2008 Presidential Debate Deconstructed

Two down, one to go. If you are keeping score in the 2008 presidential debates, Obama 2, McCain o. But no matter what side you are voting for this November, you can’t say it hasn’t been interesting. A relative unknown taking on a Washington lifer or more poetically, a virtual David vs. Goliath if you will. Well, looks like David is going to slay Goliath yet again. Barack Obama is ahead in the polls by 8 points and cruising. Baring a calamity on the part of the Obama campaign, we bear witness to a truly historic event in the United States. Three fifths of all other persons my ass!

Presidential Debate Hot Topics

Fastest way to turn around economy for everyone

Obama-”Middle class rescue package to keep people in their jobs!” It’s about time!

McCain-”Americans are angry and upset” & “Order treasury to buy peoples homes” What?

Meg Whitman is going to be McCain’s Treasury secretary? WTF!

What is in the bailout package that is going to help middle America?

McCain-People running Freddie and Fannie were “Obama cronies”

Obama-McCain’s camp was lobbyist for Freddie Mac

How can we trust either party?

Obama-When Bush came into office, we had a surplus with the largest ever increase in deficit spending. We need to have different ideas going forward.

McCain-The system in Washington is broken and I have a clear record on bipartisanship.

What will be your highest priority: Health care, entitlements, or energy?

McCain-Lets build a bunch of nuclear power plants.

Obama-Energy has to be dealt with today because it hurts our economy and national security. In 10 years we can be free of foreign dependency on oil.

What sacrifices will you ask the American people to take?

McCain-Eliminate earmarks and implement across the board spending freeze.

Obama-The American people are hungry for leadership both inside and outside government. People need to be more energy efficient.

How to break bad habit of easy credit?

Obama-Washington needs to show the rest of the country that they have spending under control. Both rich people and the middle class should participate in the turnaround of the American economy.

McCain-Obama’s tax plan will increase taxes on 50% of the country’s small businesses.

Specific date to reform social security and medicare

Obama-I want to provide a tax cut to 90% of the U.S. population and McCain wants to give tax cuts to big business and CEO’s.

McCain-It’s not that hard to fix social security. lets put the smartest people in America come together and present us a plan.

What would you do in your first two years to make us green

McCain-Nuclear power is the way to a cleaner planet.

Obama-Let’s create 5 million new jobs with a new energy environment and that McCain voted 23 times against alternative fuels.

Is health care a commodity?

Obama-Health care is breaking family budgets. We have an economic imperative to provide health care.

McCain-95% of the American people will have coverage with $5000 tax credit.

How will recent economic distress affect our ability to be a peacemaker?

McCain-America is the greatest force of good in history and that the U.S. can prevent genocide and stop the spread of terrorism.

Obama-McCain has been full of wrong judgements in protecting this country. That spending $10 billion in Iraq would be better spent here in the United States.

What is your doctrine on military force?

Obama-When you have ethnic cleansing happening in this world, it diminishes us as a nation if you stand by and do nothing.

McCain-We must do whatever we can to prevent genocide, but it must also be tempered with knowing what our limits are.

Should the U.S. honor Pakistan?

Obama-We got distracted with Iraq and lost focus. Expand financial aid to Pakistan.

McCain-Our relations with Pakistan are critical and we need their support. Get the support of the Pakistani people.

What is your stance on dealing with Russia?

McCain-We are not going to have another cold war with Russia.

Obama-The resurgence of Russia is something we are going to have to deal with in the future.

In the final analysis, I can’t imagine there are still people out there that would prefer McCain over Obama after seeing these two men discuss the issues. I can’t imagine that after being given 26 years to make a difference and coming up short time after time that he should be provided the opportunity to fail us as a nation on the world stage instead of just the great people of Arizona.