The Second Presidential Debate-How They Did!

The Second Presidential Debate was held in Nashville, Tennessee. Both candidates were ready and eager to participate in what was billed earlier, as John McCain's forte'.

His command of the crowd has been known for years. He usually exceeds in these format.

As they walked on the stage and shook hands, we were given the impression that finally this was going to be a debate that gave us answers to the questions facing each of us in this country.

The first question asked by an audience member was, "With the economy on the downturn, retired and older citizens and workers losing their income, whats the fastest, most positive solution for bailing these folks out of economic ruin?

Obama answered first. His answer was stating we are in the worst economic situation since the Great Depression. Lots of Americans are worried. He said he believed this was a final verdict of the last 8 years. Fault of Bush, with McCain's support. Emphasized proper oversight is needed for bailout plan. Told the story about AIG Executives $400,000 vacation. He said they should be fired and have to give that money back. Barack

McCain, Americans are angry, upset and fearful. "Our job is too fix it" according to McCain. Don't raise anybody's taxes. Talked about the debt left to our young people. He talked about reform. Then he expressed that we needed to do something about home mortgages. He wants the government to buy the bad loans and lower them. He said home values have to be stabilized because they were directly related to jobs. Expensive yes He also said he had a plan, not Obama's plan, not Bush's plan. He said he knew how to get America working and how to fix this problem.

When asked who he would have in mind to be in charge of the newly all powerful Treasury Dept, he said Obama's choice, Warren Buffett was good.He said it would have to be someone America trust. He then said EBAY CEO Meg Whitman was his first idea. The CEO who supposedly grew EBAY from about 12 to over 1 million people who make a living off of EBAY. Have to be someone who inspires trust and confidence. Because of corruption on Wall St and cronyism has to have the trust of America.

Obama said, He talked about Warren Buffet was a good choice. Key to next Treasury Secretary is understanding, "Prosperity will not trickle down". He said government has to help the middle class. Wages and Incomes have flatlined, harder to save and harder to retire. Obama stated his position on taxes again, saying the tax cuts would help 95% of Americans.

Oliver Clark asked the next question, Through this economic crisis, what is in the bailout to help people struggling?
McCain said he believed it was a "rescue" not a bailout. He believes the economy will recover. He told Oliver, he probably never heard of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but that was the beginning of the problem. He blamed the Fannie and Freddie crisis on Obama. He said Obama was the recipient of the benefits Fannie and Freddie got. He said that some of the Senators stood up. He once again blamed Obama for the crisis. He didn't explain the question.

Obama explained to Oliver how it would affect him directly. He explained what his true position was vs what McCain had stated. He told about the letter he wrote to Bernankey and his trip to Wall St. warning them of the pending crisis. He stated that McCain jumped on a bill that others had written. He also told Oliver, he knew he didn't want to hear the politics and knew he wanted to know what it would do to him personally. He said this is the beginning of the crisis and without good leadership, we would not fix it.

Tom Brokaw, asked him if he thought if the economy would get worse. Obama told him he was confident about the economy. Obama said we had to act and have good leadership. He said ordinary families needed help to keep their homes and jobs.

McCain when asked the same question told us it depended on what we do. First bad loans needed to be bought up and get rid of the cronyism. He also attacked Obama about the letter McCain signed on to that Obama referred to earlier. He stated he helped to write the letter. He stroked our egos saying we were the best workers and we were innocent bystanders.

Theresa Finch, asked "How can we trust either of you when both parties got us into this crisis"?

Obama said he understood the way she was feeling. Excepted blame for all of government. Explained about the surplus when George came into office, how it has been wasted. Told us government had to be on a budget. Energy reform, college affordability. He said spending had to be cut.

McCain, said he understood the cynisism, claimed to be the reformer, reaching across the aisle. He stated his record of reform. He kept saying to look at his record vs rhetoric. He then attacked Obama on his supposed votes for tax increases and pork barrel projects. He stated several times that we needed to look at his record. Said middle income Americans needed to go to work. Said he knew how to fix economy and our dependence on foreign oil. Drilling offshore and nuclear energy are key.

Healthcare, Energy and Entitlement Programs Brokaw asked would they be able to do those things and what would be first and last.

McCain made notes and then answered first. He said we could work on all of these at one time. He said Social Security was going to be less for today's workers. He said it would have to be cut. He said build a whole bunch of nuclear power plants. He also said we could, "Do all of the above". Do everything at once he suggested. Healthcare and all of the above can be fixed at one time.

Obama said, "Just like a family, we have to prioritize". His plan is to start with Energy is priority no one. Healthcare is second and Education is next after that. He said instead of an overall freeze like McCain wants, he wants to go through the budget and only cut what isn't working. Reform our tax policies were also Obama's priority to keep programs that are working.

These are just some of the main issues that were discussed at this debate. In order to give a fair analysis of both candidates, I wanted to include their answers.

Now as to my review of how they did. I felt from the beginning, McCain was evasive. Obama tried to be direct and not campaign. As in the VP debate, it seemed that McCain gave general answers and still no real answers. He continued to attack Obama with disproven statements. McCain from the start was furiously making notes and when standing by his table when Obama spoke, he was continuously checking his notes. He would smirk and make faces when Obama spoke of anything that made him look bad.

Once again, McCain spent a lot of time looking up at his wife. he also put in his suspension of his campaign to help Washington with the bailout of which he had no part whatsoever.

During the last part of the part of the debate, McCain appeared to be getting irritated with both the questions and Obama. At one point, McCain quoted his hero, Teddy Roosevelt as saying, "Talk Softly and Carry a Big Stick"! Incorrect quote. It is Walk Softly.
He also got irate and while accusing Obama of supporting pork barrel projects, he got excited and pointed at Obama, saying "that one" in an accusatory attitude. He said Obama wanted to attack Pakistan.

I found the debate a test of intelligence and a test of what the Presidential candidate's are truly concerned with. Are they concerned with what we are concerned with or are they concerned with making accusations and placing blame? Are they trying to be honest? Do they have a REAL plan?

I will state clearly that Obama, in my opinion won on all counts. He was not focused on just blaming McCain. He told America, he knew government had overstepped and lied and not done their jobs. Not just McCain but all of them. He told us that he had a plan for Energy, Iraq, Healthcare and the Economy. He gave us as many details as time would allow.

John McCain employed some of Sarah's tactics with the voice and the blame game. He spent most of his time talking about who was at fault and why that was Obama. He was condescending and when he made the "that one" comment I was through. After all of the backstabbing remarks this week and the racist behavior in Florida and at the McCain rally that was left with the impression that they approved of "Kill The Terrorist" remarks, I am through with McCain.

Republican or whatever, he is clueless. He gave us the "my friends" bait probably over 20 times and never gave us a "PLAN". He just kept saying, Yea, I can do it. I can fix it. I can. I can. I think I can......The Little John McCain that could.

It wasn't enough that McCain talked down to Obama, then when the debate was over with, Obama did the proper thing and went to shake John's hand. McCain made a spectacle of himself. When Obama reached out, McCain brushed him off and steered him to shake Cindy's hand. What the hell was that?

McCain has become desperate. He is getting more and more irritable on each debate. He is giving us the run around and playing, who dunnit! Obama showed his professionalism and his true concern for our great country and his empathy for where we all are right now.

If you saw the debate, you have to make that judgment call. I will vote for Obama. As a Republican, I feel his is the best choice based on the debate and the events of the last two weeks.