Agreed.
This is part of the problem with reading mostly conservative websites. We know our own arguments, and assume that since we think we're right and the other side are bad people, that all we have to do is prove that the other side are the bad guys.
The great unwashed middle of swing voters doesn't react to those sorts of arguments all that well. Approaching them has to be done in a subtle fashion, not a scorched earth approach.
Bush took the subtle approach tonight. He scored some points, and missed on some other opportunities. I can guarantee you that there are liberals howling because Kerry didn't come out and try to prove to the world that Bush is a Nazi. They're upset too, but Kerry's people knew that Kerry had to make his approach in less histrionic terms.
If there's one thing I wish Bush hadn't done, it was letting Kerry bait him in the last 30 seconds of each of Kerry's answers, so Bush would be briefly off message at the start of his response. Sometimes he had to take the bait, but other times Bush should have ignored the bait.
This bears repeating and should be corrected by the next debate. Bush should not be following Kerry's bait. Kerry should not be allowed to throw Bush off like that, because Bush missed a few wonderful opportunities through this distraction.