Politicana

I just wanted to share this info from DeanDemocrat on kos, in case it falls off the recommended list before the end of the day.  I remember him doing a series of really superb posts before the 2004 debates about what to look for, and they were very interesting (so much more so than 99% of diaries).   Before you debate party this Friday, you will really want to take a look at these clips of previous McCain debate performances and what to look for…

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/23/0592/84768/1013/607155

After the jump, some sample analysis:

The thing that really stands out about this video is first off the look of nervous panic when Ron Paul begins to direct a question at John McCain. He tries to hide it with a grin and an eyebrow raise. But it’s clear from his body language that he is uncomfortable and nervous. The reason for that panic is that McCain doesn’t know anything. You heard him say he wishes interest rates were zero. That would of course mean every investment ever made and every bank account opened would never acquire any additional value. The guy just doesn’t know.

There is a wide array of issues that McCain is not very well read on and Obama should use this at every chance he gets. The key to taking advantage of McCain’s ignorance is having the facts at your disposal and getting specific. Very specific. Especially any time you’re asking a direct question of Senator McCain. No closed ended questions designed to get a yes or no. He likes those questions because they don’t require him to think or explain himself. He can just say yes or no and call it straight talk.

In this video McCain was not expecting Paul to ask about a specific agency or group and because McCain had absolutely no idea what the Presidents working group on financial markets is or what it does he was unable to give a proper answer. In fact, at no point in his incoherent ramblings did he say anything which even closely resembled a rational thought. Everyone here is now dumber for having listened to it.