The Debate on the Debate

As I was watching the debate last night, I thought I was watching an odd scene. The moderator, Jim Lehrer, tried several times to get the candidates to talk to each other. Sen. Obama, would look at Sen. McCain each time he would say something while McCain would just stare straight ahead. McCain looked really rigid almost like he was upset or dare I say angry when Sen. Obama took him to task on Iraq or what led us to this sham war. To be quite honest, Sen. Obama hit it home at the debate when he listed off a litany of falsehoods that the Bush Administration and the Republicans which now includes Sen. McCain fed us on the lead up to this wag the dog distraction.

Even though he did hit this point home, I didn't feel Sen. Obama really took advantage of several points when it came to the economy. I wanted to hear what he would do for the middle class. I know that he's spoken about that countless of times but it would have been great to gauge Sen. McCain's reaction to that issue or those talking points. He did do just enough but really didn't hit anything home. I've already decided on who I was going to vote for in fact it wasn't even a hard decision but what I'm talking about is that these debates are designed for the undecideds that will actually elect the next president.

Last but not least, I really don't like watching the after debate "Spin Room" talk because it really doesn't do much but what was really striking for me was that Sen. Biden, Sen. Obama's VP choice was at the after debate spin and where was Gov. Palen? She was at a debate party. Sen. McCain's surrogate was Mayor Rudy Giuliani...not a good comparison there. I just hope she shows up on Thursday for the VP Debate

The Flipflop, Makes a Comeback

The Vice-Presidential nominee on the Republican ticket, Gov. Sarah Palin; has stated on several occasions that she was against the "Bridge to Nowhere", what she isn't saying is that she was for the bridge before she was against it. According to the Boston Herald, Gov. Palin ran for her current position in 2006 on a build the bridge-the-bridge platform.

This is surprising because during her introductory speech after being selected as Senator McCain’s running mate, Palin said she had told Congress "'thanks but no thanks' on that bridge to nowhere." What was not said was that the money which was a whopping $223 million wasn’t given back; but instead it was used on several other “pork barrel” projects.

Also during her campaign Palin was asked whether she backed continued funding for the bridge project and said, "Yes, I would like to see Alaska's infrastructure projects built sooner rather than later. The window is now - while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist."

According to Reuters.com in 2007 Gov. Palin suddenly stopped her support and called for a halt on the bridge. Mayor Joe Weinstein of Ketchikan, Alaska said many residents remain irked by Palin’s failure to come to Ketchikan since that time to defend her decision - despite promises that she would.

On the flip-side several Republicans have gone on record as being disheartened by the rhetoric that is being put forth by Palin, including several that have said that they would have a hard time voting for the McCain ticket because of Palin’s subsequent neglect of Ketchikan and her flip-flop on the “Bridge.”

So, now there’s the charge of flip-flop. Doesn’t that sound familiar anyone remember four years ago someone else that was running for the presidency, Sen. John Kerry. Now that the flip-flop is on the other foot will they take the same dose of medicine…I think not.