John McCain

I've just finished watching part of the US. presidential debates. The topic was foreign policy and the quality of the exchanges was absolutely abysmal.

Both candidates gave us an earful of nonsense. Barack Omaba promised to leave Irak to shift the focus on Afghanistan. John McCain pledged to stay in both countries, to cut contacts with Iran, Syria, North Korea, Venezuela, and Russia, and to form a "league of democracies" to better advance the interests of the western world (i.e. the USA).

It was all about how to be better policemen. Who can we talk to, who should we impose sanctions against, who do we invade? John McCain was busy spreading fear and he did an excellent job. His message was the same as George Bush's: if you're not scared, you're naive.

Obama did fine, but he certainly didn't shine. He spoke in very short sentences and got bogged down too easily by McCain's jabs. The eloquence of his speeches was missing from this debate.

I actually believe that Stéphane Dion should make John McCain his model for public speaking. Neither of the two men look credible when they try to make fiery political speeches like Barack Obama or Pierre Trudeau. But McCain has found a way to communicate his message very effectively by speaking slowly and in a very soft tone of voice. It makes him look sincere, wise and in command of the issues.

The same would be true of Dion. If only he spoke like McCain, he'd make less English mistakes and regain the advantages he used to own on sincerity and competence.