Do You Realize That if he pulls of a 3-Fer, Kerry...

[liberalpragmatist]

... would likely become the undisputed frontrunner? If Kerry puts in an impresssive performance on Friday, then another one the following week, he may well pull away from Bush and be in the clear lead for the last 2 or 3 weeks of the race?

While certainly it might make it less *exciting* that could well make it far easier on all of us Nov. 2. If Kerry consistently leads by 5 or 6 points or more for the weeks leading up to the election, it won't even be close.

Suddenly I'm getting quite excited. Again, don't get complacent, and be on guard - he could come back. But I think we may be seeing the first rays of a new dawn.

[NoodleBoy]

1. I'm concered about the next couple of debates

because Bush could always pull what his dad did to Dukakis ("my opponent doesn't think schoolchildren should recite the pledge of allegiance and I do!") with either gay marriage or abortion. if it happens, and even if Kerry clearly wins that debate, that soundbite will resonate.

[KharmaTrain]

6. Soundbites Is All They Can Hope For

A very great point!

Reading the string in Freeperville, one internal spin was how Bunnypants should use Kerry's words for soundbites (Global Test anyone???) and pound it into their own hive (always works) and see how well it sticks in the mainstream media as well. Looks like that tact failed, now for option two...

Bunnypants always gets in trouble when he tries to answer a question. The game now will be for him NOT to. Just like his "press conferences"...ask him any question and he'll give you the soundbite Rove and Hughes wants out there. Mention job losses and you'll get a 2 minute cliche routine about tax cuts. Direct your question to health care costs or oil and you'll hear about how we're at war and we have to stay the course.

Rove knows he doesn't have friends in the media and can't control the spin if his boy flops again, so instead of giving Kerry the chance to attack again, I expect manchild to be so soundbity and "pithy"...looking for that golden soundbite or zinger that will be the media play for the next few days.

No doubt they're in the bunker in the White House right now scheming on how they can divert attention off the debates and manufacture something to put Kerry back on the defensive. Stay tuned, this will be a very telling week.

[secular_warrior]

14. the one key difference:

no applause and no handlers to protect him from the moderator's questions.

If Bush gives the scripted answer, he will look as stupid as he did in the first debate. And of course Kerry will be there to hammer him.


The one thing I worry about Bush, is his coming back with humor and folksy BS, and not really answering any questions. He got away with a lot of that in 2000. Bush is at his best when he's not defiant or angry, but folksy, like he was for his convention speech a few months ago.

[Newsjock]

2. The media whores won't let it happen

Because a race that isn't even close equals lower ratings, which equals less profit.

Yes, that's the state of our democracy today. What are we gonna do about it?

[fujiyama]

3. The hell with exciting

I just want Bush out of office.

My stomach is in knots over this election. I'm losing sleep over it.

Kerry has done a bit to alieviate my fears over the last few days (the debate mostly)...So, I am cautiously optimistic. I hope you're correct that this is the begining of the end of this administration.

[donheld]

4. lets not get over confident

I have great hope that it happens exactly as you say, but lets just take it one step at a time. Kerry never looked better Thursday night. We still have a long way to go, and we must keep fighting every step of the way. Maybe my faith is weak, i don't wanna declare victory before it's time

[aquart]

9. Don't. Let's keep our underdog status as long as possible.

And remember, George said a Kerry victory "won't happen." So he believes the fix is sufficiently in on those voting machine his friends sold the states.

I kept hoping the hurricanes would head straight for the voting machines.

[Renew Deal]

5. A Liberal pragmatist gets excited?

Now that's exciting.

[CityHall]

7. New GOP excuse...

Did you notice Bush looked so much shorter than Kerry?
That's only because he was standing on his record.

[Arancaytar]

8. "Unfair Advantage" of height

Didn't Bush's campaign representatives, in the pre-debate negotiation, try to push through something to offset the supposed 'advantage of height'? Greater distance between the podiums, or a raised podium for Bush, I forget what.

If they're concentrating on that, they must be desperate by now.

[opihimoimoi]

11. Humpty Dumpty Bush will never be the same again

All the Kings Men and all the Kings horses will fail to glue the guy back into one piece.....

Bush is in disarray, distraught, flummoxed, confused, bewildered, and brain dead.....he is Toast.

[progdonkey]

10. not to be over-confident, but...

Kerry is guaranteed, at the very least, a two-for-three. The overall plan was for the debates to go as follows: Bush strength; even chances; Kerry strength.

Kerry indisputably won the first debate, which was supposed to play to Bush's strength: Foreign Policy/Terrorism. This has put off the whole Bush momentum.

The third is concerning Domestic Policy and--barring a Bush-like meltdown--a definite Kerry win.

That just leaves the second, which is in a Town Hall format--supposedly Bush's best format--and the topics are open-ended, so there's a possibility of a Bush win or a true draw. Considering his horrible performance in the first, and his need to rally, however, it is highly unlikely he will win... but it could happen.

I think the most realistic stance to take is that we are looking at a twofer, which is still quite remarkable, but is enough for Bush to hang on and keep the race extremely close. If we set our expectations as high as a threefer, we stand a high chance of disappointment.

What should comfort us, though, is that the GOP seems ready to opt out of the second debate--the only one that Bush has any chance of winning! If they do something so stupid, Kerry has a guaranteed shut-out, putting him in excellent position going into the actual election.

So, you can go out and buy the champagne; just don't pop the corks yet. :toast:

edit: didn't finish a sentence :dunce:

[mumon]

12. remember October surprise...

Even if Kerry does a 3-fer, we still have to work our butts off.

[VOX]

13. This what has me concerned...

These right-wing bastards are not just going to go quietly.

Expect the unexpected.