Debate observation

[scribblinlenore]

Okay, this format is seriously awkward, for both candidates, but especially for John McCain. When he has to listen to Obama answer? And he kind of stares into the camera with big, blinking eyes of doom? He looks absolutely batshit CRAAAAAZY.

Comments

[joannindiw.livejournal.com]

Though he didn't look too good at the town hall format either on the second debate...

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

Very true. He kept wandering around like he wasn't quite sure where he was. Actually, a friend just linked me to the Daily Show's Mr. Puddles thing that they did, which made me hurt something laughing. Did you see that?

[joannindiw.livejournal.com]

No! Link me?

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

Oh my God, it's SO funny. Here you go:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=187584&title=word-war-ii

The Mr. Puddles bit starts at 7:25, but the whole thing is funny.

[joannindiw.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[joannindiw.livejournal.com]

*falls over laughing* Thank you! You're right, the whole thing was hilarious.

[wymsie.livejournal.com]

That bit was brilliant. LOL

[pinkfinity.livejournal.com]

His choices seem to be to keep those big-blinking-eyes or to do the Sarah Palin Wink.

Which expression would you prefer?

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Can I pick option c? TO GO TEMPORARILY BLIND!

*shudders*

[grlnamedlucifer.livejournal.com]

The blinking was driving me insane. That and the eyerolling and the sighing, but the blinking! Look down or close your eyes or just stop with the blinking!

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

*nods* He has a lot of annoying tics, meant to express his disdain, and it's really annoying. But the blinking was actually SCARING me.

[terribilita.livejournal.com]

His creepy smirk! And once, near the end, when he was laughing at Obama, he snorted. Ugh.

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

Creepy is exactly the word! And I am so freakin' sick of our leaders smirking. There's a global economic crisis, people. It's not appropriate to be smirking!

[kudra2324.livejournal.com]

...looks? :)

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

Heh. Yes, yes, WHAT am I saying?

[bitchygrrl.livejournal.com]

That's because he is crazy.

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

Heh. Yes, that would explain it.

[viggofest.livejournal.com]

Not to get all practical or anything, but I just wanted to be sure you all know that he has very limited neck and arm motion as a result of his injuries and torture in Vietnam. It's why his neck seems so short, like he's hunching his shoulders, and at least onee of his arms seems to move in jerky motions.

[viggofest.livejournal.com]

Meant to finish with: the limited neck motion or the tendency to rotate the whole body to look to the side gives him a robotic-like movement. At the end of the day, I think the easiest form of expression he has is blinking his eyes.
I wouldn't mind goofy looking presidents, but I fear it highlights his age/health and that becomes an Issue.

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

*nods* I am aware of McCain's physical issues, and I never think twice about how he stands or moves or gestures. What was striking me last night, and in all the debates, was how much disdain he was expressing for Obama, and I think quite purposefully, as a tactic.

That's how I read the blinking anyway. It looked like a calculated reaction, because when you blink at someone like that, it means: I can't believe you're saying that. You are so full of shit. Only it backfired, because it just made McCain look sneering and a little unhinged. And it's not just Obama he's sneering at, either. He had a similarly disdainful expression when he was putting women's health in air quotes. For me, it's like George Bush's smirking. It's not just an unfortunate mannerism. It speaks to character.

Of course, all of this is highly subjective. And your mileage may well vary! We can agree to disagree. :)

[simonesa.livejournal.com]

It was terrible for McCain being able to see his reactions. Facial ticks and not being able to sit still. Obama was a picture of perfection. A lot of times he was just jotting down notes to make his response. Obama was awesome!

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

I thought Obama was awesome, too! And I really think that what people are looking for right now is somehow who is calm, cool, and reassuring. Putting the two men side to side just makes McCain look bad.

[dawnybee.livejournal.com]

I felt he was trying to issue a distress signal with his eyes to the Secret Service to either rescue him or to tackle Obama.

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

LOL! You may be on to something there.

Comment from someone who doesn;t even get to vote in your elections...

[lemonbella.livejournal.com]

To be fair, that's because he is kind of absolutely batshit craaazy.

Re: Comment from someone who doesn;t even get to vote in your elections...

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes, I think his putting women's health in air quotes certainly backs up the batshit crazy theory.

[linaerys.livejournal.com]

Only Clark and other innocent farm boys should blink like that.

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes, blinking is so much more appealing when it expresses: I have this funny feeling in my tummy, and I'm pretty sure it has to do with Lex, and I'm not sure what to make of that, but I think I kind of like it.

So much better than when it's expressing sneering disdain.