A Sharp Take on the Debate

Eve Fairbanks at The New Republic offers the sharpest take on the debate that I have seen or heard yet. Eve was disappointed in the small-bore discussion, and feels that both candidates failed last night. You'll want to read the whole piece, but here are some excerpts:

He's parsing words, he isn't parsing words, let's call the whole thing off. The two guys fought all night in the weeds, tussling Talmudically over Henry Kissinger, the difference between a "strategy" and a "tactic," Obama's exact earmark request, and our official designation for the Republican Guard, without stepping back to explain what was really at stake in their differences of opinion. The debate's small-bore quality made me wonder if they'd prepped for it by watching Sarah Palin's horribly vague interview with Katie Couric, breaking out in a cold sweat, and vowing to drop as many figures as possible.

Obama was better last night than in any of the primary debates, but Eve is right - for the most part he seemed unable to escape from a banal tit-for-tat quibble (which is where McCain seemed to want to be, frankly).

When McCain momentarily tried out a grand theory of what ails the country and his argument for how he can help it heal, here was what came out: "Reform, prosperity, and peace, these are major challenges to America ...It's well known I have not been elected Miss Congeniality in the United States Senate nor with the administration."

Very inspiring. Because when I think of who I want at the helm during these treacherous times, it's Grouchy Smurf.

Technorati Tags: McCain, Obama, Debate, Election 2008

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