According to the CNN countdown, as I sit on my couch in “Battleground Pennsylvania” with my feet up on the coffee table by the soothing light of a lamp on the end table, there is 1 hour, 40 minutes, and 41 seconds until the big debate. I feel compelled to write, but more than twitter will allow, and more formally than your average Facebook rant. So, I am taking to The Knight Crier because, well, I am the adviser, and I can.

The anticipation for this first Presidential Debate of the official 2016 Presidential election season is not only palpable but also a little nerve-wracking. I cannot help but feel a little nervous for what is going to come out of Donald Trump’s mouth or what measure of reaction will emit from Hillary Clinton. I am envisioning some uncomfortable exchanges and probably a line or two that even cause me some consternation about the future of our nation. But above all else, I am eagerly anticipating something that has been difficult to find in the year-long political circus for which much of America has had a front row seat. Tonight, it’s unfiltered, unanalyzed, unscripted, head to head policies, ideologies, visions, and plans debated between the only two major candidates remaining standing for the final act of this long political drama. For several months we have witnessed scripted political rallies, cable news talking pundits, ill-advised tweets, convention pageantry, late night comedy, left wing and right wing news editorials, and of course campaign commercials. Tonight, however, t’s just candidate vs candidate. Viewers can switch from FOX News to CNN to MSNBC, but every channel, for at least a couple hours, is going to show the exact same thing. Tonight, viewers need to clear their biases, and really listen. Tonight viewers need to educate themselves make up their own minds about how each candidate presents him or herself. Tonight, as the kids say, it’s gonna get real.

Among other publications, Fortune, The LA Times, CNN.com, and Newsweek are all expecting viewership to near 100 million people for this debate that is now, as I continue to type, 1 hour, 5 minutes, and 35 seconds away. That means that at least 100 million people will be in some way engaged in the political process on a Monday night in September. So, while many have expressed their anguish over having no great candidate from which to choose, and many others have vehemently stated they would never vote for her or would never vote for him, the bottom line is that tonight represents why America is great and will be great again, and also why we are stronger together. Oh my gosh… 57 minutes, 51 seconds away. I have to get to my point.

Ok, so here it is. This debate is historical, obviously, and maybe there will be moments that resemble those cacaphonous exchanges of personal insults that dominated the debate stage back in the winter. However,  it is also 90 minutes of consecutive talk about the past, present, and future of our nation and who will lead it for at least the next four years. It is 90 minutes free of biased political commentary, and it is 90 minutes for America to watch intently, with open minds, eyes, and ears. It is democracy at its finest, and it is also old fashioned riveting, unpredictable, anything-can-happen live TV.  While many are uneasy about the future of our nation, now more than ever perhaps we can rest easy because if nothing else this political season has fixed many new American eyes on the office of President of the United States. Bernie, Donald, Hillary, and all the rest have opened the door to many people who prior to a year ago were as far removed from being interested in presidential politics as possible. Now, those same people are part of some 100 million who will watch this debate in about 43 minutes, 55 seconds. So, to whomever wins this debate and then ultimately wins in November, America will be watching closely, just as they will be tonight.

There will be plenty to read and plenty of commentary to listen to as soon as seconds after this debate is over. But now, 33 min and 57 seconds before it starts, I hope everyone who watches does so recognizing how important it is to watch and listen closely, and then to stay connected to politics when all the dust settles in November. It is our country, and we have to stay engaged even after the lights dim and the fanfare softens. But for tonight, be entertained, be engaged, and be educated – this is true democracy.

26 minutes, 22 seconds…