CNN

To me, the debate brought out the old way vs. the new way. There were several times where John McCain was condescending when addressing Barack Obama. Let's face it; John McCain has been around Washington for a long time. As I review the events of the last week, coupled with the events of the last eight years, it seems that the old guys seem to be trying to tell the young guys, "just do it my way because I have been around longer than you". Well, I am tired of old men sending young men to war. I served in Viet Nam, and I arrived home before John McCain. To me, the only heroes of that war, or any war, are those men and women that paid the ultimate sacrifice. I think it is time for new leadership and new, fresh ideas.

In my opinion, this was hard to watch. It would have almost been easier watching them square off with a game of basketball. Obama is on his game and looks more presidential than I've ever seen him. McCain seems really old and foggy but also angry and somewhat paranoid. He also doesn't seem to be listening to what Obama is saying which is a critical flaw for a debater or a president. I like McCain. I appreciate his heroism and his patriotism and we really needed him 8 years ago. Today, however, Obama is who we all need to stay moving forward into the future instead of being bridled to political ideologies of the past.

Nop,... I've heard that for almost 2 yrs in their campaigns. It was boring. Hurry and get it done so we don't have to listen to them anymore. Now I accept that whoever gets elected he can only stay in the White House for 8 yrs the most.

Whenever a political figure is wreckless enough to announce that he thinks Putin is KGB on GLOBALLY BROADCAST television coverage...we cannot afford as a nation to give him the power to act on is feelings. McCain is a dangerous old man and cannot be given power to act.

If he were elected we would be in a world war by the middle of his first term...he is already laying the groundwork. What is even more scary is the fact that he is too riddled with cancer to live through the war he begins and our nation would be stuck with Palin who cannot even answer a question in an interview with Couric. Wake up America...run from this while we still have the chance. NO MORE BUSH and that means NO MCCAIN/Palin

I thought Obama was considerate of McCain. Will America really believe that just because Obama may agree with him on some things that he agrees with all. That would be silly. McCain creeped me out. He's living in the past, is all about what he did way back when, and was incredibly obvious about his feelings. He never once looked Obama's way. Very hostile, almost like a cornered wild animal.

McCain never looked Obama in his eyes, why is that?

Why doesn't someone ask McCain the exact meaning of what "winning the war" in Iraq means? Mayhap the permanent occupation of that country?

I think the debate came out surprisingly even from my perspective. I thought McCain was far more personable, while Obama remained his aloof self. No humor coming from Obama. In fact, it looked like McCain was getting under Obama's skin, much like what happened when he and Hillary debated. Obama is so intent on coming off as presidential he tries to be the moderator as well as the one who answers the questions. Constantly, raising his finger to interrupt and then sneering at McCain. Interesting debate overall. BTW, it was difficult to tell who each was looking at while answering the quesitons, although Jim Lehrer did ask Obama to look at McCain when responding to one of the questions.

McCain can't look at Obama straight in the eye when responding or talking to him. On the other hand, Obama was looking at McCain in the eye when responding. Is it because McCain was twisting Obama's statements and comments and mischaracterizing Obama as well all the while during the debate? McCain just kept on repeating certain sentences, ie, "Obama does not clearly understand, or Obama's naivette". Was he told to say these things repeatedly so that the dumb American voters will then absorb the lies and then eventually start believing them? My, how sad that the McCain campaign thinks sooo low of the American intelligence.

I cannot believe CNN - you are soooo biased. I am a democrat and have been a long-time viewer of CNN. What do I see when I first open the CNN page - just a picture of Obama. Even though there were 2 (that was two) people at the debate - CNN only chose to show 1 (Obama). You should be ashamed to call yourself a news organization.

McCain won this bout – next !!!

Way to go Obama!!!
I am proud to support a candidate that is big enough to say he agrees with his opponent when he does. How maverick is that everybody!!! Integrity all the way ,oh ,and he can make eye contact too!
Obama spoke for me tonight the average American.

If anyone would bug someone, it would be the Republicans. It's what they do/did best. Remember Watergate!

GO OBAMA!

Great debate. And as I predicted, McCain wooped Obama's (you get the picture). Biden will make up for it, though.

I think that barack obama did a great job john mccain seems to dance around alot of questions. when john mccain stated that we dont have time for on the job training. what does he think he will have to do with his vp pick sara palin what type of experience does she has ?

Inquiring Minds, Obama is running for president because some of us do not like living in economic devastation. McCain was right, remember, he steals Obama's ideas, like change.

Obama did call him out on his lies. He also displayed that he had a broader and better perspective on the issues. McCain tried desperately to paint him as inexperienced and continually referred to the surge as if that was the beginning of the war but when Obama called him out on his errors in judgment regarding Iraq it was brilliant.

Obama Has no idea what hes talking about. For the first time hes had to focus on actual policies instead of change rhetoric. And what does he say? "I agree with you John." Obama just learned a lot about foreign policy

I can't believe that Obama keeps spouting new expeditures when we are in this economic crisis. If now is not the time to cut spending, i don't know when is the right time.

