DEBATE TEAM

I watched the debate last night. Luckily there was enough progress made on the bailout plan that Sen. McCain could reinstate his campaign and attend. No, no plan was passed (despite my earlier post...and belief that a deal had been made), but you know, enough progress was made.

I thought both candidates had a good debate. Both we able to make good points and I think both looked and sounded good. Here's a non-so-well-organized laundry list of random thoughts I had during the debate:

- McCain starting off by talking about Sen. Kennedy being in the hospital seemed a bit over-the-top.
- McCain laughing and smirking while Obama was speaking probably hurt him a bit. It made him appear as though he wasn't even listening to Obama. On the contrary, while Obama did smirk and smile a few times, he appeared to be actually listening to McCain's answers. I felt like McCain wasn't taking Obama seriously.
- Both need to learn how to answer questions. I thought Obama did a better job than he has in the past, but answer the question then explain the reasoning. I realize there are not political advantages to offering straightforward answers to some questions, but answer those that can be answered.
- McCain alluded to his age a number of times: "I've been around for awhile", "I've known Henry Kissinger for 36 years", "The Great society", "D-Day", "I'm really, really old" (okay, he didn't say that). I guess this shows his experience, to me it just shows how old he is.
- Obama is the better speaker: he is better at explaining his answer and better at formulating well-thought out answers. This can probably be attributed to his legal training and education, and political and teaching experience. The man was a constitutional law professor at a top ten law school: of course he's a good speaker! Perhaps it's my law school elitism coming out, but I feel assured having someone who has taught the constitution being a leader who is bound by it...dependent on their political ideology, of course.
- Obama referred to McCain by his first name...and so did Tom Brokaw after the debate. I think this could be taken as disrespectful or as demonstrating that a personal relationship.
- It's clear the two have some differences in regard to foreign policy, health care, and taxes.

Bring on the VP debate...