There were several instances during the second presidential debate that I burst out in laughter and gazed at the television in astonishment. Not only did the president break the rules of the format by interrupting and running over the moderator, but you could even say he broke the rules of making sense.

"Rumors on the Internets"

As a part of his response to a question about a possible draft, the president may have inadvertently started rumors that there is more than one Internet. Or maybe he's referring to the Internet2 project? Yeah, that's it...right?

"Battling green eye shades"

Apparently this is a term that refers to accountants (or more accurately, the glasses they've been known to wear). But I suspect that unless you regularly associate with accountants--which I'm sure most people don't--this just comes from out of nowhere.

"A hydrogen automobile--hydrogen-generated automobile"

While I get that the president was referring to a hydrogen-powered automobile, it just furthers the notion that he has trouble being coherent when under pressure. Or it could be that he let the cat out of the bag that the government has found a way to construct a vehicle--with solid, moving parts--entirely from a gas. Like riding on a puff of wind!

"A catastrophic plan"

Okay, this is an odd one. The president used the correct term in talking about health care policies, but the funny thing is that it just sounds wrong. And to those who don't have health insurance (which could be a whole lot of folks) this sounds like yet another mental slip-up.

"The Dred Scott case"

Is this the best our president could do to illustrate his knowledge of our judges and judicial system? It's clearly a desperate attempt to pander to the St. Louis audience. That and the idea that slavery might somehow still be a relevant issue. Simple evasion maneuver.

CPD - 2004 Debate Transcript

Understanding Catastrophic Health Insurance

Dred Scott | Washington University in St. Louis