When Will They

According to Exodus, when the Red Sea parted, half of the people made it safely to shore, the other half drowned.

Certainly not the same scenario, but it did come to mind Wednesday evening, or should I say, Thursday morning.

Obviously, I was part of the population who drowned in the vernacular and were caught in the cascading publicity that promised an invigorating intellectual discussion on whom we should elect to lead our beloved country.

I am neither an early riser nor a late night TV watcher. Normally I watch the 11 o’clock news and find comfort in my dreams before the clock strikes Midnight. However, this week was different.

For weeks I had looked forward with anticipation to the second debate. My daily schedule was adjusted earlier in the week in order to be prepared to have an uninterrupted three hours in front of the TV beginning at 8 p.m. I had also asked all the wonderful people in my life to either Facetime or phone me before 7:30. Presumptuous on my part, but I did it anyway.

And then when it ended, truly I felt insulted. I have a relatively thick skin, but this assault on the intelligence of the American citizen and voter was an indignity.

Memories are such incredible things. I was catapulted back into a schoolyard in Hells Kitchen where the bullies taunted the sissies to fight. That was until one of the Nuns saw what was happening and intervened. There were no Nuns Wednesday night, just CNN Moderators who did everything possible to instigate a schoolyard brawl. And that they did successfully.

Supposedly, the best of the best, the candidates we are considering to lead our nation in this time of peril were all caught in the organized agenda that had been openly predicted earlier in the week.

Sadly, all of the debaters responded exactly as hoped. In order to have the full quota of air time, they interrupted, outshouted each other, insulted each other, glared at one another and childishly related the verbal slights they had endured. It was a communication shambles, not only for the viewer, but also the Network, the Candidates, and of course, the Republican Party. No one was a winner no matter what the Polls or the political peers predict.

I was shocked and felt betrayed.

One Senator announced with pride, he no longer spends much time at the job he was elected for, representing his constituency in Congress, because he wants to be President.

The one Candidate of the opposite sex, interrupted without any consideration of others who hoped to speak, glared at any and all, but was fiercely determined to have her well-orchestrated and rehearsed views be heard loud and clear. Unfortunately, the word shrew came to mind.

One apologized to his Mother for smoking Pot 40 odd years ago. Does he really believe she cares now?

Several others spoke with bravado about sending troops (aka our sons) to a Mideast country, thus proving their allegiance to Israel. Perhaps something should have been done within the last few months to prevent the Iran agreement that only 21% of the American people approve.

In retrospect, it was a sad evening. One I had hoped to find hopeful, filling me with anticipation of the abilities of a well versed, intelligent group of citizens willing to take on the formidable job of President of the United States.

As I finally turned the TV set off, after 3 hours of verbal dissension and 1 hour of opinionated predictions, I finally headed to sleep and knew this night there would be no comfort in my dreams.