1st Debate

Now, I'm just sayin'...

My initial and main impressions:

*Number One With A Bullet: McCain won't make eye contact with his opponent; won't acknowledge his presence in the room; won't give so much as a cursory glance Obama's direction. What does this show? Contempt? Dismissiveness? Is he trying to keep his temper in check? While I expect McCain to correct this by the next debate, I say Obama should have a line ready: monitor whether McCain ever looks at you while criticizing or attacking you and when he doesn't, say, "Senator, where I come from, when you take issue with someone, you say it to their face - you look them in the eyes and tell them what's what." I guaran-damn-tee you Democrats will be on their feet, the McCain supporters will feel shamed and embarassed (and angry), and independents will embrace Obama as strong and honest while rejecting McCain as petty, small, and all bluster.

2. Obama's debate prep was made brilliantly evident by his response to McCain's "bracelet" moment. Without missing a beat, he showed and told his own bracelet story, effectively defusing this favorite McCain prop.

3. While taking a more dignified stance, Obama landed the hardest punches.

4. Obama will be criticized for saying "John's right", "I agree with John in the respect...", etc (there's already an ad out using these statements against Obama), but if you haven't made up your mind about these two guys, which comes across as more credible, more earnest in seeking a positive tone, more knowledgable, and ... wait for it... more likeable? The one who says, "I agree on 'x', but you're wrong on getting to 'x'" or the one who says, "You don't get it. You're wrong, wrong, wrong. Thou shalt have no other way but mine"? ... which segues nicely into...

5. Indepedent and undecided voters connected to Obama. McCain was cold, angry, removed, stubborn, and rude. Obama spoke to the camera, spoke to the moderator, and - as I pointed out in point 1 - spoke to John McCain. He included everyone in the audience in his answers. He talked about the middle class. He talked about kitchen table issues. He related to the problems regular people are facing. Number of time John McCain said "middle class": Zero.

I'm just sayin'...