My Thoughts On the 2nd Debate

Not much here because not a whole lot was said.

It’s October, and I am afraid debate has simply flew out the window.  What was aired last night was a mixture of vague puffed-up rhetoric, relentless talking points, answers that didn’t correspond to the questions, and policy that was conveyed in such general ways that it’s hard for any of it to sound bad.

I don’t think there was any substance to the debates last night.  That being said, Obama definitely trounced McCain.  Why?  Because when their is no substance we must fall back on secondary criteria to judge, and the next criteria that is evident is performance and rhetoric.  I think Obama comes off as being far more persuasive, deliberate, and personal than McCain does.  Tonight I think they were pretty even on deliberateness, even though they were being deliberate about sound bytes and generalities.  What really seperated the candidates tonight, and what will clearly make Obama the winner of last night’s debate, is meanness and anger.  McCain is angry and mean.  He is contemptuous and a blow-hard.  He has disdain for Obama that you can see and that turns people off, methinks.

Essential Weekend Reading

This should be must reading for the weekend.  I certainly will be reading all of it:

Q&A with Dave Ramsey on the Economic Bailout.  This Christianity Today article has cemented my respect for Dave Ramsey.

Top 11 Excuses John McCain Could’ve Used to Get Out of Debate.  These are all super funny.  Culture11 is the best site for snarky, young, and rational conservatives.  This is like Crunchy Con mixed with The Daily Dish.  No Religious Right or ignorant rhetoric to be found there!

McLaren Emerging and The Ironic Faith of Emergents by Scot McKnight.  McKnight has a two’fer in Christianity Today.