by Effie Moore Salem

Created on: September 27, 2008

Opposing candidates find ways of overcoming restrictions when debating? They are savvy enough to use their words to get in their best ideas. I noticed this especially last night with presidential hopefuls McCain and Obama. At one point, Jim Lauer, the moderator, not satisfied after rewording his question several times, mentioned they had not answered his question. He tried again and as far as I could understand they still talked around the question and were not pinned down.

This debate was overshadowed by the current economy and the bailout plan in the talk and both were somewhat subdued and although a raised eyebrow or a shaking head or a surprised look was about all there was to confrontation, There were some interruptions but these were mild. I heard no loud pounding of gavels or anything like that. Both were excellent, well polished speakers and told of their intentions when they became the next president. Both would do well.

It is necessary to keep the talks on track and Lauer did a commendable job. The first question asked was how they would relate to the present economical crisis. This was what everyone wanted to hear and will, I am sure, change a few minds already made up. Obama being asked to speak first was at a small disadvantage. He opened up the debate by telling how he was different from McCain on the economy.

McCain, alerted by what Obama said was the more tolerant speaker. In this instance, age came before beauty. He does have past experiences that Obama have only read about; but Obama has youth and an energy that McCain can now only dream about. Either, in my opinion, are good choices. Possibly Obama is a little too venturesome and will make an excellent second term president. He will have learned from his robust mistakes that all new presidents make. Hopefully, should he be elected, his vice-president will be there to steer him in the right direction.

McCain, on the other hand, knows well the turf. He has been around and knows of the mistakes of his own party and that of the Democrats. Will these keep him from acting as quickly as he should when new issues come up that he has not encountered before? Probably not. He is known for his strength of purpose and will make the right decisions. How will he keep up? He is not as agile as his opponent is one thought that keeps popping up among his detractors. Only time will tell.

Regardless of how the moderator tried to keep the two on track they managed to get their points across. Were it not for the enforced

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