Well the first debate is in the books. And I'm using the term "debate" rather loosely here.
What the hell happened? This evening sorely needed...
1. A classic "Imma let you finish" interruption a la Kanye West.
2. Bibi's Wile E. Coyote-esque bomb chart with the all important red marker.
3. A moderator.
Election season brings forth probably the best reality television there is for me. The two conventions, followed by months of talking heads and politicos strategically downplaying their respective candidates upcoming performance at the all important pace-setting first debate.
That was the battle scar test. Which guy will suck more when the camera's red lights come on and the stage is set. Lower the expectations so when they are exceeded it can be seen as a major win.
Sure, I'd buy that if a debate actually happened. But it didn't. Right from the start each one was over talking past their allotted time, one was avoiding eye contact (not cool, Obama), and the other was well, throwing out his well-memorized zingers (not bad, Mitt) all the while the moderator looked like he decided to throw in the towel and go on strike.
But thankfully, Twitter kept it highly entertaining because if it weren't for Twitter I, along with Jim, would have nodded off 10 minutes in. Here are my favourites:
On Obama's late play of his Abraham Lincoln card:
David Mathieson @mathiematician
Abraham Lincoln was a socialist? How have history books missed this? #debates
Rudy Aguirre @Roddy2009
When things get tough u bring up a dead president #debates #presidentialdebates
On Big Bird:
Big Bird @FiredBigBird
Mitt Romney will end Burt and Ernie's right to a civil union
Big Bird @FiredBigBird
We made the @HuffingtonPost AWESOME!
No mention of women's issues:
Melissa Campbell @pluralisms
Obama wishing Michelle happy anniversary was real cute but I wish it wasn't the only time a woman was mentioned in this debate.
The moderating...or lack thereof:
Catherine Gunnells @cathmiriam
Jim? Jim Lehrer? Bueller? Buellerrrrr? #debates
Matt Kretman @mattkretman
Jim Lehrer is to this debate as replacement refs were to the NFL #debates
Scott ® Crawford @scottRcrawford
Next debate, let's get @rickygervais as moderator. #debates
Bring back Clint and the empty chair:
#WISEN Watch @WISENWatch
Clint Eastwood's empty chair doesn't seem so silly now, does it? #debates
Obama's lack of...well, being there:
Bill Maher @billmaher
i can't believe i'm saying this, but Obama looks like he DOES need a teleprompter
Bill Maher @billmaher
i must say, of all the Romneys i've seen, this Debate Romney is my favorite
So basically the evening wasn't a debate but an evening filled with a series of short speeches. Obama looked like he didn't want to be there. Romney looked like he really wanted the job. No mention of the 47 per cent. No mention of women's rights. No mention of immigration. No Baine Capital. No Cayman Islands. No nothing. But one thing is clear: The President is a pretty bad explainer.
But there was Big Bird and Obama's airplane. So all is not lost. Right?