No I'm not speaking about him being hot, trendy, fly or what ever other word is currently synonomous with "cool" but that he is calm and unflappable in almost any situation.

Even in the midst of McCain's lies about calling Palin a pig or Obama wanting to "teach give sex education to kindergarteners" Obama did become agitated but not crazy with anger and he soon retruned to his smooth, cool demeanor.

Hillary Clinton raised a question in the primary: Who would you want answering the phone at 3 AM during a crisis? Obama has shown superior judgement on foreign policy (McCain thinks that Iraq and Pakistan share a border and Spain is in Latin America for example) but what's more his demeanor suggests that he would respond intelligently and rationally to an emergency while McCain's demenor seems to suggest a willingness to "nuke first and ask questions later."

This week's economic crisis demonstrated the stark differences between the two nominees. Obama had a plan already and was willing to lead while McCain was flustered and changed poistions faster than a Chinese Gymnast on crack.

If we do have a crisis would you rahter have a cool rational leader or an unpredictable, hair trigger "cowboy" kleading our nation?

The problem pal is that Obama is not aunthentic. He is just pretending to be capable, cool, rational. He is a good actor.

For example, look at how well he can give speeches. However, when he has to express his own ideas in a debate or in an interview, he hesitates, he is not clear, and he is often clumsy. The real Obama is the one who speaks in the debates. The Obama in the speeches is just an actor.

I think Steve-O, that debates are one event that us Obama supporters are FULLY prepared and anxious to have scheduled. What fun. You kidding me? You think McCain knows anything about solving economic banking and mortgage crisis budget deficit problems? How about let's see McCain stammer when asked if he believed that not only was the Iraq War a mistake from the Git-go, but wasn't also Viet Nam? and as for as your charge about Obama just being an actor, well you guys love actors (like Reagan) don't you?

I haven't seen Obama be clumsy answering a question on the fly, but I have seen him hesitate before answering. I don't believe that "thinking before you speak" is a flaw nor a cover up of some deeper objective.

"Obama had a plan already"

Is it on his site?

I agree with cuti26, having a pause before answeing a question shows an abaility to think and reason instead of blurting the first thing that comes off the tip of ones tongue. Pausing before thinking shows an ability to engage one's crain before talking, instand rapid responses show that one was 1) either very well coached and is parroting whatever drivel they were fed, or even worse, is 2) saying the first thing that comes to mind before thinking about it.

#1 shows a total lack of ability to critically think and #2 makes one prone to foot-in-mouth disease.

Now come on, have you EVER gone to a job interview and just blurted out an answer when asked a question? And if you have how many times have you thought to yourself "Crud! Wish I could take that back!"

Okay, wish I could edit a post! I also need to learn to proofread better.

Pausing before talking not thinking

Engage one's brain instead of crain

And that's ignoring all the horrible spelling issues.

hey, it's perfectly okay to spell poorly on the internet if the cite isn't smart enough to have a spell check or edit key (like Slate). That's what I tell myself anyway

Nah, I'd say my poor proofreading and therefore not picking up the typos before I hit 'post' would be more of an example of #2 in an above post. Too fast typing to reread what I typed. (that and this stupid new ergonomic keyboard, I'm still not used to it.)

ah, don't take all the blame. I'm trying to drum up support for an edit key at least, and an auto spell check would be nice. I mean, if they can do it on the "American Idol" chat room, why not SLATE?