My running thoughts on the debate:

• John McCain wants to argue about 18 billion in pork barrel spending, when Obama is asking him about 300 billion dollars in tax cuts for the top 5%. Typical.
• John McCain continues to bask in the “glory” of his ridiculous nicknames, further reminding Americans how long he has been kicking around a political system most people have expressed disapproval with.
• Obama argues that healthcare, education, and alternative fuel must go through, despite the recession. McCain wants to cut military spending, which seems to, at least on paper, makes a little more sense.
• McCain then talks about a spending freeze, but specifically excludes “national defense.” Didn’t he just talk about cutting that heavily if he were president?
• “I have opposed the president… It is well known I have not been Ms. Congeniality… I am a maverick of the senate.” McCain’s voting record: voted with Bush 95% of the time.
• Obama claims Al Queda is stronger than it ever has been since 2001. I’m skeptical.
• “Senator McCain, you were wrong” I wish ABC would start playing “You Were Right” by Built to Spill in the background right now.  You were wrong… when you said… everything’s gonna be alright.
• Obama: “So that we can capture and kill Bin Laden.” That’s an interesting word choice…
• Obama takes pot shots at McCain for threatening to “bomb North Korea into extinction” and “[singing] songs about” attacking Iran. Hilarious, but probably not productive.
• “Forming a league of democracies…” Seriously McCain, you mean the UN? I just don’t understand how this is any different, except you somehow believe you would be able to control this new “league” more. This is just another extension of the belief that America always has the best way of dealing with the rest of the world.
• Obama talks of including China and Russia in these talks with Iran. This makes much more sense. These are two major trade partners with the country.
• Let me get this straight, if you talk to someone you legitimize their behavior? That’s ridiculous! “I reserve the right, as president of the United States, to meet with whoever, whenever I want to in order to protect American security.” This sounds much more reasonable. Obama took it home to McCain pointing out how ridiculous this idea of ignoring world leaders is.
• McCain returns to this “legitimizing” argument. Yet he fails to explain what he’s actually talking about… Then he talks about the average height of Koreans. Seriously, I’m lost.
• John McCain talks about looking into someone’s eyes and seeing “K-G-B” then says immediately after that he doesn’t want to go back to the Cold War. From my perspective, that is not very consistent.
• (I finally switched over to FOX to avoid the stupid Amber Alert message running across the ABC screen. I just need to make sure I switch back before the commentary starts)
• The last question just plain sucks. What is the probability of another 9/11. Seriously? Did Giuliani write in?
• Obama busts out the trump card: the way we our nation is perceived. We cannot do anything on the global scale without the respect of other free nations. Isolation and unilateral thinking are no longer possibilities in this increasingly global world. We must restore ourselves as a country willing to discuss and analyze the opinions of other nations. This is more important than ever.
• Decision: Obama. With the exception of maybe two talking points, Obama remained confident, and stuck to the message he has been riding through the election season. He reminded America that McCain is another four years of what president Bush has started: a failing economy and terrible foreign policy.