We shall never cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time
T.S. Eliot

I have been blessed to spend my entire adult life in the San Francisco bay area. Here I found my career, reveled in this area’s incredible natural wonders, built a family and became part of a community that developed and shared my worldview.

In his book ‘The Clustering of America’ Michael J. Weiss explains Claritas ‘geodemographics’ which defines 40 distinct ‘clusters’. Among them, Furs & Station Wagons, Young Influentials, Bohemian Mix, and Shotguns & Pickups. For the San Francisco bay area the cluster would be Money & Brains. This area brought us an explosion of technology on a backdrop of tolerance and progressive thinking. The result was a community that attracted some of the greatest minds and creative spirits.

Now here’s the rub. While we can produce some of the most stimulating conversation and sparkling banter, the conservatives among us often feel isolated and unheard.  Oh, and woe be to anyone who cannot present a clear and cogent argument, irrespective of their politics.  It turns out that our greatest shared value is thoughtful and articulate critique.    We were founded by engineers and scientists,  and if analysis is in our blood, critical thinking is our religion.

Even those of us of faith shake our heads at Creationists and mock Abstinence Only programs.  If my goal is to venture from my comfort zone, it is imperative that I acknowledge my blindness to arguments that I determine to be indefensible.  My commitment is to stay present and to listen with openness.  And maybe, just maybe, I will come back to know it new.

Over two months ago I learned that John McCain and Barack Obama would be giving me the greatest birthday present ever. After long negotiations and rancorous campaign positioning, they announced that the first presidential debate would be held on Friday, September 26th – my birthday.

It has to be said that, by this time, I had succumb to complete and total obsession about all things electoral. Realclearpolitics.com was just my jumping off point. I consumed every article and op-ed piece listed on both morning and afternoon postings, but it would not quiet the beast. No, I required multiple daily fixes of poll analysis from Nate Silver at fivethirtyeight.com and could accurately recite (by state) polling averages and their associated trends.

So the knowledge that the first presidential debate of this historic election would be held on my birthday could only mean one thing. A debate party.

It started out simply enough. A few of my closest friends to share in thoughtful analysis and quiet reflection. A celebration of meaningful critique, if you will.

What actually happened was, well, different.

Twenty six people arrived and there was food and drink. For my people, this is often all that is needed. But what followed was a surprise even to this well-partied soul. With the CNN pundit ratings flashing like Christmas lights at the sides, and the ‘insta-poll’ hortizontal ticker monitoring the audience responses, our collective passions grew with every exchange. The cumulative effects exceeding any Super Bowl or NCAA Championship party. It is testament to the unique nature and universal obsession that is the 2008 US Presidential Election.

It is here that I must confess that, while I had made the point of capturing my guest’s impressions on audio that evening, I somehow managed to mess up the setting on my new audio recorder (yes, Lisa, I should have been using a headset) and I failed to save even one interview.

I am, however, blessed to have the recollections of Derrick Kikuchi, captured the Sunday after the debate. Please enjoy (I did). [Click the play button below to hear the audio]

Derrick (debate night)