Pundits on Matthews already declaring Bush the winner ...

[mzmolly]

They're indicating that the bar is so low, all he has to do is basically show up.

Also he has done very well in this venue in the past. And, when a person asks the "Gibson pre-screened question" their mike is automatically cut off so a follow up won't happen.

There is no way Bush will choke like he did the first time, my guess is that he'll be VASTLY improved. He'll envoke 911, terrorism and lofty platitudes and the press will declare he has had a comeback.

The Freepers will be energized and ... we'll have to live with it.

:hi:

What say you?

[nostamj]

1. lying SPIN

they KNOW that the insipid chimp has to WIN and WIN BIG tonight.

'just showing up' and not drooling will NOT reverse the advantage that Kerry scored last week.

they have a 'cute' HA HA spin about * making faces (well, oh gee whiz in my mouth, well ANYBODY would make a face listening to, ucky phoohey, john Kerry.....

I repeat: There is NOTHING funny about this election. Let them try to make jokes about Iraq... but damn it, Kerry... CALL HIM ON IT!

[Digit]

2. Don't forget the recent news of late which has been bad news for *

I think people have formed an opinion already and it will be a landslide for Kerry.

[inmania]

8. agree, recent news

is very bad for chimp & co, even if he looks his most normal tonight it won't be enough

[Bronco69]

3. I say

At the end of the debate Senator Kerry will walk across the stage and hand bush* his ass and say, "Here Mr. bush*, you might be needing this." :-)

[Doosh]

4. it's a biased panel

on the right - Andrea Mitchell, Tweety Bird, Ginsburg, Buchanan, Scarborough will probably show up soon.

on the left- Ron Reagan Jr.

[Ducks In A Row]

5. it's want they did last debate for prez and for vice-prez

they will never give kerry or edwards a fair chance.

bush will lose it.

[seventhson]

6. Ummmmm

I do not quite know what to say

Bush is a loser asshole?

Everybody hates loser assholes.

Only stupid or lying sacks of pootie could think he wins anything.

[Guaranteed]

7. I think folks are going to come up with some pretty damned creative

questions. Bush could have his hands full.

Here's mine: "Mr. Bush, your ally Saudi Arabia performs public beheadings as a means of controlling crime. Do you support public beheadings as a means for carrying out the death penalty?"

[mzmolly]

11. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh, wish you were in the audience BGL!

:hi:

[bushisanidiot]

9. There's no way he will choke like last time is actually raising the bar

They are EXPECTING him to do better. When you expect someone to do well then your expectations are high.

All Kerry has to do is show up and not pick his nose live on television or tell a fart joke. AWOL is the one who has to make up a lot of ground from his disastrous performance last week.

[mzmolly]

12. Interesting view point ...

I like.

[H2O Man]

16. you have just

hit the nail on the head! Bush HAS to do very well, not only to show that he is in the same class as Kerry, but to show he is up to speed with Cheney and even Edwards. In 2000, the moderate republicans and some conservative democrats were reassured by Cheney on the ticket: Gov'ner Bush had zero foreign policy experience, and Cheney was the wise mentor.

Today America isn't feeling kindly to Cheney. He has the lowest "positive" ratings, and by far the highest "negatives." He has led our country into a horrible war with lies, and has been caught lying in the debate with Edwards. Bush is trapped! Double trapped! Even triple trapped!

He has to beat Kerry tonight, but he can't. Kerry is at his best in this format, and Bush is at his worst. Think of the Rove memo quoted in Molly Ivan's book, that instructs his campaign not to allow Bush to talk off the cuff, in unscripted situations, especially in front of the press. It will take Kerry about 1/2 an hour to get under George's skin by gently hinting that the president is either a liar or a fool. By 9:45 pm est, Bush is going to be angry and unable to control his nasty mouth. By 10:15, the gods will tie his tongue.

Kerry wins.

[mzmolly]

18. I sure like this analysis.

:hi:

[Ravenseye]

10. They'll Claim a Win Like Always

But it won't be a win.

Kerry's had 70+ town hall meetings this past year without screened questions, or loyalty oaths.

Bush has had 16 I think, definately less than 20, and they're all screened loyal devoties lobbing softballs. Give Bush one direct question, and let him spout his lines. then Kerry will respond to the actual question, and show Bush to be the lying spinning big picture bs man he is.

The polls afterward will show Kerry won. The online polls, the insta polls, and Kerry will by next week at this time have taken a 5 point bounce and the 'tie' will be broken.

[venus]

13. Can't stand these staged debates. Watching on DU is so much

more fun. Hope Kerry "feels the power!" a la Dean tonight.

[girl gone mad]

14. Look on the bright side..

they were wrong the last two times.

I say they're about to be 3 for 3.

[venus]

15. OK, one thing I'm worried about.

Remember recently when Kerry had to clarify some comment he had made because it was made when he was bone tired and the Repugs blasted back the comment was actually made in the afternoon? Anyway Kerry has got to be alert tonight if nothing else. Some other posts said he looked a little tired today. Not sure if the shots were from today - hope not.

[Guaranteed]

17. Kerry needs to use the word "PROOF" when answering

a question like that, and I'd say it's pretty likely he'll get asked it by some Bush supporter.