You can tell the paid-by-Obama bloggers. Their image-driven comments ended with a personal attack on McCain have become ubiquitous.

Obama is a diplomat and he isn't going to disagree with someone just for the sake of dsagreeing with them. That is what McSame does. Obama will agree with the person even if s/he is of opposing view points. This is why he will be much more bipartisan than in the office of President than McSame will ever be. I hope the McCain campaign does run those ads, it will only help Obama.

Its Kennedy beating Nixon all over again.

The fact is McCain came up short. He showed Obama can stand up and compete with him on foreign policy. Obama proved that he can grow in knowledge and lead this country.

This is what I heard McCain say during most of the debate: War! War here, war there, war everywhere!

I thought McCain looked like he'd been rehersed and had memorized part of his script. He also looked more and more confused at times.

The old man handed him his as.

I think John Mc Cain was rude in the debate. He was on constant attacks with many lies. Now we get to hear how he won the debate. Politics is total crap!

I just have one thing to say.......
Choosing Sarah Palin: It's not just naiive..........It's DANGEROUS

McCain is too reactionary for me. Why couldn't he give me a clear idea of what his plan is for anything.

the comments from these cnn commentators are rediculuos.

Obama delivered a TKO..........not hard to do though to someone who is unstable

McCain and Obama both did well i must say, but I'm still for Obama.
He is the ticket for change and McCain, well lets just say...go back to your country club, private plane, and visit earth soon..

Way to go Obama! Very Presidential.

I never thought I'd learn anything from McCain, but tonight I found out that the North Koreans are three inches shorter than the South Koreans.

This gut needs to stop whining.

9 times Time and time again. I agree with McCain. Wow Obama not an original thought. Does anyone have the stutter count for the night. At times I was not sure if he was a US Senator or a broken down car....AHAHAHAHAHA. I loved the way McCain got under smirky's skin. He looked visibly shaken when he greeted his bitter half after the debate. AHAHAHAHm,mmmmmmahaham stutter splutter....nothing

McCain looked stuck on the past. He was very condescending, and there were several instances where he actually lied. Christianne Amanpour and CNN footage just verified that Henry Kissinger did say that he would negotiate with countries such as Iran.

McCain folowed up every answer with his days of glory as a veteran and/or P.O.W. I admire John McCain and his service to our country, but he is not the best choice to lead our country.
OBAMA/BIDEN

I wasn't impressed by either one, it was pretty equal to me. McCain spoke too much about Iraq (and darn the luck, I was out of wine by the end of the debate so I missed the big POW part of my drinking game), and Obama seems in such a rush to hear his own voice that he bumbles – take a breah and figure it out before you speak, man!

I really missed Tim Russert tonight.

While I would not call myself a McCain fan i could not help but notice his experience vastly outshown Obama's oratory skill. The more I listed to Obama the more I realize he is a great speaker (with a script or extensive preparation) but lacks any serious experience. The best cut of the night to me was McCain's comment about the presidency not being the place for on the job training.

I see the usual inundation of pro-Obama/CNN drivel has already begun.

I hope that Jim Lehrer goes back and looks at the tapes of the debate. If he does, he will see that he consistently allowed John McCain to have the last word in answering almost every question.

The main job of the moderator is to be fair. By letting one side consistently have the last word, Mr. Lehrer betrayed his trust and failed to do his job.

Is it any wonder they could have the place bugged? Think back to McCain's rehearsed answers during the Saddleback discussion.

I don't think McCain did himself any favors by not looking his opponent in the eye. It shows a lack of self confidence on his part.

MCLAME NEVER LOOKED OBAMA IN THE EYE EVEN WHEN THEY SHOOK HANDS!!

WHERE was John McCain's flag pin? He whined about Sen. Obama not wearing a pin and he walks OUT without wearing one. Hummm.

I found Sen. McCain very predictable tonight in the debate. He kept talking about Ronald Reagan, General Petraas, etc. McCain looked like he was having an anxiety attack. He kept gritting his teeth while "smerking", but never ONCE did he look at Sen. Obama.

Is General Petraas the ONLY General in the country? I can't tell the way John McCain uses him in every other question. It's typical "John McCain", his mannerism was very tensed.

Sen. McCain lacked clear judgement when it comes to SPECIFICS, he skirted around his answers by repeatedly "telling stories of the PAST".

I found Sen. Obama very cool, calm and collected. He spoke very confidently and gave very specific details about what HE WOULD DO as the next President. Sen. Obama looked at John McCain AND looked straight into the camera while talking to the American Voters.
I THOUGHT Sen. Obama WON this debate HANDS DOWN!!!

McCain came across as a patronizing old man who is living in the past.......Obama is a very intelligent man with common sense and will make an amazing President for this century.

McCain wins big, sorry nobama!

