Deconstructing the Debate

Well, it's over. No TKOs, but at least we return to regularly scheduled programming (to our younger viewers, I inform you that there was a time when, if the President or the President hopeful was talking on TV, NOTHING else was on and you might as well do your homework or read a book, if you weren't interested).

Honestly, I have little to say about tonight because I didn't learn anything new. At times, I wondered if I were hearing actual recordings (word for darn word) or the previous two debates. Yes, I include the VP debate because Sarah Palin actually used McCain's wording in her responses too. Then again, she was only chosen because of McCain's belief that feminists who wanted Hillary Clinton would accept any woman over any man -- a typical belief found in many ignorant circles in society which, to me, highlights just how out of touch McCain is in more area than his real estate. I see an underlying misogyny in the whole decision. I mean, c'mon, he had never met her before the announcement, and I can't see him as the criminal in Great Expectations quietly following her career from the backstage of beauty pageants to the point where she ran a whole town hall in a strip mall.

Frankly, both candidates pissed me off a little. Obama talked about funding education (which rocked) but then had to add the coda "specifically in the areas of math and science" and made a vague reference to these subjects being more difficult and mroe important (which is the part where he was kind of a wank). He acknowledged that the wage gap still exists (which is cool) but didn't seem to want to risk any votes by suggesting we do any more than acknowledge it.

McCain referred to Obama as "pro-abortion." OK, old man. Listen up. No one in this galaxy is "pro-abortion." There is not one person sitting in their living room on the 40th floor of Cabrini Green thinking, "My life is pretty good right now but what would REALLY rock is if I could get pregnant! Then I could have a super cool procedure!" NO ONE wants abortions to happen. What we ALSO don't want to happen is losing the ability to control when and if we bring children into the world. The term is pro-choice or, in Republican terminology (for any of my current students, this is me going all autoethnorgraph-al!) advocating for deregulation of the ovary industry. A free trade agreement between women and their reproductive organs. I, for one, am tickled pink that Bristol Palin chose to have her baby. Good on her. I like the fact that she's marrying her sweetheart -- I too was raised on sappy romantic comedies and chick lit and I love it when the ending is happy (and I don't have to see or read about the bad stuff because the story is over -- which this one will be after the election). But the point is that she had a choice.

There's more -- there's a lot more. The Other Crimefighter needs to use the computer, though, so this will have to be all at this moment. After 9 hours of straight teaching today, it should be enough. On to Bronte and my big bed.....