First thing's first: Why, O why do they call these things debates? There are so many smart people involved in these things, and yet they too call them debates...many of the Ive League pundits and campaign staffers were members of their collegiate debate team. They know better. And yet the misnomer rides on. These things aren't debates. These things are more like simultaneous, competing press conferences. So that's what I'll call it here—an SCPC for short.

Nowthen. Everyone wants to see the post-SCPC poll data. I only saw one, the ABC poll that had Kerry getting 43% of the "SCPC winner" vote and Bush getting 36%. I'm not sure how you can say either candidate won. You can say which candidate made a better impression, or elucidated his ideas better, but won? You can't win a debate when it's not a debate. But enough of that.

George Bush clearly didn't help himself. I imagine even the most ardent Bush supporters were disappointed. He came off as nervous, uncomfortable, and he slurred his speech more than usual. He mispronounced a zillion words, repeated himself...repeatedly, and generally had a look of "please end this". We shouldn't vote based on who's a better orator, or who looks better up there, but I'm sure Bush's advisors will be working overtime to better prepare the presentational aspect of the next debate.

The Kerry folks must have been patting themselves on the back. Kerry has given me the creeps for the past six months or so. And the creeps give me the heebie jeebies. But I have to admit—last night he didn't bother me. Much. I like an effective speaker as much as anyone, and in contrast to Bush's broken sentences and awkward syntax, Kerry was oddly refreshing. He still looks like Frankenstein, but hey. We shouldn't vote based on these things. Still, imagine a giant bolt through his neck. If the bolt fits...

I'm not going to let Kerry's superior communication skills lull me into believing that he's the wiser candidate. I'm not a big fan of "whichever way the wind blows" type of guys, and you have to admit, this guy has a long, wet finger and it's always in the wind. I sense a smugness in Kerry that rears its head every so often. It shows up in subtle expressions as well as blatant assertions. The guy seems to be in need of a big ol' slice of Humble pie.

These things are a lot more interesting when there are 3 candidates. Ross Perot was tons O' fun. Unelectable, but tons O' fun.

Labels: politics