watch a boring debate between McCain and Obama, two equally mediocre candidates who can't help reminding us of how superior Hillary Clinton is to both of them.

I did sit through it, however, and I thought Obama was repeatedly rude. I don't think he allowed McCain to complete a sentence without interrupting and talking over him. I couldn't understand why Lehrer didn't intervene. Obama seemed like a nervous, over eager kid up there who couldn't wait his turn. If you don't believe me, go watch the video of the debate.

Every time Obama said that McCain was right about something, I recalled how he had said the same in response to Hillary and piggy-backed on her answers in every debate - as she finally pointed out, the debate moderators usually asked her the hard questions first.

[peacegurl48]

Answer: it would be more of the same only MUCH SCARIER!

[judesuper]

See we told you. Obama is going to be a great President. Presidential.

McCain on the other hand is living in the past century. For a man that says he will look you in the eye and talk straight, he couldn't. He never once looked in Obama's direction. McCain acted like a desperate, grouchy old man. Actually he looked like a coward by bad mouthing Obama without having the nerve to look at him while doing so. Coward.

[LITU]

Just ask the POWs and MIAs against McCain about his courage. Interesting stuff there.

[Phalanxman]

Shame also. Even though McCain never showed his face to Obama, he showed it to America. One of them, anyway.

[shedances]

There are 3 issues that I wish Sen. Obama had had an opportunity to call McCain on, during the debate: (1) responding to McCain's quip about sitting down with Ahmedijan on Israel and telling him, Don't do that ... how effective would that be? ... by reminding him of the importance of diplomacy first & foremost, before upping the ante; (2) that McCain was wrong on Eisenhower saying he would resign ~ a gaffe in McCain's knowledge of history, despite his seniority; and (3) on his interesting positive remark about former Pres. Nixon, I wish Sen. Obama would've reminded him that 'only Nixon could've gone to China' for not-so-great reasons that had to do with the disgraced Nixon & Mao Zedong's end of his Cultural Revolution. Yes, it was very important to Sino-American relations ... but different from today's international problems such as terrorism.

That's all for me. I look forward to the next debate, Ms. Albright; and your view of it!

[cyndeewi]

Obama should have called McCain on his statement that he loved veterans. What a joke?

[seriously29]

when mccain said that about Ahmedijan, O responded "its not like I will be offering him tea." There was more, but I loved this part.

[pandag]

My thoughts - How do you feel about having a person who leaps into instant decisions only to change them hours later. Truly, is this a good thing? If a world leader made a huge snap decision & later realized it was wrong, what if it couldn't be changed? McCain is very frightening. He does not have the self-control necessary for this enormous responsibility of being President. His lack of self-control was evident in last night's debate, e.g. when Obama tried to respond at one particular time & McCain just kept on talking & then Jim tried to get McCain to stop & he kept on talking, then Obama looked at Jim very calmly & said "let's move on to the last question" and McCain was still talking. Is that not telling - who there was listening - Obama was in control and he was listening. He will be a responsible and mature person. Maturity is not a function of age but rather of how one conducts his or herself.

[RenoSage]

We cannot have a temperamental person with his finger on the proverbial "red button ".

[kathy001]

Exactly! Think about what might happen with a McCain presidency if Putin pisses McCain off. 2 hours after you press that red button you can't just take it back.

[CommonSenseBda]

Especially if that instant decision involves using the little red button, which can't be reversed an hour later after the damage is done.

[roch20]

Excellent, couldn't have been put in better words!!! Obama/Biden 2008!

[ghunt]

I agree. Did anyone notice that John McCain's domestic economic plan didn't amount to anything more than "cut spending." I mean, given every question directed to him concerning the economy, that was his answer. Did anyone count how many times he said that, while giving no explanation of his economic plan or goals beyond that? In light of our current economic crisis, McCain can't seriously think he's going to be elected without an economic plan.

[gwismyhero]

Yea, he said he would "freeze spending" for us at home, but that he would continue to send money to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan..­.I'm so sick of our country sending OUR tax dollars to rogue nations who just turn around and use that money against us.

[OlderBudWeiser]

The 700 billion is close to what we've spent in Iraq, 558 billion as of today (trying to control their oil) Afghanistan over 6 years! If Afghanistan had oil under it we would have spent the money in that direction. Greed, corruption, deregulation is what got us in the fix we're in. The lecture we get is don't spend what you don't have. Same should apply to Wall St. The market should fix itself with out the taxpayer bleed. There is no gurantee throwing money at it will fix it either.

[seriously29]

Mccains economic plan "I will cut everything except for the military and veterans." Since he got a D with veterans, well I guess they will get nothing.

[rgblue]

Short and sweet and so true!

[oneblackvote]

President Obama.

[amcg50]

Personally I believe that Obama is a better poker player than McCain; remember it is just the first of Three debates. I don't think that he wants to show his hand quite yet!

Also this was supposed to be McCain's best shot

[Icantbelieveher]

I think McCain blinked!

[NuOrigin]

McCain blinked...­like ten thousand times last night.