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

[QueenOfViolets]

I want to hear Madeleine's opinion on McCain's assertion that he would have "stayed in Afghanistan after the Russians left" back in 1989.

First, we were never IN Afghanistan. We were in Pakistan. And the "we" did not include troops. Most of that "we" was taxpayer money that we couldn't even give the Afghan mujahedin directly because they hated America so much. We had to funnel that taxpayer money through the Pakistan ISI.

So what would "we" have done in Afghanistan after the Red Army left?

I cannot see him supporting the Northern Alliance against Hekmatyr, since the Northern Alliance included General Rashid Dostum, a Communist who'd fought with the Soviet side during the war.

On the other hand, Hekmatyr was a war criminal. The CIA had surveillance photos of him using Soviet POWs as sex slaves. According to journalist Raja Anwar, Hekmatyr had a reputation as a sex offender even back in college. According to Afghan feminists, when Hekmatyr took over Kabul, the city turned into a rape-a-thon. Any woman who stepped outside by herself would be raped.

Which side would President McCain have sent our troops to support back then? The radical Islamic accused serial rapist, or the moderate Islamic coalition with the same Afghan Communist military commanders whom our taxpayer money had just finished defeating?

I want to know what he would have done. He put the issue on the table last night so let's hear the details.

[LorettaSingbiel]

"Which side would President McCain have sent our troops to support back then?"

McSAME doesn't know which side our troops should support on any given day in IRAQ.

WHAT are we to "WIN" in IRAQ? ... "the hearts and minds of Iraqis"? ... it WON'T happen BECAUSE we came as "liberators?" and STAY as OCCUPIERS!!!

No more BLOOD for OIL!!!

McSAME's REVEALING and RAGING RANT about HIMSELF having to suffer the indignity of having fought in a FAILED war in Vietnam, is what DANGEROUSLY DRIVES his OMINOUS OBSESSION of "winning" in IRAQ ... no matter the LOSS in LIVES and LIMBS!

He CLEARLY suffers from Vietnam PTSD ... and HIS "central front in the war on terror" in IRAQ will NOT give him CLOSURE. He AND Palin MUST be kept OUT of OUR White House!!!

I ADMIRE & RESPECT Obama's calm and collected demeanor ... his REFUSAL to stoop to McSAME's level of falsehoods & flipflops, childish conniptions, and CRM (Can't Remember S**t).

OBAMA/BIDEN '08!
HOPE and CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN!!!

[cornflower]

Will someone, please, please,please challenge McCain's assertion that we have won in Iraq. If we have won, then why can't we pull out??????????????? Can Obama please ask this question of him? If the surge has been so successful and it's all over but the singing, then why do we still have 150,000 troops there and no prospect of their leaving. THIS IS NOT VICTORY!!!! and the assertion taht we have won with the surge is a stinking pile of nonsense. I can't stand listening to this assertion go unchallenged one more time.

And where does McCain get off calling Obama inexperienced after having chosen Palin, who is less than Obama by every conceivable measure, to be the VP and potentially the POTUS?????? This is such galling hypocrisy. Unbearable.

[Seattle34]

We will have won when the Iraqi economy is a top 10 economy. Just like we did for Germany, Japan and S Korea. But it takes decades for that to be known.

Here's one to think about: McCain pushed Obama HARD on foreign policy, so hard that Obama was visibly rattled. If Obama became that rattled in a simple debate with clear rules and lies being checked, how will he do with with a lunatic across the table from him that is lying to get what he wants?

[evekendall]

Obama was not rattled at all. And it would be nice if McCain were more worried about our own economy.

[LorettaSingbiel]

The "return on success" of the SURGE was SUPPOSED to bring about a POLITICAL RECONCILIATION.

It has NOT!

The SURGE did NOT work!!! And THAT is why "we still have 150,000 troops there and no prospect of their leaving".

I ALSO "can't stand listening to this assertion go unchallenged one more time"... and SCREAMED at Obama to throw the knockout punch RIGHT THEN AND THERE! He did PUNCH the point of troops STILL at SURGE levels ... but there wasn't time to discuss the UNSPOKEN tactic which helped (TEMPORARILY?) curb violence ...

We PAID Saddam's Sunnis to fight Al-Qaeda's Sunnis and PROMISED their inclusion in Iraqi business & bankroll. PROBLEM is ... the Iraqi Government has decided to ATTACK & ARREST, instead of AWARD them ... and NOW that Saddam's loyalists have "Awakened" to the realization that they've been double-crossed by both OUR government AND their "Iraqi government" ... they MAY decide to transition from "former" to FUTURE Iraqi INSURGENTS, once AGAIN!?

