Bush supporters seem genuinely surprised by his performance.

[Jade Fox]

Did these people not know what he is like? We do. Where have they been
for the last four years? Where were they during Bush's press conferences
this year (both of them) when he acted the same way?

Bush supporters have clearly spent a lot of time bending over backwards
to believe their own spin about him.

Wake up folks: This is your guy.

[tomfodw]

1. Bartlett said, "What you see is what you get"

I imagine that's what's scaring the Bushies.

[tridim]

2. Maybe they're finally passing the denial stage

What's the next stage? Fear?

[MallRat]

7. Anger. I don't want to be around for that.

That could get ugly.

Followed by bargaining (if you vote for me, I'll give you a new puppy!), depression (I can't believe we lost), and finally, acceptance (well, time to go back to the ranch).

-MR

[BootinUp]

10. LOL

I was sort of thinking, will Bush be like Nixon, you know sort of a scorned hermit.

[Jade Fox]

15. LOL--I hope Bush offers new puppies for votes in the next debate!

[ClassWarrior]

18. If he does, I'm buying a cat.

Or maybe a pet goat.

23.

[bush equals idiot]

24. Sleaze beyond our wildest imagination.

[Search Party]

3. this is the price rove pays for keeping him shielded

pathetic display

[no_hypocrisy]

4. The Emperor has no clothes.

[Jade Fox]

13. It is that syndrome, isn't it.

"Bush is a strong, decisive leader."

Repeat that often enough and it takes on a life of its own, even in the
face of contradictory reality!

[deutsey]

5. Propaganda image, meet pathetic reality

[democracy eh]

6. It is a big bubble

room for alot of people in there

just not enough to win this election

[txindy]

8. The side-by-side comparison

was too obvious for anyone to explain away, even *'s supporters.

[Demit]

9. they've never seen his act for a full, sustained 90 minutes.

[rock]

11. "Seemingly genuine" is their best suit

after lying.

[xxqqqzme]

12. that kool-aid starting

2 get a little bitter?

[democratreformed]

23. or sour? n/t

[Nevernose]

14. Watching soundbites

I watched the debate with a couple of repubs (both of whom thought Kerry clearly won), and the main reason they thought Kerry won was that Shrub has no substance, only little-bitty soundbites.

[PittLib]

26. Yeah - I watched with my Kerry supporting Repub friend ...

(total debate team type). Afterward he received a phone call from a Repub group asking what he thought of the debate - and my friend said Bush was awful and lost all but perhaps one point ... and the guy from the group agreed! I also got a number to call for a repub conference call ... and when people began saying that Kerry was the clear winner, the guy suggested that they had been infiltrated by democrats. God forbid any republicans would be bright enough to recognize their guy was trounced.

[prayin4rain]

16. I hate W and I thought he would do better than this...

He did better against Gore, and Gore is smarter than him too. He has just been too wrong for too long, he is finally running out of excuses.

[Jade Fox]

17. I just got done reading "Bush On the Couch", so....

was really not surprised.

In the book author Franks says that Bush cannot bear to be criticized,
contradicted, made to look at the effects of his actions, or have to study
anything for very long. He labels Bush a meglomaniac. He says Bush
genuinely believes that if he feels something is right, than it is.

[prayin4rain]

20. Sounds about right... I just didn't realize he would go down so easily

I thought it was great when Kerry said something like -let me just say that just because the president says it doesn't make it true- in regards to China and the North Korea situation.

"On North Korea, Bush charged that Kerry's proposal to have direct talks with North Korea would end the six-nation diplomacy that the administration has pursued over Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions. Kerry has said he would continue the six-party talks as well, but Bush said direct talks with North Korea would drive away China, a key player in the negotiations.

But each of the other four countries in the talks have held direct talks with North Korea during the six-party process — and China has repeatedly asked the Bush administration to talk directly with North Korea. Moreover, the Bush administration has talked directly to North Korean diplomats on the sidelines of the six-party talks, and Powell met with his North Korean counterpart over the summer."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6144991/?GT1=5472

[SammyWinstonJack]

21. I heard a caller on Cspan this morning talking about that book

She was from Fla. She quoted that very same observation of bush* from the book.

[Jade Fox]

25. You would think Bush's handlers would....

want to check out the info in that book, and work with Bush about not
going nuclear when, for instance, someone criticizes his actions.

They are not as smart as they think.

[girl gone mad]

27. Like the Kerry campaign said..

Bush had a record of failure to defend and he failed to defend it.

[ClassWarrior]

19. While many of us passed from ABB voters to Kerry voters last night...

...I think we're starting to see a whole, new, HUGE segment of the public finally starting to understand ABB.

23.

[LittleClarkie]

28. I think alot of people hit the next level last night

I think some undecideds, both dem and repub, bumped into Kerry's camp last night.

Several ABB'ers bumped into the "strong" Kerry catagory.

And "strong" Kerry people are ready to follow him into hell.

It was great down at Kerry HQ today. People coming in to volunteer for the first time. People coming in to get t-shirts and yard signs, which have magically appeared overnight and are plentiful.

(Did Kerry plan it this way? Right after the debate have all the yard signs appear all at once for maximum benefit, as if the debate swayed a bunch of people. Very smart if so.

And the volunteers that have been there all along are on a high right now, energized. It was a good feeling.

I took them some supplies, a few flyers I've printed out like "Imagine President Kerry" and some of the "Where was Bush before 9/11" and such. I only had time to do a few canvass calls, but it was something at least. I'll be back Monday.

[Arugula Latte]

22. It's hard to believe they didn't notice it before.

Uh, guys, you know that mean little troll slumped over the podium? That arrogant little prick spouting soundbites over and over? That nasty POS with his failed policies and lies? THAT'S who you've been propping up for four years?

Pathetic.