Wednesday October 8, 2008, 10:09 am
In Debate II, John McCain twice laid out the criteria for how the American people should judge the candidates: In tough times, we need someone with a steady hand on the tiller.

By that measure, Obama was the clear winner. He was centered where McCain was scattered. Forceful where McCain was forced. Presidential where McCain was petulant.

In the first debate, McCain wouldn't look at Obama. In this one, he referred to him as "that one." The contempt was palpable, and unpalatable.

In the run-up to the debate, McCain lowered himself into the sewer in a desperate attempt to portray Obama as dangerous, untrustworthy, a risk too big to take.

But Obama's measured reasonableness totally countered that caricature. You could fault Obama for not being particularly inspiring, but you could not miss the rock steady competence he exuded -- authoritatively delivering substantive answers to questions on the economy, health care, taxes, and foreign policy.

He scored with his history lesson, reminding voters of the economy the Republicans inherited, and how they squandered that inheritance.

He scored with his reminder of how much the war in Iraq is costing America and the enormous strain that puts on our economy -- as well as our national security.

He scored when he declared that affordable health care is a "right" of every American and not, as McCain put it, a "responsibility" of... he actually didn't specify who.

And Obama scored big when he gave voice to the vast gulf between the two candidates' -- and the two parties' -- position on the role of government in our lives, invoking JFK's commitment to put a man on the moon in 10 years as an example of what can be done in fueling a new alternative energy-based economy, and pointing out how government investment played a key role in developing the tech advances that have driven our economy for the last two decades.

McCain, like Palin last week, couldn't decide if government is the enemy or the deep-pocketed benefactor that is going to buy up all the bad mortgages in America.

Is "a government-bought house on every lot" the 21st century equivalent of "a chicken in every pot"?

McCain also provided the debate's strangest moments, twice chiding Obama for backing an "overhead projector" in a planetarium, and raising the idea of "gold-plated Cadillac" insurance policies that pay for hair transplants. Huh?

McCain also told us he knows how to fix the economy, knows how to win wars, and knows how to capture bin Laden. Is there a reason he's keeping all these a secret?

The debate ended on a question Tom Brokaw described as having "a certain Zen-like quality": "What don't you know and how will you learn it?"

Both men used the opportunity to pivot from the Moment of Zen into impassioned but familiar stump speech stories about single moms (Obama) and absent fathers (McCain), about the American Dream (Obama) and the country put first (McCain), about the need for fundamental change (Obama) and the desire for another opportunity to serve (McCain).

At the end of the debate, Brokaw asked McCain to get out of the way of his Teleprompter, so he could sign off.

Brokaw might as well have been speaking on behalf of the future: Senator McCain can you please get out of the way so we can get on with it?

Wednesday October 8, 2008, 11:00 am
One had class and the other was clueless. The one that had class - "that One" is the one I'll be voting for.

Wednesday October 8, 2008, 11:24 am
McCain and Palin are leaders of the hate crowd.. But this doesn't seem to be going over well with the majority of Americans.... At a Palin rally a few days ago, while Palin was repeating her lies about Obama 'palling around with terrorists', a man in the crowd yelled, "Kill him!". Why wasn't this man arrested? And why isn't Palin warned to stop encouraging violence (murder) with her outright lies??

Wednesday October 8, 2008, 4:16 pm

Palin Peddles Hatred : Poll: McCain Desperately Needs A Win Tonight Obama Camp: Expect The Worst

Obama Hatred On Display Again At Palin Rally: "Treason!"

Thursday October 9, 2008, 9:39 am
Clever title and so true, LOL! McCain has wrecked his campaign. He's no maverick and he listens to his own bad advise. What a train wreck!

Thursday October 9, 2008, 1:35 pm
Let me just say that Barack Obama is not only an inspiration but a man of courage and determination. In my mind set he is president obama and i urge all who support him to stand up in his honor and for the honor of the usa and name him the leader of this nation. i believe that hes true to his word. He is an extremely powerful speaker.

Thursday October 9, 2008, 1:38 pm
Obama and America's Promise At
a moment when America is facing financial woes that can only be
compared to those it faced after the October 1929 crash, Obama, like
FDR, offers the promise of a young, vigorous leader.

Thursday October 9, 2008, 1:49 pm
Good comments, Stephany and Blue. What I think makes Obama a great leader is that he THINKS. He doesn't think with his ego or shoots from the hip. He actually THINKS long and hard before he makes a decision that will have an impact on the people, nation and world. He is willing to go against the popular vote at times. But he also listens to others and takes the best ideas that make sense to him.

Thursday October 9, 2008, 2:01 pm
it's just amazing how inspirational we all really are when there is hope of a new future within one person who actually walks the walk. may it be god's will and intention to bless us all with barack obama as our new president.
you all have made me a sap today -and i thank each and everyone of you -the news and posts today have been wonderful:)

Friday October 10, 2008, 9:46 am
CafePress has a whole new line of tees and buttons, etc. that say "this one is voting for that one". Rather helpful of McMean to give us all a whole new campaign slogan.

Friday October 10, 2008, 2:26 pm
Seems to me the question is: Is America ready for the race card? Regrettably, it probably is. Remember OJ? "If the glove don't fit you must acquit!" Well, the race glove does not fit Obama so you must acquit. But what does that mean in this context? It may mean that no matter how well Obama acquits himself of the task of besting McCain many US voters will see him as an uppity n-word trying to come up to the level of his admittedly crude master. If Obama got any more sophisticated he'd Adlai-Sevenson out, and an African-American egghead is simply a little too much for many American voters to take. Would Hillary were running, with Barack for Vice President. Or even Joe Biden for President and Barack for Vice President. It's too big a change too sudden. Sorry. I want Obama to win, of course. I hope he will, naturally. For heaven's sake, he should! I just can't see it, and if he does I'll be happily apologizing to all of you all the way to the inauguration for being as uppity as no white man should have any right to be.

Pete Edler, Stockholm