I’m going to say at the outset here that my reaction to this debate isn’t going to be like my usual posts – there’s still a bit of the typical fact-based stuff in there that I usually try to stick to, but since this is my own personal reaction to the debate, there’s a whole lot more of my own opinion & personality in it this time. Partly because I actually got into this debate, but mostly because it’s now five o’clock in the morning, I haven’t gotten any sleep, I feel like crap, and I’m kinda cranky. I’m just not in the mood for a tit-for-tat fact checking of every statement. So I just want you to know that this won’t be as fair and balanced as usual, cause hey, it’s late and I’m feeling goofy, so I’ll be taking a few potshots & cracking a few stupid jokes. So consider yourself warned and be prepared!
That said, click “More” to see my list of my favorite – and not so favorite – moments, in no particular order, other than the order in which I remember them.

– Even when confronted, Obama still refuses to repudiate that horrific comment made by Georgia Senator John Lewis, where he flat out compared John McCain and Sarah Palin to George Wallace. Bleugh. McCain handed Obama a perfect moment for Obama to appear magnanimous, above all the negative ads, and the most innocent of the two. This opportunity was handed to Obama on a silver platter and what did he do with it? He smirked, he snorted, and he babbled in an effort to make us forget the original topic. I’m sorry, but that’s despicable. Not just because the statement was horrible, but because Obama had absolutely nothing to lose by repudiating it. He would have looked good, it would have been a valid attempt to try to reclaim a nicer tone to the campaign, it would have appeared civil and respectful, and it would have made McCain feel better. But no. He had to smirk, laugh, snort, and babble.

– Speaking of smirk, laugh, snort, and babble (which would be a great band name, by the way), was it just me, or did Obama do a lot of that during this debate?

– I flat out cheered when McCain brought up Joe the Plumber and specifically repeated Obama’s statement about “spreading the wealth around.” More people need to hear about that!

– What was one of the first things the commentators said after the debate? A snide little man from the New York Times complained that McCain looked “tense”, “nervous”, and “anxious” because his shoulders appeared hunched up and he looked uncomfortable in his chair after a while. Great, make fun of the man’s war wounds! That’s fantastic! What great journalistic integrity! Hell, forget that, what great human compassion! If some day we have another man in a wheelchair run for President, is this same guy going to complain about him not appearing “strong” because he couldn’t stand up? For goodness sake!
Sigh, and that was on PBS… that’s what makes it even worse.

– As a side note, I just realized that since it’s 5 in the morning, I should double check that I spelled “magnanimous” correctly. I’m so proud of myself! I got it right, even with my brain half working! Yay me! I win the debate! And a cookie!

– Another cheering moment for me was when McCain actually responded to Obama’s constant attempts to discuss John McCain as if he were George Bush’s long lost twin. For months now and during each debate, I’ve been dying for John McCain to turn to Obama and say, “Excuse me, Senator, but maybe you’re confused. I’d like to introduce myself, my name’s John McCain. It’s so nice to meet you.” Of course, I think McCain handled this issue in a way much less snarky and verbose than I would, so kudos to him for finally holding his own. I’ve read SO many independent reports and polls about this, and practically everyone has said that Independents, moderates, and undecideds just flat out groan whenever Obama resorts to the same old “McCain = Bush” argument. It’s been flat out proven up one side and down the other that they are NOT the same animal, so I suggest Obama finds a new dead horse to beat on. Kudos to McCain for standing up for his own record.

– Oh, and on a side note, doesn’t it just make you giggle whenever Obama assumes that if John McCain’s elected, he automatically gets two terms? Yet again, like he has so many times on the campaign trail, he slipped during the debate and said that America just couldn’t handle another eight years of Bush policies. Never mind the Bush thing, but come on, doesn’t he know that a President is only elected for four years? Or does he just have so much faith in McCain that he knows once he’s elected, he’ll get two terms?
Hehe, sorry, I’m being kinda personal in this one, aren’t I? Sorry, indulge me for now, I’ll get back to the fact-based stuff in the next post, I promise. I have a good one in the works.

– Okay! Next point. Obama has had so much time to prepare a better answer to the question about which new spending promises he would be okay with setting aside, given the current state of our economy. It was asked in a previous debate and it was asked yet again in this one. Not only did he not answer the question, but he flat out babbled, getting on to a completely – completely – different topic. I swear, whenever he doesn’t want to answer a question, he just talks long enough about whatever the hell he wants to, just hoping you’ll forget what it was you asked in the first place.

