Pundits and partisans tend to be impressed by attacks, but the portion of the population that actually watches debates with changeable minds don’t. They judge the candidates on such inane factors like demeanor, confidence, and temperment. I say inane, because I prefer my candidates on the issues. That is why I am a Democrat. Because of the issues. Was Al Gore a pompous ass? Sure. But he was right too. Was Dukakis devoid of emotion? Sure, but he was right on the issues. Did Kerry look like a French elitist? Sure, but he was right on the issues.
We should judge substance rather than the intangible. But those who are not partisans one way or the other do judge intangibles. They want to be comfortable with their President. They are inviting this man or woman into their living rooms for the next four years, and so candidates are very much judged liked suitors on a date. Why did Al Gore lose his debates with George W. Bush? Because he was unlikable, rude and arrogant.
Why did John McCain lose all three debates to Barack Obama. Because he was erratic, angry, mean, grumpy, and selfish. He is not a man you want to have a beer with. He is a narcisstic and misogynistic asshole. And he showed it in volumes last night, because Barack Obama and Joe Biden were geniuses prior to the debate. They goaded him into attacking. They challenged his manhood. “Hey John, why don’t you say that to my face!?!” It worked.
This debate format, with both candidates seated and facing each other, does not provide for attacks of the kind John McCain launched last night. If McCain wanted to attack, he should have done it in the first debate, but he lost that opportunity. Further, attacks were not what the American people wanted to hear. They wanted answers to the tough challenges facing us in the economy, healthcare, climate change and energy policy. John McCain lost the debate because he cared more about his hurt feelings over John Lewis and more about what Bill Ayers did 40 years ago than about what the American people care about today: their very existence. Will they have jobs tomorrow? Will they have healthcare? How are we going to pay for gas, food, and education? John McCain provided no answers. All he says is “I will fix it, my friends, when I am president.” That is his answer to every question. Fix it how, asshole? Tell me how. We don’t get told how. We get told to “shut up” and listen to his hurt feelings. We get told “shut up” and hear about this scary guy Obama.
John McCain has no respect for the American people, and I think he is pissed off that he has to explain himself to the American people. He should be President with no effort, in his mind. The Presidency is his. Who are we to dare consider anyone else. He served this country as a POW, and thus he should never be questioned. We should just be bowing down and surrendering our votes to him. That is how McCain thinks. You can see it in his angry eyes. You can hear it in his sighs of frustration. Oh, and women: John McCain thinks you are an extremist just because you want to live. Just because you might be concerned about your health during a pregnancy.
Yes, that’s right.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N_UfQVuvXo[/youtube]
This election is over. He just lost undecided and independent women. I mean all of them.
This election is really going to change things for the better in this country and the change is going to last a very, very long time.
Here is a final video that sums up the debate:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGzfYOp34d8[/youtube]