Last night's debate was interesting, but it wasn't quite the firefight that we all expected, was it?
Tuesday night, the American people were treated to the second presidential debate of the 2008 election. Moods have been high and the jeers of each camp have been harsh. The financial crisis has everyone scared out of our minds, but the American people still worry about the big issues that seemed so pressing even a month ago.
Citing Sarah Palin's "pallin' around" comments, the McCain camp has been promising a "gloves off'" approach to the second debate, and the Obama camp, finally rankled it seems, has been grooming retaliation. The media expected something rough.
The American people reaped the benefits, though. These town hall debates are marvelous. It reduces the candidates just enough that they feel compelled to really speak.
On the economy, Obama seemed far stronger, although that might just be the logic of a progressive tax plan clouding judgment. The problem with people saying that tax cuts for the rich keeps more money in the system is that the economic system, like just about everything else in this country, operates in some way within the framework of the government. Therefore, if the government is starving for funds, there is no system to fill with capital.
And why did sacrifice get so demonized in this debate? A country is just a collection of various powers and if those powers don't operate in cooperation, how can anything get done?
Put more simply, sometimes you just have to buckle down and help.
On the issue of Pakistan, Obama's system makes sense on a fundamental level. If we see bin Laden, why wait? Every now and then doesn't a figure come along that just demands an immediate response, no matter the consequence?
Town hall debates were supposed to be McCain's forte, but he seemed plaintive. He's attacking from behind in the polls, and his attacks lacked the venom or substance to really divert Obama. He promised a war, but he brought only a series of slaps.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
