PEDRAM MOALLEMIAN

Pedram jan

Believing the polls Round 1 in debates goes to Obama.

Personally, I found that McCain succeeded in proving that he can be aggressive, an aggression accompanied with a sneer and a zest of smirk. I almost doubt that people vote for a grumpy old aggressive man.

Obama - 1 McClueless -

Obama - 1 McClueless - 0

The master of deregulation and economic mess looked terrible to me and the CNN poll second it.

I think Mac won last night

I though Obama started better than Mac- Especially regarding the economy. Obama was much clearer regarding the economy even though I do not agree with him on the economic issues. However, Mac finished stronger at the end and Obama seemed to be annoyed and his irritation was clearly visible to the camera during much of the debate. Mac was much calmer. Obama looked to stiff. Obama does much better when his is in a free style setting.

I had the same feeling

immediately after the debate, I thought McCain won, but a low-point win on points, not a knock out. He looked more in charge and managed to avoid most of the pitfalls about the economy spectacle. He made practical points on Pakistan and sidestepped his previous mistakes. Obama was way too restrained for my taste.

It is also true that most polls and almost all reviews showed that independents universally thought that Obama won.

So, where's the disconnect? I have an explanation, but sadly it's not "good news" for Obama supporters.

I think the months of negative campaigning against Obama managed to create an impression that he was SO inexperienced he could not even hold a conversation in foreign policy. To political junkies like me and you, these ads were inconsequential. But to people who do not follow the race every single day, and aren't sure what's really going on in the world, Obama exceeded the expectations.

That debate was in reality still shallow and superficial to us, but probably very technical to most people.

There's a simple rule of thumb of what most Americans usually judge debates (and many other things). It's like this: just put the TV on mute, and then ask yourself "who won"?

The answer is Obama.

Dear pedram

CNN doesn't "feel" American people saw it differently.  CNN tries to "measure" it. it's a poll.  there is some science behind it.  

Nothing personal but you and alot of Iranians think what you observe and how you see things is either how things are, or should be. So what if 500 others, or 5 million others feel the opposite? It's their problem.  That poll, even if it includes 500 participants, is 500 times more important than your individual opinion.  It's the height of arrogance, if not ignorance, to dismiss it so condesendingly. You not "responsibe" for that, as you aloofly put it.  The fact that it means nothing to you explains why so many bright iranians are alone in their activism. 

Hey Thanks!

Thank you for all your comments so far. Particularly the ones who kept it at a level that will contribute to a discussion.

As clearly stated, I only post my very own "opinion and observation" and nobody else'. If CNN feels 'American People' saw it differently and if in fact they did, I am not responsible for that.

As someone who has previously run for office, I pay very little, if no, attention to polls. By that I am referring to public polls and not the more narrow focused internal-only polls held by individual campaigns. You can only look at how often they have been wrong in recent elections to see their uselessness.

For those who do not think what they wear matters, I can only tell you that the campaigns themselves spend just as much attention to such things, plus hand and eye movements, candidate' standing posture, etc.

One last thing; I only rated their performance at the debate, not reflective of who is my favorite or else.

Pedram Moallemian
www.eyeranian.net

my take

I don't think their attire had anything to do with their performance.

I think Obama showed much more respect and professionalism by acknowledging McClueless who wouldn't even look at Obama.  Was he afraid?

I think Obama could have been more aggressive.

I think Obama proved how uninformed McClueless is (ie Kissinger).

I think McClueless' tax plan is typical Bush (big oil, big corporation) and Obama focused on social and education issues and SMALL business... as well as health issues which are DRASTICALLY more important to the American PEOPLE than focusing on constantly threatning Iran.

Obama 1 : McClueless 0

Oh, and I too can't wait for the Biden-Palin debate.  THAT ought to wrap things up nicely!

OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT

I mostly listened to the

I mostly listened to the debate last night driving home from work. I caught the last half hour on TV. I guess I didn't have time to stare at what they were wearing.

If I were in Obama's place I know I could not have stayed as calm as he did. McCain kept repeating: Senator Obama doesn't understand (over and over again). That was very insulting. I give him the right to brag about his long career, but he went too far. He couldn't dare looking at Obama, as if he looked embarrassed for all the lies he's been saying or the flip flopping, I am not sure...

I think Obama could have done better by having been quicker in responding to the old man's nagging comments that were all lies, I think he just didn't want to look abusive to the old guy, maybe he was told not to look too aggressive and "young".  Who knows...

The polls showed Obama did better, but I agree with Darius too, the media is accepting the hype around McCain foreign policy and national security and repeating it all the time. This is how they make people vote certain way, just feed them BS repeatedly and they have been doing it.

