Debate review

I'd like to say it was excruciating, really I would, but honestly it was the least worst of the three. Assuming Obama wins, it will be such a pleasure (and a relief) to listen to an articulate, intelligent, thoughtful person preside over the continued degradation of this country and the destruction of the planet for the next four years.

(I remember hearing Bill Clinton for the first time after a few years of Bush, and it was like breathing fresh air again; if we must be ruled by heartless, cynical, mass-murdering assholes, it's at least merciful when it's not physically painful to listen to them speak.)

The only mild surprise for me: Obama saying he opposes the Colombia Free Trade Agreement because of the murders of trade unionists there. It's so rare to hear a Democrat take a correct, principled stand on any issue that even something that should be so mundane seems wildly courageous.  Other than that, though, it was boilerplate all the way.

My personal favorite part of the debate: Bob Schieffer asking about the pressing global emergency of "climate control." Yes—what will we as a nation do to reach agreement on the optimum temperature setting for the air conditioner?

Comments

[Mike]

it will be such a pleasure (and a relief) to listen to an articulate, intelligent, thoughtful person preside over the continued degradation of this country and the destruction of the planet

Precisely why I decided to spend the apocalypse here. I'd much rather listen to Her Majesty and Prince Chuck, and even Gordon Brown and David Cameron can run rings around the best the US can put up. It's lovely. If only the BBC would stop reporting on the American elections, it would be fucking paradise.

[Thomas Daulton]

I only watched a few pieces of it, but another good blogger, the American Crackpot, notes:

McCain: "Obviously, we had to take Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait or it would've threatened the Middle Eastern oil supply."
I guess we are finally secure enough with ourselves to admit that the first gulf war was primarily about oil. This might have been the most shocking statement in the debate.

By "shocking", I am quite certain, Justin means that it's shocking we can finally be honest about it, not shocking that the war was about oil. Anyone know if Obama contested that claim with anything about "stopping international aggression"? Or did he just let it go by without comment? I doubt Obama has much of a position on the _first_ Gulf War, since he wasn't in Congress and has little to gain by discussing it.

[Duncan]

"...it's at least merciful when it's not physically painful to listen to them speak."

That's a fair point, John, but do we deserve mercy?