the presidential debates

6:01 pm

They are so predictable. Obama opening with his proclamation that "the middle class needs a rescue package," and McCain with his call to "stop the spending spree in Washington." Oh politicians.



6:07pm

I know this is really probably embarrassing, but I don't have a clue who Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac are. But whoever they are, they certainly call out the candidates desire to attack each other. McCain called them Obama's "cronies." Who says that?

But of course, Obama was right back in his face with his snide little comment about having to refresh McCain's history, which was "no surprise."

And delightfully, Obama told the audience how they "weren't interested in politicians pointing fingers," so let's actually talk or some similar implication. Don't make promises you can't keep, my friend.



6:15

Most assuredly, Obama could not keep his promise. Not two questions later and he's pointing fingers at Bush for the economy. And everything that's wrong in the world.



6:18

Straightforward questions are just disasters waiting to happen. The moderator asked how the candidates would order these priorities: health care, energy, and entitlements. McCain said we could take on all three at one time. Easy, no problem. "We can take on this mission, we can overcome." Next.

It seemed like Obama was going to answer. Number one was energy. But then I got distracted by his outlandish claim that he will be able to make the U.S. completely free from foreign oil in 10 years. Sure, okay. Number two was health care, and number three was education. Too bad education wasn't on the list he was asked to order. I think education should be a priority and everything, but Obama should use his listening ears a little more or something. It's cool though, I'm sure entitlements will take care of themselves.



6:30

The candidates were asked what they would ask the American people to sacrifice. McCain said projects, earmarks, and programs, even some really good programs. His freeze spending on everything but veterans and entitlements is scary. But he went on to say "I'm not going to tell that person without health care, "I'm sorry, you'll have to wait."" That claim struck me as very odd, because it just seems like that's exactly what his health care plan will continue to be doing.



6:37

So cheesy! It's like listening to your grandpa tell jokes that aren't funny, but he's old, so what are you gonna do? But this McCain guy's on national TV running for President of the country! Jello? Something about nailing Obama's plan down is as easy as nailing down Jello. And then opening his response to another question with a really awkward, "Okay, I'll answer the question." after Obama's response to the question, inherring of course that Obama is an incompetent, sleasy politician with no interest in the issues or responsibility. Ha ha?



6:45

I liked when the moderator asked them if health care is a privilege, a right, or a responsibility. They both actually picked one of the given options. I was much more impressed with Obama's response. McCain chose responsibility. "We all know it's a responsibility," and answered with a strong air suggesting that we all know the right way to do things and Obama just wants to screw things up. The flaw is that if we all know how to do things, why are things so screwed up already? Obama took the stand that health care is a right, and he responded well to McCain's attack on his requirement that children have health care and government accountability with health care plans.



7:15

The peacemaker question was exciting just because it raised a discourse about genocide and humanitarian efforts, and the U.S.'s role in all these things. The following question even specifically brought up Somalia, Rwanda, and Darfur, which astounded me. Granted neither of them had a very good game plan, and McCain even used it as a platform to promote his Iraq policy (cruel irony at it's best), it was still an important step in our world and for our terribly isolated nation.
That having been said, I was sick to my stomach that McCain continued to equate the United States with everything good and righteous. Throughout the debate he kept saying how we have "the best" producers, workers, innovators, etc in the world, and how as Americans we are inherently more equipped to reduce any complex national or international problem to nothing. But more abrasive than this typical nationalism was his insistence that the U.S. is "the greatest force for good in the world," and even the greatest country of good to ever have existed.

7:24

All the foreign policy discussion thrown in at the end of the debate seems serious and ambiguous at the same time. Obama, while not appearing the idiot McCain would make him out to be, doesn't seem to have many good plans regarding foreign policy. Other than diplomacy, which should be assumed anyways. I hate to keep harping on the same points but McCain kept painting this picture of us (the greatest force of good capable of restoring justice to all situations) against them (the evil, nuke hungry, terrorist harboring world). He even did one of his uncomfortable old man laughs when he said "maybe" Russia was an evil empire.

7:32
The ending was lame. But I saw it coming. They were asked a terribly poignant question - "What don't you know and how will you learn it?" Not even the moderator pretended to expect an answer, of course leaving them both wide open to say whatever ending sentiments they desired.

7:49
One of the professors at the discussion I sat in on pointed out that the format was set up in strong favor of the candidates. The town hall format doesn't allow for follow up questions, so there is no incentive to stay within the time limits, so the candidates have an opportunity to say basically whatever they want without having to be held immediately accountable for it.

7:52
Another good point brought up by a professor was the two images the candidates kept referring to. Obama kept pointing the finger at Bush, disassociating himself from Bush's dastardly deeds, and trying to push McCain into his evil camp. McCain kept referencing Gen. Patraeus, as the good guy with experience "just like me," entrenching himself in military expertise, and strategic "successes."

Oh politicians.