The Debacle (I mean debate) in Denver, the Confrontation in Colorado, the Ruckus in the Rockies or whatever colorful moniker you want to apply to the first in a series of presidential debates, they will be getting it on in Denver tonight.

It is a lot like a premiere of a movie destined for an Oscar in many ways – for instance there will be star power, the dialogue will abound with metaphors, clichés and with the exception of Jim Lehrer the actors will be speaking rehearsed lines from works of fiction and fantasy.

There will be a lot of finger pointing, accusations of misdeeds, failures and misanthropic intentions to paint the opponent as a failure or potential disaster as leader of the country.

The two candidates have prepared for the debate against “stand ins” for their opponents, and though it is hard to picture Senator Rob Portman as a body double for Pres Obama, one can easily picture Senator Kerry as a mega-rich conservative running for president.

An objective analysis would likely reveal that the moderator is more in tune with the issues facing the nation and the truth about the positions of the candidates than either of the candidates are about themselves or their opponents.  A highly respected journalist, it will be interesting to see if Jim Lehrer is able to maintain control of the flow of the debate and coax some honest and specific answers out of the President Obama and Governor Romney.

The candidates have been rigorously rehearsed on what to say and what not to say on all issues that might come up in the debate, so it is unlikely that we will actually get any insight into the truth about what they will or will not do if they are elected.

The image of marionettes or finger puppets will flash through the minds of many watchers as the debate unfolds as the candidates try to paint their opponent as wrong without actually proving why they are right.

Perhaps the most beneficial aspect of the debate will be to those citizens in all parts of the country glued to their televisions and engaged in various types of drinking games based on campaign speak, bumper sticker slogans and clichéd rhetoric.

Of course we might all be surprised and a meaningful, educational and illuminating exchange of policy information and plans for the country’s future might be exchanged and debated by the candidates

Probably not, but what are you expecting from the debate tonight.

Thanks for the graphics in order top to bottom as follows:

Thanks to the Denver Post (www.denverpost.com) for the graphic

http://townhall.com/political-cartoons/2012/10/03/103927  Gary Varvel - October 03, 2012 Townhall Cartoons

http://townhall.com/political-cartoons/2012/10/01/103872  Lisa Benson  October 01, 2012 Townhall Cartoons

http://townhall.com/political-cartoons/2012/10/02/103920  Chip Bok - October 02, 2012 Townhall Cartoons

Thanks to the Washington Times (www.communitieswashingtontimes.com) for the graphic

Thanks to the cloture club (www.clotureclub.com) for the graphic