Alright everybody. The debate is taking place tonight, or has already taken place by now. I totally missed it. So, i request those of you who watched it or listened to it, to please discuss it here.
Discuss pros and cons of each candidate based on the debate, and the topics and questions that were asked. Who fared better than the other candidate in your opinion and why, and so on.
Thanks for participating. 
Re: Debate: Barack Obama vs. John McCain
well I think they both did well, McCain has been having the worst possible week, so he really needed to get on top, especially since his expertise is in foreign policy. But he didnt get ahead, and Obama did well. Initially McCain struggled when questions about the economy were asked but looked more comfortable when they switched to foreign policy. IMO they could have had asked some really tough questions of McCain (he has been acting like a moron the last week), but they didnt, otherwise this debate would have gone overwhelmingly for Obama. Even points.
What was strange was that McCain NEVER made eye contact with Obama which was very disrespectful in my view, and he seemed like a condescending person.
Also for my pakistani friends:
Obama called for a stricter leash on Pakistan and the urgency needed to deal with the northwestern regions of Pakistan
McCain got Zardari's name wrong. Also he said Pakistan was a failed state before Musharraf took over. (I believe from reports that what he said was factually wrong)
+first polls show Americans believe Obama did better
Re: Debate: Barack Obama vs. John McCain
McCain got Zardari's name wrong and it's interesting to know that Sarah Palin calls Iran I-ran. I mean at least get the name right!
I think Obama spoke more respectfully than McCain - he could hv interrupted McCain so many times because of his misrepresentation but he had restraint. While McCain spk & spk to make his point & he spoke slowly. And he seemed to be calculated by making some emotional points - like I would always look after the veteran etc or how a mother of a soldier killed gave him a bracelet & so on. He definitely spk like George Bush when he tried to scare us about Iran<<I burst out laughing here. It's like an old man trying tell kids a horror story.
As an outsider, I find US elections funny & at times stupid. But the truth is that this election would have dead serious consequences for the world. It's about who's gonna be attacked next. Well at least that's what I think.
Re: Debate: Barack Obama vs. John McCain
After tonight expect another McCain gimmick. Obama comes through in the debate and his new stright talk television ads.
Re: Debate: Barack Obama vs. John McCain
Obama sometimes seems too laid back and over polite. A lil more gusto and he would’ve easily and overwhelmingly taken that one.
anyways, heres an interesting blog by burkeman:
you guys must have watched a different debate. The debate was more of a beating by Mccain. Like an elder scolding a kid. I was very frustrated with Obama not responding in kind. If I had a nickel for everytime Obama said "John is right", I would be out buying a coke. even more frustrated when Mccain repeatedly called him naive. It was comical at times when Mccain compared Obama with the current administration. The irony.
A very disappointing start from Obama. He needs to really capture the anger, frustration and fears of the ordinary americans and bring them to the debate. This country is a train headed towards disaster. Lets hope its not too late already but if he is the guy who can change the course then he really needs to do a better job in laying that out. He failed to do so in the first debate.
you guys must have watched a different debate. The debate was more of a beating by Mccain. Like an elder scolding a kid. I was very frustrated with Obama not responding in kind. If I had a nickel for everytime Obama said "John is right", I would be out buying a coke. even more frustrated when Mccain repeatedly called him naive. It was comical at times when Mccain compared Obama with the current administration. The irony.
A very disappointing start from Obama. He needs to really capture the anger, frustration and fears of the ordinary americans and bring them to the debate. This country is a train headed towards disaster. Lets hope its not too late already but if he is the guy who can change the course then he really needs to do a better job in laying that out. He failed to do so in the first debate.
Yes I forgot to mention that. McCain kept saying "Senator Obama doesnt understand". Obama kept saying "I agree with McCain". I didnt like it but the first polls Obama winning the debate by 20 points so maybe it backfired on McCain because to me it appeared very rude. Obama is a nice guy, maybe too nice. McCain has no class and will say anything, it was incredible that he was trying to tie Obama with Bush. But a lot of americans are stupid, so they will believe anything.
Re: Debate: Barack Obama vs. John McCain
as days pass by he (barack obama) seems to be more a kid to me.
