Three down, one to go…

If you ask the left, Obama won the debate last night. If you ask the right, Republican McCain did. If you ask me the American people lost last night. I didn’t feel like any new ground was covered by either candidate. I heard the same things in this debate that I heard in the last debate. How on earth do either of the candidates hope to swing the undecided voter by saying the same things over and over again? Regardless of winners or losers I have some thoughts about how things went down during this debate. (Surprised? Well then you really don’t know me at all and that makes both me and the baby jeebus weep!)

Undecided Voters

Really? You’re undecided still? If we include the primaries we’re talking about the longest presidential campaign in the history of the universe here. The two candidates are complete polar opposites on so many issues that I find it hard to believe that you can’t pick one over the other. The idea that someone could look at these two Senators and not see the divide between them and instantly know which side of the divide they fall on just flabbergasts me.

Tom Brokaw

Wow! That was really just the worst excuse for a moderator that I’ve ever seen. You need to take a lesson from your PBS colleagues if you’re planning on moderating another debate in the future. Both candidates ignored the time clock and rambled on and on without you stopping them. Gentle reminders aren’t going to work here Tom, you needed to grow a set and cut them off. If follow-ups were not agreed to then don’t allow them. You were supposed to be running the debate Tom, not the candidates. Both candidates took liberties that a good moderator wouldn’t have allowed, too bad one wasn’t present last night.

Republican Senator John McCain

This is your format, or so you claim. I turned on the debate expecting you to knock it out of the park this time. You didn’t, what you did instead was reinforce the notion that you’re an old man trying to play a young man’s game.  From the outset you appeared anxious and slightly threatening with your hunched over posture. Rigidly holding the microphone in front of your chest brought to mind Senator Dole when he ran against President Clinton. For a candidate running away from the age factor this isn’t a positive comparison.

Speaking directly to the audience and the questioner does personalize the conversation. It helps Senator, if you remember the name of the person you’re addressing. Showing a modicum of respect for your opponent during the debate would have been the right thing to do as well. Pacing around and making faces while Senator Obama spoke are not the actions of a president. Referring to Senator Obama as “that one” instead of by name is just plain rude.

Oh and just between the two of us. Lieberman is no democrat and working with him is not reaching across the aisle in a bi-partisan fashion. Invoking his name over and over isn’t going to win you any votes from the left, but it does make us question once again why you chose Governor Palin over your good buddy.

The LOL moment of the debate was when you claimed to be the cool hand on the tiller that America needs. Calm, cool and collected are three words I would never use to describe you.

Democrat Senator Barack Obama

With as many mistakes as Republican McCain made you’d think this would have been a slam dunk for you. I’m sorry to say it wasn’t. I didn’t hear anything new from you last night Senator and that’s what the undecided voters need. Granted polling today shows a huge bounce for you with somewhere around 80% of undecided voters favoring you over the republican candidate. I think you got lucky, or rather he stumbled so badly that you couldn’t help but pickup some ground. Regardless, at least there’s positive movement on your numbers. I beg you though, during the next debate let’s break some new ground and expand the message.

Fire away on the temperament issue, Republican McCain is known as the “hothead” of the Senate for a reason. I’d love to see him blow his top during the debate for all those undecided voters to see. Hammer home on the bad economy and deregulation, remind those watching that his tax plan is going to finish killing off our economy. Cite independent sources who discuss your tax plan versus his, your health care plan versus his – don’t just rely on a he said / he said conversation.

One thing you did extremely well last night was to act and look presidential. Returning to your stool and sitting there patiently while waiting your turn was in stark contrast to Republican McCain’s wandering around the stage. Keep reminding voters who the most presidential is, lead by example Senator.

With all that said Senator, it’s a clear run to the White House please oh please don’t fuck it up now!