9:00 PM - The pundits keep saying that the debate is Obama’s to lose. They are wondering if McCain will lose his temper. Jim Lehrer from the NewsHour on PBS is the moderator and began his introduction at 9:01.

9:03 PM - The candidates are introduced and step on stage…applauce is polite but not robust, the candidates shake hands, each wearing a slightly different shade of blue suit. Lehrer’s first question is where do the candidates stand on the financial situation.

9:06 PM - Obama gave his bullet points, throwing all of the blame for the crisis at President Bush’s feet. McCain sounds more conciliatory in touch with the felt pain in the audience. Obama in the response came forth with that “shreded regulations” accusation. McCain brings up a history lesson from World War II about accountability.

9:13 PM - McCain talks about his fundamental belief in the strength of the American worker, which is what he meant a couple of weeks ago when he said that the fundamentals of the American economy were strong.

9:24 PM - The candidates are going back and forth on earmarks. McCain calls them a “gateway drug.” Obama talks about cutting taxes for 95% of Americans and poo-poos the $18 billion in earmarks. McCain makes a strong case for lowering the high business taxes, and wants to double the dependent tax credit to $7000.

9:32 PM - They are talking about what priority changes for their administrations because of the bailout costs. Obama wants more money for alternative energy, education, infrastructure (roads, bridges, and rural broadband?!). McCain talks about Obama’s liberal voting record, which made Obama chuckle. McCain wants to go after subsidies and overspending in the defense budget.

9:33 PM - First mention of Iraq, by Senator Obama, complaining about $10 billion a month being spent, while Iraq sits on an oil surplus.

9:36 PM - A half-hour into the debate, there is no clear winning candidate. Obama sounds like he’s yelling, while McCain is soft and intense.

9:44 PM - Lessons from Iraq, McCain reminds us that he was first to push for more troops to win the war, not defeat. Obama reminds that he opposed the war six years ago. Makes a statement about the war costing $600 billion, “soon to be a trillion.” A trillion? Only if the war blows up in our face. McCain points out that Obama was invested in defeat, and never met with the General until recently.

9:50 PM - With the discussion over the Iraq war, Obama is starting to lose composure and over speak, which is what the pundits warned against. It’s not McCain losing his cool, but Obama.

9:53 PM - I must say, even with the distractions of the week in Washington, both these candidates have a strong grasp of the issues surrounding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

9:56 PM - I don’t know if Obama’s regionally accurate pronunciation of Pakistan is going to fly with the “bitter clingers” in the middle of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan. It feeds into that Obama is a Muslim myth.

10:05 PM - An hour into this debate, and I got to think that there is a slight advantage to McCain. McCain talks strongly from his experience, with a comprehensive understanding of the issues. This foreign policy talk is right in his wheel house. All Obama can do is complain and disagree, without any positive sounding foreign policy agenda points.

10:11 PM - This talks about whether or not we will talk to rogue countries is kind of boring.

10:22 PM - Talking about Russia and the recent agression against Georgia. Both candidates scoring points. Obama is wary of the nukes, McCain properly explains that the use of power was about the oil pipeline running through Georgia.

10:25 PM - Obama is off the reservation when it comes to his enviromentalist supporters. He just articulated support for off-shore drilling, and nuclear…the greens can’t be happy.

10:26 PM - Last question: the likelyhood of another 9/11 attack on the US.

10:29 PM - McCain reminding that he reached across the aisle to enact the recommendations of the 9/11 commission. Doing a great job now, still a long way to go. Obama concerned about nuclear proliferation, and Al-quida, wants to restore America’s standing in the world.

10:32 PM - McCain reiterates that Obama was wrong on Iraq. Obama points out that the focus on Iraq has kept us from working on problems in other parts of the world.

10:37 PM - Lehrer calls the end to the debate. The candidates said “good job” to each other and to Jim Lehrer, and then went to their wives.

10:43 PM - Anchors are harping on the fact that Obama kept saying “I agree with Senator McCain, I agree with Senator McCain.”

