19 seconds

[libertango]

Looking about on the net, and having watched MSNBC's post-debate coverage, I'm somewhat surprised there hasn't been more reaction to this incident.

To me, the defining moment of tonight's debate came when McCain plaintively asks, "Zero?" below, and then sits, from 0:46 until 1:05, absolutely gobsmacked and at sea.

To make the obvious national security point: Imagine if this was an intricate negotiation, and Vladimir Putin surprised him as much as this does.

McCain's absolutely right -- the American people are being asked to make a risky decision.

Fortunately, we can vote for Barack Obama, instead.

*^*^*

Comments

[k6rfm.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know I'm in the tank for Obama. But looking at the debate tonight, one of the things that came to mind was: preconditions or no, one of these guys is soon going to be talking to Ahmedinejad (or maybe somebody in charge in Iran.) Which one do you think will negotiate calmly and get a good result?

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Ahmedinejad (or maybe somebody in charge in Iran.)

Zing!

[ckd]

With almost six months to (a) decide upon and (b) vet a VP candidate, he couldn't even do that properly—and it's not like "needing a VP" is a huge surprise that came upon him out of nowhere the day he clinched the GOP nomination!

Abstract vs concrete

[hal-obrien.livejournal.com]

"I'm surprised that McCain went there again in the first place as that issue was laid to rest in the LAST debate--does McCain have a listening problem?"

No, it's most likely he (or his advisors) think we do. That the reason he latched on to the figure of "Joe the Plumber" is because that changes supposedly abstract discussions into something real and tangible. Something concrete.

The problem is, McCain's slide from being even with Obama to his current 10-point or more deficit comes exactly from that shift. That is, as things have become more tangible and concrete -- as they hit everyday Americans' pocketbooks -- people trust the Republicans less and less. People are willing to give the Republicans some credence with abstract issues like the "culture wars", and terrorism, and lassiez-faire capitalism when we have the luxury of prosperity.

But take -- or even threaten -- prosperity away, and make metaphorical bread-and-butter issues into real bread-and-butter issues... And the electorate goes running to the Democrats.

This is a big chunk of why the Republicans are so confused right now. The remaining rump Republicans thought they were addressing real issues.

Now they're learning their issues are only "real."

Oops.