Obama/Biden vs. McCain/Palin

[docellis]

have people text in their votes as many times as they want for a buck or two.

that would be a very entertaining way to elect someone AND make money. I wonder how much AI causes people to spend when they vote...

[wart57]

There's really no denying this. After watching the entire speech, McCain just doesn't have "it." The same way that Kerry and Gore didn't either. I mean, the guy has the resume to be president, and he's intelligent and respected. But when he's giving a speech, there's no way you feel that he's passionate or genuine. Everything is read, and flat, and forced. It's in his tone and in his forced smile.

He won't win.

That is why I hate our political system, it is just a popularity contest. Obama says things with more conviction and eloquence, so lets vote for him.

That's a very broad brush you're painting with right there.

You are right, I probably was.

You weren't probably incorrect, you were incorrect.

Thanks for telling me when my opinion is incorrect, I will change it right away.

You don't have to change your opinion, but when you insult the intelligence of myself and others whose intend on voting for Obama, expect some to disagree with you.

Someone just said McCain didn't have it. I was responding to that.
Again, if you are voting for Obama because of his stance on the issues, I was not referring to you. If you are voting for Obama because he speaks well, I was referring to you. I hope that clears things up.

[wart57]

That is why I hate our political system, it is just a popularity contest. Obama says things with more conviction and eloquence, so lets vote for him.

From the time we were old enough to attend school we were told that speaking well could help us assure a bright future. And, sure enough, it does.

Why should the President of the United States not have to meet this prerequisite?

But to base our vote entirely on that is misguided, in my opinion.

I don't think anyone is doing that, at least not consciously. But there are all kinds of subconscious bad reasons to make a decision in an election, this isn't the worst of them because at least being an eloquent speaker is part of the job.

It would be nice to have someone who knows how to pronounce big words.....

...and small words like "nuclear"

And simple common phrases such as fool me once.....

[Richie Allen]

Concerning Obama's public speaking skills...

1. First, I think it's laughable that the Right (or Hillary supporters) seem to want to think that it's a zero-sum-game. If Obama is a great orator, then he must have nothing else to offer. "It's your choice...speeches or results."

2. I also think it's laughable that people accuse Obama supporters of being caught up in a frenzy that is based solely on his oratory skills. As though it not what he's saying, it's the way he's saying it that has everyone so excited.

[ghostrunner]

They keep showing this Obama spokesmen with a second chin and giant forehead.

It's like seeing George Will in a funhouse mirror.

[Fat Strat]

I think I've wisely avoided the earlier fray, but here's my thoughts in a somewhat disorganized fashion.

* I thought I would skip the video, but I ended up engrossed by it. Sure, I knew that McCain was a POW, but I had never really heard the entire story. I was very impressed. Inspiring, and I think that should be true across the aisles.

* I've stated many times on here that I thought McCain would leave the attack dog politics to the party hacks and come in as the white knight full of bipartisan ideals, reform, and well-stated strategies. I think we got a good mix of that.

* He was respectful to both Obama and Bush, which I appreciate. He certainly plugged his maverick history, outlining in both general and specific terms how he's seperated himself from the party line, which I guess will be news to some people.

* He gave us strategy and specifics on policy, and almost too much of it.... his speech definitely dragged in the middle as he went through everything from energy to education.

* There were a couple lines that I didn't really like, and I think the overall writing of the speech could have been better (for example, the making schools accountable to the students line? I'm still thinking about how that one is going to work.)

* The protestors were obnoxious and disrespectful. It actually helped McCain and certainly didn't help the left any.

* I think someone (TFG?) said that this was a thoroughly Republican speech. I think that's dead on. It was, which was exactly what I wanted to hear. There's a reason why McCain had a rough early battle for the nomination and it's because of the way that he's distanced himself from the rest of his party. In many ways, he's redefining what a republican should be.

He's running on a reform platform. Reform energy. Reform spending. Reform the tax code. I think it works for McCain, but only because of his history of butting heads with his own party.

[Richie Allen]

I personally don't think Obama's personality is that charismatic. He's a confident and well-prepared public speaker but it not as though he lights up the room when he enters it. But the message he's been delivering is a different story. And it's that message that's been electrifying crowds. Not just his public speaking skills. But even if it determined that he is a great orator, why should that be held against him?

[longhornbaseball]

...and small words like "nuclear"

Nucular. Its pronounced Nucular.

[TimeForGuinness]

I think I've wisely avoided the earlier fray, but here's my thoughts in a somewhat disorganized fashion.

* I thought I would skip the video, but I ended up engrossed by it. Sure, I knew that McCain was a POW, but I had never really heard the entire story. I was very impressed. Inspiring, and I think that should be true across the aisles.

* I've stated many times on here that I thought McCain would lead the attack dog politics to the party hacks and come in as the white knight full of bipartisan ideals, reform, and well-stated strategies. I think we got a good mix of that.

* He was respectful to both Obama and Bush, which I appreciate. He certainly plugged his maverick history, outlining in both general and specific terms how he's seperated himself from the party line, which I guess will be news to some people.

* He gave us strategy and specifics on policy, and almost too much of it.... his speech definitely dragged in the middle as he went through everything from energy to education.

* There were a couple lines that I didn't really like, and I think the overall writing of the speech could have been better (for example, the making schools accountable to the students line? I'm still thinking about how that one is going to work.)

* The protestors were obnoxious and disrespectful. It actually helped McCain and certainly didn't help the left any.

* I think someone (TFG?) said that this was a thoroughly Republican speech. I think that's dead on. It was, which was exactly what I wanted to hear. There's a reason why McCain had a rough early battle for the nomination and it's because of the way that he's distanced himself from the rest of his party. In many ways, he's redefining what a republican should be.

He's running on a reform platform. Reform energy. Reform spending. Reform the tax code. I think it works for McCain, but only because of his history of butting heads with his own party.

++ good post fat, I think you summed it up nicely.

[ghostrunner]

Howard Fineman on MSNBC says "the accidental brilliance of choosing Sarah Palin."

That's lame. McCain knew exactly what he was doing.