Last Debate Notes: Kerry Goes Three for Three

Its just ended and I've got lots of questions, few answers and no change in how I'm voting and no change in how I think the election is going to go in a few weeks.

First, the moderator was easily the worst of the entire bunch of the moderators. His last question, ostensibly could be the deciding factor for millions of viewers, let each candidate softball about how great their wives are. What in the fuck does that have to do with making this country safer and more profitable?

There were several excellent soundbites, my favorites being Bush "broke faith with the American people when he took this nation to war" and "I'm tired of politicians who preach family values but don't value families".

I'm tired of politicians calling their programs the exact opposite of what they really are. Maybe they were hatched with lofty ideals but their reality is far too Orwellian for me. The Patriot Act isn't about patriotism, its about handing over your rights to privacy in the name of fighting terror. Yes, we need to fight the war on terror but, if in so doing, we change our values and freedoms then the terrorists win.

Anyway, there was a noticable lack of stem cell research lines of questions. Strange given Christopher Reeve's death this week, given Michael J. Fox sitting with Teresa Kerry, a man who's life literally depends on finding a cure for Parkinson's via stem cell research.

The nice thing? Not even Keith Olbermann was able to swing the debate to Bush this time. A strong and solid victory for Kerry at 18 to 3. MSNBC had the debate at 73% for Kerry. It seems like more people thought he did better this time around than before. I thought he did a good job but I think Bush did a much better and almost surprisingly good job of restraining his temper and urge to get a little sideways.

There's been ever growing speculation that the President is wearing an ear piece and being fed responses from off stage. There was the funky box on the back of his suit in the earlier debate, there was the black thing in his ear last time and this time it seems like there's one point where he's listening to someone and then answers the question.

Its speculation but I'd like to sit in the room with a scanner to see if I could catch him in the act.

Overall, another win for Kerry, a hat trick against the incumbent president. Some are saying that they now want to lose to take a rest and to see if the Democrats can repair the damage they've done over the last four years.

The lucky thing is that I believe that John Kerry and John Edwards can actually accomplish much of what they say. Hell, if they get national healthcare then they should be sainted on that one feat alone.

Things look good for now. I expect a win but I also expect a few tricks, twists, surprises, shenanigans and maybe even another full on fix. I don't think an election day fix will work this time around though.

As always, good fun to be found on the MeFi thread. Maybe I'll head out and read some of the reactions. I'll very likely go by Allah Pundit again.