The Debate

I have never seen a debate where there is absolutely no risk. The presidential debates last night was heated, but with all the new debate rules, the candidates looked more like scripted puppets than real people. Some of the answers sounded prefabricated, engineered with words that were carefully chosen by spin doctors. Perhaps the stakes are too high for a full-fledged all-out debate which could humiliate either side, but then again, this when the stakes are this high shouldn't there be a forum where we can really see the kind of creative and intelligent spontaneity that we require of our top leaders? I demand a president who isn't afraid to stand up and speak boldly, careful not to jump into repetitive cliches. Of the two, John Kerry, I think, proved himself the most during the debate as a decisive leader who can not only articulate his ideas cleanly, but also look into the camera and speak simply to Americans without resorting to slang and rhetoric.