Duh 'Bates

A few thoughts on the latest in the never-ending series of presidential debates, this time featuring the (mostly nominal) Republicans:

• It’s been said before, but these aren’t debates. They’re question-and-answer sessions.
  
• Two hours is way too long for a Q&A session.
  
• Two hours is way too long for anyone to be forced to watch Chris Matthews try to act like a professional reporter.
  
• Is Mitt short for Mittens, and if it is why the hell would anyone do that to their kid?
  
• Fred Thompson finally showed up, kind of like how we showed up late for both world wars. We also kicked ass, and maybe he will, too.
  
• Note to the McCain campaign staff: put fresh batteries in the man’s hearing aid before he appears in public or, if your budget won’t permit such an extravagance, pick up one of those antique ear-horns. That would at least be funny.

Aside from Ron Paul’s mild raving about Iraq, the most entertaining thing they had going was the Mitt ‘n’ Rudy Tax-cutting Spectacle, apparently moderated by Fred Thompson who was stuck standing between them. It went a little something like this:

Giuliomney: "I was cutting taxes while he wasn’t."
Romniani: "I did too cut taxes."
Giuliomney: "Did not."
Romniani: "Did too!"
Giuliomney: "Didn’t!"
Romniani: "Did!"
Giuliomney: "Mine were bigger.
Romniani: "Oh yeah? Well . . . mine were louder!"

If by chance you're wondering which one is which, it doesn't really matter: on this issue they're both pretty much interchangable.

That is all.

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