* I loved McCain’s comment re: Obama not knowing the difference between tactics and strategy!

The problem, of course, is that McCain was the one who didn’t know the difference.

Anyone who would vote for McCain after that debate is a fool of the first water.

Is spelling an important part of these activities ? If so, I hope another teacher is part of the team.

Also, I can tell you, as a sponsor and coach of forensics activities in high schools that even the National Forensics Association puts far too much weight on “body language” and “expression” (NOT “expressiveness”) and “tone of voice” than it used to–thus vastly dimishing the importance of logic and exposition. This is happening EVERYWHERE in a culture that is becoming far more visual and far less literate.

This is the culture in which McCain and Obama must operate–one in which analysis of gestures, tone, demeanour, etc. are as much of an obsession with the “chattering classes” as are “issues.” Beyond that, I would suggest that you read a little of the literary characterisations by the great late-19th and early 20th century novelists, such as Henry James or Marcel Proust. They, too, put a great deal of effort into analysing the grimaces, gestures, “demeanors” and vocal intonations of their characters, in order to depict those charaters’ values, fears, attitudes, etc.

However, I agree with you that it’s a grave pity for America that the CONTENT of these debates aren’t being analysed by the “chattering class” dispassionately and objectively. If they WERE doing that, both Obama and McCain would be FORCED to adhere to an exposition of policies.

http://rightcoast.typepad.com/rightcoast/2008/09/the-debate-was.html

What’s stupid is that so much should depend on the beauty, poise and speaking contest of two men in such an utterly artificial situation. At any number of points it would have been perfectly understandable for McCain to say, “It’s Senator McCain to you, and stop acting like a moron.” Yet that would have lost the election for him. People are actually debating now such questions as, did McCain look too old? Obama too sneering? Did he sound too professorial? Did McCain smile too much as Obama was talking? These debates make questions like these highly important, when they should matter not at all.

* * * The choice is pretty clear. Reasonable minds can and do differ, but if they differ reasonably, they aren’t differing on the basis of what somebody looks like, whether he smiles or smirks, whether he’s tall enough or other irrelevant characteristics. People who are watching to see who looks better in a red tie should do the country a favor and spend the day at the beach instead of voting.

I didn’t hear Obama say anything about 100 years. Did you?

If interpreted in that light, what of Obama’s demeanor towards McCain?

jn

“to say that there is “little difference” between the two remains an absurd claim. Obama is clear where he stands on the Iraq War. He is ambiguous when he talks about future “threats.” McCain is unambiguous about both.”

Obama wants to have troops in Iraq nearly as long as John McCain wants to. Obama thinks the war should be waged principally in Afghanistan. This is hardly what can be called a substantive difference, or a difference in perspective. Because of this, mine is not an “absurd claim”. I’m also not sure why you would take Obama’s ambiguity as a sign that he is less prone to the use of coercive force. Ambiguity is a good cover for any course of action, including a war-centric one. And it also leaves him open to do whatever he wants.

Exactly. I tend to think last night was more of a show.

Do you approve, then, of his dissembling? I’m sure you don’t, but why don’t you blame him for it? Or maybe you do?

If you’re anything like me, you’d want a total repudiation of “nation-building” mindset. More generally, I’d like the candidates to reject the foreign policy of global amelioration. McCain and Obama both share this understanding of foreign policy, and it is awful.

The eye contact tactics were part of each candidates overall strategy. Here is an article re: debating*:

http://pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_590226.

* I loved McCain’s comment re: Obama not knowing the difference between tactics and strategy!