Does anyone feel positive about the debate tonight?

[0007]

[BeatleBoot]

1. Count me in!

[Romberry]

2. I feel...hopeful

I'm also more than a little afraid.

[Envisioned]

4. why are you afraid?

n/t

[Romberry]

8. Because so much is riding on the outcome....

...and because the Bush campaign a much better response operation in place to spin the results.

[tigereye]

50. according to what I have read

the debates have little impact... however, Kerry does need to be smart and presidential. And he is supposed to be a good "closer" in a contest. Don't worry.

[Demit]

3. I'm positive I'm dreading it because of the "commentariat"...

[0007]

5. I'm trying to stay positive but when I think back on all the dirty tricks

I find myself very apprehensive and stressed.

[oldsneakers]

12. speaking of dirty tricks

I saw a news crawl on MSRNC last night that chief puppeteer Karl Rove was quoted as saying that the * campaign had a couple of "October surprises" up their sleeve. anyone know anything about this? They wouldn't dare pull Bin Laden out of a hat now-would they?
I think If they tried to do this it would be such an obvious political ploy that there would be outrage all over the country.

[Was_Immer]

6. NO

But then again I tested negative :)

[H2O Man]

7. Very much so!

It's going to be a great day for Kerry supporters! Enjoy the show.

[0007]

17. I'm gonna try to ride your wave, wet suit and all,

but I think I'm gonna need an extra shot of oxygen.

[H2O Man]

38. Hopefully the oxygen you take

will help to deprive some from the single-celled brain of the fellow Kerry is debating tonight. I understand that Bush is capable of delivering smirky one-liners, and of lying and distorting the truth. But he's up against a former DA tonight. Bush will come off as slightly less sincere than Scott Peterson and a little less able to control his repulsive impulses that OJ.

We are on our way! Kerry is going to do to Bush what Bernard Hopkins did to Oscar De La Hoya. This, in fact, is why MSNBC is running the beautiful film clip of Kerry walking with Hopkins. Bernard taught him a secret strategy that will be unveiled tonight.

[Wind Dancer]

40. You are always so reassuring, H20!

:hi:

I am just concerned that Karl Rove will pull off something totally unexpected - I will use deep breathing exercises to relax as I watch tonight.

My desire is for Kerry to speak from the heart with all of the passion and conviction that he used back in 1972 to address Congress re: the Vietnam War. I still remember how powerful that was along with the Dick Cavett interview with O'Neill when I was a teenager.

We will all be spiritually together during the debates through our shared visions, prayers and positive energy - that gives me great comfort.

[H2O Man]

43. What you are hoping for

is exactly what we are going to see tonight. You'll see the spirit of JFK, MKL, and RFK moving Kerry; and you'll see Bush channeling Nixon and Agnew.(grin) This is going to give us the energy to transform America into what its good potential is. And no dark force/neocon conspiracy will stop us. This is our night!

[0007]

44. The Cretins lurking in the background is what makes me nervous

Like the man that convinced the Supreme Court that junior should be prez and that same man is the man that defended those Saudi fat cats against the 911 victims.

And we all know that Thomas Kean, James A. Baker III and Henry Kissinger are close friends and friends with the bush family.

[H2O Man]

65. If Kerry were debating Baker

there would be reason for concern. Luckily, he's debating George W. Bush. And Kerry is going to wipe the floor with him.

[emulatorloo]

9. YES! cautiously optimistic! and here's why:

1 Happy that punditry has set expectations low for Kerry - their message is "Kerry can't possibly win." We know better. And they will be surprised.

2 Happy that Kerry will get to present himself UNFILTERED by CNN et al, and UNSUMMARIZED by CNN et al to voters.

3. Happy that FOX has decided to violate the "Rules" by showing reaction shots. Frankly I thought their camera pool coverage of on of the Dem Primary Debates was fine. They may hope to embarrass Kerry w reaction shots, but it is not going to work out that way.

[cali]

10. absolutely

The contrast between Kerry's gravitas and Bush's smirking lightweight persona will be a stark one. From all reports Bush is feeling overconfident. Good. May his fall be a hard one.

[vonSchloegel]

11. If a candidate falls in a debate

And nobody's watching,

Does it still make a noise?

