D?j? vu all over again?

[traderx]

The 1960 Presidential campaign featured the first televised debates. Pundits agree that Kennedy?s good looks, charisma and ease in front of the camera helped him get elected. By contrast, Nixon looked haggard, awkward and shot bullets of sweat at television screens.

After painfully watching McCain deliver a speech last night, his unrelenting monotone made me wonder if this election campaign won?t be a repeat of the 1960 campaign. Obama is at ease in front of a camera and uses the teleprompter like a pro. He has an interesting vocal delivery and has charisma. McCain is pale and boring by comparison. I think this fall will be a long season for Republicans.

 

[hnooe]

The 1960 Presidential campaign featured the first televised debates. Pundits agree that Kennedy’s good looks, charisma and ease in front of the camera helped him get elected. By contrast, Nixon looked haggard, awkward and shot bullets of sweat at television screens.

After painfully watching McCain deliver a speech last night, his unrelenting monotone made me wonder if this election campaign won’t be a repeat of the 1960 campaign. Obama is at ease in front of a camera and uses the teleprompter like a pro. He has an interesting vocal delivery and has charisma. McCain is pale and boring by comparison. I think this fall will be a long season for Republicans.

As superficial as this may seem, I do not think I can bear to listen to John McCain for 4 years for that very same reason you mention. Both Obama and Clinton speak with an intelligence and have communication skill far beyond what we have seen in recent years. McCain is a solid, patriotic, kindly old gentlemen, but even with good speech writers, the deivery, and therefore the message, is somewhat "off.' I would avoid as many debates as possible with Obama if I were McCain that is for sure!

 

[scooterbug44]

Speaking skills and charisma will definitely be a big factor - hopefully McCain won't have any more skin issues as a bandaged face next to Obama's youthful grin won't help either!

 

[Beach Runner]

I've also heard that some people think this is another Kerry-Bush race, an elitist versus someone more palatable to the masses.

 

[hnooe]

I've also heard that some people think this is another Kerry-Bush race, an elitist versus someone more palatable to the masses.

Bush is an Elitist with a redneck mask on--it served him well I must say. Barbara, Bush Sr, and his brother all have that educated, New England persona. Starting with the Texas governorship, and I think with Carl Rove's direction as personal "acting" coach, the stage was set for him and that has served Bush well......"aw, shucks."

 

[seagrovegirl]

Hubby and I had a discussion last night about McCain and Obama's style of speech. I agree, the McCain monotone is grating. Obama has a hesitation after every few words that I find painful and I'm always thinking "okay! get on with it!"

 

[traderx]

Hubby and I had a discussion last night about McCain and Obama's style of speech. I agree, the McCain monotone is grating. Obama has a hesitation after every few words that I find painful and I'm always thinking "okay! get on with it!"

You raise a good point. When Obama held a press conference to express his disappointment with Rev. Wright, he was too calm. His voice and delivery did not match his words. This part of him reminded me of Dukakis. It will be interesting to see if Obama is more animated in the debates. It would be a stark contrast to MonoCain.

 

[seagrovegirl]

MonoCain!!! Good one!

 

[LuciferSam]

I've heard that radio listeners favored Nixon, but TV viewers favored Kennedy. Here I think Obama has an edge on both media. To me there is something frightening and tyrannical about McCain's tone, and he needs to lose the "my friends" phrase. Both candidates need to make clear where they really stand on the issues, and not just in their book or on their web page.

 

[rapunzel]

I thought the following review (from http://http://www.dailykos.com/) was spot on:

"Oh, Go with the Green Background!"

"It'll make you look like the cottage cheese in a lime jello salad" Always a good look for an older gentlemen.

The aesthetics of McCain's speech, just mercifully completed before a slightly energized crowd of literally dozens, was awesome in how dreadful it was.

Who is setting up these events and making these decisions? I mean, to go to the Yat haven, white suburb of Kenner and speak in a small venue with a half-set up...a place where the biggest event of the year is the gun and boat show...and speak to an all white crowd, some of whom couldn't be bothered to remove their baseball caps...and call in New Orleans. And to do it on a night to set up a contrast to Obama at the site of the Republican Convention, on the night he secures the nomination.

He came off like a grumpy old man preaching to a choir of negative Nancies. He's paying someone to advise him to do things like this, and that person needs to be replaced pronto.