Post-Debate Reflections

I think Obama won this debate, but narrowly. He stood toe-to-toe with McCain on foreign policy, and had one of his best lines of the night when he said "you said the Iraqis would greet us as liberators. You were wrong. You said it would be a quick war. You were wrong."

Like Digby, it's difficult for me to accurately assess this debate because I too, think that McCain is

quite obviously a crazy, intemperate, nasty old bastard. He was sarcastic, comtemptuous and patronizing.

Let me also add disrespectful, cranky, and frankly, willing to lie his way into the White House. McCain seems ready to blow at times (and I was hoping that he would), his facial expressions alternately scowling, dismissive, or glaring, and he never once looking Obama in the eye. When Obama rebuked him for having "sung songs about bombing Iran", McCain looked ready to pop! He obviously has little regard for Obama, and I think that will cost him, and the Congressional Republicans, not only in battleground states, but also in supposedly safe states like Mississippi and Texas. McCain's contemptuous attitude towards the first major party African-American presidential candidate is not going to sit well with people of color in all political stripes.

Additionally, as CNN's Roland Martin noted, McCain failed to mention the middle class at any time during the debate! How he could do that in these economic times is another sign that McCain is clearly out of touch with the worries and aspirations of ordinary Americans. I guess having twelve houses and thirteen cars does give you a rather detached view of life for the other 95% of us.

However, for me, the biggest quote from tonight was when McCain said that we "wouldn't torture, never again". Is McCain admitting that America tortures prisoner of war?! Wow! Somebody tell W--don't leave the country after next January!-or he might find himself "extraordinarily rendered" to the Hague, on charges of war crimes.

Overall, I think Obama carried the night. He exceeded expectations of his grasp and knowledge of foreign policy, and was the clear winner on economic issues. Obama looked presidential. On the other hand, I feel that McCain's bellicose attitude, his lack of understanding of the economic challenges facing us at this moment, and his generally nasty attitude towards Obama tonight, will cost him dearly in November.