1.4K views Oct 2008
A panel of commentators reviews a fictional HBO presidential debate, puzzling over its profanity, violence, symbolism, and abrupt ending in this political satire.
0:11 I'm Gregory Dawson, sitting in for Clifford Baines, who is currently plummeting toward Earth at 93 miles an hour. 0:16 Last night, HBO hosted its first ever presidential debate, which The New York Times hailed as brilliant and predicted would, quote, revolutionize television political debate. 0:25 Did the HBO debate live up to all of its hype? 0:27 Oh, absolutely. The grittiness, 0:29 Yes. 0:29 the non-linear question. 0:30 It was so much more real. 0:32 What about the use of profanity in last night's debates? Most critics agree that it benefited John McCain. 0:36 Oh, I'm, I'm completely in that camp. McCain seemed to be completely in his element when he said that Obama's foreign policy resume was shorter than a cunt hair. 0:44 But, but then Obama came back and called him a cock gobbler with his energy policy, and I thought that was a brilliant. 0:49 Well, it did go a little bit far at some points, and w- with the John McCain, for example, he answered that question about fiscal discipline by pistol whipping the stripper. 0:58 That was clearly meant to demonstrate his hostility at congressional earmarks. 1:02 I mean, that's what I got. 1:03 I thought it was a little hard to follow. They didn't even make it clear who Steve Buscemi was supposed to be. 1:07 He was the moderator. 1:08 Well, in general, I think the whole debate could have been more clear, like the part where Obama knocks over his glass of water and it shatters on the floor, and then they had that close-up of it. 1:18 I- I- I know it was supposed to mean something, but I cannot figure it out. 1:21 Maya, Maya, see, that was an allusion to Obama's attempt to reform our intrinsically broken political system. 1:27 Yes. 1:27 But when the janitor comes in to clean up the glass, how did he know all those things about Obama's childhood? 1:32 That was Obama's subconscious in the form 1:34 Really? 1:34 of a janitor. 1:35 So it wasn't a real janitor. 1:36 I have to go back and watch the ending again, because it seemed that McCain was about to make his closing statements. 1:41 Yes. 1:42 But then he just looked off into the distance, and they faded to black. 1:46 I read in the Times why they ended it that way. 1:48 No? 1:49 And I think I like it very much now. 1:51 OK, I'll have to read that article. 1:52 Now, next Saturday, Cinemax will be hosting its first vice presidential debate, uh, moderated by Shannon Tweed. 1:58 That promises 1:58 Oh. 1:59 more nudity and less intellectual posturing. 2:01 Good. 2:01 Do you think it'll be a success? 2:02 I will definitely be watching it, but I will be doing so ironically. 2:05 doing so ironically. 
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