Random Chronological Thoughts....

OK - here we go... start at the bottom for the beginning. NOTE - time will be stated locally (ie. 9PM EST = 2AM here) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3:30 AM - Is it just me, or did Bush get the last word in every one of the three debates? And solid statements by both men. Off to grab another Stella from my room, and read the North American reactions. But at the moment, I have to see this as a brilliant, confident Kerry performance. Difficult to imagine how he could do more under the circumstances. And so I go back to the post I made after debate #1 - this is the reason that Kerry was judged the most "electable" - showing the gravitas that no other candidate could have shown, the presence and strength no other candidate had at their back. And hilariously, it surprises the Bush camp. Perhaps (if you leave out Big Mac Clinton, of course) only Kerry is capable of skewering Bush as well as he did in these 90 minute segments. Honestly, us skeptics of his candidacy from as far back as November 2002 - went to the Purple Turtle last night for good luck - have to be pleased with these performances. Anxious to hear other opinions, but I do come away happy. 3:25 AM - "We all married up. Maybe me more than you both. But I can take it." - There is a Kerry humour moment that is absolutely appropriate. And an answer that diffuses the Theresa issue as well as any... 3:22 AM - "a lot more loving of our neighbour in this country to do". I judge these debates mostly on Kerry's responses, since I admit no ability to see what people see in Bush II. But I have to think that to this point, Kerry is proving why Democrats decided back in January that Kerry was "electable" - he holds up under this scrutiny at the end. It is why I think he could handle O'Reilly. Just imagine Bush on the Daily Show. I don't think Jon Stewart would be able to handle it... 3:16 AM - "better when they can bid on contracts", says Bush - uh, Halliburton. (though I agree that it is best if Kerry strays away from this.) 3:14 AM - Affirmative action - another Dean question - "mend it, don't end it", Clinton raised again and the NAACP, etc... is this not brilliant? 3:10 AM - ... to his worst point - Democrats have called for the ban on assault weapons? I really like Kerry's response, but would have loved if he had asked which Democrat supports AK-47s. Are there Democrats out there that support this? I would have taken it out to the country to fight, like Bill Clinton! Again, lovely. 3:09 AM - Bush goes to the "comprehensive test" - Kerry suggests a "truth" standard. Interesting. Bush talks about his Father's war in his most effective point thus far. 3:06 AM - "You be the judge." Boom. The % rebuttal was epic, in my thoughts. Bush is being shown out of his league. Again, I am measuring the debate primarily on the ability of Kerry to put Bush on the spot - I confess that I cannot at all judge the effectiveness of President Bush since every response incites anger within me. 3:02 AM - "I will appoint judges that interpret the constitution." THAT IS YOUR ANSWER? Who would appoint a judge that doesn't interpret the constitution? I love Kerry and his willingness to engage the President over and over. That is the key. Is it just me, or is he really shining here? 2:58 AM - "tired of politicians who talk about family values and don't value families." Great line. 2:56 AM - "I will." Kerry is coming across strong, confident, and the debater that we imagined. I do not know if Bush's thoughts on this "outrageous claim" will hit home... wow, Bob Schaffer gave Kerry a huge opportunity here!! Maybe even unfair. And yet here comes a softball on minimum wage. The media bias issue will be focused here. 2:52 AM - 6 Republicans, 5 Democrats, wars, recessions... great work Kerry ... now Bush is trying to say that middle and lower class Americans got the most benefit of his tax cut. It is a dicey proposition here, but Kerry is making his points. And Bush is talking about "fiscal sanity" - you have to be kidding me - is that remotely convincing to you as a Rockefeller Repub, Coop? 2:46 AM - "you just heard the President say..." that is the strategy I hoped Kerry would adopt, and he is rocking it so far. Lovely lovely. Where is Gore's "lockbox" now? 2:44 AM - Bush's healthcare: "the envy of the world" - remember Dean had the great line about every civilized industrialized nation in the world having everyone covered except the U.S. Which country would find the U.S.'s system, with how many million not even covered, better than their own? Not Canada, Sweden, Britain, and on and on.... 2:39 AM - "the President is wrong." - excellent. I think that was nicely done in defending the record. And now a question about Kerry's Healthcare plan. Will he address the Bush ad that has slandered it directly? .... maybe not, but the directness of the idea of CHOICE is perfect, totally undercutting the anticipated Bush response. Now all the President is the cost and size. And here he goes with a weird opening... 2:36 AM - "I sure hope it is not the administration" responsible for the rise in health care costs. Are you kidding me? Yeah, go blame the law suits. This is really pathetic. Bush looks good, but listen to him! 2:32 AM - Kerry quotes the bible beautifully - he is fucking on his game. and Bush responds with his lame "culture of life" - do people see this as weak? "out of the mainstream" seems to be the attack line... this is the Bush strategy, and it is beginning to become all-too clear why it is difficult to run for President as a Senator. But I think Kerry is rebutting him well. 2:31 AM - Dick Cheney's daughter - a nice move into the actual question. Respect is key. What will Sullivan say to this question? The discrimination tack is the right way to tackle this... and states rights. Survival for Kerry on a tough one. 2:28 AM - The far left bank of American politics. An interesting rhetorical turn, but is Kerry's command of all these issues successful in putting this line of criticism down? Bush cannot try and peg Kerry on his "liberal" record in the face of his sheer idiocy - proven. 2:25 AM - "it is your money" - I hate that line. 2:23 AM - American workers subsidizing the outsourcing of jobs - I love Kerry is attacking Bush on specific issues that I doubt he will be able to address directly. It is the challenge to the President - can he rise to it? "whew" he says. Is that the second time in his life he has used the word "litany"? 2:20 AM - Tony Soprano on law and order! Boom! 2:18 AM - exporting jobs = problem in education, says Bush. Will that play to Ohio? He certainly isn't talking about the guy who is unemployed... lovely work by Kerry here to identify this... 2:17 AM - great answer by Kerry - 1st President in 100 years not to veto a budget bill. "Pay go" - can thinking people PLEASE note how Bush has just tried to duck his record by just blaming a "colleague of Senator Kennedy" - pathetic. 2:15 AM - "pay as you go" - "the only President" - is Kerry getting off track... maybe not, because he is back now to getting back to focusing on HOW TO PAY FOR IT. Is it convincing? 2:12 AM - though I should say Bush looks spirited and engaged - " a plan is not a litany of complaints" - and then bait and switch... here is some preparation, and now a GREAT rebuttal by Kerry, I think, with the focus back on prescription drugs. 2:09 AM - Bush can't remember his previous statements about bin Laden, we are subject to way too many repetitions by both candidates of their past talking points on the opening questoin... now Bush is talking about not taking flu shots himself and is blaming lawyers. Where is the ability to address a question? 2:02 AM - Here we go... the audience has agreed to be silent... two red ties... let's get it on. 1.49 AM - The Onion headline moments before the last debate: "Cheney vows to attack U.S. if Kerry is elected." Must I say it again, genius. 1.28 AM - settling in with some Cake and Johnny Cash and Stella Artois. As a point of interest, one of the Irish players in the world cup qualifier tonight against the Faroe Islands was wearing his "livestrong" bracelet. An omen of good luck. More after the opening statements.