Am I allowed to say McCain was "feisty" during tonight's final presidential debate or is that ageism? Because if I can't say that I'd like instead to say his head resembles a thumb. An angry thumb.
He was on the offensive tonight and easily jabbed Obama three times more than Obama jabbed him, although that sapped precious time from McCain telling me why exactly I should vote for him. Other than repeating the so-good-it-helped-Bush-Senior-get-elected Republican chestnut that the Democrat Candidate Will Surely Raise Taxes, McCain's jabs were, I think, over mostly petty stuff, like specific Senate votes from years ago, the bullshit over ACORN, the now-infamous $3 million "projector" and the fact that Ayers is apparently living in Obama's guesthouse. Stuff like the latter is ridiculous to me. Which association impacts Americans more: Obama's passing association with a hippie who blew up some stuff when Obama was eight or that McCain appears to be in the pocket of the American petrochemical lobby? I'm not sure, but I wonder if all those little half-truth (or no-truth) chips at Obama's character could spider out into greater damage, especially among that very special bloc of voters already wary about an apparent Negro running for president.
I relished in hearing the candidates' stumble-through answers on some of the questions I don't think they were fully prepared to expect: about how great their veep's would be as president, the whole Abortion Issue and the negative campaigning (ironically, the discussion for which became a series of attack ads).
Maybe I'm a saphead, but I tend to lean towards Obama because he's better spoken, better composed and seemingly more idealistic than McCain. These factors alone do not make him more qualified but would make him the better leader. (Don't even get me started on things like how McCain has mightier foreign policy experience because he's traveled to foreign countries and often drops the name of General Petraeus.) I tried to think: if the candidates' messages stayed exactly the same, but their styles, mannerisms or even looks were swapped, would I find myself favoring McCain? And I don't think I would.
For the final question, after gently pointing out that our education system has produced the stupidest people in the world, moderator Bob Schieffer of CBS pointed out "the implications of this are clearly obvious." Yes, I thought: wait until election day.