Hat Trick
4:38 AM Here in Brussels - I am EXHAUSTED.
Just finished watching the third debate online. No drama, no surprises, except perhaps that McCain was just as cranky as in the first two - I would have thought he'd kind of let it all hang out and try to be more genial and at ease.
The Ayers thing did come up - Obama handled it more or less as I figured he would. Zero points for McCain. The issue is dead, except for the true believers.
Obama continued to confirm that he is the man for the job. Temperament, command of issues, concern for middle class, knowing his own policies, even to a rather wonkish degree... all of this assures voters that the presidency will be in safe hands with Obama.
Weirdly, McCain seems less mature - Obama is the grown up. McCain can hardly bring himself to give Obama ANY credit for anything - except some sarcastic praise of his "eloquence", by which he means, more or less, "slick jive talking".
Obama, on the other hand, once again was measured in giving McCain credit for some things and frankly disagreeing with him on others. This is critical, since it demonstrates thoughtfulness, principle, fairness and, above all, confidence.
As I've been saying for weeks, these debates should not be judged as isolated events in themselves, but rather in the context of the whole campaign. The object for the candidates should not necessarily be to "win" the encounter, but rather to present themselves in the manner that will position them most effectively with voters. It is therefore possible for both candidates to succeed in this respect or for both candidates to fail, or for one to succeed and the other fail.
McCain failed three times. Obama succeeded three times.
Absent some "October surprise", Obama is our next president.
Halleluia and sweet dreams...
Just finished watching the third debate online. No drama, no surprises, except perhaps that McCain was just as cranky as in the first two - I would have thought he'd kind of let it all hang out and try to be more genial and at ease.
The Ayers thing did come up - Obama handled it more or less as I figured he would. Zero points for McCain. The issue is dead, except for the true believers.
Obama continued to confirm that he is the man for the job. Temperament, command of issues, concern for middle class, knowing his own policies, even to a rather wonkish degree... all of this assures voters that the presidency will be in safe hands with Obama.
Weirdly, McCain seems less mature - Obama is the grown up. McCain can hardly bring himself to give Obama ANY credit for anything - except some sarcastic praise of his "eloquence", by which he means, more or less, "slick jive talking".
Obama, on the other hand, once again was measured in giving McCain credit for some things and frankly disagreeing with him on others. This is critical, since it demonstrates thoughtfulness, principle, fairness and, above all, confidence.
As I've been saying for weeks, these debates should not be judged as isolated events in themselves, but rather in the context of the whole campaign. The object for the candidates should not necessarily be to "win" the encounter, but rather to present themselves in the manner that will position them most effectively with voters. It is therefore possible for both candidates to succeed in this respect or for both candidates to fail, or for one to succeed and the other fail.
McCain failed three times. Obama succeeded three times.
Absent some "October surprise", Obama is our next president.
Halleluia and sweet dreams...