Friday's debate will be critical--what themes do you want Obama to hit?

[WI_DEM]

(on edit: it looks like the first debate will be on foreign and defense issues, not the economy which I assumed with this post).


The economy is the red meat issue of the day. Obama has a lot to talk about with the housing crisis, the bail out of all these companies, the stock market, climbing unemployment and high gas prices. I think Obama has to keep on the offensive and really tie McCain to Bush and his policies and evoke Reagan's "Are you better off than you are four years ago?" or "8-years ago." McCain will try to bring up his favorable ratings with this debate and will be given a couple of quips to deflect criticm. He will also go on the offensive against Obama on taxes. But Obama can't get off track and be on the defensive. The media will also try to ask superficial questions and Obama will need to turn it around and get back to core message of the economy. "It's the economy, stupid! and don't forget health care."

[napi21]

1. Anything that will pi** off McNuts and get him to show is wild temper! n/t

[babylonsister]

2. It's supposed to be a debate on foreign policy, though he

could tie in this bailout mess. But Obama won't be in charge of directing the conversation.

[SuperTrouper]

4. I am sure that there will be questions about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

[WI_DEM]

Whoops you're right. That's a shame since economics is on everybody's minds.

[Barack_America]

7. Easy to tie-in. Global security and financial security go hand-in-hand. nt

[begin_within]

3. What he said last night on 60 Minutes

They think the Iraq war started with The Splurge. They conveniently forget that the war raged on for 5 long years before The Splurge, and they were wrong about EVERYTHING during that time.

[Barack_America]

5. Regulation of financial institutions, withdrawing from Iraq and Zapatero.

The first two to highlight how Bush and McCain have bankrupted this country and the last to make McCain lose his cool.

[Alter Ego]

6. The economy won't be the issue--it's foreign policy, which basically

gives McAngry an automatic win because HE WAS A POW.

I have said it before and I will say it again--all McCain has to do is show up, not drool on himself or die, and say into the camera "I will follow Osama bin Laden to the gates of Hell if I have to" and he'll get thunderous applause and the media will just fall all over themselves to suck his cock over how "resolute and determined" he sounded. :puke:

We will, of course, think Obama did a wonderful job--because we actually give a shit about careful responses that don't sound like talking points. But it doesn't matter what we think--the media will furiously jerk McCain off for the next week. Thank god domestic issues are last--Obama can pummel McCain in that one, and it will be the last thing in voters' minds before the election.

[Barack_America]

9. Our economy has been bled dry by Bush and McCain's foreign policy.

Also, global security is threatened by financial turmoil.

I think we'll actually be hearing quite a bit about the economy.

[DCal]

8. The debate topic is foreign policy

Originally it was going to be on domestic policy, but both campaigns agreed to switch the topic of the first debate to foreign policy.

[NYC_SKP]

10. War, avoiding war, veterans, what constitutes "world leadership" for the US. nt

[scheming daemons]

11. Obama, if he's crafty, can turn a "Foreign Policy" debate back toward the economy... here's how

1. Repeat....over and over.... that the Treasury is spending $12 billion per month in Iraq. $100 million per year. Pull out of Iraq, and we can pay off the "bailout" before the end of Obama's second term.

2. Point out how Osama bin Laden stated in 2004 that his goal was to BANKRUPT the West. We have spent nearly $1 trillion on the Iraq war. How would our markets look today if that money was still in our treasury?

3. Talk about how the National Guard personnel that has been sent to Iraq on multiple long tours make up a disproportionate percentage of the people facing foreclosure. They haven't been at home in order to pay their bills...a lot are making less money now than in their regular civilian jobs (that they had to abandon while on Guard duty).



You can tie foreign policy to the economy very easily if you try.

[grassfed]

12. George Will Fearful of McCain, Un-presidential, Erratic

"John McCain showed his personality this week and made some of us fearful."
George Will
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/21/abc-panel-tears-into-mcca_n_128055.html

George Will declared that the Senator was decidedly un-presidential is his unexpected call for the firing of SEC Chairman Chris Cox, Sam Donaldson, the long-time ABC hand, said that McCain's erratic message on the economy again raised questions about his age.

"I suppose the McCain campaign's hope is that when there's a big crisis, people will go for age and experience," said Will. "The question is, who in this crisis looked more presidential, calm and un-flustered? It wasn't John McCain who, as usual, substituting vehemence for coherence, said 'let's fire somebody.' And picked one of the most experienced and conservative people in the administration, Chris Cox, and for no apparent reason... It was un-presidential behavior by a presidential candidate."

Donaldson then jumped in: "It was two days after the he said the fundamentals of the economy were strong. His talking points have gotten all mixed up. And I think the question of age is back on the table."