Barack kick McCain tonight in the debate. Next Thursday Biden will do the same. Very good job for Barack Obama. He is ready for the job now.

Obama giving credit to McCain on issues where he though McCain was right was a Presidential approach to take. Contrast that with McCain being completely unable to even give credit to Obama when they totally agree on issues......I think McCain came across as smug, condescending, confrontational, and defensive. Overall, Obama came across as knowledgeable, steady, and ready to lead.

Wow. Obama is that guy that has the swagger of a president. He stood his ground and kept cool in the midst of things that were thrown back and forth. I saw McCain get upset a few time and react off of raw emotional. Obama is the guy that American needs. He was right on top of all the things that McCain might bring toward him. I was impressed by what he had to say and how he presented his ideas. The ideas were clear. Someone put McCain the bitter old man to bed.

Watching this debate as a foreigner, I am worried that if McCain is elected President, US will most probably start another war with either Iran, Russia or North Korea. By the way why does the old man keep patronizing Sen. Obama? ' You dont understand' geez

McCain is a good senator...he should keep that job. Obama gave the appearance of having better judgement, and being a more balanced individual...he addressed the issues instead of trying to make political points and droning on and on about wars....

rudy jones:

You have to remember that they are pathological liars. I mean, look at the debate, outside of repeating stump speech talking points most of the time, he was lying about Obama's record and stance in which Obama repeatedly called him out for.

I think McCain and his supporters were watching a different debate or just doing some really good drugs!!! McCain did nothing to earn any respect from him. Lots of low blows and talk of the past but he has no flexibility or willingness to be wrong. We are human and we do make mistakes, the only way to learn from them is to admit to them so you can grow and make better choices in the future.
I think that fact that Obama is not willing to pigeon hole himself about something that he can't possibly know about yet shows his willing to listen take advice and weigh his decisions. McCain camp would like for you to believe this is a bad trait to have. Yet he is not giving us any idea as to where he is headed because all he talked about was the past and his record. So if we are to go on his past that does not bode well for change or new administration policies.

Where was McCain's flag pin?!?! I thought he slept with it on? Obama was wearing his? Interesting....

Obama was very Presidential tonight and if the Low Life Republican Party was their to tape Obama's saying to McCain your right.

Then think that is going to work in campaign ads you gotta another thing coming.

Obama held is own tonight and no matter what the GOP does with Obama comments to McCain Obama will be our next President on November 4th.

The only thing I would suggest to the Obama campaign on Renewable Energy say no to Nukes .

They are not renewable and they are dangerous remember 3 miles Island ?

Obama – I agree with Mc Cain – Seven times – what's up with that??

Mc.Cain – What Obama does not understand – eight times...

Obama – just drop out – if you agree with Mc Cain why are you running for Prez... What a looser....

CNN HAS CLOSED ALL ROOMS BUT THIS ONE, BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT US TO VOICE OUR OPINIONS ON THE BAD CANDIDATE BO...........GOD THE DNC IS KILLING AMERICA

mccain cleary is afraid of obama, how come he would not look him in the eye, same old man same okd bush, ways, america is tired of this republican, i cleary thought obama won this hands down, mccain showed me a side that i dont want to see in the whitehouse,

The best way to listen to a Presidential debate is to Turn Off the TV right after. The analysis line by line gives me a headache. Especially when pundits start adding in what they think the candidate meant.

If you don't know, why don't you do some reporting, and ask them!

First, I'd really like to know why CNN cut off comments on a lot of the topicson the Ticker!

Next I'd like to say that I thought Barrack SMOKED McCain on the issue of Iraq, primarily because both BUsh and McCain have so much invested in the conflict which took valuable resources away from the REAL WAR ON TERROR.

Additionally, Iraq is the war that McCain so desperately needs to "win" because to quote Charlie Daniels, he's "still in Saigon in his mind." This is why he keeps playing the POW card.

O'Bama was the daddy tonight – he made Mac look like a tired old cliche.

Your party should know

McCain , Wooped Obama Big Time Tonight . Obama Didn't Do Well At All , He Looked Lost For Words Most of The Time , And Very Angry . John McCain Does Well Under Pressure . Obama Crumbles

McCain/ Palin 2008

repubs dont even know when their toast.

i can not believe how the mc cain aide who was just on cnn can stand on camera and out and out lie. she learned from mc cain i guess.

McCain's budget cuts were to fire federal employeees – whom he later praised in regards to homeland security. 1) Firing thousands more in an ailing economy isn't going to help anyone – especially at what government workers are paid. 2) Federal employees are public servants – we keep America working. Remember the government shutdown during Bush 1's tenure – bad idea, very bad idea.

did anyone here notice that McCain was not wearing a "Flag Pin' Obama was !!!!

Maverick – unpredictable, uncontrollable, reckless

Do you people want 8 more years of ready fire aim?

Somebody get McCain his purple heart cause he has shot himself in the foot!

McCain was very condescending and he does sound stuck in the past. I respect his long service but he doesn't have any new ideas.