The Last Presidential Debate

We are sitting in our home--a group of friends, all educated, diverse, all informed--watching the debate and although there is still one person here who might vote for McCain, we definitely believe that Obama is showing a calm, presidential attitude that we miss. George Bush has been an embarrassment to this country. To watch and listen to Barack Obama speak brings some hope back to each of us. McCain is not just out of touch, he doesn't have the flexibility, creativity, or the lustre of ideas needed to solve the problems plaguing this country, especially after eight years of mismanagement.

Health care, energy sustainability, economic vitality, housing, education, alternative fuels, a woman's right to reproductive decisions.

We have noticed that Obama has gotten very gray during the course of this campaign. Given his background and health, we might wonder what is happening in McCain's body during these grueling months of the primary and presidential campaigns.

Finally McCain is looking at Obama, the first time, in the three presidential debates.

Our friend Runi's question--about the level of math and science education of US students--was included in the debate! And she is sitting here in our home!!!

There is nothing admirable about McCain as a presidential candidate. He might have once been a brave man who fought against the conventional in Congress. But he isn't there anymore, because he is too old, he is too brittle, and he wants this job too much. Therefore, he has made too many compromises that make his message murky and rigid.

Obama is young, inexperienced, but clearly the intellectual of the two. I have said this more than once: No one can take the ring of power without being affected by it. Obama is a student of Reinhold Niebuhr, the Christian theologian who wrote about the need for politics, and the limitations of reason, to press for social justice. Niebuhr wrote extensively about power. Even Frodo was tempted when he finally had his hands on the ring. Obama, will you resist the corruption of power? I hope so.

Obama Looks Like the Leader We Need

Everyone just left after watching the debate, a little MSNBC, CNN, and Fox for color commentary. We thought Obama was very presidential and he wasn't afraid to look at McCain. McCain came off a bit weird in that he couldn't look at either Obama or into the camera. However, Obama probably shouldn't have admitted so many times that he agreed with McCain. We figure the Republicans are already splicing the tape to make a new commercial that uses Obama's words to make it seem like everything McCain says and does is right.

Christine commented on how hard it must be for Obama to straddle parallel universes: the world of his beliefs and what the public needs to hear him say in order for them to have the confidence to vote for him.

That's profound.