McCain did what he set out to do--portray Obama as the neophyte in foreign policy.

No. But he was trying a swift boat touch, continuing his mantra "Obama doesn't understand. . ." even though Obama understands perfectly well. I suppose it was too much to hope that Obama could conclude by asking "And did Karl tell you to repeat the same tired but inaccurate phrase over and over, hoping to create a sound bite?" That's what they were trying for, a sound bite, something that would live in news broadcasts for the next six weeks without reference to the Truth.

But this debate was remarkably free of the grandstanding that was typical of so many other presidential "debates" that played lip service to the forum type. They actually tried to do a debate--more power to both of them for that. They treated the American public like they have brains in their heads.


GUEST,Justin Urqhart said
Please don't try to twist it. The traditional values that has made America the country it is today. So what exactly are you saying ? Elect a novelty into the Oval Office ? Dump arms ? Hug ghetto brothers ? Charge National Guard vets over what happened in Kent State ?

You should have listened to Bill Moyers Journal after the debate. He replayed an August 15 discussion with Andrew Bacevich--we are an economy of excess, of consumers on a scale not seen before in the entire history of the world. Not something to be proud of or want to maintain. Anyway, after the week Dubya spent trying to fund his golden parachute, any plans for the future either candidate had toward establishing universal health care or any kind of minimal socal good may go out the door. Bush is leaving such a steaming hot pile of shit for the next president to clean up that it boggles the mind that eight years will begin to be enough to start the job.

SRS