On a night when the Smirk was replaced by the Insipid Grin, round 3 of the debates clearly went to Kerry, according to polls of viewers. It's hard to imagine the nation electing a guy so severely overmatched, but then it's hard to fathom how Bush is even in the race at this point, much less in a dead heat.
An interesting theory I've heard about undecideds: They are so concerned about making the wrong choice, some experts predict a lot of them will just stay home on November 2. I'm not sure which candidate that helps, but as a great man said the other night, who the hell are these people? What more do they need to know?
Hopefully, the news of Kerry's debate trifecta won't be overshadowed by the disturbing allegations about Bill O'Reilly's creepy treatment of a female employee at Faux News. I wish Al Franken's show were on the air here, because he'll have a field day with this. On the bright side, there's no evidence O'Reilly is addicted to Oxycontin.
Posted by Vernam at October 14, 2004 02:17 AMMagic 8-Ball says: "Outlook Good."
Posted by: Magic 8-Ball at October 14, 2004 09:53 PMNot responsive as to why Bush is doing as well as he is. You can't fathom it and that's OK.
Posted by: TOF at October 14, 2004 09:43 PM>If you're at all observant and
>objective you should be able to
>"fathom" why Bush is doing as
>well as he is.
>
>If not, life will remain an
>unfair mystery.
"Weakness is Strength." "Ignorance is Knowledge." "The problem with Iraq is that we won the war too quickly." "Play texas holdem at the ultimate on-line casino!"
Posted by: VC at October 14, 2004 09:27 PMIf you're at all observant and objective you should be able to "fathom" why Bush is doing as well as he is.
If not, life will remain an unfair mystery.
Posted by: TOF at October 14, 2004 08:02 PM[Undecideds] are so concerned about making the wrong choice, some experts predict a lot of them will just stay home on November 2. I'm not sure which candidate that helps
I think it was Shields who observed the undecideds are primarily undecided not about Bush, but about whether they should vote for Kerry, or not vote at all. They've lived with Bush policy for 4 years - there isn't much more they can decide *about*. Kerry's strong debate performances - and the positive post debate polling - should at least pull 'the followers' to Kerry, from that pool. It makes sense to me and apparently the Bush campaign agrees, since they are clearly focusing the rhetoric to their core constituency. They don't seem to be putting much effort anymore at reaching out to the fence sitters. Kerry's steady, presidential, demeanor during the debates, should have assuaged some that he's not less capable than Dubya. And people like change. It's all looking very good.
Posted by: deano at October 14, 2004 11:31 AMi know, i know--the hits will just keep on coming with this document. but here's an early favorite:
"O'Reilly's eyes became glazed and bizarrely strayed in opposite directions. Suddenly, without provocation or warning, O'Reilly said to Plaintiff, 'And just use your vibrator to blow off steam.'"
apparently the no-spin zone is NOT a no-scumbag zone.
Posted by: Matt at October 14, 2004 09:29 AM