We watched it through the Fox New Strategy Room tonight online. It was good. I don't think anyone wins these things the way we talk about winning. The real win is in votes. McCain was impressive at times. I could see the whole thing; I came in half way.

One question I'm left with is what did Henry Kissinger actually say. I'm looking it up. . . . He is reported to have called for "high level" talks with Iran without conditions (Sept. 16). The press is interpreting this as supporting Obama's proposal, but I don't know that it is. High level talks doesn't have to mean sitting down with the president. Secretary level is something McCain said, and I'd think that's pretty high. Ahmadinejad is mad, in my opinion, and should be treated like an nazi or communist dictator would be. Any discuss with him, and likely with many of his people, would result only in Iranian propaganda.

The ABC fact checker dude said Kissinger supported high level, but not President to President meetings.

The ABC news "fact-checker" said that Obama mis-spoke, more or less, with the Kissinger thing, so I suppose there's some minor disagreement about who scored there.

I just saw Paul Begala on CNN say, "Wasn't Kissinger Secretary of State for Millard Filmore?" (he was trying to be funny and point out how old John McCain is). I kind of found that disrespectful.

All in all, I think the debate was pretty evenly matched. It's clear, though, that McCain knows more about what he's talking about purely because he's lived it. The problem for him is that I'm not sure how much of that experience hit home with voters. While Obama is certainly less experienced and too new at the whole foreign thing, some of his talking points were clear and concise, making up for in communication what he lacks in wisdom.

I think that the following will result from this debate:
A. The hemorrhage that is John McCain's polling numbers will cease and he will begin to hold steady and maybe even make up a point or two.
B. McCain will use this small amount of momentum to get back on track on the trail and begin to hammer away at Obama
C. Obama won't change much about what he's said or how he's campaigned (which is a problem, imho) - just because something's worked in the past 10 days does not mean it will continue to work in the next 10

Long story short, this election is still too close to call. I'm waiting for the Democrats to shoot themselves in the foot. Maybe it will come in the form of Joe Biden at the debate. On the other hand, maybe the Palin pick jumps up to bite McCain on the rear end. Either way, next week will be a contest of who says the least amount of dumb things.

I watched the entire debate and frankly, I can't believe these are our choices. I thought McCain sounded confused and had trouble speaking in complete sentences. He could not even look at Obama when he was asked to. Obama, on the other hand, was much better than advertised. He spoke to the back of McCain's head for most of the dedicated "back and forth" time. Also, I have heard it said that Obama had to have a teleprompter to speak. Well, that clearly is not so. I will have to vote for McCain, but my efforts and attention will be focused on helping real conservatives in House and Senate races.

Elections come and go, but we can always count on Bill to be Eeyore. :-)

It's a service I provide to Thinklings and Thinklings readers everywhere.

That being said, how do you know my prediction will be Eeyore-ish?

One of these elections, I'm going to be right. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

I've heard rumors about Biden intending an offer to step aside and put Hilary in. Anybody else read anything about such an October surprise?

No way would that happen unless Biden is diagnosed with some sort of horrible illness (obviously, we hope this doesn't happen). Short of a medical crisis, neither of the tickets will be altered.

I was just reading an article on, I think, the Washington Post (shouldn't have closed that tab) that talked about how they both didn't do that well in this debate. I would have to agree - pretty blah on both sides. I've seen Obama do so much better.

I was surprised to hear Tom Brokaw talking about how poorly Obama did, how he missed so many opportunities, etc.... and then not mention anything about McCain. Its almost like the news media went, well, conservative for a brief moment. :)

I was watching my Twitter account with all these comments about how McCain was pathetic because he couldn't make eye contact with the camera. I looked at my screen and he was. Started changing channels and I noticed they all had a slightly different angle - probably because they all used their own camera. Sad that so many people were so desperate to pick on anything McCain that they didn't even try to see the whole picture even on that small of a deal. Kind of sad metaphor of this whole election process.

Elections come and go, but we can always count on Bill to be Eeyore. :-)

That is hilarious ... and true. :-)

Watched hour and a half. Realized I had learned nearly nothing about either candidate which I had not aleady known. Got tired. Quit tv. Went to computer to read something stimulating, namely Thinklings.

Obama did OK without prompter. But remained case that McCain had (or claimed) substance while Obama had sizzle (and promised change to something else). Condensed Obama: Bush bad and McCain = Bush. Condensed McCain: I've got experience and awareness of real world and Obama does not, oh, btw, I'm maverick and not Bush.

I heard a liberal complain that neither candidate could name things he would cut in light of the financial crisis. I didn't see that part of the debate, so I don't know. I thought I heard McCain say there were plenty of cuts within various departments to be made, and that's specific enough for me. What do they want, names? (That would be a hilarious joke, if it could be set up. McCain says, "I'll tell you what I'd cut, Jim--Stan Frankbert's job. Mr. Frankbert works in the Dept. of Transportation and the functions of his are completely redundant." Of course, the press would track Frankbert down, and he would have to be in on the joke. And he would have to lose his job too, but maybe he could get another one or be retired or whatever works.)

Anyway, the commentator said he was disappointed by Obama's answer, which he characterized as starting off well by saying he would have to prioritize his plans, but then he listed almost all of his plans as ones which should be done regardless. That's how liberals talk, of course.