McCain Steps Up.

I was expecting another snooze-fest at this evening’s final debate. I anticipated a bunch of talking points, wrapped in some dialog suitable as a cure for insomnia. Listening to their minions on the news shows, I figured we’d get more of the same, especially from McCain. I believed he would do exactly what he’d done before – keep to his one-man-revival of a Midwestern version of The Importance of Being Earnest.

I was wrong. Boy, was I wrong.

McCain stepped up tonight. He was more pit bull than somnambulist. He took the fight directly to Obama, asked for no quarter, and granted none in return. He opened strong, relentlessly focusing on the “Joe Plumber” incident at Obama’s press the flesh event. He took Barack to task over Ayers, and did not allow him to weasel out of his associations with a domestic terrorist. He ablely defended his campaign, and stood up to Obama and didn’t take anything sitting down.

I don’t know what he did with the “old” McCain – the guy who doggedly stuck to a script, floundered in the face of tough questions, and allowed his opponent to get away with whoppers. I don’t know where THAT guy went, but GOOD RIDDANCE.

The New! Improved! McCain showed a fire in his belly, and a skill in directing the tempo of the debate to his advantage, leaving Obama begging for more time to reply to McCain’s charges. McCain was spot-on with his reposte to Obama’s outrageous statements. He was, in short, good. REALLY good. He actually looked like a leader. He pointed out every time Obama’s honey-tongue oratory attempted to say one thing and mean quite another.

My favorite moment – when McCain turned to Obama and said “I’m not President Bush, and if you wanted to run against President Bush, you should have run four years ago.” Pwned.

My favorite trend – McCain’s almost uncanny way of getting in the last word, and controlling the tempo of the debate.

My favorite result – McCain looked REALLY strong. He countered and parried like Errol Flynn. I was impressed.

Where in the Hell as THIS guy been hiding?

I only hope he’s here for good, and that he’s here in time to turn this thing around.