I still plan to vote against Sen Obama. Just for the record.
But my impression of the debate last night at Belmont College is that Sen Obama truly won and may have sealed the deal. Sen McCain came across as desperate and defensive. Some of his attacks were lame. Sen Obama had good replies to attacks by McCain (especially on raising taxes on individuals and on small business). (Now whether those replies truly reflect his record or whether they stand up to scrutiny is another matter. But here I address impressions.)
Sen McCain threw out a major (and rather goofy) policy proposal for the first time in the middle of that debate. Is he nuts?!?
Picking on Sen Obama for earmarking $1 million for an “overhead projector” at a planetarium? Exqueeze me but I know the difference between an “overhead projector” and what they use at a planetarium. (And the request was never funded.)
The “I have news for you Sen Obama – the news is bad” line was tacky. Of course Sen Obama knows that. It is a staple of his campaign! (What Democrat would not milk bad economic news for all it is worth? Even when most of the blame lies squarely with Democratic policies especially during the Clinton administration?)
The reasons I am voting against Obama are fairly simple:
- I do not think he is qualified or experienced enough. See the articles by Will, Krauthammer, and especially Hentoff. He is not an impressive person. A mouth and an ego in a suit. And some may not care for this but I do think his past buds and mentors do matter.
- He is not – despite his rhetoric – a centrist who will unite the major parties and take us beyond politics as usual. He is not a moderate Democrat. He is extremely liberal and his record proves that categorically. You want to talk about working in cooperation across party lines? John McCain. And he has an actual record to back that up. Obama has voted against bipartisan deals that McCain helped broker. What Obama talks about – McCain has done. (See first point. Talk versus substance/record.)
If McCain ran an exciting or clear or focuses campaign… did not get distracted by some of these lame and questionable attacks…
And if Obama did not stay so cool and focused… and say what at least sounds (in many ways) moderate and reasonable…
I am not planning to change my vote. But my revulsion for one and enthusiasm for the other both are waning. What chance Sen McCain may have had to win undecided voters imploded last night in Nashville.
NEWS FLASH. According to a poll taken at Townhall.com (a conservative news portal) 57% of (surely conservative) responders think Obama won last night’s debate. Ouch.
