I waited for Friday night's debate like a child eagerly awaits Christmas morning. To me, the debates are like the super bowl of the election. I plant myself in front of the tv and enthusiastically cheer on my team, the Democrats, and their captain, Barack Obama.

I felt badly for both candidates as there was no honest and accurate way that either of them could comment on the bailout plan. Essentially, they're both working for the same team, Congress, and they have to be team players here. Both of them will " score" if Congress is able to pass this bill. They can't come across as a politician who cannot work across party lines.

The debate itself was a bit of a bore. However, having briefed myself on McCain's temper only hours before ( see previous article on McCain's Top Ten Blowouts), I was gearing myself up for major blowout number eleven. Seen as how just the day before the debate, McCain was telling Congressional members of his own party " Fuck you!" during a formal meeting, it seemed likely that he wouldn't be able to contain himself in front of his opponent.

Sadly, he didn't have an outburst. However, during the split screen, McCain's reactions to Obama's comments, which included teeth clenching, erratic laughing and a whole lot of huffing and puffing, led me to believe that at any moment, his head would explode. I can just picture it now, Obama and moderator Jim Lehrer covered in McCain's, still- fuming brain matter.

Alas, his head did not explode either. However, I'm very worried about McCain's blood pressure. If a simple debate between his Congressional colleague could elevate your stress that much, what would a serious international crisis do to him? What if he were to have to negotiate between an unfamiliar and hostile world leader? He couldn't even continue to carry on with his campaign last week in the wake of this country's financial nightmare. How is he going to hold up to the consistent stress that a president is under twenty four hours a day?

My prediction: not well.