To get things started...this from Drudge:

"FORMER WSJ REPORTER AND BEST-SELLING AUTHOR RON SUSKIND QUOTES BUSH AS TELLING A PRIVATE LUNCHEON OF TOP SUPPORTERS: 'I'M GOING TO BE REAL POSITIVE, WHILE I KEEP MY FOOT ON JOHN KERRY'S THROAT.'

A SENIOR BUSH CAMPAIGN STAFFER EXPLAINS THE BUSH COMMENT IS JUST TEXAN FOR 'I'M NOT GOING TO LET HIM DODGE HIS LIBERAL RECORD.'"

Should be an interesting debate!

Our rightwing friends (powerlineblog.com) are already blaming "the establishment" for not allowing Bush to be re-elected.

It's never Bush's fault.

Brad, but if you got it from Drudge, it *can't* be true

So right now on the split screen, I see a horse in a blue suit with a red tie talking, and a monkey in a blue suit with a red tie listening.

(Good to see ya, Troll!)

Red Tie for Bush for the first time! I guess he really means bidness now! And he's *really* working hard to smile while Kerry's talking! Wonder why?

Bush is going to be throwing around "liberal" tonight like it's going out of style. Kerry needs to turn that against him. Say that "Bush wants to call me a liberal and call himself a conservative but neither are true." Kerry needs to show how un-conservative Bush is with respect to fiscal policy. All Bush has left in this election is the "L" word. If Kerry keeps throwing the "C" word back in Bush's face it'll drive Bush crazy.

Well, Bush IS a conservative, and Kerry IS a liberal. The majority of the American people believe so at least. So to use that against Bush would be silly.

Don't think I ever said I wasn't worried about Osama Bid Laden...

Not even five minutes before the first lie! What a night it's going to be!

(Server slow tonight...Hey Fin! That's a good line! You should write for Kerry!)

Bush = Mr. Optimism tonight! Wanna bet he runs outta gas before it's over?

Senator John Kerry, earned more money tonight, while plugging his insurance company - Blue Cross / Blue Shield. Terms of the deal are not disclosed as of this time.

Good catch, Bryan! You're right! We've got Audio on that one! This'll be fun (And welcome!)

Bush's makeup is better. He looks to be in brighter lights on split-screen anyway (C-Span)

Speaking of C-Span...the volume seems to be way lower than other channels...maybe its just over here in Michigan

Uh, oh...Spittle Alert!!!! Could take him down!

Not to anyone's surprise, I agree with Bush. Public Education sucks. I hate working for them, and I hated going there as a kid (and my district is one of the top end ones in Michigan)

Why does Kerry say Bush dodged the question, then go off on a tangent himself about other things the President has done wrong...

When Kerry doesn't show up for the majority of his meetings, what does that say about him fighting for the American worker the same way he fights for his job? By not showing up? Does that mean if there's problems he'll ignore us?

He covered it, Troll, in his next answer. Which I think was a good (and effective) one.

(Spittle still in place. Will haunt this Presidency forever!)

I'm not seeing the spittle on my 13" TV

"Undecideds Voter Meter" on cbsnews.com --- Keeping an eye on it now. Will report notable fluxuations. It's a few seconds behind the TV Broadcast (did Bush just cheat, by the way? And talk outta turn?)

You really like that CBS poll don't ya Brad...

I think I'm scaring them all away with my conservative views Brad :hehe:

:O what a coincidence...Kerry blamed the Administration for high health care costs...

Spittle still in place. Dubya getting whiny again. Two mentions (so far) of "out of the Mainstream" and Kerry is again consistently Presidential. Worse Republican nightmare. But he could afford to be a bit sunnier and more aggressive IMO.

Well ! I completely forgot about tonight.

i'll see if I can still catch anything now but unfortunately my computer & tv aren't in the same room.

I wish I could join the conversation but seeing as how I have to get up at 6:00 am - I will probably fall asleep in front of the TV again.

Sorry Brad . Really wanted to join in this time.

cbsnews.com allows you to watch live streaming (with an "Undecideds Meter" next to it to boot, Mrs. J!)

low blow by Bush about the news organizations...it felt classless...

"i have a record of fiscal responsibility"

Kerry, blatantly lying. Now, Bush isn't really a fiscal conservative, but he's a ton more fiscally conservative than Kerry.

Hey , how about that!

Okay. Count me in!

There he goes with the stock market again....

Kerry voted for Balanced Budget Amendment *years* ago. That is *not* a blatant lie. Bush has blown out the budget more than *any* "Liberal" ever. He is *not* conservative. That's a fact. Check the record and the numbers, Troll. It's fact.

