By Brad Friedman on 9/30/2004, 10:15pm PT  

Well, it's a long time between tonight and the end of Rush's show tomorrow. So don't count any chickens. It's even longer between the end of Rush's show and November 2nd.

But before they figure out how to turn Bush's crushing loss tonight into a victory, here's a few words from the Wingnuts (who've been conspicuously quiet on the BRAD BLOG here tonight).

On PowerLineBlog (one of the blogs instrumental in "breaking" the CBS Document Scandal of the Millenium), their "Live Debate Blogger" was Hindrocket, who said:

9:00 --- Visually, Kerry is dominating. I'm surprised at Bush's expression when Kerry is talking. He seems irritated, flustered, not in command.

Kerry continue to attack the Iraq war effectively. Was the Bush campaign mistaken in thinking that they wanted the first debate to be on foreign policy?

...And though Hindrocket's bizarre scoring system ended in a victory for Bush somehow of "107 - 103", even he had to admit the obvious:

But, candidly, I don't think it went that well for the President. I think Kerry helped himself tonight. He came across as a credible candidate, and he was usually on the offensive. Bush's demeanor while Kerry was talking wasn't good; anything but commanding.

In Powerline's late-night item, posted an hour or so after the debate, another of their bloggers, deacon, opened his piece with this:

I've taken more than an hour to try to talk myself out of concluding that John Kerry won tonight's debate. I haven't succeeded. Senator Kerry, I think, edged President Bush on substance and, surprisingly, looked better throughout.

Meanwhile, on Rightwing Cable...even they were having a tough time spinning for Bush:

Joe Scarborough on MSNBC: "As far as the debate goes, I don't see how anybody could look at this debate and not score this a very clear win on points for John Kerry."

Mort Kondracke on Fox: “This is the President's turf, this is the place that the President is supposed to dominate, terror and the war in Iraq. I don't think he really dominated tonight. I think Kerry looked like a commander-in-chief.”

Kate O'Beirne, National Review Online's the Corner: "I thought the President was repetitive and reactive."

But as Hannity likes to say, "let not your heart be troubled", you can count on one Rightwinger to never let an intellectually honest word cross his lips:

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

(Mmm....the cherry Kool-aid is extra good!)

Thanks to all who participated in tonight's Open Threads! We'll do 'em again for the next 3 debates! Next date, 5 days from tonight! The Veep Debate in Ohio on Tuesday, Oct 5th! Hope you'll join us! And you Rightwingers better show up too! In the meantime, hopefully they'll ring in on Comments to let us know how Bush didn't really lose, or how it doesn't really matter...or something. Stay tuned. Wingnuttery on it's way!

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