Meet The Press: Missouri Senate Debate

[Adlai Stevenson]

Having just watched this I was impressed by Claire McCaskill.  She was sure of herself and the issues, slightly faltering at times but overall she seemed positive.  I thought Talent came across as an empty suit; he defended himself well but I would give the edge to McCaskill.  Did anyone else see it and what did you think? 

[Joel the Attention Whore]

Both did quite a decent job, but I say McCaskill won narrowly.

[Smash255]

had no clue it was on today, going to watch it now on the net, though may have to go back to it later as I am watching the Eagles/ Cowboys game

[Kevin]

Both were very good.

[Smash255]

bot did a good job, think McCaskill did a bit better, as Talent stumbled a bit especially when asked about his voting record

[sethm0]

 McCaskill got far less talking time than Talent. At times it just seemed like a Talent interview. Russert even mentioned something about equal time towards the end, but it was too late.

 I thought Talent won narrowly. He was a bit more polshed when talking about security and McCaskill had no decent answer about the Katrina quote.

 It wasn't a blowout either way though.

[Keystone Phil]

Talent is one of my favorites and I really like him but he has this "Wait...why am I here?" looks throughout this debate. He's stumbling and begining to say dumb things. I just came back from watching the first half of it to report on this intelligent line: "I believe that it [life] begins...at the beginning...at conception"  There was an awkward pause before he stated that the beginning is conception. I laughed out loud when he said it began at the beginning. Good line, Senator.

I'm not finished watching so I can't say who won just yet but McCaskill seems to have the slight edge.

[poughies]

Is there a race in the country where both candidates have high approvals like this one?

[memphis]

They both did good jobs. Unlike the TN debate where they were both retards.

[poughies]

No Ford just adds every religous thing he can because it works ..... Now if he did that in new york oye vey.......

[MarkWarner08]

Talent is one of my favorites and I really like him but he has this "Wait...why am I here?" looks throughout this debate. He's stumbling and begining to say dumb things. I just came back from watching the first half of it to report on this intelligent line: "I believe that it [life] begins...at the beginning...at conception"  There was an awkward pause before he stated that the beginning is conception. I laughed out loud when he said it began at the beginning. Good line, Senator.

I'm not finished watching so I can't say who won just yet but McCaskill seems to have the slight edge.

Jim Talent is a very well-educated, thoughtful man who seems uncomfortable with the shift in the Republican Party of the past 10 years. Talent is a self-described fiscal consverative who only opposes stem cell research because of the strength of evangelicals in the Missouri Republican Party.

Senator Talent seems to be more in the mold of Senator Danforth than in the mold of Senator Brownback. He originially supported stem cell research before realizing the political necessity of keeping his base happy.


The funniest moment was when Russert asked McCaskill why people should vote her. Before listing her reasons, she knocked Senator Talent for voting for $8 billion in tax cuts for Big Oil -- an angry Talent loudly sighed and mumbled that it wasn't true. I felt Claire McCaskill was brimming with a confidence surely buoyed by recent events and Talent seemed on the defensive and angry that he had to debate McCaskill.


Overall, Talent is a superior debater and the smarter candidate but he failed to win the debate.

[MarkWarner08]

No Ford just adds every religous thing he can because it works ..... Now if he did that in new york oye vey.......

Ford uses the religious card to cut into Corker's already tenuous support among evangelicals. The reason it works for Ford is because voters know it's earnest, not fake like John Kerry's sudden piousness in 2004.

[Keystone Phil]

Before listing her reasons, she knocked Senator Talent for voting for $8 billion in tax cuts for Big Oil -- an angry Talent loudly sighed and mumbled that it wasn't true.

I loved that!

I also loved how when asked about Bill Clinton, McCaskill said "He's a great leader but I wouldn't want him anywhere near my daughter."

[memphis]

No Ford just adds every religous thing he can because it works ..... Now if he did that in new york oye vey.......

Ford uses the religious card to cut into Corker's already tenuous support among evangelicals. The reason it works for Ford is because voters know it's earnest, not fake like John Kerry's sudden piousness in 2004.

Ford's my Congressman. I've been watching him since his 1996 election. His sudden use of religion is beyond phony. It's cynicism of the worst kind. That being said, I don't blame him because it's the only way he can win. I also don't think too many Republican politicians lose a lot of sleep over gay marriage or abortion either.

[Eraserhead]

Is there a race in the country where both candidates have high approvals like this one?

I wouldn't call Talent's 48% high exactly.

[Conan]

Before listing her reasons, she knocked Senator Talent for voting for $8 billion in tax cuts for Big Oil -- an angry Talent loudly sighed and mumbled that it wasn't true.