10:49 PM - Networks go to commercials, and I’m signing off. All in all, a great spirited debate. I’ll give the nod narrowly to McCain, although I’m not sure he pulled a ton of people in his camp.  Obama meanwhile didn’t implode. Thanks for reading, good night!

Take a bunch of US senators, congressmen, and governors and send them with “the golden ticket” to Iowa and New Hampshire. There they work on their performances with the finest political coaches in the country, honing their skills, and adding style. Then they meet the judges at the Des Moines Register, and WMUR/Manchester, where they will be evaluated on their delivery and presentation, accepting criticism about being “pitchy” or thankful that they looked beautiful at the debates.

Finally, the caucus goers and voters get to decide who goes on and those for whom “it’s the end of the journey.” The judges at MSNBC and Fox News bicker and disagree and throw cheap shots at each other. This goes on for months and months until the Kodak Theatre finale on November 4th.

Meanwhile the viewers, er, voters, get sucked up into the excitement…will my favorite stay on message (read pick the right song)? Who won the week? How big are the crowds? That guy is getting too “handled” by his stage dad/communications director. I’m getting tired of hearing that guy, maybe I’ll take a look at the other.

It isn’t surprising that this very visual and entertainment-centric society would have a less than serious approach to picking their commander-in-chief. What I am fascinated by is the juxtaposition of a real lack of defined position statements on the very serious challenges that face our country, or at least coverage of them, versus the huge television audiences for the acceptance speeches and Rolling Stones tour-sized crowds at political rallies.

We’ve been on a symbolism over substance slippery slope since the Kennedy-Nixon debates. Right now, just under two months from the final vote, it looks like the very attractive Obama, who was cleaning the clock of the frumpy maverick McCain, is getting trumped by the new audience favorite known now singularly as Sarah.

Something tells me that Abraham Lincoln wouldn’t have a snowball’s chance in this political idol environment. Wasn’t it a girl from Westfield, NY who convinced him to grow a beard to better hide his lack of Brad Pitt-looks?

In what started as an outlet for him to blow some steam off over what he deemed were television stations reluctant to embrace the new HDTV technology, Jack created a community of old timers and newbies, producers and consumers, all who love, or love to hate, Erie media. EMGR was the epitome of the best of Web 2.0.

It was a highlight of my day hearing from old friends, getting scoops, and weighing on the current topics. I would sometimes turn to EMGR a dozen times a day, reading and laughing and being incredulous. There were times I’d take almost an hour crafting a well-honed comment; I didn’t want to sound stupid in front of my fellow communicators! It was a great resource and pastime.

I’ve sorely missed EMGR and Jack’s passion for excellence and creativity. Since his passing I really have missed his final triumphant work that really made my day often.

I think Erie has such a rich media history and story. The personalities in traditional and now new media are interesting and passionate about their craft. The pace of change in technology and the business realities all point to a need for a place where we can encourage and challenge and strengthen each other. Erie needs a media blog!

That’s why I’ve begun The Press and Tower.

I wouldn’t think to try to take Jack’s place. He was so well-connected and networked with an amazingly successful track record over decades. His work stands alone.

What I hope will help this undertaking is my passion for all things media: traditional and new, and my love for writing. I’ll draw on my years in broadcasting in Erie and out of town; along with my current perspective as a media consumer and sometimes advertiser.

I hope to emulate some of the features of EMGR like the weekly poll and the open discussion forum which I’m calling “Deep Background.” I’m looking to add some media elements like a podcast and hopefully a monthly video interview with the top professionals in Erie media.

I know that this project is a lot for a guy like me, raising three kids with a full-time job, to try to pull off, so that’s why I’d love to work with a few folks who would enjoy contributing to the blog on regular basis. Please contact me at joel@nataliemedia.com if you are interested. Even if you can’t commit to a regular feature, please visit and comment often. Your participation will determine The Press and Tower’s success.

Finally, I want to send warm wishes and prayers to Jack Tirak’s family who I’m sure continue to cope with his loss. He was a great guy and we miss him.