Charade

I cannot wait until November 4, 2008.

Then and only then will this silly charade be over. After all, it's no longer a proper contest. There's only one man running for president, and his name is Barack Obama.

Barack Obama is to politics what Carey Grant was to cinema. He's obviously articulate and assuring, but also effortlessly charming and debonair. Obama, much like Grant's greatest characters, possess a curiosity and self-confidence that often gets him into some delightful quandaries. But, underneath the modern-man bravado, there's a quirky aloofness and spiritual warmth to him, which allows you to cheer for the man who's obviously going to get the girl, save the day and look damn good doing it.

Obama's ability to connect with the gullible proletarian and whimsical intellectual is a marvellous gift. One particular moment of awe was when he forcefully defended health care as a "right" and followed by discussing his mother's own desperate saga with the American insurance system. Right-wing fringe nuts aside, I can't think of a particular socio-economic group who would not be able to relate to that answer. It was as genuine as it was ingenious. Kudos.

In general, I thought he owned the discussion on national service - Correctly noting that Bush's post-9/11 "go shopping" rallying cry was a stupid farce - and, more importantly, dominated on the broader issues of the economy and foreign policy. Scoffing at the notion of letting bin Laden escape yet again showed everyone that this guy - this liberal Democrat - means business.

McCain, on the other hand, looked like a confused, muttering old man at a duck pond in the winter. Where are my ducks? Where have they gone? My fiends. I brought bread. I'm old.... What a strange, pitiful performance.

I was struck not only by McCain contemptuous posturing - not that it surprised me, though I thought he would be smart enough to conceal his irrational disdain for Barack - but by his nonsensical policy positions. Did he just propose nationalizing America's entire mortgage debt? Comrade or Maverick? Pick a side, McCain, we're at war! (Yes, I'm channeling Colbert).

What about his comment that health care was a responsibility? Or, even more odd, that he favored Teddy Roosevelt's policy of speaking softly and carrying a big stick? I thought Obama absolutely crushed McCain with his superb rendition of "Bomb, bomb, Iran."

I assume most mainstream media minions will score this a draw/slight edge Democratic. Preposterous. There was only one man worthy of praise tonight. This is all but over.

Debate Grades:

Obama A/A+
McCain B


Edited to add: McCain's "that one" comment was one of the stupidest, most repugnant moments I've ever seen in presidential politics. This man - nay, this indignant, warped little child - is beyond hopeless.