Mike PouraryanThe Final Debate: Personal Reflections
October 16th 2008 03:39
:
The Gloves Did Go Off!!
The Final U.S. Presidential Debate concluded earlier tonight. John McCain went out on the attack. I think it was quite a debate. I knew that Bob Schieffer would get it done. He got it done!!!
I found the debate to be substantive. In my view, both men presented their views in a spirited fashion. I saw John McCain the Fighter Pilot. He repeated went after Senator Obama. Between the speech Senator McCain made on Monday, his "whip his you know what" comment to his campaign staff and the energy he seems to be shown, he is going all out. Whether it is enough, it remains to be seen. But, Senator Obama kept his cool and reinforced the central themes of the message. The question is whether this was the knockout punch John McCain needed to have to emerge from the doldrums. I did not believe it to be so.
The pundits or (commentariats as Gordon Brown calls 'em) will be at it and are continuing as we speak. The BBC is right now continuing the analysis. Right now, they have a Republican Hack, Michael Duncan, talking to the BBC correspondence in the "spin room". It was simply sickening. All they want to talk about is Chicago. Yet, all the associations Senator McCain has had is off limits. It would have been interesting if Senator McCain's 70th Birthday Party in Montegero and Rick Davis' association with the Russian Oligrach would have been brought up. But, the focus was on the issues--thanks to Bob Schieffer. I think the difference were quite stark. I have had profound disagreements with Senator McCain on a number of fronts. For instance, I am especially questioning the viability of Senator McCain's healthcare plan and his plan to give families a $ 5,000 refundable tax credit. What he does not address is how the difference is to be paid. What he does not address is the issue of pre-existing condition and the portability of insurance. What he does not address is the exclusions that would ultimately result. There are many such inconsistencies that I view as central to how the future is going to hold.
Not withstanding the discussions, I wanted to address a specific matter Senator McCain brought regarding Iraq and went to attack Senator Biden. Senator McCain claimed that Iraq is coming together. The fact is that Iraq has in fact has been split in three and the government survives in name only. As for the vote against the first Iraq war, I regard Joe Biden's vote as a vote of consciousness. I was glad to see that both men understood that to secure America's future, they ought to focus on two key areas: education and energy independence. Senator McCain also spoke up for Governor Palin. Governor Palin has sure excited the base. Senator McCain did try and damp down the rhetoric. But, the nastiness which has been unleashed by Governor Palin's rhetoric was wrong. Senator McCain played the victim. I found that disappointing.
Senator Obama stayed cool and above the fray throughout the debate. That is I found to be consistent throughout the three debates. In my view, they both made their case. Not withstanding the diversion of Ayers, ACORN and Joe the Plumber, I see the final line as being drawn. The die is cast. I view the election as crucial. I am worried about our economic future. The Dow lost 7% today. Markets are falling all around the world as we speak. Recessionary fears are real. What will happen now? Whomever wins, they will have a profound challenge that I view as the biggest challenge since the founding of the American Republic over 230 years ago.
I found the debate to be substantive. In my view, both men presented their views in a spirited fashion. I saw John McCain the Fighter Pilot. He repeated went after Senator Obama. Between the speech Senator McCain made on Monday, his "whip his you know what" comment to his campaign staff and the energy he seems to be shown, he is going all out. Whether it is enough, it remains to be seen. But, Senator Obama kept his cool and reinforced the central themes of the message. The question is whether this was the knockout punch John McCain needed to have to emerge from the doldrums. I did not believe it to be so.
The pundits or (commentariats as Gordon Brown calls 'em) will be at it and are continuing as we speak. The BBC is right now continuing the analysis. Right now, they have a Republican Hack, Michael Duncan, talking to the BBC correspondence in the "spin room". It was simply sickening. All they want to talk about is Chicago. Yet, all the associations Senator McCain has had is off limits. It would have been interesting if Senator McCain's 70th Birthday Party in Montegero and Rick Davis' association with the Russian Oligrach would have been brought up. But, the focus was on the issues--thanks to Bob Schieffer. I think the difference were quite stark. I have had profound disagreements with Senator McCain on a number of fronts. For instance, I am especially questioning the viability of Senator McCain's healthcare plan and his plan to give families a $ 5,000 refundable tax credit. What he does not address is how the difference is to be paid. What he does not address is the issue of pre-existing condition and the portability of insurance. What he does not address is the exclusions that would ultimately result. There are many such inconsistencies that I view as central to how the future is going to hold.
Not withstanding the discussions, I wanted to address a specific matter Senator McCain brought regarding Iraq and went to attack Senator Biden. Senator McCain claimed that Iraq is coming together. The fact is that Iraq has in fact has been split in three and the government survives in name only. As for the vote against the first Iraq war, I regard Joe Biden's vote as a vote of consciousness. I was glad to see that both men understood that to secure America's future, they ought to focus on two key areas: education and energy independence. Senator McCain also spoke up for Governor Palin. Governor Palin has sure excited the base. Senator McCain did try and damp down the rhetoric. But, the nastiness which has been unleashed by Governor Palin's rhetoric was wrong. Senator McCain played the victim. I found that disappointing.
Senator Obama stayed cool and above the fray throughout the debate. That is I found to be consistent throughout the three debates. In my view, they both made their case. Not withstanding the diversion of Ayers, ACORN and Joe the Plumber, I see the final line as being drawn. The die is cast. I view the election as crucial. I am worried about our economic future. The Dow lost 7% today. Markets are falling all around the world as we speak. Recessionary fears are real. What will happen now? Whomever wins, they will have a profound challenge that I view as the biggest challenge since the founding of the American Republic over 230 years ago.
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