Debate Reaction

Here are some thoughts on the debate:

• A spending freeze across the board. As Matt explained after the last debate, this won't help, but rather hurt. It would remove money from the economy and slow it down.
• Obama calling out Bush for telling people to go shopping after 9/11. Point made, I guess, it isn't that much of a sacrifice. But it really missed the point of what Bush was saying. He meant that the worst thing Americans could do after the attacks is stay at home and allow their daily routines to be interrupted. His point was "don't be afraid." And I think that's a fair request following the attacks.
• When asked about what sacrifices they would ask Americans to make, McCain repeated a bunch of talking points. Obama was able to elaborate and list how he would ask Americans to sacrifice.
  
• McCain gaffe. He says that the last President to raise taxes was Herbet Hoover in 1929. Well, aside from the semantics that the President doesn't actually raise taxes, his larger point is also not true. Bill Clinton raised taxes early in his first term, and the economy experienced one of the largest periods of growth in US history. (via thinkprogress)
• Early in the debate, McCain mentioned that the next generation was going to be saddled with trillions of dollars in debt. But he doesn’t want to raise taxes. How else are we going to pay down this debt if we don't raise taxes? Is there another option that I'm not aware of?
• McCain talking about Reagan and Tip O'Neill fell flat. Both men have passed away, and McCain is facing questions about whether he is too old or could pass away in office.
• It seemed as though McCain was confusing Hillary's healthcare plan with Obama's. Hillary's had mandates for everybody and fines. Obama only mandates for children. And I don't think that's a bad thing.
• Nice Obama pivot on whether he is unserious and dangerous in foreign policy.
  
• The Obama Doctrine: It seemed a little muddled at first, but then his answer cleared up. There is a moral obligation to prevent genocides, but we must do so with a strong coalition. Decent answer. The McCain Doctrine: Obama was wrong on the surge and won't admit it. Also, what Obama said.
  
• Israel/Iran: It seems to me (and I know this could be naive on my part) that it is presumptuous of us to think that the Israelis would need our help in the event of an attack. They haven't yet needed one, and they still have, by far, the most powerful military in the Middle East. Also, there is no real way for Iranian forces to reach Israel. This means that the only way for the Iranian military to attack would to be with bombs. The presumption here is that the bombs would be nukes. But, despite the unhinged rhetoric, Iran is not stupid. They do not currently have a nuclear arsenel. Israel most likely does. Should they obtain one, it still wouldn't match Israels. Or a probable US response. Please see MAD. Furthermore, I think an Israeli attack to prevent Iran from acquiring nukes is more likely than a surprise Iran nuclear attack. That being said, we should always be willing to support any ally that has been attacked.