The moderator has continued to press on the budget. Sen. Obama has been the first one that has admitted that the budget will definitely be affected by the loss of funds from tax revenues. He has just made the excellent point that in order to make cuts one must first decide what the priorities are. Thus, he wants to talk about priorities rather than about specific programs. Know the priorities and you will know the tax cuts.
I think that the first tiff has just finally happened between Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain. And, McCain has finally listed the things with which he disagrees with President Bush as a way to defend himself against what were becoming successful attacks by Sen. Obama. And, he listed some military things, which has just led the moderator to ask about the war in Iraq. And, this is clearly Sen. McCain’s strength. He is answering much more surely and decisively than he has during the first half hour.
Surprisingly enough, Sen. Obama has just hit with the comeback that, “we took our eye off the ball” in Afghanistan by going into Iraq and we have thereby paid a very heavy price. Sen. McCain has counter-punched by saying that regardless of what should have happened, the next President will have to deal with the situation as it is not the situation as one wishes it would have been. To my surprise, Sen. Obama has counter-punched himself by pointing out that the surge was the response to a failed strategy that had nearly lost Iraq over a period of four years.
Right now, the debate reminds me of two boxers going toe to toe and punching each other hard without caring about the punches that they take. I am surprised to look at my watch to realize that 20 more minutes have passed. These 20 minutes have passed significantly faster than the first ½ hour.
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