The Debates

When I was a little girl I listened to passionate political discussions between family members. One of the most memorable debates was at my Aunt’s house when my cousin returned home from his first semester in college. My cousin expressed views that were common to young people at the time---disillusionment with the war in Vietnam and a vision of racial equality.

The most disappointing outcome of the first presidential debate was the lack of debate. There was no interaction between Obama and Romney. No shared fire. No polite antagonism. Social issues like abortion were never mentioned. Both candidates spoke as if in isolation.

And no matter which side of the political fence you reside, I suspect we all can agree that the vice presidential debate was very different from the presidential debate of the week prior. The moderator provoked more opposing thoughts. There was more verbal exchange. It allowed the vice-presidential candidates’ true colors to reveal themselves.

So what I want to see from Obama and Romney tonight is this: mannered finger pointing and clever retort. I want passion. I want clearly stated plans and a fact-based contrast between two opposing points of view.

I want the presidential debates to look and sound like the post dinner political discussions I grew up with: content laced with zeal. I want the candidates to look each other in the eye and say with authority That’s not true.

Maybe they need a cup of espresso with a splash of anisette first to inspire them--- the Italian version of Four Loco. Both candidates would then be simultaneously energized and uninhibited—like my uncles and cousins were. Because I could stand an elevated high-performance exchange between the two candidates—our collective national heart rate needs the work out.