[Imalittleteapot]

13. I am positive

that it will not be a debate. I am positive that the media will focus on whether or not Kerry breaks a sweat, his tan, and his more than 5 (boring) word answers.

I am confident that Kerry will make us proud.

[wildeyed]

14. I am nervous.

I haven't been following the negotiations, but I did read that Faux was controlling the cameras, which doesn't bode well for Kerry. Plus I have been spreading the 'Bush is a Master Debater' meme for so long, I kind of believe it myself, now.

I can't watch, anyway, I have a voter registration event tonight. Signing up new voters for Kerry!

[Raster]

15. I am POSITIVE....

....John Kerry is gonna wipe the floor with gee-dumbya!

[Dangerman]

16. I am scared as hell.

Who knows what the corporate media has in their dirty little hands to put Kerry in the GOP's trap.

[truthpusher]

18. Not sure what to think....

....the Bushies have been so repetitive that I am wondering if * can spend 90 minutes (45 for *) without coming across as simple and manipulative. Regarding Kerry I am wondering if he is planning on throwing us a surprise....Lately Kerry has been surprising me with his ability to connect.
I don't know about other DU'ers, but personally I have been noticing friends, relatives and some people on TV and radio becoming quite emotional (Cameron Diaz on Oprah yesterday :cry: )...I wonder if Kerry will feel the same thing and have this come across to the viewers?

[louis c]

19. I like the low expectations for Kerry

I thought the other side would win that game.

It's all up to JK now. He has the skill, the opponent, and the right expectation position to knock out the f**king asshole.

[johnnie]

20. I'm feeling positive

I'm not letting the media and the bush freaks tell me what I am to think. The message is being sent out that bush will win this, and people are falling for it. It's bullshit.
I am sure that Kerry will come across just fine and get his message out. Hell, bush might even make a fool out of himself again.

[Mad_Dem_X]

21. I feel positive!

I'm sure that Kerry is going to come off as the better, more intelligent candidate. Now, whether the media is going to report the debate fairly, or just kiss Bush's ass no matter what, is another story. I intend to watch the debate and then shut the TV off immediately after.

[WLKjr]

22. I feel a nervous kind of positive

Tonight, my fellow DU'ers, if things go as they should go......we will see a turning point in history and witness the fall of GWB.


Kerry is going to make history with these debates I feel, I can't wait till I get off work tonight to see it.



You just gotta believe that it is going to happen, you just gotta believe.......Kerry/Edwards in a landslide.

[Evergreen Emerald]

23. I don't feel positive...

...because Bush has succeeded in limiting the debate with his 32-pages of prohibitions that it will be two talking heads with no real debate. Even Bush can memorize his talking points--and that is all he will be doing is regergitating his lines.

[WLKjr]

33. Your sipping the Kool-aid

stop now while you still have a chance! :)

[0007]

35. I hope your 100% right on!

[Suziq]

24. Extremely Confident!

Kerry is going to wipe the floor with the Liar in Chief.

All Kerry has to do is make Bush lose his temper . . . Not a pretty sight!

:hippie:

[Riptide]

25. I have confidence in Kerry, it is the pundits I am worried about...

I know that I can just turn off the tube. My vote is secure.

But, I worry about the rest of America, who will be watching as the talking heads fawn all over Bush. Whenever any of them talk about Kerry they will have an expression on their face like someone just put a steaming pile on crap on their desk.

[RobinA]

26. Resigned

would be how I describe my present mood. Bush will be his usual dumb self, they will both spout platitudes, Kerry will come across better because he can speak the language, Bush will be declared the winner.

[Jim__]

27. If Kerry comes out swinging, I think he wins - n/t

[suegeo]

28. I think the media will back the Shrub

Regardless of what actually get said, the media will spin it to make their boy Bush look great.

They get paid to make their boy Bush look good. They won't call their boy Bush on his lies or incompetence.

The media is the enemy.

And even if Bush crashes miserably, the republicans won't budge. They will follow their boy over a cliff. (Witness the support for the moron even after the failure on 9.11, the stupid invasion of Iraq, the loss of jobs, the trashed economy, and so on.) It's a cult, and they won't be re-programmed.

