politics
Let’s Not Do This Again
Looks like I was not alone in my quick reaction about this debate. From the left and the right the verdicts are in that this was an absolutely missable debate. And most people probably missed it.
The clear loser? Me, who really wanted to climb into bed early and get caught up on my sleep.The clear winner? Those who did.
This was a town meeting? Let’s not let Tom Brokaw do this again.
The thing was billed as a “townhall debate.” When I think of townhall debate, I picture in my mind a free-wheeling shoutfest in a crowded smoke-filled room - where the questions are provocative and unpredictable.Instead, we had a democrat (Tom Brokaw) hand-picking boring, liberally-oriented questions. Right now, my favorite college professor is rolling his eyes - but let me ask you: where were the questions about guns, religion, abortion … or more provocatively anything starting a rumble about Ayers/the Keating 5, or basically anything fun. What we did have was a big alley oop for Obama on health care, a question to McCain about green energy, and a whole bunch of crap we’ve heard 782 times before.
The debate as a whole could not have been less memorable; that seems to be the consensus and I agree, which again is good for The One. It isn’t really a town hall debate if the people in the audience ask a few 10 second questions then sit back down and the candidates (especially Obama) just drone on over their allotted time and then beg the moderator for more. Through two debates, we have heard nothing about social issues, guns, immigration, Supreme Court, the death penalty, etc. Maybe we will next time.
I know the standard CW is that McCain needed a “knockout” punch. But let’s face it, a. debates rarely provide knockout punches anymore and b. McCain is not going to deliver one and c. Obama is too good to let that happen to him. It just wasn’t going to happen and both campaigns knew it.
And so they tuned the pitch of their answers to the uncommitted voter resulting in the snoozer we saw here.
The good news for those of us in the Republican wing of the Republican party is that while it looks like McCain may well lose this one, at least he is making us not care if he loses. I mean honestly, the best thing for the GOP is that McCain goes away.
Not content with a $700 billion bailout for idiots who lost their minds in Banks, he doubles down and proposes $300 billion for people who bought too much house in California real estate. Instead of letting the market work to move these guys into actual affordable housing, we’re going to renegotiate their loans and the taxpayer, you know, those guys who played by the rules and pay their mortgages, will eat the difference.
I can’t underscore enough what a rotten idea John McCain’s ACORN-like government mortgage buy-up is. I said it during my liveblog. And I’ll say it again: “HE WANTS TO EXPAND THE BAILOUT. He wants to do what ACORN wants to do. We’re Screwed ‘08.”This was his supposed “game-changer.” This was the very first thing out of his mouth during the debate tonight — his big pitch right off the bat. The McCain campaign immediately sent out this fact sheet on the proposal, which will cost at least $300 billion. The proposal involves directing the Treasury Secretary to “purchase mortgages directly from homeowners and mortgage servicers.” That’s on top of the trillion-dollar crap sandwich (update - McCain says it would be included in the crap sandwich), the $85 billion to AIG, the $25 billion to automakers, the $200 billion in capital and credit lines to Fannie and Freddie, and who knows what else we’ll be forking over to California, Massachusetts, etc., etc., etc.
We’re screwed either way, but the GOP would be better off not having to defend crap like this. Just like Bush he’s going to try to outcompassion and out-centrist Obama. Ugh.
So the bottom line of this debate for me was that nothing changed the overall shape of the campaign, but one thing did change, I no longer care much whether McCain wins or loses. Both of these guys deserve to lose and one of them will. That’s enough for me. My main concern is that Sarah Palin comes out of this as the future of the GOP, and I think that is now assured whatever the outcome. Imagine what she could do with a real Republican at the top of the ticket. In 2012 she’ll be ready if she wants it.
Am I writing McCain off? No, of course not. He’s still within striking distance of the battleground polls. He’s campaigning in blue states, WI and PA. The polls will likely tighten. He’s playing go big or go home, which is what he needs to do. Best thing for the country that he wins. Best thing for the GOP that he loses. I’m just saying…
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