2008 Election

Turning Disaster Into Opportunity

Gary Hart | Posted 10.08.2008 | Politics


Gary Hart

The Wall Street disaster is a metaphor for excess and greed, but also for a time gone by. The world of the new century requires not just a new Democratic administration, but one that is prepared to transform our nation.

The Adler Planetarium and McCain's Fake War on Earmarks

Jules Siegel | Posted 10.08.2008 | Politics


Jules Siegel

McCain's slur about the Adler projector reveals both the slovenly nature of his campaign's opposition research as well as a disconnect from reality. This is a high-tech scientific educational project, not an entertainment device.

Plan a Swing State Trip for Obama

Alison Stein Wellner | Posted 10.08.2008 | Living


Alison Stein Wellner

I live in New York State, in New York City, in Manhattan--among the blue bluer bluest geographic locations in the country. I'm voting for Obama, but I...

McCain Calls Obama "That One"

Maggie Van Ostrand | Posted 10.08.2008 | Politics


Maggie Van Ostrand

If the people of this nation cannot tell the difference between presidential behavior and a sick and angry little man, then we're in more trouble than we are with Bush. Get a grip John. You're boring.

McCain Fizzles as Obama Sizzles

Michael Carmichael | Posted 10.08.2008 | Politics


Michael Carmichael

In the course of the debate, McCain was outclassed, outgunned and outrun, time and time and time again. Obama's performance was so commanding that he barely noticed a petulant McCain.

The Second Debate Revealed a Fatal Flaw in McCain's Candidacy

Mitchell Bard | Posted 10.08.2008 | Politics


Mitchell Bard

It's easy to take a position in a campaign. But the promises are empty if the candidate has a record opposing those very positions.

Knowing What You Don't Know

Jon Raymond | Posted 10.08.2008 | Home


Jon Raymond

Last night's debate came close to a Donald Rumsfeld press conference: "As we know, there are known knowns. There are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns. That is to say we know there are some things we do not know..."

The Answer We Needed to Hear

Howard Schweber | Posted 10.08.2008 | Politics


Howard Schweber

Obama's answer to the first question of the night was fine -- anodyne, uninspiring, reasonable, and utterly uninspiring.

Reading The Pictures: Citizen Anger, Pakistan slam, Michelle Love, And McCain As A Blur

Michael Shaw | Posted 10.08.2008 | Media


Michael Shaw

2008-10-08-shaw_mccain_townhall.jpgIn the early phase of the debate, there wasn't a drop of humor in that room. As McCain and Obama offered generalities, these people weren't even close to buying it.

Worse Than "That One"

Cenk Uygur | Posted 10.08.2008 | Politics


Cenk Uygur

For me, the more worrisome moment of the debate came when McCain told a young, black questioner, "You've probably never heard of Fannie Mae."

The Subliminal Slam-Dunk

Mary Lyon | Posted 10.08.2008 | Politics


Mary Lyon

The body language and other nonverbals put Obama decisively over the top, because it said more about the character issue for the two candidates and their wives than anyone's verbiage.

Not a Whole Lot of "Town," and Other Town Hall Debate Reactions

Paul Reiser | Posted 10.08.2008 | Politics


Paul Reiser

Well, for a town-hall meeting, I sure didn't see a whole lot of 'town." A couple dozen of over-lit, under-whelmed people who got free tickets. As a comic, I have to say, that really looked like a tough house.

The Winner of Debate II? "That One"

Arianna Huffington | Posted 10.08.2008 | Politics


Arianna Huffington

At the end of the debate, Brokaw asked McCain to get out of the way of his Teleprompter. He might as well have been speaking on behalf of the future: Senator McCain can you please get out of the way so we can get on with it?

Hitting the Snooze Button on McCain-Obama Round 2

Ted Johnson, Maegan Carberry, Teresa Valdez Klein | Posted 10.08.2008 | Politics


Ted Johnson, Maegan Carberry, Teresa Valdez Klein

Boooring. Yawn. Anything new? "That one?" That's the big controversy of the night? Do we miss Sarah Palin so soon?

Life in the Shallow End

Nora Ephron | Posted 10.08.2008 | Politics


Nora Ephron

It's not that I don't hear what the candidates are saying, but I always begin by noticing what they're wearing, and whose shirt looks better, and of course, whose tie.

From "The One" To "That One": John McCain And (Not) Reaching Across Party Lines

Steven G. Brant | Posted 10.07.2008 | Politics


Steven G. Brant

Sen. McCain failed big time in that most basic principle of bipartisan leadership: attributing inherent worth to his equal from the opposite side of the political spectrum.

Is John McCain Really Our Friend?

Erica Jong | Posted 10.07.2008 | Politics


Erica Jong

Why are these debates so incredibly boring? Is it McCain telling us constantly he is our friend while he grimaces in a way that is friendly to no one? Or is it Obama keeping his cool despite all the idiotic lies and provocations?

That One?!

Bob Cesca | Posted 10.07.2008 | Politics


Bob Cesca

They say that Sen. McCain's strong suit is the town hall debate. If this was, in fact, Sen. McCain's strength, he might as well go home. Sorry... homes.

McCain's Mudslide Continues

Robert Shrum | Posted 10.07.2008 | Politics


Robert Shrum

If the question of the first debate was whether Obama would pass the threshold on national security (he did), the reality of this debate is that McCain didn't pass the threshold on the economy.

A 'Terrible' Debate Performance By Brokaw and Organizers

Greg Mitchell | Posted 10.07.2008 | Politics


Greg Mitchell

This was supposed to be the "domestic policy" debate. Yet there we were once again talking about raids on Pakistan and defending Israel. Brokaw and the organizers let down the American public.

"My Friends," It's Over

Joseph A. Palermo | Posted 10.07.2008 | Politics


Joseph A. Palermo

It was clear tonight that Barack Obama has a far superior understanding of the moving parts of government and American society than John McCain ever had.

Obama's Missed Opportunity on Health Care at the Debate

Bryan Young | Posted 10.07.2008 | Politics


Bryan Young

Obama missed an opportunity to explain that the health of our nation's citizens cannot be held hostage to a corporate profit motive.

Meet Your Debate Sponsors: Part 2

Allison Kilkenny | Posted 10.07.2008 | Politics


Allison Kilkenny

AT&T makes a triumphant return in this second installment of the presidential debates. While Wachovia is out of the mix tonight, the financial industry will be well-represented tonight by three banks.

Et Tu, Senator McCain?

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. | Posted 10.07.2008 | Politics


Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.

What's most troubling about the McCain camp's desperate decision to attack on Sen. Obama is that they understand the nastiness, the pettiness, the just-plain-wrongness of what they're doing.

One Coup over the Cuckoo's Nest

Jayne Lyn Stahl | Posted 10.07.2008 | Politics


Jayne Lyn Stahl

Despite all the muscle flexing, the Republicans don't have the cojones to pull off the kind of coup the Soviets did, or the Cubans, or the Venezuelans.