What about Poland?

Perhaps my optimism was overblown (as I was looking for any reason to cheer against Bush at 2AM in England), but I still see it as a very effective night for Kerry the morning after. Let the narrative spin out. Sullivan has some great commentary today and I would highlight a number of quotes. Take this one:

In stark contrast to the Bush-Gore debates, it was Bush who was grimacing, furrowing his brow, almost rolling his eyes and at the very beginning, looking snippy and peevish. He seemed defensive throughout and because his record was front and center - and Kerry's long record in the Senate almost unmentioned - he was actually on the defense.

As he says later, at the very least it was a draw on Bush's hometurf, which is just cause for celebration. Surely we always have key lines that we would love to have thrown into the post-mortem, but I was extremely pleased most of all about the demeanor of the two men. And in a debate in which you cannot ever expect an all-out "win", you have conservatives lamenting and Kerry supporters rather pleased. A lasting image I have is of Bush crying out "what about Poland?" as if they are a crucial ally in the Iraq war. Bush looks flabbergasted and out of his league, while Kerry (ever the prosecutor) brushes it aside gently to continue his meticulous deconstruction of the Bush record. I think this is why Kerry is the nominee, because none of his primary opponents could have bested Bush in precisely this (right) way. MSNBC's poll had Kerry 68% and Bush 32% on who won today. I am not saying that this means anything, but in the next few days, leading into Edwards/Cheney, it gives Kerry some momentum back. All you could have hoped for and more. It is what he needed, and what he got.