Re: Debate: Barack Obama vs. John McCain
As a Pakistani, McCain's comments about Pakistan were far more reassuring than Obama's. I like McCain's tax proposals much better too. The rest was more of mental gymnastics, gotchas and election-season pandering.
Re: Debate: Barack Obama vs. John McCain
Gist of what McSame had to say:
Re: Debate: Barack Obama vs. John McCain
Re: Debate: Barack Obama vs. John McCain
Thank you all for your input and feedback. Please keep those comments coming…
For those, like me, who didn’t get to watch it live, you can watch it at the link below. It’s the full debate:
BBC NEWS | World | Americas | The first presidential debate in full
After i’m done watching it, i’ll share what i thought of it as well.
Re: Debate: Barack Obama vs. John McCain
This sucks. So far my rules are:
Drink for "my friends"
Drink for "change"
Drink for "Mainstreet"
Drink when your candidate looks at the camera.
I don't know if I'm more mad at the question dodging by both candidates, or the fact Obama at one point in time looked me in the eye while I had to pound my beer for 10 damn seconds. Quit looking at me Obama. I don't love you. Look a McCain. And answer some ****ing questions.
Filthy pandering by both. I've heard everything said already in the months leading up to this.
Filthy pandering by both. I've heard everything said already in the months leading up to this.
Filthy pandering? Uhhh what did you expect, seriously? That is the whole point...I thought they answered questions, there was no serious dodging going on. I agree tho it was a lot of the same crap, but its intended for the voters who dont keep up with the news ie most Americans
McCain said the same joke twice: "I wasnt elected Mr. Concieniality again this year". Obama was more genuine and all the polls so far have reflected that.
I missed the debate because we were having quran khatami at our masjid.
When I read up on it, I dont not like Obama's comments on pakistan. McCain has nothing to offer except an extension of bush policies.
thats too much drinking bra, that too in the month of ramzaan. when are you sober during that 24 hr period? 
Re: Debate: Barack Obama vs. John McCain
As a Canadian, my comments really do not make a tremendous affect, but just remember that Obama is no saint.
And what is this "CHANGE" that he keeps talking about? They both agreed to do anything "for the betterment of protecting Israel", and Obama was quoted as saying "Take Out" Pakistan. McCain just wants to keep the troops in Iraq, whereas Obama wants to move those troops from Iraq into Afghanistan. It's not like Obama is talking about ending the war in Afghanistan. I remember Obama saying something about 16 months more (that is 2 more years of war in Iraq!).
There is no such thing as lesser evil, they both are equal.
Re: Debate: Barack Obama vs. John McCain
^True in some ways. As far as Pakistan is concerned, we're headed for a bumpy ride. However, on a broader level, Barack has always pushed for the option of talking with anyone and everyone that can help; whereas, Bush and co. and now McCain and co. are all for force without any room for dialogue. And if Congress doesn't give way, they're known to manipulate facts and falsify crucial information in order to scare the nation into signing something which is a total sham (i.e. Iraq). That spells continued disaster...
Both candidates did alright.
I don't buy McCain's argument that if businesses were given more tax cuts, they would shift or maintain job pool in USA. That is simply not true. If anything, like Barack pointed out, those extra tax cuts would probably benefit the hanchos of corporations who already have fat wallets. Oversight has become an urgent necessity for the economy to do well.
I'd say Barack Obama came out as a true statesman, and McCain...well...McCain is McCain!
Obama is the best thing that can happen to Pakistan…
Only way to Unite a people as diverse as we are in Pakistan…is to Attack us!..
Before we destroy it from within…
Re: Debate: Barack Obama vs. John McCain
Guys watch the vp debate. If Sarah Palin does as horribly in the interviews she has done so far, McCain is done, and you are in for some great comedy. I just cant believe what a joke US politics has become with people like Palin even being considered for a vp job. Now its known that McCain had a 15 minute conversation with her before he decided, and that was the only interaction before he picked her. Even some conservatives are calling for her to step down for "personal reasons".
Tina Fey did a new mock interview of Sarah Palin with Katie Couric, it was a carbon copy, she didnt have to change much to make it funny, she used the same lines, yeah the real interview was that bad.