[...] My prediction for the debate was wrong, and I’m still surprised. I honestly thought the topic would’ve shifted more substantially to economics than it did. When Lehrer moved onto foreign policy after only a couple questions, I was stunned. And from that point on, they stuck to foreign policy. Had I known they were going to stick to the set topic, I admittedly would’ve expected McCain to perform better than he did, considering foreign policy is typically a Republican stronghold. I would’ve expected Obama to do about like he did, stuttering and mumbling through it all. (I have never understood the credit he gets for being a great orator. He is a great actor, delivering prepared lines with the best of them. But he has not yet shown that he possesses the ability to assimilate the facts on hand and deliver an effective and impressive response with authority, traits that are seen in great orators. Instead, he typically stammers with a string of uhs while formulating a somewhat lackluster reply. Not that McCain’s any different, but I don’t think I’ve heard anyone accusing him of being a great speaker.) [...]