Debate 2008: The Ego vs. the Intellect, McCain vs. Obama

The third and final Presidential debate took place last night where the topic focused on domestic and economic policy and was moderated by Bob Schieffer.

Both candidates held their own – but in their own ways.

Obama focusing on detail – and conveying his message – while clearing up any inaccuracies or falsehoods put out there by the McCain campaign.

McCain’s effort above all was on attacking Obama – many times despite his message. McCain failed to see the importance of the relevance of this bing the perfect platform in which to get his message across. [McCain’s best line of attack or maybe defense was when he said – he’s not George Bush – something for the party base – but with a voting record of 90% in Bush’s favor others will look to dispute this.]

Whereas Obama reserved his attacks – to where – it was almost as if the attack had to be pulled out of him – McCain would often start his segments with an attack on Obama – and then continue attacking throughout.

But here is where the McCain strategy has a problem – the two men see things very differently.

Obama was brought up as a mixed race kid – who had a funny name – and although kids can be good – they can also be cruel – likely Obama growing up would have had to rely on something more than how he looked and his name.

Move over to McCain – the son and the grandson of Admirals – from ‘a long line of McCains’ would have likely relied on his name and status to deal with problems and to get ahead in life.

Where the young Obama would have had to get over his ego and maybe deal with personal attacks or teasing – McCain would have thought he was owed respect – and with that a kind of spoiled brat personality emerged – added to this his now famous fiery – or un-tempered – temper which he almost certainly used to unsure that he was respected – for being a McCain – the son of an Admiral.

Back to the campaign – McCain has employed a strategy – of attempting to trample Obama’s character – but more to engage Obama in a scuffle to defend his own ego – a part of Obama’s personality – along with Obama’s anger – he has long placed under control.

Where McCain used almost a whole segment to – talk about how injured his feelings were when Rep. John Lewis compared his campaign’s crowd stoking to the segregationist Wallace.

Obama on the other hand – came around to the mentioning the violent incendiary sentiments being expressed about him – in particular at the Palin rallies – only after being prompted a couple of times. And even after this he quickly went on to talk about what he thinks the American people want to hear — the things which are actually affecting their lives.

McCain doesn’t get it. Being – as he says – from the long line of McCain’s almost everything is invested in his ego – in who he is – in who he was – to McCain what he is offering comes second to this.

To Obama what he’s offering comes first. In this sense it’s a more humble gesture. As well as he uses his intellect rather than his ego to get his intentions across.

McCain when compared to Obama is like the defunct robot – that relentlessly repeats the same actions – but is unable to move forward – or sideways – that can still somehow throw a good punch or two – but in all the model that needs to be replaced. If McCain is the antiquated rock-um-sock-um robot model – than Obama would be the highly intelligent and agile AI model that is dependable and articulate and self correcting – which is programmed and duty bound – to act to the best of his capability – in fulfilling the needs of the American people.

With McCain’s repeating moves – he would never be a match for Obama’s intellectual agility – in any debate.

Advertisement

Debate: McCain Promises to Whip Some ~ You Know What ~ Oh Dear!

I can feel it coming in the Ayers tonight, oh Lord !!

McCain’s meant to kick some butt – at tonight the last debate – which is to cover domestic and economic polity – though I’m not sure how convincing the average voter that a tax cut for the very wealthy is going to help them – especially since the last one didn’t work.

Tonight is the last presidential debate, and the stakes are highest for John McCain — he’s on track to finish off the season with three strikes. The Arizona Republican has been heightening expectations for a fight. Before last Tuesday’s debate he made a similar move, suggesting to a crowd that he would “take the gloves off.” (He didn’t, and by many accounts the debate was not only “boring” but another win for Obama.) Tonight is McCain’s last chance to close the widening gap between him and Senator Obama. By McCain’s own predictions, it would seem that only a knockout win will do the trick. Read below for McCain’s two major pronouncements: that he’ll “‘whip’ Obama’s “you-know-what” and that it’s “probably ensured” he’ll bring up William Ayers tonight.

Source: HP