Watched the Presidential Debate last night – cleaning the toilet would have been a better, and more enjoyable, use of my time. To someone brought up in the Irish bar-room brawl style of political discussion, these stylized debates are frustrating enough at the best of times. But watching Obama ineffectually batting away McCain’s misrepresentations and downright lies, while giving him the kind of respect a well-brought up kid like Obama can’t help giving an old coot like McCain was super-frustrating.
At first, I was pleasantly surprised by how McCain presented himself. He was reasonable and quiet, putting his points forward with a modulated emphasis. Then, when I actually listened to what he was saying, it made no sense. Not just political sense, or debating sense. No sense, period. He strung together phrases he had learnt by rote and hung them out there. And Obama listened, nodding and looking thoughtful, as though they really meant something.
It confirmed for me something I have always suspected – that McCain really is as dumb as a post. Granted, he got into Annapolis on a legacy, as the son and grandson of admirals, and that he came fifth last out of his class of more than 800. And, according to the Vietnam Veterans Against John McCain, he also lost five aircraft before the Viet Cong captured him. But it would be logical to think that he must have picked up some smarts along the way, during his seven-odd decades. Sadly, it appears not, and the great American public seems quite prepared to give one more third generation screw up a stint in the White House.
After a time, increasingly frustrated because Obama failed to point out that McCain, and his pal Phil Gramm, were largely to blame for the current financial mess, I began not listening to most of what they were saying, instead watching their body language. Obama looked interested and attentive. He kept his eye on McCain while he was speaking, except when he was making notes, and he laughed at McCain’s feeble jokes. McCain, on the other hand, never looked at Obama, even when they came out at the beginning and shook hands. He either looked down at his notes or at the Moderator during Obama’s turn on the podium, and he constantly smirked, sniggered and shuffled paper. It was a pathetic and mean-spirited performance, and it showed him up for the vindictive little toad he is.
As if to underline that my evening might have been more profitably spent on latrine duty, the CBC newscast following the debate gave a very selective synopsis of the proceedings – a few clips of Obama scoring points (which were few and far between) and flattering sound bites of some of his remarks. On the other hand, McCain’s aides had bought advertising space on the Wall Street Journal’s website, declaring him the winner, even before the debate had started. So,why bother listening and watching, when the pundits and campaign staffers will tell you what to think about the debate?
But I’ll still be glued to the tube next Thursday, when Sarah Palin and Joe Biden take to the stage at Washington University.