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[deckerd]

1. Agreed. Excellent post

I personally feel the expectations favored * in the second debate, but it owuld have been difficult to turn that around, because the Kerry camp had ill-advisedly trumpeted weeks ago that Kerry wanted a town-hall format and Bush did not. Better to crow about how good Bush does in a town-hall format, and how he's likely to have a clear win there.

Perhaps more knowledgeable Kerry staffers were actually afraid there was a chance Bush would look good in a town-hall format, what with the Gallup-selected audience.

As for where we are now, we're in good position to pull a decisive win from the post debate spin.

A media win on Debate #2 would really HURT Bush. If it happens, it'll happen on Sunday and Monday. Otherwise, the media will declare it a draw.

It's all up to the talking heads on Sunday and Monday -- will they bury the Internet gossip about Bush's "angry" performance or run with it in hopes of manufacturing a tight race, and creating a neat Gore : Dean : Bush comparison?

Also we can start hammering on the lesser * gaffes of the evening, if the media percieves a larger * slipup they will jump on these, if only to dwell on how Bush COULD have won last night's debate IF HE HADN'T SAID....

* Dred Scott nonsense...
* Group Maternity Homes
* Wrong War, Wrong Place, Wrong Time
* Judges gonna vote for me

* Refusal to admit any mistakes

* "If my opponent were President, Saddam would still be in power, and
the world would be a better place." -- last sentence of his final reply before closing statements -- no correction this time

Also, Kerry's remark about Missouri having more troops in the Coalition
than any nation except Britain is KILLER and should be repeated endlessly.

Kerry has a perfect opportunity to do so now that Bush is about to congratulate Australia for "staying the course".

"Mr. President, Missouri has more troops in Iraq than Australia does, and all of them are in combat. None of Australia's troops are in combat positions. More Missourians have died in Iraq than the entire nation of Australia. As they say in Missouri, SHOW ME you intend to ease the combat burden on American troops. Ask AUSTRALIA to put their troops in combat positions. They are part of the Coalition -- what better opportunity!"