[Blowtorch]

The President also avoided bashing and let Kerry come across as the attack dog. Note that he went right back to speaking to his base out in the heartland.

I think Bush was advised to focus on primarily addressing the American people and not Kerry's attacks. This is in line with your observations. However, I can't help but think that Bush went too far that way...He missed real opportunities to refute Kerry's lies. However, everyone already knows Kerry is a liar, so it may not matter.

I think in the upcoming days people will look back at the debate and see that Bush is like one of us and talks to us, while Kerry just derides and lies, derides and lies.

[SlowBoat407]

I hope that somewhere, somehow, the media will get out the point by point on Kerry's lies during the debate, as well as his outlandish proposals.

Nukes to Iran? Hey, let's send some C-4 to Al Qaeda for that urban renewal they're so hot on!