I can't wait to see how Biden / Palin debate goes. Knowing the democrats, they will give him the wrong advice and tell him to dumb himself down to her level so people won't feel sympathy for the old gal.

Obama 1 McCain 0

IRANdokht

I Go For Another $ Years Of Bush

These two didn't sound any different than GWB,hardly any substance

in their debate and I bet two high school kids would have done a better job.Both advocated many more years of wars and hardly  any hope forsolving

the growing domestic problems . Well we may be better  off saving some  money by making GWB run for another god knows how many yrs.

Both debate to me  sounded like everything was mandatedto them with

just a little bit of twist in each to make me believe  two different things.

Welcome again many years of wars and side lining the Americans

with bogus excuses .I thougth  the republican guard was destroyed

almost 6yrs ago ,!!?Well ,I bet MacCain will be the next president,

not for the reason of  being better than Obama ,just because

he is given a false credential regarding National Security experience 

and a night before the election many minds will be switched to his  camp .Obama needs Miracle all those donation for was watching

a rock star show.The reality is that many  do not feel comfortable with  him and I was expecting MacCain  instead of calling him

Senator Obama , say this boy doesn't seem to understand the fact.

During the whole debate he avoided eye contact with Obama and

pretended that Obama does not exist . Thats all folks

Really Pedram? Voters didn't get your memo

Overwhelmingly, every poll, says Obama did better- even FOX! Where did you pull your "Obama performed so poorly" observation out of? 

Here's the CNN poll, conducted among debate-watchers:
* Regardless of which candidate you happen to support, who do you think did the best job in the debate -- Barack Obama or John McCain?
Obama 51%
McCain 38%

* Did _______ do a better or worse job than you expected?
Obama: Better 57%, Worse 20%, Same 23%
McCain: Better 60%, Worse 20%, Same 18%

* Next, regardless of which presidential candidate you support, please tell me if you think Barack Obama or John McCain would better handle each of the following issues:

• The war in Iraq: Obama 52%, McCain 47%

• Terrorism: McCain 49%, Obama 45%

• The economy: Obama 58%, McCain 37%

• The current financial crisis: Obama 54%, McCain 36%

* Thinking about the following characteristics and qualities, please say whether you think each one better described Barack Obama or John McCain during tonight's debate:

• Was more intelligent: Obama 55%, McCain 30%

• Expressed his views more clearly: Obama 53%, McCain 36%

• Spent more time attacking his opponent: McCain 60%, Obama 23%

• Was more sincere and authentic: Obama 46%, McCain 38%

• Seemed to be the stronger leader: Obama 49%, McCain 43%

• Was more likeable: Obama 61%, McCain 26%

• Was more in touch with the needs and problems of people like you: Obama 62%, McCain 32%

* Based on what _______ said and did in tonight's debate, do you think he would be able to handle the job of president if he is elected?
Obama 69%-29%
McCain 68%-30%

And the numbers released so far from the CBS poll of undecided debate-watchers: 39% said Obama won, 25% said McCain won, and 36% said it was a draw. Forty-six percent said their opinions of Obama went up, compared to only 31% who said the same about McCain. On the economy, 66% said Obama would make the right decisions, compared to 44% who said the same for McCain.

"Is It Better to Look Good than Feel Good"?

McLies looked miserable and disoriented with no substance and it showed!!! BTW, If you want your president to be in the pocket of Big-Oil and Corporate Criminals vote for McLies!

Is it true that McCain has

Is it true that McCain has health problems and that he is going to withdraw in the next couple of weeks?

agree

Last night it became obvious a kind of empty suite Obama is. This community organizer (what ever that means) needs to do some work and perhaps return in ten years with more experience and then run for presidency.

The old guy was visibly

The old guy was visibly nervous, lost, and all over the map. He had no substance and offered nothing but empty slogans. I can't wait to see the VP debate.

McCain made several mistakes.

I don't know what debate you were watching but all the polls show Obama did better in a generally boring debate.

McCain screwed up "Revolutionary Guards" (he said "Republican Guard") and he got the names of the Ukranian leaders mixed up (it was Yuschenko versus Yanukovich, not Tymoshenko). He also refused to admit that Kissinger specifically said "no preconditions" on meeting with Ahmadinejad.

Obama or McCain

I was for Clinton, since she is out of the race, I have no choice, but, to see the bastereds fight it out, Obama is inexperience and McCain is an old fart who is a war monger,

Another idiot

Another idiot who has a listening and comprehension problem and is stuck with idiotic "observations" about superficial nonsense.

What's next? Are you going to count the amount of teeth candidates are showing?

I disagree

Your suggestions may be true, but i disagree with your rating. I thought Obama beat McCain in the first debate. Obama 1 : McCain 0

Obama is the only chance

I will celebrate and give away sweets when Obama wins.