[MarlboroRed]

Very good point. Attack, attack, attack.

[nmh]

" This time, he plans to ignore the polls, whatever they say, and continue on the attack. "

GOOD!

So will I and I pray Bush wins.

[zzen01]

Gee Fred is that why you last night on Fox News called the debate a "TIE"!?

[FairOpinion]

"With the exception of the Reagan debate lesson, Bush strategists have learned a lot from earlier presidential campaigns, especially Bush's own in 2000. Remember, for example, the last week of that campaign. Bush continued traveling but he dropped his attacks on Al Gore and merely asked voters to elect him. He told one Republican leader he expected to get 300-plus electoral votes and win Michigan, Pennsylvania, and perhaps even New Jersey (he lost all three). Gore, of course, took the opposite tack, stepping up his criticism of Bush. And the race tightened to a dead heat.

Bush won't go soft again. He intends to zing Kerry as aggressively as ever in the week leading up to November 2."

What is it with Republicans that they always being conned into "taking the high road", which always lead straight to defeat.

Bush better not go soft, he has to do what works. And why is TELLING THE TRUTH about Kerry and his record, and not letting him get away with lies considered "an attack"?

[Betaille]

Barnes really flopped on his coverage last night. Bush really connected with every non-spin focus group ive seen.

[McGavin999]

I love Fred, but here's a tip for him.....BUSH WON BIG LAST NIGHT!

[Clump]

What is the format for the next debate? Is it like the VP debate?

[KellyAdmirer]

That President Ford almost won, only two years after Watergate and opposing a Southern Democrat, is still amazing to me. Coming from 30 points down to a virtually tie, that doesn't happen too often, not at that level.

[toomanygrasshoppers]

I still think that the plan was for Pres. Bush to come out weaker in the first debate so that all eyes and ears would be on his performance for the second one. There was so much hype for it. Of couse he hit a home run on the second debate and his great performance is getting alot more press than if he had done well in both debates. If he had done well in the first debate then he would be in Kerry's position right now. President Bush's poll numbers will be right back where they were prior to debate #1 and he will sail to victory easily Nov 2. IMHO.

[Jenya]

I like Fred Barnes a lot, but I find that he shifts his opinions once other results are in.

I wanted to throw a brick through the tv last night when he called the debate a tie. We'll see what he says on The Beltway Boys later.

[mtbopfuyn]

Bush won. Bush won. Bush won.

Kerry lost. Kerry lost. Kerry lost.

There was no tie.

The old media needs to wake up and smell the coffee or they'll be left behind.

[kingattax]

after the debate Freddie was on with Brit Hume and called

the debate "a tie".....what a moron

[Freeper 007]

But polls in 2000 led Bush to believe he had victory in hand during the last week. This time, he plans to ignore the polls, whatever they say, and continue on the attack.



Don't forget the surprise DUI hit-job the press did on Bush days before the election.

That scandal cost Bush at least 5 points nationaly. They've had 4 years to hate Bush and dig up as much garbage as possible so I'm not expecting any last minute surprises this time around. In addition, the CBS memo has given Bush a little protection from any last minute attack that might come out since everyone has already seen fake documents that "prove" he did something wrong.

[lasereye]

Bush hit a lot of good themes, but he still didn't talk very effectively. His statement about Hussein abusing the oil-for-food program was incomprehensible for anyone who didn't already know about it. His explanation for how the economy was already sliding down hill when he took office was not too clear and didn't explain how the stock market bubble was responsible for those budget surpluses of the late 90's. Kerry also tried to connect himself to the 90's budget surpluses, as though he did something to create them. Bush let him get away with that.

He let Kerry say he voted against the partial birth abortion bill because it didn't have an exception for the life of the mother, when those procedures are not done to save the life of the mother. He again didn't rebut the lie that they forced Shinseki to retire early. He also didn't have much response to the questionable claim that lawsuits are only 1% of healthcare costs. He should state flatly that Kerry's numbers on the budget don't add up - they assume some mysterious healthcare "savings" of a few hundred billion. He also didn't bring up Kerry's long anti-defense record including opposition to the Gulf War, which met all of Kerry's criteria for going to war - U.N. approval, French participation etc.

Kerry also repeatedly said Bush "pushed away" our allies, which is ridiculous. Bush invited France and Germany and Russia to participate but they were implacably opposed, and were on the take from Saddam. He has to hit Kerry hard on his suggestion that inviting French and German companies in to Iraq, i.e. bribing them, is a positibe step.

I don't think I'm being nitpicking. Bush throws a punch or two, but they're more jabs than left hooks, and Kerry ususually has a few jabs back. And I think he scored with his class warfare rhetoric.

[mombonn]

A friend called last night just as the debate began, and stayed on the phone until it was over. I checked the live thread throughout, and was thrilled; then listened to "the panel" and was stunned at their negativity.

I watched the debate early this morning, and was back to being thrilled.

Maybe Fred was up past his bedtime, and was feeling a little cranky.

[winodog]

Kerry throws away someone elses medals,let someone else take his place for 8 months in nam, drives someone elses SUV, marries someone elses wife, inherits someone elses money,has someone elses plans, we should vote for him to be President of someone elses country.

Feel free to add more to that paragraph. I got it from the newspaper. I think it makes a great soundbite.


I saw both debates and there was a big difference in President Bush's demeanor that was noticeable almost immediatly last night. I think the prayers of the saints were the difference. It was almost like watching two different people.

[AmericanMade1776]

[elder5]

I had to work last night. Missed the debate on TV but listened to it on the radio. The President WON HANDS DOWN!

[goodnesswins]

GOT Wood?

[Reagan Man]

.... polls in 2000 led Bush to believe he had victory in hand during the last week. This time, he plans to ignore the polls, whatever they say, and continue on the attack.

The Bush campaign needs to stay on the attack and better yet, they need to step up the attacks on Kerry. You know the Kerry campaign won't let up. In the final debate, the President needs to challenge Kerry more on his 20 year Senate voting record and press Kerry on his frequent flip-flopping.

[JHL]

The President should read this before the next debate: