In Sickness and In Health

("Fetterman v Oz Is Not Really Fetterman v Oz")

Why do we bother with debates?

Looking for real policy insights? Forget about it. The stage is filled with antics, with soundbites, with gotcha moments. Not a test of political capacity but showmanship. 

The post mortem analysis: who was rude, who didn't answer the questions. Always deflecting, redirecting. 

These are not times of Lincoln v Douglas oratorical wars. What remains in 2022 is merely echoes of Donald Trump, his mini-mes springing up around the nation. Soiling the air.  

All that being said, Mr. Fetterman's performance may well have changed the course of history. There can be little pretense that what viewers were interested in was the substantive differences between him and his opponent. Rather, this was a fight between this candidate and himself. Between his ability and his disability. Between his thoughts and what emerged from his mouth. This was really a one person show. A monologue, even though it was in stereo.

What should matter, as we near what may well be the end of the world as we know it, is whether we as a nation will be in better health with, or without, Mr. Fetterman seated in the Senate. Not how well he is doing. But how sick we would be without him.

And if the answer is that electing this Democrat, whatever his  limitations, will keep us all stronger, then how he said what he said should not be what moves your hand left or right on election day.

For the patient is not him, but us. And the battle is not in recovering strength after a stroke, but in recovering our strength as a nation. 

This is our true debate. And the only one that should count.