Fox isn't analyzing. Theyre debating what Bush should've debated about.

i am in a chatroom with right wingers they are nuts.

Instapoll from of "Undecideds" from CBS has BIG gain for Kerry. Like 51% to 35%

hey did anyone catch the new Bushism? Mooooooooooo lahs.

On FOX Lockhart says "Bush's smirk" will be the new "Gore's sigh"

i dont think it was a smirk; i think he was pissed. those were pursed lips. he was anxious; looked like he was having intestinal discomfort.

Kerry set the agenda. Kerry was Presidential. Bush was annoyed, uncomfortable and incoherent.

Kerry's admission about the $87 billion was amazing.

Bush mistook Saddam for Bin Laden TWICE. And Kerry spanked him.

(I caught the Moooolah too, John)

NBC's small undecideds focus group: "Strong consensus for Kerry"

"I never saw the President this passionate or more articulate or on his game plan!" - Hannity on Fox

(The Righties are unusual quiet tonight on the BRAD BLOG!...Hmmm...Waiting for marching orders? Mixing up a new pitcher of Kool-aid? Let's hear from ya Righties! How'd your man do?!)

91% to 9% on CNN QuickPoll online! Go Vote!

i am with a roomful on another site. they are talking about everything except the debate.

71% - 29% for Kerry at MSNBC. Go Vote Here too!

i think the angriest Bush got was when Kerry said help is on the way

Fox's Campaign Carl Cameron (who's wife works for the Bush Campaign) says "Media concensus says Kerry won. Instant flash polls says Kerry won by as much as 10%"

I was in the car so I missed the visual cues, but at minute 47, I heard Bush completely lose his train of thought... it was as if, dare I say it, he felt overmatched! I think that was also the very moment that the talking points he spent the last 24 hours trying to memorize finally ran out and he was forced into really thinking on his feat.

"Ciscero" or whatever else the Right wants to call him, Kerry sounds Presidential ; Bush sounds scared.

Good to know how they sounded on the radio (given the famous "Kennedy won on TV, but Nixon won for radio audiences" thing).

I must admit Kerry looked very "Presidential" tonight - and BB readers know I've never been a big Kerry guy - and Bush looked...well, much less than. Frankly. The media spin seems to agree. But that may be because Rush hasn't hit the air yet. Stay tuned.

I’m glad Kerry finally stopped pulling punches and nailed Bush on Bush’s many failures. He cleared up the $87B “flip-flop” and laid out specifics. He told the truth about the mess we’re in but laid out a strong and optimistic plan for his presidency. Bush seemed to be reeling that Lehrer and Kerry didn’t let him get away with cute and nonsensical platitudes. He stayed vague to the point of silliness, and Kerry’s line about Bush being “certain but wrong” was the most memorable of the night.

AMIR TALAI!!!! THE BOY WHO WAS BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY!!!!!!

Glad to hear from ya.

The right of course is changing expectations. Bush won because he didn't lose by the largest of margins the RNC would throw out there.

He lost by enough to where only paid Republican operatives and shitheads like Hannity claimed he won.

And what's up with Bush breaking his own rules. The only red light Blinky thing went of during his ramblings....

oh and Moooooolah. WTF?

actual debate quote from Dubya: "I understand everybody in this country doesn't agree with every decision I've made"
Finally, he tells the truth.

our consulate showed the debate over the lunch period. I don't think it's appropriate to offer my own views, but I will say that our Indian employees who watched scored it a resounding win for Kerry. But Bush is not popular at all here.

our consulate showed the debate over the lunch period. I don't think it's appropriate to offer my own views, but I will say that our Indian employees who watched scored it a resounding win for Kerry. But Bush is not popular at all here.

Enjoy your liberal lick fest but Bush will still win in November.

Paul, you're hilarious. HILARIOUS! You can't even ADMIT that Kerry dominated, and ultimately walked away with this debate. I'm not a sore winner, but you sure seem a sore loser.

Now to be fair, later on in the evening I was able to catch the first 35 minutes, having only seen the last 50 of the debate when it first aired. Bush was much more on his game early on.

Yet he withered, it's like he only had a half hour's worth of material, and not great material at that. How many times did he say the 'You can't be a commander in chief and DENIGRATE the efforts of the military, or WRONG WAR, WRONG TIME' crap?

Nanna nanna boo boo, and it nonetheless failed him. It was incredible, he had no comeback or legitimate talking points to offer, so he went back to that. Name-calling.

Now I understand that those on the right were probably pleased by that. Anyone who watched only the first 30 minutes and then shut off would have seen a much different debate, and that Bush continually hammered his simple phrases home again and again must have provided some kind of relief for them.

But in the long run, Kerry was a massive tortoise, not only finishing the marathon but running a couple of laps around Bush. He was strong, solid, relaxed (stiff, but that's Kerry), and very smart. The clear victor, biased or no. As Brad said, very Presidential. I was taken aback.

Bush on the other hand, started with a chip on his shoulder. Bothered, annoyed that he had to be there to defend his actions. He's the f*&#ing President for G*d's sake, he answers to NO ONE! When his few attacks (the flip-flop, shot down)(the 'denigrating' comments, shot down), or parries, were debunked, he began to look bored then petulant then outright defensive.

Give Bush his props, a very strong opening. AND to his credit came off a number of times as having knowledge and vision, even if I disagreed with him. Certainly in those beginning minutes he impressed me far more than I expected, and has come a loooong way in these four years. Remember the last debates? Sheesh.

But the least he could do was come out and be more knowledgeable than four years ago. Well hooray, he was. He could have done so much more. I heard a pundit speaking about how they usually set the bar so low for Bush, and underestimate him, that he surprises and impresses. This time, the bar was set at the median, and he just barely lived up.

Lastly, he ultimately did what he said the president should never do, and that's wilt. He wilted under the cool assaults from Kerry, and I was embarrassed for him. And VERY surprised by Kerry. Again, a clear victory, biased or no.

And the race is on again. Thankfully.

Kerry won the debate. The polls have not changed!

Kerry also lied.

The questions favored Kerry - made to put Bush on the defensive. Did they aske about Kerry's senate record? No.

I watched and tape the whole thing.

Bush will still win the election is all I am saying.

Paul said, in desperation, said:

"Kerry also lied."

And again, you've been asked several times now, what is this lie you keep referring to without any specifics?

"The questions favored Kerry - made to put Bush on the defensive."

Um...no...the FACTS may favor Kerry (those goddamn biased facts again!) but not the questions.