Special Debate Edition

In the much-anticipated final presidential debate of the 2008 campaign season, the man who landed the greatest number of punches, say the commentators, ultimately lost the debate.  Despite the invocation of a terrorist, it was a plumber who may have been McCain's undoing. Salon's Joan Walsh explains it this way:

John McCain promised to kick Barack Obama's "you know what" on Wednesday night. He hinted that he'd bring up former Weather Underground leader Bill Ayers and worse. Instead McCain bludgeoned Obama with Joe the Plumber, and the effect was more farce than fierce.

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If there was any doubt that the "McCain Wins Debate" SNAFU telegraphed the campaign's high expectations for their candidate, they've now upped the ante even further. The McCain campaign seems to handling the expectations game about as well as Palin's interview prep.

All sides are expecting a debate where McCain will be in his element. Obama's campaign released a memo lowering expectations, pointing out McCain's 26 years of foreign policy experience could give him the upper hand.

And now McCain's campaign has responded, telling America that Obama had received less than stellar reviews for previous debates. True enough. With all of these advantages, McCain better debate Obama right off the stage tonight if he wants to meet his own campaign's expectations.

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Can someone explain this?  Why would Barack Obama agree to debate on the first night of a Jewish holiday when religious Jews, like myself, will not have a single television set on in the house?

CBS should truly be ashamed of themselves.  I just saw this from the New York Times:

When two more Democratic debates were announced this month, both Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama quickly accepted the invitation to meet in Pennsylvania on April 16.

But Mrs. Clinton, unlike Mr. Obama, has not yet agreed to participate in a North Carolina debate on April 19.

That debate, sponsored by CBS News, would be the first opportunity for Katie Couric to perform hosting duties. And if it happens, it will highlight the importance of North Carolina, whose primary will be held May 6. Mr. Obama is favored to win there.

Phil Singer, a spokesman for Mrs. Clinton, hedged when asked about the debate in a conference call with reporters Friday, blaming a "scheduling conflict" and promising an answer in "a couple of weeks."

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Peaceful President
Feb 19, 2008
Peaceful Presidency

To say that the RED KOOL AID effect is Group think is an understatement, although accurate from a sociological perspective. Insulting none the less...

The supporters of Obama are now referred to as Red Kool Aid drinkers mostly due to the overzealous enthusiasm for his rock star appeal. Not to mention a few of the intimidation tactics some over the top supporters utilize when the topics, such as religion or ethnicity, are raised.

Why are the debates really important?

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I've avoided the debates until now because I saw them as little more than exercises in media manipulation.  This time, I wanted to watch the Republican debate just to hear the other candidates respond to Ron Paul.  Unfortunately, I had a scheduling conflict so I asked a kid to take notes for me.  As the debate began, I drew a quick seating chart of the candidates to help the kid keep track of who said what and then ran off.  BTW - this is not snark.  This is a straight rendition from a 9 year old.  The only changes I made were for spelling errors (except the names).

It must have been more difficult thant I thought to keep track of all the new names.  That's the only reason I can think of to explain why this  reporter devised their own naming strategy to keep track of the candidates.  Aside from that, it seems they got all the high points.

Follow me below the fold for the 9-years old rendition of a fight between Sarge, Wrinkles, Bunny Ears, Oily, Beagle Eyes and Carrot Face...  

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