Body language helped McCain win the debate

Mr Poop Pants

Sun Oct 12 2008 22:41

You people need to get a life!!! Everybody knows Mccain is an old dude with a lot of experience and he has a hot VP named Sarah "Hot buns" Palin. Obama is a fresh chocolate face (thats from Borat) who has a tall scary wife and catches the attention of his audience. He strives to be an artist of change and Joe Biden looks like a pedophile, i dont know if thats spelled right. But yes he looks like he hangs out at playgrounds in short shorts. I think both these candidates are the worst we've had in a long time so whether Old Man RIver wins or Tall Obama , I hope they do something about the economy, because I am tired of hearing about the plummet and how Sally and Tom and Jane and Greg brought this whole problem up by getting loans they cant pay back!! I like the article and I like how opinionated everybody is!

Blaneys #1 fan

Sun Oct 12 2008 22:31

I think that this article is very successful because it has caused all lazy USF Democrats to write in response to this OPINION article. WAY TO GO BUBBY!! Democrats are just mad because they borrow when they shouldnt.

Beau

Wed Oct 1 2008 21:26

Blaney better stick to majoring in English because the art of reading body language is obviously not his forte. Take some courses on kinesic interviewing and then tell me what you see

Your name

Wed Oct 1 2008 17:27

" Perhaps Obama could put forth a tax subsidized program to teach young Republicans how to use google? Sure it’s not promised in the Constitution, but hey, times change."
if all our money didnt go to the democrats welfare programs and people wanting to not work, not get an education and live off the rest of us who did get an education and a job, maybe they'd have money for other programs

USF students are really stupid

Wed Oct 1 2008 17:24

I am embarrassed at the ignorance of these postings. Most of all the bigots saying Obama is not African American.

If a father from Africa and mother from America have a child... That child, by definition, is African American.

usfbull85

Wed Oct 1 2008 12:51

i always wonder why people bicker back and forth about whos candidate is right or wrong, because the only people bickering are the ones who are obviously already decided... actions speak louder than words...get out there and make your voice heard.. VOTE!

SLCPUNK

Wed Oct 1 2008 03:05

I think we can all agree that watching something such as a debate is rather subjective. For the most part we have already decided on who we are going to vote for, before tuning in. I anticipated this prior to reading Mr. Blaney’s piece, and made a note of it. While the premise was mildly amusing, “Body language” being the key ingredient to what defines a true leader; the remainder was nothing more than manufactured outrage over a strawman argument. A poor man’s diatribe at best.

McCain brought his campaign half truths to the podium last Friday and in my opinion Obama had every right to “interrupt.” For example claiming that “Obama is going to raise your taxes” was misleading. Obama had a right to defend himself from an opponent who was mischaracterizing his position. It would also be disingenuous of Blaney to argue that only Obama “indignantly” spoke over McCain. I certainly don’t mind subjective, but dishonesty is something else altogether. I watched the debate, and while an Obama supporter, I can clearly see that they both talked over one another.

Blaney went on to claim that McCain’s answers were “off the cuff” while Obama’s were “canned.” Ironically he referred to McCain’s “not nominated for Miss Congeniality in the Senate" remark as proof that McCain was a spontaneous on-the-fly kind of guy. In reality McCain has recycled this joke many times over. A ten second search produced this punch-line, in a speech he gave against drilling in ANWAR in 2007 (His stance since changed now that it’s election time.) Perhaps Obama could put forth a tax subsidized program to teach young Republicans how to use google? Sure it’s not promised in the Constitution, but hey, times change.

On one hand Blaney stood by McCain’s maverick persona, but preceded his defense with “While it is true that McCain sides with Bush most of the time.” I have to ask Mr. Blaney, which one is it? McCain once went against his party in regards to drilling, but now walks lockstep with them. McCain previously stood against his party on abortion, but now claims he would overturn Roe v. Wade. McCain was once against Bush’s tax cuts, but now he is for them. It sure seems like the closer we get to the election, the more he adopts the Bush dogma.

