Mary Lyon -- World News Trust
I’m mixed.
Who won? They both did. And didn’t.
Here’s what strikes me about the opening round of presidential debate season: the one-liners, the facts (or not), the jabs, the international names and one mispronunciation, the energy, and the eye contact. Or in McCain’s case, the lack thereof. Among other things.
I think John McCain won most of the buzz phrase battles at the first debate at the University of Mississippi. No points for rehashing some of the same old lines from how many campaign speeches past (“I will make them famous and you will know their names,” “Obama has the most liberal record in the Senate,” and the ever-popular place-holder “I believe in the United States of America”). He added to his nicknames -- “The Sheriff” now joins the pantheon along with “Maverick” and “No Miss Congeniality.”
McCain did not proclaim himself “The Scold,” per se, but that’s how he behaved. Multiple times, he pushed the same statement -- that Obama “doesn’t get it,” or “doesn’t understand.” Repetition is a very effective and compelling tactic in advancing any argument -- as we’ve seen from the track record of the Bush administration and its many apologists and spinners. From the rationale for war to the justification for spying, looting, cheating, torturing, and shredding the Constitution, if they can repeat something often enough, it seems to become a de facto truth in the management of overall public perception. That, combined with McCain’s gruff facial expressions, his occasional dismissive smirks, and his failure to look Obama in the eye, might leave a slight taste of arrogance and contempt. It also did not serve McCain that while he looked somewhat pasty and pale, the strobing effect of his narrowly striped tie was distracting and
discomfiting.
I admit I was surprised there wasn’t much melodrama or histrionics like those we’ve had to endure from McCain in the past few days, with the world breathlessly wondering “will he or won’t he” even show up. I was expecting McCain to be still flustered over his failed stunt in trying to parachute into Washington to save the country’s economy from Wall Street to Main Street. He did not appear exhausted, or off-balance. But still, there was that dismissive smugness and a relentless offense -- that, at least to me, belied his words a little. His verbal presentation tried to suggest a sense of reasonableness and wisdom derived from long experience, that yes, he would, too, sit down with anybody, even our adversaries. But his belligerence hinted that any future encounters with an international opponent might not involve much diplomacy. Besides, I wondered if he’d be willing to look Putin or Ahmadinejad in the eye more than he did with Obama. At least it wasn’t another roller coaster ride, like the wild and almost clownish misadventure on which McCain strapped much of America regarding the Wall Street crisis this week.
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