Well the stock market *did* go down like that. If it was me, I'd point to the fact that when the recession started, none of Bush's fiscal policies were in place, so the recession WAS inherited, even if it technically started weeks after he was sworn in.

So long as there is not an American willing to do the job? Call me crazy, but didn't they just talk about how many million Americans are unemployed?

My take on immigration:

Hey California...illegals shouldn't have drivers licenses or the right to vote. Those people know who they are...I'm sure Brad would agree with me on this...at least I hope :O

"It shows he doesn't know the borders".

*L* Sorry troll, but that was pathetic.

"I'm tired of hearing about Family Values from politicians that don't value families". Good line!

Finally! Talking about the minimum wage!

Kerry talks about 9.2 million women earning 3 million more a year.

Here's some common sense: When a company is required to pay more to the workers by law, what happens - companies lay off workers or raise prices. Neither of which help anyone except those at the minimum wage.

The money doesn't grow on trees folks...

WOW! First time over 2 and almost to 3 during Kerry's "Minimum Wage" answer on the "Undecideds Meter"! First BIG spike I've seen all night.

(Didn't happen when the Minimum Wage was raised during the Clinton Admin, Troll. Sorry, history doesn't bare out your claim)

Ok, I didn't like Kerry's "I'm tired of politicians ..." bit.

A little too "holier than thou" , for me.

Ps. Bush jumped in again. So rude...

Clinton didn't raise the minimum wage by roughly $2 Brad !!! Thats the difference.

(We'll fact check it after the debates, amigo)

Yay. Great job talking about alliances . he's got my vote!

How can you double the amount of special forces? Wouldn't that make them not as *special*....thats the thing about special forces...you can't just take people off the street or from any place and put them in there. They are the "best of the best." Kerry's been mentioning the special forces for months now, and he's never said how he would do it, only offering the typical politician's empty promise to look good. They all do it, but I find doubling the amount of troops who are special, who require years of training in some cases, to be absurd.

God I hate Bush's body language (and facial expressions).

And now about guns...*sigh* . I'll be quiet on this one for fear of you both hating me.

Everyone can have their opinion Johanna

I personally believe that most gun control doesn't really hurt the criminals, who will obtain illegal weapons while the law abiding citizens don't. Guns are like anything else - perfectly safe if used in the right way.

I do support better teaching on how to use weapons in a safe way for recreational purposes.

Both of 'em gettin' tired...BUT NOT ME!!!

Also Johanna, fortunately body language and facial expressions don't have any merit on someone's ability to serve (even if you think Bush is a bad president, its not because of how he talks or looks)

*LOL*! Look at the look on his face when Kerry mentioned the NAACP!!!

He didn't like that....

Bush tops 2 finally (on the "Undecides Meter") on his "Faith" answer. Reaches about 2.5 for the first time.

I actually like Bush's expressions. He has emotion, and feeling! To me it shows an actual sense of caring. In comparision, I look at Senator Kerry, and I see no emotion at all. Its like a robot, who memorized a long speech about many things, then looks up each thing in their database, reciting them verbatim.

I agree with Kerry now - we need to love our neighbors more. There's way too much hate in the world.

Troll, agreed. It was just a side comment.

I am SO glad this "faith" question came up. I actually saw that interview....

Funny how he talks about wanting everyone to have their beliefs....Yet, he wants to force his beliefs on everyone....

Predicting that all that podium banging is gonna haunt Bush in the post-debate.

Well, I'm glad that you want to get along with your neighbours. Since i'm one of them.

I liked Kerry's answer re: post 9/11.

Troll - we can discuss Bush & kerry's expressions tomorrow. I completely (and respectfully) disagree.

Gotta love the last question to leave the deabte on a personal note...I'll leave you guys now...its time for me to hit the bowling alley for my weekly Wednesday night session...have a nice night all

I'm off too!

I like the last question too. I liked Kerry's little crack about "marrying up". Not sure I got Bushs' "she speaks English better than me."

Didn't find that very funny. I'm so biased!

Goodnight!!!

I'm off too!

I like the last question too. I liked Kerry's little crack about "marrying up". Not sure I got Bushs' "she speaks English better than me."

Didn't find that very funny. I'm so biased!

Goodnight!!!

Bush just about hits 3 on his "Wife" joke.

Kerry may be in trouble about *his* wife joke (though it went up to 2.5 suprisingly).

Moving to a new Post-Debate Open Thread! Click here to move on over!

Troll has been right all night.

Bush won the debate as far as I am concerned.

Very good answers!

Sure. If you consider being wrong and not answering the questions to be "very good answers".

Given Bush's record, I could see how you might feel that way.