The Second Presidential Debate: Observations

1st Observation: Barack Obama often uses the present or future active indicative, or the imperative, while McCain noticeably uses expressions of necessity and jussive subjunctives.

Obama* on healthcare: "Here's what I'm going to do..."

McCain* on healthcare: "Let's have walk-in clinics, let's have free clinics, let's..."

[*paraphrased]

2nd Observation: Completely awesome tool shed references from both sides.

OBAMA: I disagree with Sen. McCain about an across-the-board freeze. That's an example of an unfair burden sharing. That's using a hatchet to cut the federal budget. I want to use a scalpel so that people who need help are getting help and those of us, like myself and Sen. McCain, who don't need help, aren't getting it.

That's how we make sure that everybody is willing to make a few sacrifices.

BROKAW: Sen. McCain?

MCCAIN: Well, you know, nailing down Sen. Obama's various tax proposals is like nailing Jell-O to the wall. (my emphasis)

!

3rd Observation: McCain didn't deny Obama's claim that he said "Bomb bomb Iran."*
[*paraphrased]
This was his response: "I understand what it's like to send young Americans in harm's way. I say -- I was joking with a veteran -- I hate to even go into this. I was joking with an old veteran friend, who joked with me, about Iran."


4th Observation: McCain quote of the night?
"I looked into Putin's eyes and saw 3 letters: K...G...B..."
Did he really just say that?

5th Observation: I don't quite know what to make of this exchange:

BROKAW: This requires only a yes or a no. Ronald Reagan famously said that the Soviet Union was the evil empire. Do you think that Russia under Vladimir Putin is an evil empire?

OBAMA: I think they've engaged in an evil behavior and I think that it is important that we understand they're not the old Soviet Union but they still have nationalist impulses that I think are very dangerous.

BROKAW: Sen. McCain?

MCCAIN: Maybe.

BROKAW: Maybe.

MCCAIN: Depends on how we respond to Russia and it depends on a lot of things. If I say yes, then that means that we're reigniting the old Cold War. If I say no, it ignores their behavior.

6th observation: The Republicans are 3 for 3 in breaking Godwin's Law!

7th observation: McCain's concluding remarks?
"There are challenges around the world that are new and different and there will be different -- we will be talking about countries sometime in the future that we hardly know where they are on the map, some Americans."

Miss Teen South Carolina moment... much?

8th Observation: Yes, I meant to put this one in, admittedly I remembered when watching some highlights...
This is how McCain talks about energy and the environment. I think he got a little mixed up...
"...and we kept this issue to -- to posing to Americans the danger that climate change opposes. Now how -- what's -- what's the best way of fixing it? Nuclear power. Senator Obama says that it has to be safe or disposable or something like that. Look, I've -- I was on Navy ships that had nuclear power plants. Nuclear power is safe, and it's clean, and it creates hundreds of thousands of jobs. And -- and I know that we can reprocess the spent nuclear fuel" (much emphasis added, because this was ridiculous).

9th Observation: A neuter demonstrative applied to a human being. I think it's obvious that McCain has utter contempt and a sheer lack of respect for his opponent.
McCain: "There was an energy bill on the floor of the Senate loaded down with goodies, billions for the oil companies. And it was sponsored by Bush and Cheney. You know who voted for it? You might never know. That one. You know who voted against it? Me." (emphasis added).
I know everyone has been talking about this, but je-SUS... In case you missed it, here's the video.

Random Observation: Actual banner ad: "McCain Palin: The Original Mavericks"
Another says: "Sarah Palin: A Proven Maverick"
Yeah, Josh Howard is a proven Maverick as well... he's still a dick...