Post-debate Thoughts
SW reminded me that the debates are not about me, they are about reaching the 80 people left in this country who haven’t yet made up their minds. I suppose there are also those people who lean one way, but won’t commit until election day in case one of them does something radically stupid before then.
I have leaned Obama since 2007, from reading his speeches, and the fact that his campaign asked me to do something besides give money or vote on a soundtrack, so it wasn’t likely that McCain would ever pick me off over to his side. But the debate last night just served to solidify my opposition.
MW pointed out that McCain wants to end the war in Iraq “honorably” but is willing to fight dishonorably and do anything in order to be the person who can bring the troops home honorably.
My overwhelming reaction last night was just ugh. I can’t imagine listening to McCain for four years. He was breathless. I think he was trying to generate enthusiasm, but it doesn’t seem to come naturally. Probably his problem comes from the natural Republican point of view of attacking government. If you actually have to lead, then you need to have a different way of pointing out the way other than “Not over there.”
Also, a thing about mavericks and leadership. If you’ve fought your own party often, then you probably don’t have many natural friends. They’ll support you because that’s what the GOP does, but they won’t necessarily like it. If you need to get legislation passed, then you need to have demonstrated the ability to get lots of people on board with your projects. Now, McCain has to run against George Bush, but then that means he has to run against his supporters and denigrate them. Not a great position to be in if he actually won.
I am glad that there weren’t the large number of personal attacks that everyone expected. I’m glad both candidates took the high ground for the most part. It would have been nice if both of them answered the questions, like the real questions. Do you think health care should be a for profit enterprise? How bad will it get? Etc. Instead it was a performance of stump speeches, not a debate, as I predicted in my pre-debate thoughts.
The nail in the coffin came though after McCain said one should speak softly and carry a big stick. Obama pointed out that McCain was singing “Bomb Bomb Bomb Iran.” And McCain just had to respond “I was joking.” Um, senator, you’re joking about killing huge numbers of people. Many of them innocent, and just there through accident of birth???
Other bits about McCain. He calls himself a “maverick.” My dad, did too. It was based on a TV show (shot in black and white, it’s so old). McCain’s a few years older than my father, but generationally, they have the same connotations. All the kids then thought James Garner was so cool! It had nothing to do with unbranded cows. From the Museum of Broadcast Communcations entry:
They were devious, cowardly card-sharps who exploited easy situations and quickly vanished when faced with potentially violent ones.
So. McCain considers himself a cowardly gambler from the 1950s. That’s not who I want leading the country, then, or now. Also. My dad had a Ford Maverick… inherited from my grandmother. It only had AM radio. That’s how outdated a “maverick” is. Ours was mustard brown. Classic 70s color.
I’m not sure what he gains by talking about Beirut. Huh? He has to go back 25 years to find a foreign policy issue he disagreed with his party on? Or what every muslim out there is just waiting to blow up Americans? Really??? Most people younger than me will have no idea what he’s talking about. And Palin is rubbing off on him. His talking about a new plan to help homeowners was incoherent. Needs clarifying.
This’ll be my only post disparaging McCain (unless he does something really dumb in the next debate). I’d rather talk about the future. I’m sure we’ll be okay.
