Damn! I'm impressed. Way to go, John!

[Bread and Circus]

I thought John Kerry did extraordinary tonight and want to share in the positive vibe with all of you. Admittedly, I was (and still am) skeptical of the debate format as it seems the debates are gamed where the real losers are the voters. However, despite all the bullshit, mirrors, smoke, and trickery -- Kerry made George Bush look like the small minded petulant intemperate fool that he is. The fact that he did it when the "rules" were stacked against him, gives him all the more credit. I sense that the tide will change now if only the Democratic Party and all of its talking heads rally around Kerry this month and deliver a resounding chorus to back up the tone Kerry set tonight. Wes Clark for one, should be given a great hand.

Also, I'd like to say that Jim Lehrer deserves a lot of the credit for making the debate a lot less "plastic" than the Bush campaign intended it to be. He fostered a fair and even handed give and take between the candidates I feared wouldn't be there. I only wish he could have called Bush on his lies. However, that would have taken too much time because Bush spun and did "end-runs" the whole time.

The main criticism of Kerry I have is that he should have gotten a little more specific in terms of detail on his "plan". He was a bit roundabout on this, cryptic if you will. Despite this, Kerry was otherwise strong, honest, forthright, and more succinct than he has been in the past. I give him a 9.5 out of 10.

Bush, on the other hand, was abysmal. He appeared tired, irritated, impatient, and disingenuous. In other words, angry. Angry that anyone would question him. He looked like the boy emperor that doesn't deserve to be where he is. I credit Kerry for doing what Al Gore did not, embarrass Bush.


No matter how they spin it, Kerry won hands down and the people know it.

[LiberalForEver]

1. Familydoctor, that is a good diagnosis!

[dietdpfan]

2. I second that! n/t

[Bread and Circus]

5. Thanks.

[merbex]

3. Kerry was head and shoulders above this guy

there is no other way to put it

[neoteric lefty]

4. I agree for the most part

Bush looks like a fool when Kerry was on the attack. Bush's blank face while Kerry was reminiscent of Alfred E. Neuman from MAD magazine. Though I think Kerry did a great job, I don't think it was the "take him out to the woodshed" performance many of us were hoping for, but it was close. A few times, especially early in the debate, he seemed to be moving around a lot and avoiding the question. That always irks me. But after about 20 minutes or so, he started to command the stage. Bush was on the defensive from then on. It was actually quite sad to see the President being schooled so badly. A great night for Kerry and it will only get better.

I now applaud Kerry for agreeing to the rules for an extra debate. One extra night of this performance in front of 20-40 million viewers will definitely do well for the John.

Overall Score: B+/A-

[Bread and Circus]

6. Kicke for Kerry !