We won't know who "won" the debate for 5 days, but Kerry was better...

[Bread and Circus]

than Bush, hands down.

Tonight, my friends, Kerry was brilliant. He was commanding and authoritative. He was fluid with both sound bites and the facts. He connected in a Presidential, quality way. Frankly, his performance tonight was the best I've ever seen him.

Right now, though the spin machine is whirring in overdrive, we won't know the "winner" of the debate for 3 to 5 days from now as it will take time for people to digest what they saw. However, I have a strong feeling that again the American people will see that Kerry is a man of substance and Bush is a man of worn-out cynical soundbites.

Personally, I think Bush was atrocious. On close examination, he will not get away with "shouting down" Charlie Gibson at it was probably one of the lowest points I've ever seen in a Presidential debate. That's just not Presidential behavior, that's dictatorial behavior unmasked. I think it could be fairly said that for the first 35 minutes of the debate, he was worse than last week.

Bush provided nothing more than a cornucopia of hot-headed yelling, shouting, pouting, fuming, smirking and duplicitous winking. I will admit he cleaned up the petulant antics in the last hour but his lying was a constant that amazed me. Only a few times did I catch Kerry playing fast and loose with facts but the gap between reality and Bush's statements was a highway wide and well travelled.

This was not a draw, nor was it Win for "W". No, this was a replay of the last debate with better questions. Bush was not likeable and that's probably what will matter most - remember that. Outside of that he was nearly unintelligible at times. Frankly, it would help if he learned to speak English.

Any reasonable person will recognize that Kerry owned Bush.

And make no mistake, I call them like I see them, I haven't drank the koolaid. I am on record on DU as being quite the detractor from Kerry when I've seen him make mistakes. He is now dead-on like a laser.

Hopefully, the third debate will seal the deal.

[Bread and Circus]

1. Kick, for those who thought it was a "draw".

[jdonaldball]

2. BULLSHIT! Kerry won hands down!

Don't tell us about the spin machines. Kerry won.

[Bread and Circus]

3. That's essentially what I'm saying...but partly who "wins" depends

on the momentum gained or lost from a debate. The proof of the pudding is in the tasting.

[cheezus]

4. Both were "better" than last time

bush margianlly so, Kerry MUCH MORE so (and he was GOOD before!)

the can of whoopass was opened. i don't know how this is been spinned as a draw after the last debate was given to Kerry.

[Bread and Circus]

5. Kick