Why have Bush/McBush hung Saddam? He will seem like a SAINT, compared to his successor!

OBAMA/BIDEN '08!
HOPE and CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN!!!

[KansasWrangler]

I miss people like Madeleine Albright in the cabinet. Did anyone notice how McCain smirked whenever Obama called him on something? What a pompous old man. I didn't notice him using the "I was a POW" argument, but I dosed off a few times.

[island-in-alabama]

HuffPost's Pick

Obama understands this campaign will be won or lost by swaying the undecided. They are ready for change but need assurance that Obama is a wise choice. His approach and conduct presented a candidate who will make sound judgments, after appropriate deliberation.

The contrast last night was between a bully who can't admit that others can also be right and a smart, calm, intelligent person punches back when needed, but is also able to find and acknowledge common ground.

Bullies are not interested in resolving disputes, but in demonstrating power over others. That causes a lot more problems that it solves. We've seen what eight years of being a bully does to our country.

Many "pundits" - too close to the game - simply score the game based on the bully's rules. They see lies, insults and belittlement as point scoring. So they think the biggest bully won. They are easily led by talking points. They don't seem to able to step back and recognize the full strategic landscape.

Independents aren't vested in the game, or bully's rules.They grade against a different scale - lies, insults and belittlement look less like point scoring.

Obama's job in the debate was not to tear McCain down, but offer the undecided voter the option of choosing an intelligent, temperate, respectful leader who is not afraid, when necessary, to act forcefully, but rationally.

Obama demonstrated impressive insight into the strategy and tactics of a presidential campaign.

McCain just pressed his replay button.

[shedances]

I have a great deal of respect for Barack Obama, too; but in fairness to his opponent, McCain's not a "bully." He's unwise. He's not as smart as Barack. And he's still affected by his Vietnam War experiences. That is the package John McCain brings to the table. In a limited role, his obvious loyalty & love for our country would be an asset. But as a leader who has to deal with a range of social, political, economic, human rights issues ... he couldn't cut it. So he gets angry. Not as Obama ... but at his own shortcomings. And the guy's over 70 years old, competing with a fellow who's 30 years his junior. It's an impossible task; but certainly his own fault for getting into it in the first place. My two-cents on your post. Hope you don't mind!

[GraceNeeded]

I disagree with you on McCain being a bully. Whenever someone wants to use might to make right, that is bullying and McCain does this on an above average basis. It is the way he was raised, trained and responds to the world. My impression is that Senator Obama has learned to deal with this kind of behavior in his past and recognized how to respond without reacting and put himself above such petty back and forth.

[Sound-Bitten]

Google "McCain's History of Blow-ups" and tell me he is not a bully.

McCain reminds me of Nikita Krushchev, who also called people jerks, pounded his fists, and even took off his shoe and pounded it to get attention.

[island-in-alabama]

I don't mind your opinion at all. I disagree, as I think McCain is acting like a classic bully, but I don't mind.

I think your insight: that McCain realizes he is over-matched on the broad range of issues that a president needs to deal with, and gets angrier in his frustration, is an excellent one. The point reinforces that McCain does not posses a suitable temperament to hold presidential office.

[cornflower]

I couldn't have said it better myself. The general consensus that Barack won shows that he knows what he's doing. He has not failed us or himself. He's on top of his game. Everyone sees McCain more clearly for who he is and what his campaign is about -which is him. The debate was so enlightening about each of of them - not necessarily about issues, but about the debaters.

Obama handled it perfectly.

[nellie]

Thank you so much, Madame Secretary. I have always thought of you as a tough audience, an honest critic, and someone who never extended unnecessary niceties. Your comments on Obama are, for those reasons, weighty praise and very much appreciated.

[afrayedknot]

Thank you Madam Albright. And, not only did McCain not clarify how M/P policy, strategy or tactics would differ from that of the current administration, his behavior was a continuation of the contempt, disrespect and arrogance delivered over the last 8 years.

How many times did McCain say Obama didn't understand or was naive for not? M's dismissiveness of a different opinion seemed to be his favorite -- and possibly only -- answer. McCain's smirking and the unwillingness to even acknowledge another human being was present, let alone speaking is also reminiscent of the current executive.

To me, McCain's comportment and policy are completely indistinguishable from that of George W. Bush.

[simkmer]

McCain showed too much emotion and immaturity. We do not need that from our President.
We need intelligence and diplomacy. Obama/Biden 08

[PhyloSeFiser]

Madeleine Albright is a great mind. This is high praise coming from her. She's one of the smartest people I know of on foreign policy.

One thing. McCain never challenged Obama's assertion that he wouldn't talk to the leader of Spain.

McCain seriously won't talk to the leader of a NATO ally?

WTF?

