First impressions:
- Obama is a little less deferential to McCain and a little more snarky in responding to the attacks on his record.
- McCain is throwing out talking points, similar to the way in which Governor Sara Palin did during her debate with Senator Joe Biden, and not really answering the questions with any depth or specificity.
Obama and McCain are directing more attacks against each other than during the last debate. Frankly, it's a distraction. When both senators limit their responses to questions to policy - and to their credit, both candidates use most of their time doing just that - they provide some information that is useful in identifying the contrasts between their philosophies and their strategies to solve America's problems.
9:46 - McCain has used the energy question to toss a few grenades at Obama, and to try to distance himself from the Bush administration. "Obama voted for the Bush-Cheney energy plan, I voted against it." Way to throw your party's president under the bus, man.
9:55 - Is health care a right, a privilege, or a responsibility? McCain: a responsibility. Obama: a right. Obama points out the problem with McCain's plan to leave several health care provisions to the states, since states will compete for the lowest possible coverage.
10:02 - McCain: "America is a force for good." I would say, "America CAN be a force for good." I will say that on the overall balance sheet, the United States has historically been on the positive side of the moral ledger. But that's because the policies have been good, not because of any innate goodness in the American character. "Good countries" can do bad things.
10:11 - McCain claims that the we, and the Afghan "freedom fighters", drove the Soviet Union out of Afghanistan, and then we "dropped the ball" and the Taliban came into power. Uhm... the Taliban was one of the primary "freedom fighters" American tax dollars supported.
Obama is needling McCain, trying to make him lose his temper. McCain is showing excellent restraint in not taking the bait (although I wouldn't want to one of McCain's aides when this debate is over).
10:25 - Stupid question of the night: If Iran should attack Israel, should the United States commit troops to defend Israel? Well, now, let's look at this: certainly, Iran can attack Israel, directly through the firing of missiles, or (more likely) indirectly by use of its paramilitary/terrorist surrogates (Hezbollah, for instance). However, Iran cannot invade Israel, because the two do not share a border. Hence, there is really no practical reason for U.S. troops to be involved in the defense of Israel against an Iranian attack, unless you believe American soldiers have special powers to knock down ballistic projectiles. Who the hell screened these questions?
The McCain "My friend(s)" Count: 16
The wrap up: A rather pedestrian affair. More of the same, really. Neither man impressed me with any zingers, neither man made a strong case to change the general direction of the polls, and I can't see how many undecided minds will be made up as a result of this debate.
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