[Charles19]

34. Ditto, Fox and the rest have the spin all ready to go

It's too bad and people should stop putting up with it.

[TahitiNut]

36. Agreed. Within seconds, the sheeple will be TOLD WHAT TO THINK.

The public perception of the 'debate' will be predominantly determined by spin and misrepresentations rather than by first-hand judgment.

It's an ABSOLUTE GUARANTEE that the major media (CBS, MS/NBC, ABC, PBS, CNN, and FOX) will describe the dog turd as a Baby Ruth bar, it's odor as pleasant, and it's taste as sweet. Even if Dimson were to break down and froth at the mouth, it'd be described as a criticism of Kerry.

[AmerDem]

29. I have a positive spin on all of this

Given the fact the rules of the debate are stacked against Kerry and are set up to protect shrub as much as possible I still see Kerry taking shrub apart piece by piece. Kerry will come off in a higher regard for not only out debating shrub but doing it under such restricted conditions.

[MadHound]

30. Yes, and no

I feel positive that Kerry will wipe the floor with Bush, that much is for certain. However, I am fearful that no matter how badly Bush does, the media will provide spin and cover for him, thus we will be seeing headlines tommorrow morning declaring Bush the victor. Thus, every brain dead sheep who didn't watch the debate will have their Rush/Faux prechewed views validated, and won't question a thing when all of the major media outlets marvel at Bush's intelligence and wit.

This is a rigged game we're playing, that much should be obvious from the '00 election. Bush would have to come out and admit that he is indeed the anti-christ before the media reports he is an evil idiot. All of the media outlets are already in the pocket of Bushco, excepting possibly CBS, and they have been and will continue to be gunshy ever since the memo fiasco. Thus, they too will fall in line with the rest, just so they can avoid the dreaded label of "damn liburl media".

So hopefully the vast majority of viewers tonight are undecideds, and will see Bush for the evil idiot he is. If these people rely on the morning after reports, then we are toast, for everyone, from Faux to NPR will be praising the virtues of Bush in the morning, no matter what.

[Carey46955]

31. I'm confident

that Kerry will wipe the floor with the Chimp.

And then the punditocracy will fall all over themselves praising W's "common touch" and declaring Kerry to be a stiff.

But I'm more and more convinced that none of this matters. After all, the same thing happened in 2000 with Gore and he still won the election. I think it's all about turnout at this point. If all the people who are newly registered actually come out and vote, Bush and his henchmen will be toast. Plain and simple.

[CrispyQ]

37. I totally agree with you!

Kerry will win, but it won't matter. Most people's minds are made up & are not going to change. As for the undecided voter, who gives a crap about them. Let's just make sure the decided Dem voters get to the polls then we won't need any undecideds. BTW, how the hell can anyone be undecided at this point in time?

[Edgewater_Joe]

32. I'm Getting There

Just noted on LIBERAL OASIS that the Bushistas think this is a slam-dunk, and as a result they aren't doing quite as much lowering of expectations -- that will only help Kerry tonight. Plus, Bagdad is in flames again.

For Kerry to win he needs to keep hammering away that Bush is dangerously out of touch on damn near everything in the world: Iraq, jobs, environment, brains, ethics, common sense, you name it.

A big one coming up for The Closer tonight.

[Killer Poodle]

39. Very positive.

I personally feel very positive about it. I think these debates are going to have a HUGE effect on undecided voters.

GO KERRY!

[Ladyhawk]

41. The Bushistas have set up the rules to favor *.

This makes me nervous, especially the spinning the media will do afterward. Some people just can't think for themselves.

I'm hoping all the rules will box Bush* in and backfire. We'll see if the Kerry campaign is finally wising up.

[canuckybee]

42. I almost wish there were no debates

Kerry is inching ahead in the polls every single day. I believe this is going to continue. And I also believe he is much further ahead than the polls indicate. If the election were held today Kerry would win. If he is made to look like he screwed up in the debates, it will work against us. I am scared shitless, I admit it.

[The Night Owl]

45. The probability that Smirk will screw up...

The probability that Smirk will screw up is much higher than the probability that Kerry will screw up. That said, Bush is a screwup, and as such, the Murkans tend to cut him too much slack. So, basically, Kerry is going into the debates with a handicap.

