Debate not Oscar-worthy

Katy Grimes: Being far less cynical than some of my colleagues, I found the debate entertaining. The performances may not have been Oscar-worthy, but they were still performances – scripted, practiced, with some lines delivered flawlessly, and some, not quite as easily delivered.

The best gaffe of the debate this evening was so delicious, and so Freudian, I shrieked a “thank you” to Jerry Brown when he said, “I’ve got police chiefs in my back pocket.” He said he meant to say, “I’ve got police chiefs in my corner.”

Oops.

While Whitman did a much better job this evening getting her message out, she had her very scripted moments in spite of the relevance to the question. Brown appeared to be on the defense most of the debate, rambled incessantly, and looked like he was having an irritable bowel attack a couple of times.

At least the format allowed more back and forth between the candidates, but I was left wondering why it is that only a billionaire and an entrenched 40-year union-owned politician are our only choices in a supposed citizen representation election. Where are the real people who are faced with the seriousness of a broken economy?

The real people are at home thanking God that they were not on the stage being grilled for using a stupid slur, or for hiring an illegal alien with fake papers.

Maybe I am as cynical as my colleagues – just more reluctant to realize it.

OCT. 12, 2010