Election Issues Today

2008 Presidential Campaign Debate Schedule

I’m surprised that I have so much difficulty in coming up with topics to discuss this week.

Other than the financial crisis and the deadlock in Congress over the bailout, there isn’t much going on.  Both of the Presidential campaigns and Vice-Presidential campaigns seem to be flying low this week.

So, just to fill up a little space, I am going to set forth the schedule for the remaining Presidential Campaign Debates.  At least I will now know where to quickly find the schedule.

Vice Presidential Debate:

October 2, 2008, Washington University in St. Louis, MO. Moderator: Gwen Ifill. Time:  9 pm, Eastern Time. Length: 90 minutes.

Presidential Debates:

October 7, 2008, Belmont University in Nashville, TN. Moderator: Tom Brokaw. Time:  9 pm, Eastern Time. Length: 90 minutes.

October 15, 2008, Hofstra University in Hempsted, NY. Moderator: Bob Schieffer. Time:  9 pm, Eastern Time. Length: 90 minutes.

And just for the historical record of really, really interested readers, the first Presidential debate of the 2008 campaign was held on September 26, 2008, at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, MS. The moderator was Jim Lehrer.

DEBATE NOT GREAT - A Bit Boring

Polls published the morning after the first Presidential Debate of 2008 give Senator Obama the edge in viewer opinions. A CBS poll shows that slightly more than half of the viewers polled thought that Obama had “won” the debate; a CNN poll shows a greater Obama favorable rating.

The exact percentages on these polls are about as meaningless as the regular polls. I haven’t seen any Presidential Debate performances that potentially changed the outcome of a race since Nixon-Kennedy in 1960. I guess that shows my age.

Some viewers thought that McCain was petulant. I read one comment online that said 70-year-old men act like they are 70 or they are 15; never in between.

Obama was perceived as the stronger debater on the economy; McCain on foreign affairs and national security. Since the debate topic in general was foreign affairs and national security, I would have to say that McCain fared okay at the very least. I don’t think he lost any of his own supporters by this performance.

“Obama was polite and respectful,” commented a viewer. Whether that will be perceived as being weak or being “statesmanlike” remains to be seen. I think Obama showed well and may have attracted some “uncommitteds” to his side.

I think Obama will benefit the most, in the long run, by the additional national exposure he receives throughout the debates. I think that his overall presentation and demeanor will leave favorable impressions on the viewers.

Debate About the Debate: He Said….He Said

How tedious.  This presidential campaign is deteriorating. Period.

A photo in today’s newspapers shows a fellow in Oxford, Mississippi, painting final touch-ups on the stage in preparation for the “Great” debate.  The Networks are READY!  The University of Mississippi is READY!  The political pundits are READY!   The country’s electorate is READY!

Even though the subjects of tonight’s debate are supposed to be foreign affairs and national security, how can the candidates or the panelists ignore the financial crisis bailout that the Administration and the Congress have been dealing with?

And at this hour…doesn’t really matter what “this hour” is, we don’t know who will show up and who won’t.

I can’t imagine that McCain can take much more heat than he already has over his attempt to postpone the debate.  I don’t believe I have seen or heard anyone willing to go on record as supporting his postponement proposal.  It simply wasn’t a well-thought-out plan.  Much like a lot of the strategic planning the McCain staff have come up with.  If this was Senator McCain’s own idea, as a tactic, I think it failed.  God help him AND HIS CAMPAIGN, if he fails to appear for the debate and America sees only Senator Obama and an empty lectern on the other side of the stage.

Did you see the McCain gaffe on “growing this country’s economy” where he accidentally said “grow this government”?  So, he corrects himself, sort of, and again gaffe’s it….but HE MISSED A GREAT OPPORTUNITY!

Why didn’t he say:  “GROW THIS GOVERNMENT? OOPS. THAT’S THE OTHER GUY’S PLATFORM.  YOU SHOULD ALL REMEMBER THAT.  CAN YOU IMAGINE A REPUBLICAN RUNNING ON A GROW THE GOVERNMENT PLATFORM?  MY REPUBLICAN FRIENDS WOULD CROAK!  HA HA.  LET’S GROW THIS ECONOMY INSTEAD.”

We all expected to be “posting up” for the first Presidential debate, scheduled for September 26 at the University of Mississippi, in Oxford.  But, instead, we are wondering where the GOP nominee’s Staff came up with idea to “postpone.”

Senator McCain also proclaimed a suspension to his campaign activities in order to concentrate on the economy.

A CNN poll shows that only 25 percent believes that his reason for suspending campaigning is legitimate; that it is motivated by some belief that he can improve the economy by concentrating on it.  Seventy percent believe it is a political ploy; five percent say something else is going on.

So now the two campaign staffs and their candidates are working together on joint statements, trying to keep presidential politics out of the emergency legislation that is before Congress.  As for postponing the debate, Obama rejected McCain’s proposal. “This is exactly the time the American people need to hear from the person who in approximately 40 days will be responsible for dealing with this mess,” Obama said.Nope.  Mr. McCain is not quick-witted.  He is a stumbler-bumbler.  And now we are wondering if he really wants to face Mr. Obama in a debate, where he will clearly have to think on his feet. Literally.  And he is not so good at that anymore.  Not anymore, Senator.

Here, quoted are Senator McCain’s words during his September 23 press conference:

“So it is essential for our economy to stimulate growth and grow this government — (chuckles) — excuse me, grow this — grow this economy, not grow the economy — (chuckles) — the government. We need to grow the economy.”