I have a question for you, not about partisan politics, but about ideology: what makes you a Republican (in general) and why do you think the Republicans offer solutions to our problems at this particular historical moment?

I ask this because all I really heard from McCain was stale recapitulations of conservative dogma that taxes and the public sector are bad.

Do you basically believe this? Do you believe that a free market can deal with climate change, for instance?

Do you not believe that Big Challenges call for Big Responses and not just Big, but more to the point, Concerted?

Do you really think a conglomeration of private interests can work in concert to tackle public problems?

I'm asking this with all sincerity because I honestly can't imagine how this argument (am I articulating the argument fairly, btw?--please let me know if I'm being unfair) can seem compelling in a time of such tremendous, global challenges.

The point of government is to govern; why do some still cling to the idea that that government governs best which governs least?

Rather, I'd suggest that that climate is best in which a government can afford to govern least. In other words, all things being equal, we'd all like a sort of utopian, anarchist libertarianism, where we all do as we please and conflicts are minimal and peace prevails.

But seeing as how that's not quite how things go, someone needs to manage conflicts, plan economies, organize cooperative efforts, etc.

And while I certainly acknowledge the virtues of a private sphere, I simply don't see how GM or large corporations can be entrusted to (in effect) govern, by being left alone.

Anyway, these are some thoughts I'm having because Obama (to my mind) is valiantly rehabilitating classic liberalism from the last three decades of Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush.

This seems an historic moment and I simply don't see the argument for McCain/conservatism right now.

I think your analysis nails it.

And good God, McCain really is weird. Lots of non-sequiturs and weird connections.

Like in the previous debate about who he'd appoint chairman of the SEC: "Not you, Tom!"

I still don't know where the fuck that came from. It would have made sense if Tom had been his opponent or had been holding forth on economic policy for five minutes before he asked the question and McCain wanted to put him in his place or something, but as it was, it was just flat out bizarre.

I love how McCain keeps having to tell rather than show what a great leader he is, how trustworthy, how well he knows the issues...

I agree, Obama really did clean his clock and the assassinations of labor leaders was just a stellar moment, and one that no one on the networks brought up at all, so far as I heard. That was really a salient point, not just because he had an answer to McCain, but because yet again, the answer was a product of liberalism and thus served as a foil to McCain's conservatism.

It was a genuine philosophical difference.

And I thought McCain was funny about how offended he was by Lewis' comments. I really think his feelings were hurt, poor guy.

Meanwhile, Obama said, "I can take this abuse for the next twenty days, but the American people..."

McCain's talking about his bruised ego while Obama's talking about getting shit done.

I'm falling in love with Barack all over again.

I've always thought he had the potential for greatness within him, but worried that his impulse towards pragmatism might hamper his impulse towards bold, visionary action.

Right now, I'm seeing someone who's on the verge of achieving a perfect synthesis between the two.

And his ceiling is unlimited, still. Remember where he was twelve months ago?

Christ Jesus, has he come far.

He's just preternaturally gifted.

Anyone who can't see that, regardless of what one thinks about his ideas and vision, is so blind as to warrant our pity.

I heart Campbell Brown too!!

This is a recent development with me, especially having seen that commentary of hers where she asks, "Although if you're even semi-informed, you know by now that Barack Obama is not a Muslim, but so what if he was?"

For a mainstream gal, she's smart (not brilliant like Rachel Maddow, of course, but smart enough), refreshingly professional, dignified, and seems a genuinely decent person.

And of course, she's radiant.

Yet again.

Fluid, thoughtful, composed, presidential.

McCain, not so much.

Obama made very strong arguments from traditional liberalism while McCain simply recited conservative dogma that taxes and big government are bad without seeming to understand that now, more than ever, as the conservative ideology lies discredited, this dogma needs to be argued for, not merely spouted.

This is not 1985, John.

The era of conservative dogma is over, thank the lord above.

Long live Big Government, big enough to redress Big Problems.

I'll just echo everyone else; with so many serious issues to focus on re: Palin, the amplification of this slip of the tongue by devoting an entry to it is inexplicable.

Nothing to see here, people, move along...