[peace1970]

I thought Barack not only held his own, but the comparison of these two men was astounding....one who actually could agree with his rival on things and give him credit, the other a sad old man buried in the past...it's obvious who will be leading the nation in the years to come.
Obama/Biden!!

[drumz]

By not looking Obama in the eyes EVER should prove McCain is unfit to be the leader of our country. Did he not look him in the eyes because he was black or that he knew that Obama was superior in all facets; intelligence, demeanor and character. McCain is a weak, tired and mean old man and is the best candidate the GOP has? PATHETIC!.

[Justsaynodeal]

"McCain is a weak, tired and mean old man and is the best candidate the GOP has? PATHETIC!."

You could see all of this in the fact that you say "By not looking Obama in the eyes EVER should prove McCain is unfit to be the leader of our country." You should be a spinmeister for the 0-camp because all they could come up with was "0 was the future and McCain is the past."

[drumz]

So not being able to look someone in the eyes is not a character flaw?

[aprilshowers]

Thank you Madeleine Albright. I have three main observations on the debate. 1. Most telling when Jim Lehrer asked McCain what lessons he had learned from Iraq, McCain could not come up with a constructive answer. If McCain cannot learn from our mistakes, he is destined to repeat those same mistakes. 2. McCain's TACTICS of not looking Obama in the eye and belittling him was arrogant and condescending and NOT a good STRATEGY. 3. As to on the job training, since when has John McCain been President of the USA? I would conclude that as President, both McCain and Obama have zero experience. And that refers us back to my first observation.

[Pdubya]

The Debate in a Nutshell
Posted by James Ostrowski at September 27, 2008 08:00 AM
McBama favors the Billionaire Bailout.
McBama won't say what programs have to be cut to pay for the Billionaire Bailout.
McBama thinks "we should never hesitate to use military force."
McBama wants to escalate the other unwinnable "land war in Asia" (Afghanistan).
McBama is not sure about whether to start a third unwinnable land war in Asia, against nuclear power Pakistan.
McBama would go to war against Iran for the sake of Israel if necessary. He is not sure if he wants to talk with the Iranians before bombing them.
McBama thinks that Russia is the villain in Georgia.
And the winner of the debate is: Ron Paul, who said recently that there’s not a dime’s worth of difference between the two parties.

[lbcny]

McCain goes to war with cancer, attacks, dies and Sarah Palin is your President.

It's over pdubya. Obama/Biden '08

[kathy4change]

Oh, but he has experience with foreign policy since Alaska borders Canada and Russia! Just kidding! The GOP has been hiding her because she knows so little about foreign affairs, our economy etc. Shame on Mc Cain for selecting an extreme right winger as his running mate after he recently referred to Robertson and Fallwell (both right wingers) as "intolerable" - and he thinks Palin is tolerable???
All the more reason to VOTE FOR OBAMA/BIDEN

[Pdubya]

what is over?

the revolution?

the depression?

sh*ts just started.......

www.campaignforliberty.com

[bogues]

You say that Ron Paul says there isn't a dimes worth of difference between the two parties. That must be a standard line for Independant candidates because Bob Barr says it too. Either Obama or McCain are going to be the next President, after last nights debate, serious Americans in this country know that it should be Obama.

[flippinheck]

Did you actually WATCH the debate? And I'm sorry but is Ron Paul still running? Uh, you and about four other people care what he has to say.

[IndependantGal]

Oh pleeze! Your probably voted for Nader in '00, and gave the election to Bush...Sad.

[Tehja]

If there was one clear defining moment of this debate for me, (I have been an Obama supporter since I first saw and heard him speak at the 2004 Democratic convention) it was his remark about needing to use a scapel rather then an axe (his response to McCain wanting to freeze all govt programs). I would far rather have a surgeon in the White House than a lumber jack. I can't imagine how much more damage a McCain White House could do to this country at home and abroard, but I expect it would be considerable. He appears to be quick to anger and slow to think.It is already a train wreck from 8 years of Bush. Please let us get someone who has a chance of getting us back on the tracks. I will go for wisdom and thoughtfulness and intelligence any day over warriors and pit bulls.

[Norge]

It certainly will be interesting to see if the whiteman's house actually will have, after 200 years another shade of color living within it's hallowed walls.

Large numbers have visited there from the 4 corners of the earth. One being the Queen of Hawaii after she had been deposed by the American government. Her visit was to ask for her country back.

She never successed and only became another prisoner of America.
Perhaps Obama can right a terrrible historical injustice if he becomes the new occupant.

[vanbasten]

mccain was angry and lecturing obama about foreign policy,he repeated the phrasemany times,but obama showed his way of going to be a new president in a new era.obama is going to the white house.