Archive for September 27th, 2008

Obama’s Debate

Barack calling McCain out on Iraq was the most memorable moment of the night. It’s possible that will be what sticks with voters. More please! I thought he did ok in terms of composure and command of the facts and all that. But more saber-rattling in defense of Georgia? Georgia? I’m also excited that, like Reagan, he’s for missile defense, because Star Wars was one of my favorite movies as a kid. Jesus Christ. I know Samantha Power wouldn’t have told Obama to say this stuff.

It is curious to me that Obie feels the need to sprinkle in these cynical panders about issues that I don’t think are at the top of anyone’s Christmas list. It’s less important than McCain pretending he hasn’t been for deregulation since Moses parted the Red Sea (or at least Keating 5), but it might be just as far from the truth. I don’t really know.

Plus, when Jim Lehrer gives you multiple opportunities to explain the tough decisions you are willing to make, in light of the astronomically expensive bailout we’re lurching towards, that is the time to channel FDR or JFK even, and say something meaningful. Best chance of the night for either one to step up, and neither did. No, budget freezes don’t count. Also, they should really let Walter Cronkite Lehrer moderate all the debates. Or elect him president, as TPM suggested.

Let me just conclude by saying that I’m disappointed with Obama only because I expect a lot from him. He’s my favorite presidential candidate of my lifetime, and I liked Kerry and Gore. And I’m not part of the in crowd, so I don’t have anything but an abstract idea of the pressures of a national campaign and the realities of what is politically feasible and what is not. But after watching last night’s debate I’m more inclined to agree with Mr. Penn than I would like.

2 comments September 27th, 2008

McCain’s Debate: Now With More Cynicism

I think I’ve reached the point of being too cynical to render effective judgment. I just always assume McCain’s sophomoric pranks are going to work for him, because they always work for Republicans. I thought Palin would work, I thought “suspending” his campaign would work, and I thought he won the debate.

His “what the upstart from Illinois doesn’t understand” routine worked for me, although next time he might want to cut down on the seething contempt. If voters see me as a qualified and honorable man, and I really believe my opponent isn’t a qualified and honorable man and indicate as much, that can be an authentic and effective argument. Unfortunately, the only thing undercutting that line of attack for John McCain, was Barack Obama standing right beside him, appearing rather presidential and honorable.

And McCain went on and on about earmarks. Earmarks beat up your kid. Earmarks stole your parking space. To be clear, these earmark responses were avoiding the real question. But it’s something he has a record on. At the very least, the man knows enough to talk up his strengths.

I was equally enamored with “Here is a story of me doing things when I was younger. Clearly I have a reputation for doing things. And I think the solution for the future just might be ‘doing things’, my friends.” He could have used better examples (even factually accurate ones), but saying this is what I did in past crises, and that’s the kind of leadership you can look for in future crises — that is a powerful argument.

1 comment September 27th, 2008

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