The Republicans are reeling. . .

[Brian_Expat]

. . . their man got such a thorough drubbing that they're shitting their pants.

They're shitting their pants because Kerry, a man for whom they hold such utter contempt, levelled their man without breaking a sweat.

They're shitting their pants because Kerry deconstructed all of what was wrong with this presidency -- with simple facts -- and with devastating clarity.

They're shitting their pants because Bush's repetition of the Republican talking points, which were expected to crush Kerry -- things like "flip flop" and "changes his position" -- were so ineffective against the Bush record. In fact, they're squeezing out a bit more shit when they realize that Bush RUINED those memes forever by overusing them in the debate.

They're shitting their pants that even the conservatives in the media who were rah-rah for Bush had to hand the debate to Kerry and are reassessing their position after the debate.

The danger now is that they're going to retrench to the only position they have left -- one they've already used -- the dirty tricks brigade. They are going to get downright filthy, my dear friends, and we are going to have to figure out a strategy to deal with that.

[carpe_vinum]

1. In the meantime I see Bush is still hammering the same point

"Kerry voted for the war and then withheld the 87 billion." Over and over and over. How many times has he said that since Thursday night? And it's only Saturday morning.

I think you're right. These next 30 days are going to get really intense. Rove probably hasn't slept in days.

[Brian_Expat]

3. That point has fallen completely flat though

He tried to make the same point during the debate and people easily picked up the Bush rebuttals as "throw anything that sticks."

Kerry's participation was logical, had a theme and had a point that came from logic and examining the facts.

Bush's campaign has been "throw out talking points in random order." That was so clearly demonstrated at the debate that Bush, repeating those same talking points over and over, is screwing himself. If he brings up any of the points he tried to make from that debate, he's undermining himself, because they were all so thoroughly discredited in that debate.

He has no counterpoints, too, for the Kerry points brought up. OSAMA attacked us, not Saddam. Iraq -- wrong war and not planned, I will fix up the Bush mess and get us out of there. And on and on.

Wait until the economy is a topic of debate. Bush will insist that the economy is just great, and Kerry will do the same thing to him on the economy that he did on Iraq. And trust me, the vast majority of people working harder than ever for less money will NOT buy the Bush meme that things are fine and getting better.

Debates two and three will SINK the Bush campaign, completely and utterly SINK it.

[mopaul]

2. the grand old party is over

and bush is the turd in the punchbowl. they are shitting their pants big time. and nothing is more dangerous than a cornered, injured giant rat.

[lil-petunia]

4. i disagree, honestly.

most repukes are honest patriots. The Neocon future convicts have hijacked the Grand Olde Party and have left them with fears instead of promise. Remember, Abe Lincoln was a GOPer, when quality of life and freedom meant something to the GOP.

Can't confuse the entire GOP with the Morans now in control.

Besides, a democracy works best when both the GOP and Dems have smart, honest, hard-working people in Congress and in the WH. That competition is healthy.

[Brian_Expat]

5. Most Republicans supporting Bush are not honest. . .

. . . they're brainwashed. Anyone who is a true patriot cannot support what he has done.

My parents are great examples of Republicans -- staunch Bush supporters in 2000 who hate Clinton and Gore and Kerry -- who are not voting for Bush (or at all) due to their horror at what he has done to the USA. (Well, mom is voting for Kerry because he's a veteran).

I'm an independent who registers Democratic to vote in primaries, and I despise the GOP and what it stands for -- hate at home and abroad. There's nothing patriotic about that.

[lil-petunia]

7. good point. ewe B right.

I know a few like your parents. And meeting more daily.

[Wright Patman]

6. The GOP

is controlled and dominated by Southern evangelicals led by Falwell and Robertson. You don't want to give those guys a dose of truth serum and listen to what they think about the avatar Abe Lincoln.

There's a difference between being a hijacker and owning the plane. The fundies own the plane and even the GOP International Airport.

[CHestonsucks]

8. They're shitting their pants

because all the shit is draining out of their skulls. For a while the shit was just coming out of their mouths or ending up in the form of "legislation" put before the Congress. For months the shit has been on television, such as The Swift Boat Turds for Fraud or shitbags like Bill "O'Douchebag" O'Reilly or Sean "Hammybone" Hannity. The shit can also be found on the Internet or in books thanks to likes of that walking, talking, stinking, bleached-blonde stool sample herself, Ann Coulter. Finally, though, the shit is headed in the right direction:

DOWN THE MOTHERFUCKING DRAIN!!!!!!

[annabanana]

9. Stolen laptops and Stolen votes

This is all they have left. And my bet is that they're throwing the "stolen laptop" crap as a diversion from the massive rigging of the new voting machines. (an issue that is still dangerously under the radar, IMHO)