Cynics Unlimited

Why choose between watching the American Vice Presidential debates and the Canadian party debates when you can try to watch both at the same time? Luckily they were both so low-octane (strangely the Canadian one was the more exciting of the two) that watching both was possible. Some initial thoughts:

Canadian Debate: Stephen Harper vs. Stephane Dion vs. Jack Layton vs. Elizabeth May vs. Gilles Duceppe

In terms of noteworthy points and straightforward delivery, Duceppe won this debate … for the second English election in a row. He’s truly playing for the wrong team.

Dion has shown his real problem … he’s too nice. He waited his turn, asked not to be interrupted and verged on breaking down when attacked (most of his time was spent on the defensive). Harper truly had his way with Dion and was clearly trying to keep that soft, grandfatherly voice to match the woolly sweaters he’s taken a liking to as late. Elizabeth May was arguing like a lawyer, speaking over people and going for the quick knockout punch. Layton was a shark, going relentlessly after Harper and providing a few sideswipes towards Dion.

Best Swipe: Stephen Harper, when accosted about possible support of private care, points out he was the only candidate who has never used a private health care facility. The opposition simultaneously scrambled.

Second Best Swipe: Gilles Duceppe, who showed a photographic memory throughout the debate, responded coolly to Layton’s Afghanistan war rant that Canada would be out of the nation in four months if the NDP had bothered to vote against the extension when the Bloc and Liberals did so.

Harper’s Weakest Moment: Speaking about the arts. This is understandable given his party is deep in controversy concerning his cuts to certain arts programs. Where Duceppe acted like a starving artist in his emotional response (his family owns a theatre) and Dion outlined the makings of a plan, Harper meandered on about how some members of his families paint and how he plays the piano. Ultimately, he was trailing off.

Strategic Winner of the Debate: Elizabeth May. She went for the jugular and brought up a lot of points that no one else raised, like how The CPC’s environmental policies are based on intensity targets. May had the most to gain and did so admirably. May correctly stated to the post-debate press conference that she established the Green Party as more than a single-issue party.

Most Ignored Topic: Education. Sure, it’s a provincial issue, but Layton was the only candidate to make even passing mention of the debt burden related to post-secondary education. His comment was limited to medical students as part of his pledge to keep the health care system public.

American Debate: Joe Biden vs. Sarah Palin

Download: BitTorrent Link (to download you will need a client, like uTorrent)

Draw.

Both exceeded expectations and made no SERIOUS gaffes. Even on FOX the commentators are declaring it likely won’t affect the output of the debate. Palin killed Biden on Iraq but tripped up on local economic issues and often sounded like she was reading from a script. Biden surprisingly didn’t commit hara kiri, suggesting he was also reading from a script. The debate was milquetoast.

Best Aspect of this Debate: Both candidates scored victories in the others’ “home turf”.  Sarah Palin had Biden on the defensive about his foreign policy differences with Obama and when he call Obama unfit to be Commander in Chief.  Similarly, when Palin played the mother card, Biden shot back that being a father does not necessarily mean you do not know what it’s like to be a single parent (choking back tears, he was obviously making reference to the car crash that killed his wife).  Palin proved she could be a shark and Biden proved he could be a human.

Come-Back-to-Haunt-Me Statement: Sarah Palin suggesting she might try to take more power than Dick Cheney: “I’m thankful the Constitution would allow a bit more authority given to the vice president if that vice president so chose to exert it in working with the Senate and making sure that we are supportive of the president’s policies and making sure too that our president understands what our strengths are.”

Strategic Winner: Neither.  Palin proved she wasn’t a dunce (which wasn’t clear after last week’s disastrous interview with Katie Couric) but hopes were low for Biden and he didn’t fail either.  Still by not losing, Sarah Palin has saved the Republicans from certain defeat in the upcoming election.

Will update this thread as more thoughts occur. Please add your own!