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10.07.2008 9:34 pm

Have the debates really helped define the candidates’ positions?

St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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Debates have been a long-held tradition in politics. And we vary them between the stilted podium-anchored statements and tonight’s “town hall style” meetings.

The debate tonight sounded very much like the previous one to me, however. Sen. Obama worked very hard to paint Sen. McCain as a clone of President George Bush. McCain worked hard to describe Obama as a product of the Washington establishment — without the ability to reach across the aisle and promote change.

Do these debates do anything to help voters really understand the candidates’ views on the issues? Or do they confuse you more, as the candidates highlight the flaws they perceive in their opponent’s plans?

Please comment below, or vote in the poll:

Who won presidential debate No. 2?

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72 comments

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BHO doesn’t have anyone’s back. All he cares about is raising taxes and discouraging reward for hard work. Fine, if you live on socialistic entitlement checks from the govt. Hell, I’ll just quit my job and let the govt support me!! If you want socialism, vote BHO. McCain won the debate hands down.

— budb1969
8:21 am October 8th, 2008

What many don’t realize is that before the Titanic wend down, I ordered the crew to rearrange the deck chairs to keep the ship afloat. As history tells, our plan didn’t work and neither will a private banking consortium’s (Federal Reserve).

— Capt. Edward Smith
8:26 am October 8th, 2008

These discussions have become as boring and mundane as the debates themselves. Seriously, can anyone point out what either candidate could have done to change their vote? The people who comment here have their minds made up, and nothing either candidate can say or do is going to change that.

— Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum
8:31 am October 8th, 2008

Why does every candidate now, their first stop after nomination is Israel instead of say Iowa or Nebraska? And why is every candidate now thrown the softball question (like last night also) as to whether they will sacrifice American blood to protect a country which is a racist, genocidal, ethnic cleansing Nazi regime (Israel)?

— America First, Last, Always
8:31 am October 8th, 2008

I don’t think either candidate won and the format was anything but a townhall meeting style debate. Where were discussions about: abortion, education, immigration, or gun control? The questions should have gone from the economy to these other issues instead of rehashing foreign affairs, which we know where each candidate already stands.

McCain, disappointed me with his mortgage buyout plan…but should have cheered you liberals who want the government to run their lives and give them handouts. Where is accountability and responsibility? McCain was wrong to vote “yes” on the bailout and is wrong to blame everyone but the idiot homeowners who bought homes they couldn’t afford. If folks can’t learn their lessons, they are doomed to repeat them.

Obama came across fairly well but at the end of the day, he wants to tax and spend our way into prosperity..which never works. I still have yet to see in all these posts what Obama accomplished during his years in the House and Senate. Donna, you say he “truly cares about us”..really? How has he truly cared about you thus far? Be specific now..Anyone? Beuller? Bueller?

— Logicprevails
8:37 am October 8th, 2008

Are these really debates? They are not hashing out any one topic to any extent. The longer it went on, the more I realized all I was hearing was a repeat of what I here in their TV campaign adds everyday. It is a public waste of time to air these so call debates. Obama is clearly not in touch with reality. He is making the lower middle class believe that he is going to change their world. It’s not going to happen. Nothing is going to change because of an elected president. It is going to take much more than that alone. I don’t hate either one of them. I do feel that Obama has a lot of people fooled that he can do what he is claiming he will do. Lower to middle class people have been let down enough in this country. With Obama, it’s only going to happen again. Once again I say, where is Ross Perot when we need him.

— first tom
8:37 am October 8th, 2008

I have to agree with shirleybry but it’s BO I can’t stand to watch.

— J.B.
8:40 am October 8th, 2008

“Who is the real Obama? The one that wants decent health-care for all, or the one that would withhold medical care for infants that survive being aborted?

Which is the real Obama? The tax and spend liberal, or the man that will reduce taxes on 95% of us and reduce spending?”

–Ahhh yes; the passive-aggressive canards without any fact basis behind them. Sorry, I’m not biting, and frankly I’d rather have Obama eliminating W’s tax cut for the wealthy than the Republican economics of ‘Debt-and-Spend’.

“McCain, disappointed me with his mortgage buyout plan…but should have cheered you liberals who want the government to run their lives and give them handouts. Where is accountability and responsibility? ”

–you mean like accountability on Wall Street??? Look; undoutedly some people took advantage of the system, but most did not, and are now getting screwed by it, so the ‘tough love’ excuse doesn’t cut it either.

…In fact, I am very curious about one thing: Banks are fighting mortgage write-downs tooth and nail. Is it because they really will lose money (as opposed to simply losing profit), or is it because they believe they will make more money letting the loans go to foreclosure and taking bailout money from the government? I haven’t yet heard a good answer to this question.

— reality check
8:45 am October 8th, 2008

McBush was a National Embarassment with his holocaust nonsense! Shut Up already! It was almost 70 years ago and didn’t happen here! 20 million people died in World War II but we no longer teach children about these deaths only the jews. Everyone is sick of hearing about and reading about and being indoctrinated about the GD holocaust! I don’t owe Israel a GD dime!

— Grandpa Juan "Amnesty" McBush
9:12 am October 8th, 2008

Do yourselves all a favor. Write down all the promises, tax cuts, planned proposals, and whatever else came out last night and check that list in 4 years to see how many get done…

— Tim
9:13 am October 8th, 2008

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