In the middle of all this, Blaney resorts to a half truth to build a strawman argument in regards to McCain’s age. “Democrats have portrayed McCain’s age as a reason to be uneasy about his candidacy.” Yes, the Democrats have voiced concerns over Palin being “one heartbeat” away from the Presidency, but never taken a platform solely based on his age, or his ability to lead in relation to it. Perhaps it is true, that somebody, somewhere, claimed McCain to be too old, I don’t doubt that. But to portray it as the position of the Democratic Party is dishonest. In other words, it’s a, strawman argument and reeks of lazy journalism.

In the end Blaney leaves us with “McCain is the leader we need at present-and there is no debating that.” Unfortunately for the reader, Blaney provides few reasons other than McCain’s ability to strike a pose. Frankly this article was shameful: laced with half truths, false arguments, and conjecture. I’d like to quote McCain and say that Ryan Blaney “Just doesn’t understand”, but in all honesty, he knows exactly what he’s doing.

ScottZ

Wed Oct 1 2008 01:29

Obama agreeing with McCain simply showed he can be bipartisan, a very slick move on his part and you forgot to add how he (Obama) forcefully disagreed with McCain.
McCain couldn't even look Obama in the eyes, what a coward.
He was condescending and demeaning, it was his only strong suit and it wasn't statesman like. This debate was supposed to be his strength and all he showed was how weak he was.

Chase

Wed Oct 1 2008 00:37

Ryan, I was interested in your comments regarding McCain's calm demeanor during the debate. Though it’s true that common courtesy dictates one remains quiet while another has the floor, perhaps consistently sitting by and letting others speak their mind with conviction is not a proper act for someone pursuing the presidency. In my opinion, this seems to lack motivation and strength. I would undoubtedly vote for the strongest and best suited candidate for the job, not the man sitting by trying to get his thoughts together while his opponent vigorously lays out precise solutions to our societies problems.

Jpoker

Wed Oct 1 2008 00:06

Holy ****, most of the comments below me make me sad that I got in the same school as these idiots. "but McCain's VP candidate has less experience than Obama!" Palin has more experience then Obama and she is the VP candidate, shes not supposed to have more experience then the Presidential nominee. The fact she does is sad on Obama's part and shows hes not the man for the job. Obama's vp has more experience then Obama, the only reason people want to vote for him is because he is black. Everything out of his dumb mouth is a lie. He has ties to corrupt african countries. It wasn't just Mccains bill that was rejected, if you dont know how to read it was Obama involved along with Bush and Mccain idiots. Why does everyone blame W for the economic problems we are facing now? The fed lowered interest rates which caused everyone making minimum wage to think they should buy a house they couldnt afford. With the higher demand the housing market inflated itself insanely fast, which raised everything else including taxes and insurance. Along with all the hurricanes causing insurance to raise on housing, which in tern made all these idiots who wanted to own a house loose there houses. Which caused the problems we have now, not Bush, NOT the war. A majority Democratic house/senate approved us going to war, the president can't declare war congress does. so why do idiots want to blame bush?

kerri

Tue Sep 30 2008 23:06

"Obama’s continuous agreement failed to differentiate him from his Republican counterpart."

I feel silly for pointing this out, because any person capable of thought can see how different Obama and McCain are, and if you had watched the debate you wouldn't have made this statement Just because he agreed with him seven times about the obvious fact that we need to fix the economy doesn't mean he didn't differentiate himself. He quite obviously did, and does, or else there wouldn't have even been a debate.

As a journalism major, I'm embarrassed that this column was allowed to be published in my school's newspaper. The Oracle needs to employ journalists who write columns based on sound opinion and well-informed research, not just some shmuck who watches FOX.

