How about we remember that we have an election to win here.

[chaska]

Let's first stop saying that our candidate lost to Cheney. The point is debatable, but do it in private please. This is a public forum, the world is watching.

Second, let's consider who are the judges that matter. Who cares what we think, our minds are made up, we're voting for Kerry and Edwards. The undecideds are the only judges that matter. I contend that Edwards wowed them tonight.

Edwards wins because the expectations from most undecideds were lower for him.

Edwards wins because Dick Cheney came off as a mean SOB telling us to be afraid, that only he and W can same them. Whereas Edwards is likeable and presented a message of hope.

And lastly (I'm ready for bed), Edwards won with those who watched after the debate. These moments can often be very important, and tonight they without a doubt were. Did anyone see Edwards pickup his two children at the front of the stage? That was worth more to many voters than all the rest combined.

Please, add to this list.

I don't mean to impinge on anyone's right to free speech, but let's remember that we hurt ourselves if we talk negatively about our guy.

[Craig Roberts]

1. You know

It's possible it will be a good thing if the media succeeds in spinning this as a victory for Cheney. This debate wasn't as important as the next two. If we had two Demo victories in a row, the media would be under a lot of pressure to have a Republican victory to "balance" things out. There is no way the media could acknowledge a Democratic victory for ALL the debates. If we have to lose a debate, this one was the one to lose.

Just some thoughts. Please don't yell at me.

[murielm99]

2. I think there might be quite a few elderly people who

did not know that Cheney voted against Wheels on Meals. Seniors vote, and that may make them angry.

If African-Americans were not aware before that he voted against the MLK holiday, they know it now. Any who were leaning B/C should take note of that.

I think those two points alone might help some undecideds.

[DemBones DemBones]

6. We must be sure that everyone has heard about

the 17% increase in Medicare premiums that will take effect in January. Edwards mentioned it tonight and that may be the first many have heard about it, since the news was released on a Friday afternoon last month.

People living entirely or primarily on Social Security benefits, which includes disabled Americans as well as retirees, will have a difficult time affording such a large increase in their Medicare premiums. This is the biggest increase in premiums since Medicare began. On top of the "drug benefits" that benefit the drug companies, rather than retirees, this should show people that Bush* will not help the elderly, though he'll say he will.

[SKKY]

3. An apparently just about every major news poll agrees with us...

...Because even Fox's poll from their website had Edwards winning the debate. But, I agree 110% with you chaska- let's celebrate, have fun, enjoy the moment, but we need to get right back on the clock and take care of business. We've got less than a month and soooooo much can happen in a month.

[DemBones DemBones]

4. Edwards didn't try to rebut every barb tossed his way,

a fact which annoyed some DUers. But if he had been constantly saying, "No, that's not true," he'd have wasted time and appeared too thin-skinned.

When he picked up his young son Jack, I told my husband that's a vote-getting move. Not that I think that's why he did it, he's a loving father who picks up his kids like any other parent of little ones. But it never hurts a candidate to have cute young kids. That's probably why most presidents have dogs: a lack of a cute human child as a prop for photo ops. Grown children don't elicit quite the same feelings in voters. I was surprised when Bill Clinton moved to the White House and Socks was the only pet in residence. I thought it showed a lot of confidence, really. Pundits commented when he got Buddy in his second term that it was to help his image and that may have been part of it.

[ClassWarrior]

5. WE'RE not saying that JE lost to Cheney...

...our impolite "guests" are. WE know that JE mopped up the floor with Voldemort Cheney*.

23.

[BlueEyedSon]

7. Cheney lost because his lies are so transparent

[secular_warrior]

8. The "world is not watching" anything on here

This is an internet message board where people come to express their opinions.

If I think Edwards lost (and I do think he lost) I'll say so.

I thought we were the Democratic party ?

It is our diversity of people and opinion that makes us different from them. We are open. We hammer out our problems, not hide them. That is what makes us better and stronger than them. Once we lose that we might as well be them.

We should always spin the party line to our Republican and swing voter friends in real life, but this is a forum Democrats to share our opinions. If we can't give our true thoughts here, where can we ? So what if a few Republican internet surfers see what we're saying ? At least they'll see we aren't robots who march in lock step.