Tfgray’s Weblog

Well, if you’ve read my previous posts, you’ve probably figured out that I’m rooting for Obama, but contrary to my hopes, and John McCain’s pre-debate victory announcement (released even before he agreed to show up, can you believe it?) I’d have to call it  a draw. Obama looked relaxed and in control, as always. McCain flashed that shark-toothed grin on more than one occasion, and refused to look at his opponent. They both scored points.

I think Obama could have scored more.

• He could have pointed out more forcefully that McCain’s call for regulation on Wall Street comes only after the deregulation he championed for decades has nearly destroyed the banking system.
• When McCain went on about how well he would care for veterans, Obama could have mentioned McCain’s rating from the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), as compared to his own. McCain voted against bills favored by the DAV 16 times, with 11 votes in favor and 5 unrated. Obama voted against their positions once, in favor 17 times, with one vote unrated. However, veterans organizations are picking up that dropped stitch.
• When asked by Lehrer about spending cuts that would be forced by the bailout, Obama could have made a stronger case that the areas he wants to increase spending on are investments that will strengthen the economy and that the dangerous mismanagement of the past 8 years has jeopardised our ability to create a better future. He could also have mentioned that no one really knows if the bailout will actually cost $700B or $100B or even $1.8T,  or, after all the shouting is over actually turn a profit, and whether that profit will go to the taxpayers or into the pockets of a few corporations, as the details have not been hammered out. The end result, “too soon to tell” may have been the same, but it would have looked more reasoned and less evasive. McCain, of course, has no problem with cutting anything, ever, regardless of the consequenses.
• I think Obama tried to call foul on McCain’s support of nukes, given the senator’s consistent record of supporting nuclear power and waste disposal so long as it stays outside of Arizona, but McCain talked over him, a tried and true tactic of the Right.

The early polls, meanwhile, are showing a boost for Obama. Maybe I’m just too picky, (McCain neither lapsed into a bleepable tirade nor ran from the podium in tears) maybe the Republican psy-ops strategy of the “victory ad” hasn’t taken effect yet.

Or maybe you really can’t fool all the people all the time.

Stay tuned.