– I thought it was kinda funny that in response to McCain bringing up Joe the Plumber, Obama responded with talking about Warren Buffett. One of the richest. men. in. the. world! Teehee.

– On the question about standing up to your party leaders, Obama didn’t name a single instance where he specifically stood up to his party’s leaders or prominent members of his party. He only mentioned supporting or opposing a few things that certain special interest groups might not have been too fond of. Close, but no cigar – that just wasn’t what the question was. Yet again, he’ll babble and hope you don’t notice.

– Honestly, I’m glad McCain stood his own about Obama’s ties to Acorn. I thought he handled that appropriately, didn’t delve too much into detail, but said just enough to raise some questions and let the viewer look into it on their own and decide for themselves. And I liked that this wasn’t brought up specifically by McCain, but was brought up both by the moderator and Obama himself before McCain commented on it. I completely agree that Obama’s ties to both Acorn and Ayers are important considerations for voters to look into, because it speaks to the man himself. As my Mom always said, if you want to get a glimpse of who you’ll be in five years, look at your friends. Same goes for a political candidate: if you wanna know who they are, look at who they associate with, work with, and work for.

– Even though I’m not a Republican, I was happy to hear McCain defend the base of the Republican party. Just because a few bad apples have shown up at his rallies doesn’t mean they’re all bad apples. Just like, for instance, because several people show up to Obama’s rallies wearing those awful shirts about Sarah Palin, and just because those shirts are sold at almost every rally, doesn’t mean that every Obama supporter is a horrid, sexist, derogatory, disrespectful idiot low-life.

– Speaking of those t-shirts, I cheered and clapped when McCain brought them up. Again, no repudiation. for you on that note, Obama!

– On the Colombia free trade thing, this was a great instance of McCain talking about very specific particulars to answer a question; actual real-life policies, their consequences, and what he would do about them. What did Obama answer with? More broad strokes and vagaries.

– I’m kinda sad that McCain didn’t hit Obama harder on the whole NAFTA thing, and the fact that Obama said one thing in private to the Canadians, then said another thing on the campaign trail. And what did he say to the Canadians? That they didn’t have to worry about what he was saying on the campaign trail, because he didn’t really mean it, it was just political-speak (i.e. lies to get votes.)

– Ugh. Okay, I’m really, really sick of hearing both candidates and both parties using this ephemeral statistic that 47 million Americans are uninsured right now. It’s just flat out not true! But I guess the people who started this rumor (*cough*Michael Moore*cough*) believe that when a lie is told often enough and loud enough, eventually it’s believed to be fact. More on the truth about just how many Americans are uninsured in a later post, I promise! Healthcare is an issue near and dear to my heart, one that – quite frankly – my very survival depends on. So believe me, I have something to say about that.

– I’m really kinda tired of Obama classifying McCain as a complete pro-lifer when it comes to Roe v. Wade. That’s NOT what McCain is saying. He’s saying that he believes that abortion should be an issue on which the people decide, not judges. After all, we’re a democracy, in which people vote on the issues that affect their lives. If a judge legislates in such a way that people are denied that vote, that’s unconstitutional. Roe v. Wade keeps people from voting, it keeps them from voicing their opinion about this very, very important issue. McCain has said time and again, retract Roe v. Wade and let the people have their vote! I don’t see why anyone could object to that, because it’s simply a matter of following the constitution. And besides, if you really believe in abortion, why be afraid of letting the peoples’ voice be heard? What do you have to be afraid of? Let the people decide, don’t let judges decide for them!

Okay, I think that’s everything I have to say for right now. Sorry that got so… I dunno. I’m tired, it’s late (or early…), and I’m in a goofy mood (thank you, pain medication!) I hope you didn’t mind this little departure into my own personality. If you did, I’m sorry, I promise I’ll get back to just the facts very soon.

Got something to say? Disagree with something I said? Did I miss your favorite part of the debate? Please, comment! Comment away! Disagree with me, agree with me; I don’t care, just get involved in the discussion! To comment, just scroll down, you’ll see the text field. Please, keep your comments civil, respectful, and kind – I’m totally fine with approving comments from those whose political persuasions sway in either direction, but I’m not okay with approving comments that distract from the discussion with pointless obscenities, personal insults, or any of that sort of silliness. Keep it kind, clear, and respectful and your voice will be heard here.

As always, thanks for reading, thanks for getting involved, and good night! Now I’m going to sleep… hopefully!