More Telegraphic SWNIDisms for Trying Times

Today SWNID thinks that:

• McCain probably helped himself in last night's debate, as he came across as the more accomplished and experienced person for uncertain times. His response to the final question--What don't you know and how will you learn about it?--epitomized that, as by contrast Obama made a self-depreciating joke and then reverted to a stump speech. McCain didn't "attack" Obama, even when he had obvious chances to do so. We assume he's leaving that to advertising and Palin, while he strives to look experienced and POTUS-like.
  
• We actually think that the "town hall" questioners in last night's debate asked some thoughtful, penetrating questions. As a result, the body politic was spared the wholesale quantities of populist rhetoric that have infected the campaigns recently. So three cheers for Joe Lunchbucket (we can't bring ourselves to say "Sixpack").
  
• Tom Brokaw asked a superb question when he asked the candidates their "doctrine" (a fine, theological word) about intervention to prevent genocide. Asking whether health care was a privilege, a right or a responsibility was pretty good too, especially because he included the tertium quid, so wisely embraced by McCain in contrast to Obama. Brokaw laid a couple of eggs too, but only the most rabidly partisan could see him as a dishonest broker by the end of the evening.
  
• Palin probably helped the ticket last Thursday, as polls since then show McCain closing the gap yet again and she continues to gather large crowds. She is perhaps misunderestimated in the way of other popular conservatives (Reagan, Dubya), though, as the saying goes, time will tell. Meanwhile and against the tides of media opinion, even the likes of Camille Paglia confesses that she's impressed with the Governor of Alaska.
  
• We find ourself feeling old as we tell the younger folk of our acquaintance that we have lived through financial and economic events of similar or greater import to those of recent days. "I've worked for a bank for five years, and I've never seen anything like this," was a remark made to us. We tried not to laugh condescendingly but instead summoned 1987 and 1977-82, which in turn prompted us to give thanks that we can do that with a full set of teeth and head of hair that's mostly not gray.
  
• Boston Red Sox fans have been completely transformed from doughty supporters of a benighted but plucky franchise to spoiled, condescending triumphalists. Success has spoiled them. "Red Sox Nation" today is a foul odor in the SWNIDish nostrils, and we grew up idolizing Carl Yazstremski, for goodness sake. We now feel for the Boston franchise what we once felt only for that team in the Bronx.