Okay — I understand now why McCain wanted the Townhall debate format. He is much, much better in this setting. Yes, he looked extremely stiff — and next to Obama, downright ancient. But McCain’s demeanor, and his answers, were much improved from the last debate.

Furthermore, these questions were exponentially better than we’ve seen to date, and I was thrilled to hear somebody finally start nailing both candidates down on priorities and sacrifice in the face of prior fiscal irresponsibility, heavy debt, and the troubled economy.

Unfortunately, I experienced some mental vapor-lock at the end of the health care topic, when Tom Brokaw asked whether health care was a right or a responsibility. I was sure Obama would see the trap — that there was no way he’d miss the flashing red lights and warning signs — but he stepped right into it.

Barack Obama said he thinks health care should be a right, and my head exploded.

Is this really the path he’d take us down? Modify the Constitution via yet another Amendment? Or are we just gonna jump right off of that life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness thing?

What an appalling can of worms to have opened at this late date. I was horrified… and I have absolutely no idea, again, how I’m going to vote come November.