Just Say No...

While campaigning over the weekend, Senator Obama attempted to rationalize his refusal to debate Senator Clinton. He stated that with such little time in both North Carolina and Indiana he would rather spend that time meeting voters rather than suiting up for a debate.

In actuality, Senator Obama (and his campaign strategists) have probably become aware of the fact that his polling numbers tend to go down after each one-on-one debate with Senator Clinton. Why would he willingly risk losing a few more approval rating points with his lackluster Lincoln-Douglas debating skills? The truth of the matter is Senator Obama is a decent orator. He can speak well and "move" people when he does...but this usually requires hours of preparation, canned responses, and a script that he must diligently stick to. When he is required to think for himself and come up with his own answers, he stumbles and usually says something along the lines of "I don't want my daughter(s) punished with a baby or an STD..." or something equally as moving or intelligent--- Damn near anyone can be as moving or insightful as Obama as long as you have the right people writing for you. Sadly, Obama, former editor of the Harvard Law Review hasn't quite mastered the art of improv, thinking on his feet, or formulating a coherent thought, which naturally are all qualities we look forward to having in a President.

Even in 2004, it was clear that Bush had a good advantage and preformed well against Kerry...and let's not forget the bloodbath that was the Cheney / Edwards debate. Liberals are constantly making fun of our Commander in Chief for his speaking style, but they should look to what they've managed to produce in this election. ATTN Liberals: Don't judge us.

Obama's problem is that he has yet to master Clinton's debating art of 1) Blaming absolutely everything on the Bush Administration or 2) when in doubt TAKE A SHOT and chase it with a beer...if only I had mastered Clinton's techniques when I was an LD debater in high school, I probably would have made it to Nationals twice, rather than just once, in my two year debating career.

Shucks.