The 2nd Debate is now crucial...

[rpannier]

Now that everyone with an IQ above 37 and is not taking drugs for severe psychotic episodes agreeing the Kerry kicked scrubbie ass in the first debate, the 2nd Presidential debate becomes more urgent and important. If Kerry does not thump scrub it will give the media shills and pukies a chance to ressurrect the decaying corpse in the public eye. Kerry must thump scrub to assure the third debate become meaningless and no one can point to any life left in scrub.
Clinton did this in 92. Most people agree the third debate was a wash and george I's people tried to use the third debate to get george I back in the race. But, by then, no one was watching.

[sniffa]

1. this is kerry's forte though

isn't #2 the town haLL one? kerry's been preparing for this for a Long time; * is the one who has sequestered himseLf and avoided spontaneity and tough questions.

i think bush wiLL have a hard enough time trying to controL his "body Language".

[cap]

4. kerry actually let's protesters ask him questions...

so he has OJT; by arresting protesters, Bush never learned to deal with the average person who disagreed with him.

[ladjf]

7. I think that Bush did the best he could do which wasn't enough

to win the previous debate. I don't see how he will be able to correct the problems that hurt him in debate one. He is an ignorant,
simple minded ego maniac. How could those flaws be corrected in two weeks?

He campaign specialty has been to give his hand picked audiences a full dose of "cute", Johnny Carson like wisecracks. And like the pretty good comedian he has become, to wait for the expected laughs and applause from his faithful sycophants. But, at the debates, he finds, to his embarrassment, an audience that is not so quick to respond favorably to his smart Alec remarks. That really ticks him off. Further, like the narcissist he is, he goes berserk while listening to Kerry's criticisms. He is definitely not accustomed to being confronted head on. Everywhere else he has been continually cloistered for the anyone who might disagree with him on anything.

[MoonRiver]

11. One week. Rove will have had a mere 8 days to "fix" bush*.

Unless somebody produces a wonder pill for stupidity, I predict * will implode even further. He's already in panic mode about having to answer HARD questions from real Americans. :eyes:

[ladjf]

13. I agree. And Bush has performance problems far more profound

than mere "stupidity", i.e. narcissism, ignorance,and a sadistic personality.

[MoonRiver]

14. And many alcohol abuse related issues.

Personally, I believe he is as close to a basket case as any president this country has ever seen.

[ladjf]

15. Without a doubt! It worries me to think that there may be no

method in place to identify the mental incapacity of a sitting President.

[MoonRiver]

16. I wouldn't be surprised if he has a total meltdown on national t.v.

Keeping my fingers crossed that it happens this Friday! }(

[ladjf]

17. That's probably too good to be true. But, who knows? The guy

is "nuts". Anything could happen.

[MSgt213]

2. The bar was already low for Bush. Its even lower now. He can score well

just by not making faces and interupting himself. Trust me. He gets through this by just repeating slogan lines and his numbers go back up and the reporters start fawning again.

[rocktivity]

3. The Bush camp sealed its fate

by insisting that the subject of the first debate be foreign policy. They saw Kerry as being so vulnerable on the subject that all Bush would have to do was chant "Remember 9/11" and "Flip-flopper on Iraq" in order to win. They totally overlooked the fact that when it comes to foreign policy, Bush has some major competence/credibility problems of his own. Kerry not only pointed this out, but did so with complete self-assurance and poise while Bush pouted and figeted like the kid in that Letterman video.

With the remaining debate subjects being domestic policy an the economy, Bush is now the vulnerable one: all Kerry has to do is politely bludgeon him with the most obvious of statistics (and if Bush brings up faith, he should just remind everyone that separation of church and state and religious freedom for all are the Amercian way). Yes, the Bush camp is in a hole--and it's all the more delightful because it's a hole that THEY dug!

:headbang:
rocknation

[Tamyrlin79]

5. They dug it...

Now, if John Kerry will just pick up the shovel and pile on the dirt!

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

8. And the rest of us jumping up and down on the grave...

Get out their and phone bank/canvass/whatever for the Kerry campaign!

[wishlist]

6. The pressure is on Bush now- Kerry will be even more relaxed &confident

Bush will be extremely negative and defensive since he has such a poor record and he will make excuses (blaming 9/11 and the war) for his record and try to sugarcoat how things are going. He will definitely try to mislead voters into thinking Kerry will raise everyone's taxes. My hope is that this gives Kerry the chance to lay to rest the false claims that he plans to raise taxes for average people.

I have lots of confidence that Kerry will hammer home all of Bush's failed promises and dismal policies, while still remaining dignified and 'Presidential' and full of hope and positive solutions.

[bringbackfdr]

9. Shrub's domestic record is so putrid

Kerry need not even attack - all he needs to do is recite the facts and end with the classic rejoinder, "Is America better off today than it was four years ago?''

[PATRICK]

10. Even better

and I see Kerry testing it now while Shrub is spewing platitudes to his fans, is the emotional factor.

Not 9/11 or the noble soldiers now, but the victims of Bush's economy and extremist policies. The anecdotes about the unemployed and the lady who wanted stem cell research are so emotive and evocative that this time it is I-promised-myself-a-Rose-Garden W that is left spouting statistics and cold creeds with nothing genuine in the background to prop him up.

Burn the toast some more. I want to see the flames.

As for that note of timidity I see here introduced again "on no, we have to win this one" obviously you still don't know our candidate. He can make mistakes. He made a few in the first debate that he powered on by.
Except for the flawed judgment of the media and the difficulty of getting through to all the people Kerry is a winner.

All the advice in the world won't help a deficient candidate and you aren't going to beat the media on points. Kerry has the quality and the magic for our time. I like what I see as he readies for this debate. Shrub is never worse than when he tries last minute adaptations. They are so screwed even if they plant questions, or shine lights on Kerry to make him look like he has spots.

[Kammer]

12. Right on

Nice analysis Patrick. On the money....