Anna Steely gave a great overview of our experience Friday and Saturday working for MSNBC on the set of Hardball. I'm sure my fellow interns got annoyed with me saying "oh my god, y'all!" every ten minutes, but that's okay. While Anna was in the Ford Center watching the debate live, I watched it in the MSNBC workspace in a Union conference room with Chris Matthews, Andrea Mitchell, the Hardball producers, the Senior Technical Director and his assistant, and several other interns. Chris Matthews' commentary was especially entertaining (on McCain at the beginning, "boring boring boring boring!" and on Obama, "say something Barack!"). Like Dr. Husni said tonight, I too was disappointed with the debate. I thought both Obama and McCain did little more than squabble and I didn't hear anything really substantial, when I know both candidates have strong policies (albeit different). I thought Obama could have scored major points if he'd talked about the economy at the opening-25 minutes was spent on the bailout, but yet he seemed to beat around the bush. I think this was because it was a foreign policy debate so he thought he had to stick to FP issues, but Americans wanted to hear about plans for the economy. But he didn't, and I really wish he had. McCain offered nothing interesting to me either, especially when he repeatedly attacked Barack's record. I thought he could have made a much more positive argument by saying things he's done and will do, not things Barack hasn't done. And what was with Obama's "John's right" over and over? He was trying to be courteous, even nice, it seemed, but it didn't work because McCain wasn't on the same page...at times, not even on the same screen because he would turn his back to Obama. I don't think that's such a huge deal, just disrespectful and annoying. I didn't think either one, but if I had to pick, I'd go with McCain just because I know Obama is a way better orator than what he showed Friday night.

The September 4th issue of the Daily Mississippian ran an article about the activities around the city of Oxford in celebration of the upcoming debate. While reading the article it hit me! The city of Oxford is planning activities?? Wait, there is a city of Oxford? (Just kidding…) What I mean is, students at the University of Mississippi, myself included, sometimes forgets that there is a city that surrounds us. We get so engrossed in our daily lives on campus that we forget there is a governing body besides the ASB. That there are families, businesses, and schools outside of our own campus. The city is planning a family-oriented event on September 25th and will also provide two large screens that will broadcast the debate. But what else is going on?
What surprised me the most was that the city and county schools are implementing debate related activities into this year’s curriculum. Kindergarten students will be parading around school dressed as past presidents and first ladies and art students will be breaking down various political cartoons. Students at Lafayette Elementary will be filling out mock voter registration cards and participating in a mock election. Fourth grade students will decorate each classroom in the likeness of the rooms in the White House. Various senators and representatives, such as Roger Wicker and Ronnie Musgrove, will be speaking to middle and high school students the week before the debate and students at Oxford Middle will even study how political advertisements have changed since the 1950s. Even though I was already excited about the upcoming election, learning about all the opportunities the Lafayette County students are getting concerning the debate excites me even more. I hope that the University of Mississippi students open their eyes outside of our campus and really reach out to the Oxford community. Now if I could only figure out a way to get involved in Oxford Elementary’s presidential parade. I already have my Michelle Obama outfit picked out…