So now...

...do you think the Bush people regret giving into three debates, now that their man has squandered his 'home turf' in the first? I bet Vernon Jordan is sipping champagne somewhere. And in terms of aesthetics, three things are on my mind. One, how did the Bush handlers, who do everything with kid gloves, let the POTUS look short, hunched and cowering at the podium, especially in comparison with the VERY presidential-looking Kerry? Ouch. Two, what the hell difference did those lights make? They were distracting, and are the dumbest innovation to debate I've ever seen. Made it look like a game show. Three, does the tie-color always go (D)-Red, (R)-Blue? Notice how Kerry never mentioned Vietnam by name. Genius. Just like the Weld opener in '96. Bottom line: Because Kerry is emerging as the great finisher he's legendarily purported to be, you're going to win that online bet (unless, of course, Bush pulls bin Laden out of a hat). The challenge for Kerry is to keep the momentum in the face of what promises to be a nasty onslaught from the Republicans. And it will be nasty.