I loved that!

I also loved how when asked about Bill Clinton, McCaskill said "He's a great leader but I wouldn't want him anywhere near my daughter."

Thats a really un needed cheap shot. Especially coming from someone who married a drug addict.

[Eraserhead]

Before listing her reasons, she knocked Senator Talent for voting for $8 billion in tax cuts for Big Oil -- an angry Talent loudly sighed and mumbled that it wasn't true.

I loved that!

I also loved how when asked about Bill Clinton, McCaskill said "He's a great leader but I wouldn't want him anywhere near my daughter."

Thats a really un needed cheap shot. Especially coming from someone who married a drug addict.

Agreed. Is she trying to offend her base?

[ThePrezMex]

I watched it and I would say it was kind of a tie.
I agree with Phil in that Talent had an 'I don't know why I'm here' face, which was not good. Also he was kind of trapped on the stem cell research issue, which is pretty unfortunate since it seems he's one of the few Republicans who believe in stem cell research.
McCaskill was disciplined and presented herself as a pretty good speaker too. She clearly couldn't give a good explanation about her accusations of Bush being a racist because of Katrina.
Overall, Talent looked way more experienced and with gravitas in my opinion. But his impatience face might hurt him.

Now, before the debate I was totally in favor of McCaskill - now I'm not totally sure.
And the same happened to me a week earlier with the Ohio debate. I was glad that Sherrod Brown was ahead, but after the debate I hated the guy, and I'm really worried that he's going to defeat DeWine - I think Sherrod Brown represents the worst of the Democratic Party: economic populist and weak on terror - why they didn't allow the other guy, the veteran (I forgot his name) run for the seat??  DeWine was pretty moderate.

I want the democrats to win back the Senate, but not by defeating moderate Republicans like Chaffee, DeWine and even Talent (he's not that moderate but he's not the worst of conservatives). I'm on the other hand glad about Santorum - sorry Phil.

[TheresNoMoney]

I watched it and I would say it was kind of a tie.
II want the democrats to win back the Senate, but not by defeating moderate Republicans like Chaffee, DeWine and even Talent

The only so-called "moderate" in that bunch is Chafee.

[GOP = Terrorists]

Talent is a pro-warcrime, pro-torture, anti-bill of rights anti-American terrorist scumbag who deserves to be in prison with the rest of the Fascist-Republican scum.

That said he won the debate because was able to attack her keep her on the defensive while he stayed on message.  She was favored going into the debate due to Foley and the Iraq debacle but while she was okay he was clearly better.

I'm interested in seeing how the "I'm bigger than the POTUS" attitude plays with people who support Bush more than Talent.

[GOP = Terrorists]

I also loved how when asked about Bill Clinton, McCaskill said "He's a great leader but I wouldn't want him anywhere near my daughter."

Thats a really un needed cheap shot.

I'd say I'm part of the base.  If anything I'm to the left of the base.  Yet I completely agree with her.  He was a great POTUS but I wouldn't want him anywhere near my daughter.  Nor do I think cheating on your wife is a moral thing to do... Even if it is Chillery.

[Rococo4]

I watched it and I would say it was kind of a tie.
I agree with Phil in that Talent had an 'I don't know why I'm here' face, which was not good. Also he was kind of trapped on the stem cell research issue, which is pretty unfortunate since it seems he's one of the few Republicans who believe in stem cell research.
McCaskill was disciplined and presented herself as a pretty good speaker too. She clearly couldn't give a good explanation about her accusations of Bush being a racist because of Katrina.
Overall, Talent looked way more experienced and with gravitas in my opinion. But his impatience face might hurt him.

Now, before the debate I was totally in favor of McCaskill - now I'm not totally sure.
And the same happened to me a week earlier with the Ohio debate. I was glad that Sherrod Brown was ahead, but after the debate I hated the guy, and I'm really worried that he's going to defeat DeWine - I think Sherrod Brown represents the worst of the Democratic Party: economic populist and weak on terror - why they didn't allow the other guy, the veteran (I forgot his name) run for the seat??  DeWine was pretty moderate.

I want the democrats to win back the Senate, but not by defeating moderate Republicans like Chaffee, DeWine and even Talent (he's not that moderate but he's not the worst of conservatives). I'm on the other hand glad about Santorum - sorry Phil.

I like Talent and hope he wins, but that is always the face he has.  Thats just how he looks.  I planned on watching the rerun on MSNBC but I couldnt thanks to Kim Jong Il

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

I gave her $25.