Do I feel positive about the debate? Yes. Kerry has a good chance to beat Bush. Am I nervous about the debate? Yes.

[0007]

56. He'll screw it up tonight for sure.

[0007]

57. He'll screw it up tonight for sure.

[0007]

60. junior will screw it up tonight also.

[progressivebydesign]

46. Abso-fuckin-lutely!!!

I really feel great about the debates! Kerry has the advantage.. he's got the personality and wit and gravitas!

[MattNC]

47. mixed feelings - nervous

As some of the other posts have mentioned, I'm more worried about the talking heads after the debate is over.

[CatWoman]

48. I feel positive that you're my sweetheart

:D

:hi:

[0007]

53. Hi sweetness,

:hi:
:bounce:
:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Quahog]

49. Anxious. Hopeful.

I don't believe Kerry will adopt a new personna for the debate. I think he'll be himself, and I think he'll wipe the floor with the monkey. The pundits will, naturally, call it for bush*. But I'm hoping the difference in the caliber of these two human beings is so abundantly clear that the pundit-puke doesn't matter.

Yeah, I'm feeling positive.

[goodboy]

51. Anyone should feel positive about debating a mentally-challenged

opponent...eom

[CrowNotAngelGRL]

52. Sorta

I am with Kerry but not how the media will protray things.... You know how they love their sound bites! XOXO.

[sweetheart]

54. Kerry is gonna do just fine

I've every confidence. We are united behind him.
Go for it Senator, you've got the charm! :-)

[Skittles]

55. no

the media will spin it as a Bush win no matter what happens

[Qanisqineq]

66. I'm with you

I am dreading all their crap afterwards. I am not afraid of Kerry messing up, but I am afraid of Dubya NOT screwing up. Either way, Bush will win. If he doesn't screw up -- he is just a great, intelligent leader. If he does screw up and make some gaff -- he's a regular guy, someone you'd like to have a beer with.

:puke:

I have to admit, I was always of the mind, "this will be an easy win on Nov. 2nd for Kerry". Now I have a bad feeling about it. I am hoping it is just a phase.

[Marxdem]

58. I fear the lights will go out

I think that if Kerry is pounding the chimp too much the lights will go out or some other "unforseen problem".

[RebelOne]

59. I'm trying to feel positive, but it is difficult.

I think the "liberal" media has already declared Bush the winner.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

61. Positively positive. :)

[OneTwentyoNine]

62. You DAMN right I AM

All this BS geared toward how Kerry REALLY needs to prove himself. WHAT?? Against what we've endured from George W Bush for nearly four years? NO,Bush needs to PROVE to Americans that his next four years won't be total disasters like his first four.

Kerry will be fine. Em...when's the last time you saw Bush give a really stirring speech? The village idiot can't put a sentence together,he'll bungle along on this one just like he always does.

David

[Gwerlain]

63. I think the results depend...

on whether Kerry is prepared to take the offensive. I've been waiting for that the whole time. I just don't have a great feeling that he's prepared to do that. I hope I'm wrong and he does.

Maybe it was too long and he didn't want to give them a lot of time to respond. It would be sweet to watch them try to play the "he was mean to me" card.

[NEDem]

64. I'm nervous,

I have a horrible feeling that even if Kerry tears the shrub apart limb by limb the media is going to say * won. I don't trust the 'pundits' I believe they are all bought and paid for by the WH. I will watch and then turn it off immediately after its over.

[htuttle]

67. I feel good, and I'm not scared at all

I just feel kind of... kind of invincible... Is it getting hot in here, or is it just me?

[mconvente]

68. I got that playoff game feeling

You fellow sports fans know it. It's that feeling when you're team, your precious team, is in the playoffs. You're super confident, yet have butterflies in your stomach. You can taste victory, but there's always the possibility of an upset. Well people tonight I have that feeling. I just can't help it. I'm confident Kerry is gonna do very well. Stage 2 of take back the White House officially starts tonight. Hopefully we'll have a double october surprise this year - Red Sox win the World Series and Kerry to the White House!