usvi-on-line
Undecided Voters
I will have to admit that when I watch Obama speak I really don't think about the fact that he's black, but when I see McCain all I can see is that he's old.
I'm embarrassed to admit it, but's it's true. Maybe it's a generational thing. Who knows?
My thing is that BOTH sides are playing the "What If" card so IMHO it's fair game to apply the standard to both sides.
I have one observation though. Has anyone noticed that Obama's ads are him actually talking to the camera and discussing his issues, while the majority of the Mccain ads are just photos of McCain and a narrator? Or no photos of Mccain at all?
My feeling is that they are trying to avoid this because he looks stiff and uncomfortable on camera while Obama tends to look more relaxed. I noticed the same thing during the debates.
Unfortunately I think that Palin's youth and exuberance only draws more attention to McCain's age. I think that his efforts to appear more youthful comes across as more erratic and again seem to miss the mark with folks.
I think these judgments by folks (including myself) are unfortunate but we live in a Television age and sadly these subconcious impressions play a role in our decision making and assessments of our leaders-- even when you're concious of your own bias.
I guess the key is to be aware of any potential bias you may have and try to work through it whether that be race, age or gender based.
In other words the first step to overcoming something is to admit it in the first place!
I'm embarrassed to admit it, but's it's true. Maybe it's a generational thing. Who knows?
My thing is that BOTH sides are playing the "What If" card so IMHO it's fair game to apply the standard to both sides.
I have one observation though. Has anyone noticed that Obama's ads are him actually talking to the camera and discussing his issues, while the majority of the Mccain ads are just photos of McCain and a narrator? Or no photos of Mccain at all?
My feeling is that they are trying to avoid this because he looks stiff and uncomfortable on camera while Obama tends to look more relaxed. I noticed the same thing during the debates.
Unfortunately I think that Palin's youth and exuberance only draws more attention to McCain's age. I think that his efforts to appear more youthful comes across as more erratic and again seem to miss the mark with folks.
I think these judgments by folks (including myself) are unfortunate but we live in a Television age and sadly these subconcious impressions play a role in our decision making and assessments of our leaders-- even when you're concious of your own bias.
I guess the key is to be aware of any potential bias you may have and try to work through it whether that be race, age or gender based.
In other words the first step to overcoming something is to admit it in the first place!
*Another fine scatterbrained production
Once again, trying to get my 40-grand-worth out of this degree here on my wall.
Historians and political scientists alike will tell you that John F. Kennedy's appearance vs. Richard Nixon's in the first televised debate was one of the factors that turned the tide in the race. Kennedy looked so handsome and youthful, but Nixon had been sick and looked pasty and I think he was sweating. People voted for Kennedy because he looked more presidential on TV. And in a more recent example, everyone knows that when Bush 41 looked at his watch in the town hall debate that it caused him to lose voter confidence. People thought he was disinterested in their problems, whereas Clinton talked directly into the camera and reached the American people.
Just the other day, McCain forgot the name of one of the former Secretaries of State who has endorsed him (I think it was Schultz, not that it matters). I have seen him struggle to remember other things. I'm not saying he has Alzheimer's, but I do remember when Reagan did similar things. And my grandma is about the same age as McCain, and as much as I love her, she is not with it enough to be President. She is old and cantankerous, much like McCain looked in the debates.
I think that age will be an issue forevermore because of Reagan. Luckily it turned out OK, and he was one of our finest presidents, but I think that the issues with his age linger in the back of our minds. They did with Dole, and they are now.
Historians and political scientists alike will tell you that John F. Kennedy's appearance vs. Richard Nixon's in the first televised debate was one of the factors that turned the tide in the race. Kennedy looked so handsome and youthful, but Nixon had been sick and looked pasty and I think he was sweating. People voted for Kennedy because he looked more presidential on TV. And in a more recent example, everyone knows that when Bush 41 looked at his watch in the town hall debate that it caused him to lose voter confidence. People thought he was disinterested in their problems, whereas Clinton talked directly into the camera and reached the American people.
Just the other day, McCain forgot the name of one of the former Secretaries of State who has endorsed him (I think it was Schultz, not that it matters). I have seen him struggle to remember other things. I'm not saying he has Alzheimer's, but I do remember when Reagan did similar things. And my grandma is about the same age as McCain, and as much as I love her, she is not with it enough to be President. She is old and cantankerous, much like McCain looked in the debates.
I think that age will be an issue forevermore because of Reagan. Luckily it turned out OK, and he was one of our finest presidents, but I think that the issues with his age linger in the back of our minds. They did with Dole, and they are now.
If your wondering about McCain seeming stiff, if it is his movements it is because both of his arms were badly broken during the Vietnam war. He can not raise his arms up very far. That is why you only see him doing the thumbs up in front of his body. He has never been that great of a speaker either. Obama is much more smoother in his delivery.
I am aware of his injuries, but it's also a presence thing that goes beyond the injury issue. It's the pacing on the stage during the debates, failure to look at Obama. His stiff smile.
