Debate One, People Zero

"Rules? In a knife fight?" -- William Goldman, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (screenplay)

For all the tough talk, the two "men" who would be president couldn't muster the courage to have a real debate. Beyond the rule of having the common courtesy to allow your opponent speak, nothing else is required. We deserve better.

The debate was a remarkable example of how everything in this presidential race is canned and prefabricated. God forbid anyone should have a Howard Dean moment. Honesty is a virtue for suckers like you.

The only honesty in this performance came from George W. Bush when he wasn't speaking. The sour-pussed, petulant, testy man most of you (even the die-hard Bushies) saw Thursday night is the guy I've seen on television for the last four years. I never understood why people and the press speak so glowingly of his personality (see Mr. Personality). So, hello, everybody, welcome to my world.

John Kerry ought to send Bush a bottle of champagne or a nice thank you note. Sure Kerry was poised, but there still is no fire in his belly. Fortunately for Big John, viewers got see the current "President*" looking like he'd just made in his pants. It was Kerry's best political ad.

Bush barely got through a thoroughly controlled political show. In a real debate, Kerry would have mopped up the floor with him.

All the more reason that the current Democratic and Republican control of the debate should be abolished. It should be returned to the League of Women Voters or some other non-partisan group. If a man can't think on his feet, maybe he's not qualified to be president. Just a thought.

*Since I've read Greg Palast's proof of the real theft of Florida, I find it hard to refer to Bush with this title unless it's under finder's keepers (or cheater's keepers) rules.