Oxford Debate

Barack Obama and the Return of Grace

Michael Seitzman | Posted 10.27.2008 | Politics


Michael Seitzman

Ironically, the fact that Obama granted his opponent the courtesy of pointing out the places where they agree is the very quality of leadership that McCain continues to falsely claim as his own.

The Debate: Nobody Wins Big
McCain NewsLadder

The Media Consortium | Posted 10.27.2008 | Home


The Media Consortium

Taking a glance at liveblogging and instant analysis by progressive media outlets of the first presidential debate, one thing stands out: none of our bloggers saw a knockout victory overall...

Where My Mind Went After the Debate

Will.i.am | Posted 10.27.2008 | Politics


Will.i.am

I'm glad that Senator Obama brought domestic issues to a foreign policy debate, because fixing "home" would alter our foreign relations.

Nico Pitney and Sam Stein

The Smirk: Could McCain's Facial Gestures Define Debate?

HuffingtonPost.com | Nico Pitney and Sam Stein | Posted 10.27.2008 | Politics


As the spin of Friday night's debate settled in and both sides staked a claim to victory, one media narrative began to take hold: while Obama may have...

Ringside

Nora Ephron | Posted 10.27.2008 | Politics


Nora Ephron

There was a moment, when the debate ended and the wives came up on stage, where I actually knew, or thought I knew, who had won. I'm sorry to say it, but it was John McCain.

Obama vs. McCain: Gettin' LiveBloggy With It

Huffington Post | Rachel Sklar | Posted 10.28.2008 | Media


ETP liveblogged the debate tonight with Glynnis MacNicol and John Carney. You can find all the good stuff through the link (we blogged it using the n...

A Good Night for Stasis, a Bad Night for Reality

Arianna Huffington | Posted 10.27.2008 | Politics


Arianna Huffington

It was a good night for Obama because, when 83 percent of the country believe we are on the wrong track, standing toe-to-toe with McCain on foreign policy is all you need to do. And Obama clearly did that.

Obama Underwhelms, McCain Patronizes

Paul Reiser | Posted 10.27.2008 | Politics


Paul Reiser

I have to say, I did want to see more fire from Obama. I did want him to let the anger loose. I did want him to slap back at McCain's endless patronizing tone.

Obama to McCain: 'You Were Wrong'

Taylor Marsh | Posted 10.27.2008 | Politics


Taylor Marsh

Obama's goal tonight was to simply become an equal to the "legendary" foreign policy man John McCain. He accomplished that, while showing unending patience with his opponent.

An Honest Appraisal of Tonight's Debate

Joseph A. Palermo | Posted 10.27.2008 | Politics


Joseph A. Palermo

Obama did not win this debate. He didn't lose it either. But McCain was given far too much leeway in my opinion without counterpunching, which might reinforce the trope that Democrats don't know how to fight.

The McCain-Kissinger Flip Flop

Max Bergmann | Posted 10.27.2008 | Politics


Max Bergmann

McCain has never supported talks with Iran at the Secretary of State level. So either McCain has massively shifted positions on Iran or he is completely misrepresenting his position on Iran.

Tonights Debate Loser: You and Me

Sean Penn | Posted 10.27.2008 | Politics


Sean Penn

The result tonight was another frustrating piece of American media that is at once far too polite, and at the same time, dismissive of an American public's need to know anything beyond jingoistic self-aggrandizement.

Tonight's Presidential Debate: Victory for Obama, More of the Same from McCain

Sheryl Crow | Posted 10.27.2008 | Politics


Sheryl Crow

I think I feel the same as most Americans when I say I am beyond tired of hearing John McCain sell this war and passing it off as great leadership. To me, McCain proved himself as the stubborn one.

Barack Did Great, McCain Okay But Angry

Chris Durang | Posted 10.27.2008 | Politics


Chris Durang

McCain, to be fair, showed some of his knowledge in a good way. But he's too old, he's from the 20th century, the country doesn't need him now.

Who Won The Debate? Reviews Go To Obama

The Huffington Post | Nico Pitney | Posted 10.27.2008 | Politics


***UPDATED 9/27*** A focus group of 45 voters with an "unmistakenly Republican tilt" believed that Obama won the night handily: [B]y a 38 to 27 perc...

McCain's Debate Behavior Condescends To New Levels

Art Brodsky | Posted 10.27.2008 | Politics


Art Brodsky

As a debate tactic, McCain's behavior was understandable, and a classic Karl Rove characteristic. Take your weakness and make it a strength. Take your opponent's strength and make it a weakness.

Tonight's Debate: Will Our Children Fare Better than Us?

Marian Wright Edelman | Posted 10.27.2008 | Politics


Marian Wright Edelman

This debate underscored the central question that each of us must ask ourselves before choosing our next president: Will our children and our children's children fare better than us?

Obama-McCain Presidential Debate Reaction: HuffPost Bloggers Weigh In

Huffington Post | Posted 10.27.2008 | Politics


Huffington Post

Nora Ephron: Ringside: There was a moment, when the debate ended and the wives came up on stage, where I actually knew, or thought I knew, who had wo...

McCain's Debate Message: How To Lose More Friends And Alienate People

Jacob Heilbrunn | Posted 10.27.2008 | Politics


Jacob Heilbrunn

To listen to McCain speaking in tonight's debate was to be thrust back into a time warp, where al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein are plotting together, and America must go on a crusade to stomp out the infidels.

Obama Passes Commander in Chief Test

Ilan Goldenberg | Posted 10.27.2008 | Politics


Ilan Goldenberg

Obama won on key issues demonstrating that our foreign policy is more than just about the surge. McCain frequently reverted back to clichés calling his opponent naïve and lacking judgment.

Obama Tells McCain: War In Iraq Didn't Start In 2007

The Huffington Post | Rachel Weiner | Posted 10.27.2008 | Politics


A key moment in the debate, when Obama called McCain out on Iraq: Obama: So John, you like to pretend like the war started in 2007. You talk about th...

We Now Know Who the Next President Will Be

Robert Shrum | Posted 10.27.2008 | Politics


Robert Shrum

Tonight I think we know who the next President will be. McCain kept repeating that Obama doesn't "understand." But he clearly did. McCain made up no ground.

Major Gaffe: McCain Said Pakistan Was a Failed State

Max Bergmann | Posted 10.27.2008 | Politics


Max Bergmann

McCain just badly misstated the history of Pakistan. McCain said Pakistan was a failed state before President Musharraf came to power. That is not true.

Video: Presidential Debate Streaming Live

The Huffington Post | Posted 10.27.2008 | Politics


Watch the presidential debate live here: Live TV by Ustream...

Liveblog! Obama vs. McCain And The Debate That Almost Wasn't

Rachel Sklar, Glynnis MacNicol, and John Carney | Posted 10.28.2008 | Media


Rachel Sklar, Glynnis MacNicol, and John Carney

Welcome to our debate liveblog! We're figuring out how this Liveblogging software works. Please don't judge us just yet. Update: Okay! We've figured...