I was out but managed to catch most of the debate on radio. From the sound of what I caught, it didn't sound like I missed much. These guys didn't do three debates. They did one debate three times. I'll be surprised if public reaction is much different.
Still, it sounded to me like McCain lost more points than usual for being cranky and for trying to convince us in every other sentence that Obama wants to raise taxes. I'm a little fuzzy on just what Mr. Maverick is claiming here. Obama says he would only raise taxes on about 5% of Americans…so is McCain claiming that that's a lie and that Obama would really raise them on everyone or almost everyone? Or is that claim here that raising taxes for anyone, even if it's only the wealthiest 5%, is wrong or dangerous? If the latter, I wish he'd say that.
Also, I think any time anyone says, "This is the wrong time to raise taxes," they should be required to tell us when the right time might be. If they can't, they oughta be honest and just say, "There is never a good time to raise taxes."
In any case, it won't make a difference in this election. Most of the 95% take Obama at face value when he says that their taxes will not increase…or at least, they believe him as much as they believe any politician who ever says that. The other 5% probably weren't going to vote for him anyway.
McCain lost more points when the two men were asked to explain why each running mate would make a good President. Obama expained why Joe Biden was qualified. McCain explained why Sarah Palin was a good role model for women, a good governor for Alaska and a good mother for her kids…but not why she was qualified for the Presidency. And he just sounded whiny complaining about attack ads against him, especially considering what his side has put on the air. When he said Obama has spent more money than he has on negative ads, I was waiting for Obama to say, "Only because you've run out of money."
The only real news seemed to be the discussion about ACORN, which was incoherent on the part of both men, and the exchange about William Ayers. McCain said he didn't care about it but that Obama had a responsibility to explain the nature of the relationship. Obama offered something that won't satisfy his detractors. Nothing short of a confession of treason and a concealed radical agenda will satify them. But it'll probably do it for anyone who might vote Obama-Biden, and there are already more than enough of them. Obama also won points for not itemizing some of the sleazy folks who McCain has palled around with over the years.
I'll also add that I thought Bob Schieffer did a much better moderating job than anyone else has. This one almost sounded like a debate at times.
Big Loser? McCain, because he's running out of time to change the game and nothing tonight did. Big Winner? Joe the Plumber, whoever he is. My friend Shelly Goldstein called to wonder who we'll see playing Joe the Plumber on Saturday Night Live this weekend. She's thinking John Goodman.