Your name

Tue Sep 30 2008 22:42

Obama never claimed to be leading his party to pass the bill. He isn't even a member of the house. Obama was invited to the Cabinet discussion by Bush, because Bush has no political pull being a lame duck. McCain was there too, but let us remember he was already going to be in town, solving this economic crisis. Lets just admit it, McCain does not hold true to the foundations of the GOP. He tried to offset this with the double threat Palin, but she wont be here for long I guarantee she reascends her nomination within the next week.Welcome the change that you can calculate, not the change that forgets were he is from time to time. McCain/ Palin 08' is quickly turning to Depends/ Failin 0****'

Your name

Tue Sep 30 2008 21:51

Why is it the Republicans fault the bailout failed? Let's see...

percentage of dems voting no = 40%
percentage of republicans voting no = 67%

any questions?

NotAFoxFanLikeTheOracle

Tue Sep 30 2008 21:44

The Oracle sounds alot like an echo of Fox News spin.

You are completely wrong on most of the points you state as fact. McCain had more misleading, canned responses. Was hostile toward Obama, and did not show the "common courtesy" of even looking at his opponent. His campaign manager is a lobbyist yet he pretends to be for "reform". His choice of VP shows his bad judgement. The list goes on and on.

There is no original thought in this piece. Is it possible to plagerize Fox News?

Your name

Tue Sep 30 2008 21:33

"To the anonymous person who wrote in regard to Mr. Obama's race, he is NOT half black . He is white and Arab, and Kanyan. Arab's were slave traders until being stopped by the British, and his Kenyan ancestors were not here during slavery. So can he relate to the struggle of African' Americans?? NO, because he isn't African American."

That's really nice to know... At any rate, he will still not be the "first black president." End of story.

MSNBC BLOWS

Tue Sep 30 2008 18:50

Your name
Tue Sep 30 2008 08:35
How is this a column? This isn't news, this is just an endorsement of McCain by the Oracle.
How about the Oracle stay out of the business of candidate endorsements and just cover the news? You know, that crazy stuff that people actually read this newspaper for.

I hope you feel the same about the National Media, They have been treating Obama like he's the second coming of Jesus Christ.

They have thrown him ground ball questions since he stepped on the scene. I wonder if they asked the same questions and treated him the same way they treated Palin how soon the Obama "truth squads" would claim racism.

Your name

Tue Sep 30 2008 18:41

Lets see, congress is controlled by majority of democrats, so how would it be soley the republicans fault that the bailout bill did not pass? Good job Obama and Pelosey on leading your party.

MAT

Tue Sep 30 2008 18:35

I've think that you did even watch the debate you probably look at the preview after the debate because you was doing sometime us. Don't get me wrong I think that he has experience. But, people who his experience forget about the basic. I think that he forget about the basic. Also, during the debate he did not give eye contact or joke or making smart remark to Obama. Obama address all of his question to McCain and the Republicans Party. Why? McCain address him and only him. And my eyes I think that Obama won because good body language, good eye contact, and more detail about what he is going to do with the economy.... I was think about voting for McCain but it is now voting for Obama.

Joe Blo

Tue Sep 30 2008 18:02

"How about the Oracle stay out of the business of candidate endorsements and just cover the news? You know, that crazy stuff that people actually read this newspaper for."

Most newspapers don't run news stories in the opinion section. Oh, and if an opinion piece is meant to be representative of the entire paper (like an "Oracle endorsement" would be) then it would be an editorial, not a column by Ryan Blaney.

Just thought you should know ...

tzar

Tue Sep 30 2008 17:08

In all reality who is experienced to be President, let’s look at Ronald Reagan, and George W. Bush. Both were governors of very populace states. One was an actor, and the latter a Major League Baseball team owner. Both left us with the two of the largest financial scandals; in 1987 the saving and loan mess, (which if you research, John McCain was responsible for along with 5 other Senators, Keating 5), and in 2003-2008 the financial meltdown of our economy. So, who has experience to lead? I find it interesting, all this bias but you have no real reason to support McCain. Even if you supported Obama, I don’t believe you are educated enough about either to have your opinion or your vote count.