DEBATABLE: PRESIDENTIAL FIGHT I - 2008

The first presidential debate for 2008 occurred this past Thursday. If it were a boxing match, I'd say there were no big blows, no knockdowns, no knockouts. It was won on a judges' decision. Fight one went to Obama on points.

Behind in the polls and bruised by the country's staggering economy, McCain needed a big victory. He didn't get it.

The debate featured a classic clash of styles. McCain is the slugger, the guy who throws hard all the time and likes to fight inside. Obama is what they call a "scientific boxer," a guy who jabs and moves.

The boxer took the early rounds. Obama was much stronger in his take on the economy and the current Wall Street woes. He focused on the plight of the average American, which is more important, and much stronger in its appeal to the electorate. McCain relied on the old "free market/deregulation" arguments. Those arguments fell flat.

McCain had better success in the middle and late rounds when he could go on the offensive about foreign policy (the topic of the debate). However, he was overly aggressive with his "Obama doesn't understand" comments, and it cost him. The boxer Obama was able to dance and parry his blows. While McCain landed a few good ones, they weren't enough to win him the rounds he needed.

All Obama needed to do in this debate was stay on his feet. Anything other than a knockout and he was likely to win. He did that. He showed that he could "look" presidential and that he could hold his own. The judges in the electorate favored that.

So the first "fight" goes to Obama. Two more to go.

And let's not forget Palin vs. Biden. That one should be fun.

GLAMOUR AND GRAVITAS: DEMOCRATIC DEBATE, LOS ANGELES, '08

I drove in from Syren Sea to Hollywood, to the Kodak Theatre, where the Democratic Presidential debate was being held. I did not have a ticket, but I wanted to be part of the experience of what has become the most exciting example of democracy in action that I have seen in my lifetime. The Democratic party offers two candidates who break the old patterns of leadership and offer America something new.

Young and old were in the streets by the thousands supporting their candidates, protesting the war, dancing to music being played. Celebrities whisked by: Stevie Wonder, Quentin Tarantino. The neon lights glimmered and the spotlights shone. Everyone was as excited by the debate as they would have been for a rock concert or a prizefight.

And indeed one had the sense of anticipation of a heavyweight fight, with two strong champions and grand venue and a star-studded crowd. The radio announcers even treat the opening as such, describing the two candidates dress as they step onto the stage, almost as if they are ready to take their corners before entering the ring.

The candidates conducted themselves with the highest level of statesmanship and governmental understanding. They were strong and they were cordial. They played to their strengths: Hillary the close-in slugger, working hard shots of knowledge and experience, Obama the boxer, bobbing and weaving his vision and inspiration. They never landed a knockout blow on the other-- really it was the Republicans who got decked in this one. What people saw was that the democrats had two champion professional fighters ready to duke it out with Republican lightweights still celebrating their Golden Gloves victories.

But beyond the mastery displayed by Hillary and Barack in the glittering Hollywood square circle of the Kodak Theatre, it was the Sweet Science called "Democracy" that was most impressive in its display outside the theater. Average Americans of all ages and races, both women and men, exercised their blessed birthright as citizens of this great republic and showed what has always made us a shining example of freedom and equality to the world. (Even in this era, when some have sought to tarnish the luster of that shine with creeping crypto-fascism.) These citizens showed not just enthusiasm, not just excitement, but flat-out joy in their participation in the democratic dialogue. Really it was a coming home party for the great American ideals of grassroots involvement and expression of political ideals and beliefs. People seemed to be saying, "We still have the power. We still determine the direction of this land. `We the People,' not the corporate despots or the media manipulators, but average Janes and Joes who make their voices heard and their votes count."

For all the glamour and spectacle inside, for all the celebrity both on the stage and in the audience, the real stars of this debate were the anonymous citizens who raised their voices all along the streets of Hollywood.