The first debate

A few thoughts on last nights debate:

1. The way John McCain talks is sort of irritating.
2. Obama really does talk like The Rock
3. Overall John McCain seemed to carry himself best but I don't feel he said anything truly impressive.
4. Obama wasn't bad in comparison but during points where they attempted to talk over one another, McCain undoubtedly over-powered him and much of the time he conceded, stumbled or backed off completely.
5. The way Obama would stutter and/or say the wrong words at times really made him seem either extremely nervous or unable to really captivate without the help of speech writers. McCain didn't do it as much but that can likely be credited to his rather lengthy experience as a politician and prior experience running for President.
6. McCain simply could not go without reiterating for the umpteenth time that he was a POW. Quite frankly I'm sick of hearing it and the fact he attempts to use it for political leverage so often really is an insult to those who experienced the same thing and didn't make it. He commented about coming home and seeing the treatment of Veterans and their overall plight but I find it a little bit ironic that he's a staunch supporter of the current administration's policies when they were, in part, responsible for the Walter Reed facility. As a Veteran himself, you'd think that alone would be enough to renounce them. Yet he still kisses the ring of George W. Bush, on one knee, every time he sees him.
7. As much as I am a person about respect, the gimmickry in the end with the handshakes and hugs was a bit repulsive to me. Attack ads and propaganda are bullshit, but when a debate about real issues and who is better is happening, I wanna see someone willing to spit in the other guys face over the fact they disagree. I'm a bit sick of politicians saving all the nastiness for Ads in which they don't even actually play a role.
8. In the end neither candidate did much to earn a vote of someone who hasn't actually already decided in some way. While admittedly I was leaning more toward Obama, I find myself back to square one in the center once again.