Again, I KNOW these are superficial issues and are not SUPPOSED to be relevant to what goes into making a great leader. What I AM saying is that many voters will make a judgment about someone and not be able to put their finger on WHY they walk away with a certain impression of someone.
Let's put it this way. If you have two guys who claim to be brain surgeons and one speaks in an Alabama Southern drawl and one speaks with a British accent -- who do you think comes across as having a higher IQ to most folks?
Just saying....
Again, I KNOW these are superficial issues and are not SUPPOSED to be relevant to what goes into making a great leader. What I AM saying is that many voters will make a judgment about someone and not be able to put their finger on WHY they walk away with a certain impression of someone.
Let's put it this way. If you have two guys who claim to be brain surgeons and one speaks in an Alabama Southern drawl and one speaks with a British accent -- who do you think comes across as having a higher IQ to most folks?
Just saying....
*Another fine scatterbrained production
Gromit, interesting sidebar that ties in with your hypothetical. My foreign relations professor in college was brilliant. She now works for the UN in Europe. Anyhow, she gave this presentation one time to a room full of important people on global issues. At the end of her speech, she asked if there were any questions.
One man raised his hand and asked, "Are you from New Jersey?"
She had spoken for 45 minutes on International security issues, and they were all fixated on her accent and hadn't heard any of what she was saying.
It's strange how people develop their opinions about things.
One man raised his hand and asked, "Are you from New Jersey?"
She had spoken for 45 minutes on International security issues, and they were all fixated on her accent and hadn't heard any of what she was saying.
It's strange how people develop their opinions about things.
There's a war going on. Our economy is in the toilet. Dozens of countries all around the world hate us.
Do you think John McCain won't be tested? Come on, now. Answer with your brain cells, not with what Sean Hannity would want you to say.
All presidents are tested. All the time. They are running a big, giant country and have millions, if not billions of people counting on them to do the right thing.
Do I think Barack Obama will surround himself with top-notch people and actually listen to them when they advise him. Yes, I do.
Obama was not my first choice, but for McCain to insinuate that he won't be tested or is somehow miraculously prepared for whatever this big, scary world tosses at us, is insulting to all of our intelligences.
Do you think John McCain won't be tested? Come on, now. Answer with your brain cells, not with what Sean Hannity would want you to say.
All presidents are tested. All the time. They are running a big, giant country and have millions, if not billions of people counting on them to do the right thing.
Do I think Barack Obama will surround himself with top-notch people and actually listen to them when they advise him. Yes, I do.
Obama was not my first choice, but for McCain to insinuate that he won't be tested or is somehow miraculously prepared for whatever this big, scary world tosses at us, is insulting to all of our intelligences.
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Pete (Mr. Marcia)
- Posts: 1471
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 4:48 pm
- Location: Madison, Wisconsin
I.Q. may be meaningless, but it kind of bothers me that McCain finished 893 of his class of 899 at the Naval Academy.SJfromNJ wrote:IQ is meaninless.Gromit wrote:I am aware of his injuries, but it's also a presence thing that goes beyond the injury issue. It's the pacing on the stage during the debates, failure to look at Obama. His stiff smile.
Again, I KNOW these are superficial issues and are not SUPPOSED to be relevant to what goes into making a great leader. What I AM saying is that many voters will make a judgment about someone and not be able to put their finger on WHY they walk away with a certain impression of someone.
Let's put it this way. If you have two guys who claim to be brain surgeons and one speaks in an Alabama Southern drawl and one speaks with a British accent -- who do you think comes across as having a higher IQ to most folks?
Just saying....
How did McCain get his injuries?
Abe Licoln was not an attractive man was he. You place way to much weight on the unimportant and minimize the truth. See you on CNN spinning.
Wisconsin, smell the dairy air
I cannot tell you how many times in my presidential campaign and history classes that we were told: If Lincoln had run in the television era (or even the radio era), he would not have won. If it didn't matter if you were attractive to the voters, John Edwards wouldn't get $400 haircuts and Sarah Palin wouldn't have a stylist who gets $24,000 to make her look pretty. It's all about the look. Is that fair? No, but it's reality.
I know McCain got his injuries while he was defending our country in Vietnam. But if one more person insinuates that I am anti-American or against the troops because I didn't vote for him, I will scream. I think it's great that he's a war hero. But so is Max Cleland, and in my opinion, what was done to him was very unpatriotic.
I know McCain got his injuries while he was defending our country in Vietnam. But if one more person insinuates that I am anti-American or against the troops because I didn't vote for him, I will scream. I think it's great that he's a war hero. But so is Max Cleland, and in my opinion, what was done to him was very unpatriotic.
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Pete (Mr. Marcia)
- Posts: 1471
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 4:48 pm
- Location: Madison, Wisconsin
I think it matters. It shows that he was a poor, undisciplined student. That is not a good quality.Terry wrote:You're right, hardly anyone asks for transcripts anymore...the degree is the only thing that matters.
I know I said I'm outta here, but sitting at the airport is boring..had to jump in.
Wisconsin, smell the dairy air