A Pillowfight Among Titans - This Was A Debate? - Wednesday, October 08, 2008
by: John Hamilton
First off, a disclaimer. I have no dog in this hunt; as I'm sure most listeners are aware, I'm backing the Libertarian Party candidate, Bob Barr, for president. Both the Republicans and Democrats have insured that he has been locked out of these debates, so as far as I'm concerned, the legitimacy of these events is suspect. Be that as it may, let's check my notes....
As debates go, even phony ones like presidential debates, this one was a bit of a snoozer. Both candidates did little more than preach to the choir and did their best to evade any real answers -- even though the questions submitted were typically concise and to-the-point, requesting solid facts and figures. Since McCain is well behind in every poll and is even running into tougher-than-expected battles in some key states, the Senator from Arizona really needed to shine this time out. In fact, some would say he needed to land a knockout punch. The fight he gave was more like a pillow fight, however. In fact, at best his performance was serviceable.
Obama wasn't much better, honestly. His oratory was perfunctory but there wasn't any real sizzle; this was his chance to send McCain plummeting deeper down the poll precipice, but his punches seemed light and soft.
The only real moment that stood out for me came toward the end of the debate, about 10:20pm or so; McCain had been hectoring Obama for saying that he would invade Pakistan if need be to nab Osama bin Laden. It was at this moment I began to think I was finally having one of those acid flash-backs they've been promising us all these years now ...
McCain said that he knew how to get bin Laden and that he would get bin Laden -- he just wasn't going to tell us how. I recalled another debate, in another time, where Tricky Dick Nixon spoke of a Secret Plan to end the war in Vietnam, and that plan could be Ours, Dear Friends, but for the price of a vote. Of course, Nixon's plan was so secret even he didn't know what it was in the end, but so what? He got elected and the rest, as they say, is history.
Hot damn! Fast forward into the Twenty-first Century and here's John McCain channelling the rancid spirit of Nixon Himself, jabbering wildly about his own secret plan to capture Public Enemy Number 1! Of course his plan ain't free and golly gee, he'd love to tell us how -- but he just can't divulge that information unless we elect him first don'tcha know.
Doesn't sound too presidential, does it? Sorry, Johnny-boy; been there, done that.
My take? Nothing substantial from either candidate, and I predict this performance will cause nary a ripple amongst the poll numbers as we currently know them. Who knows ... either these guys have both already peaked or maybe they're just saving the best for last....
Comments: 3
Good call. I was wondering when the sparks were gonna ignite, but they never really did.
I'm backing Obama 100% in this election, but he could've done a lot better if you ask me. And thanks for the chuckle about the Nixon flashback; I remember that secret plan. I bet McCain's is about the same.
I've heard Rush Limburger recently calling Barak Obama a "man-child." Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't "man-child" just a euphemism for "boy?"
I'm not surprised that Rush would stoop so low, of course.
Found this site from a Digg link to this blog post. Looking forward to listeniong to the show online (I live in Minneapolis).
This was aboring debate, no doubt. Both McCain and Obama said little that was new or exciting and I agree; no one's minds will be changed in the least by this one. The undecideds will probably remain that way at least unti the next debate.
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