John Kerry asks supporters to help spin for him.

This page on the JohnKerry.com website is a page specifically instructing Kerry supporters to, "Immediately e-mail and call all the major networks and programs listed below saying that Kerry won tonight's debate.". Talk about spin control.

What is needed in these Presidential debates is some way of taking stock of what each candidate has said, and grading it, using an unbiased scale to prevent the "post debate spin".

So I propose the "Swenson Standard", a new method for determining who really won a debate. For each question that a candidate answers directly, they earn one point, for every question they do not directly answer, they lose a point. On questions that were answered in a factually correct manner, they gain a point, and on each question that a candidate does not answer in a factually correct manner, they lose a point. I'm sure there are other unbiased ways of scoring the debate as well, these are just the first two that seemed obvious. Either this method, a percentage scale (ie "% of factually correct answers"), or some method of objectively looking at candidates responses should be used.

While this may seem silly, I think it is becoming necessary to gather and compile some sort of statistics on the most important "contest" in the country. Especially in a country where the completion percentage of quarterbacks in a dome and other such statistics are made readily available to fans.

I think Kerry actually won the debate. But Kerry just reinforced why I trust Bush more in this war on terror. I still don't understand how or why Kerry thinks he's going to bring nations together to go fight a wrong war, in a wrong place at the wrong time? Kerry just reinforced my suspicion that he would go to other countries FIRST to gain permission to defend this country.

Bush is going to defend this country better than Kerry, no doubt.

This is one of the fundamental differences between conservatives and liberals. Even here on FreeRepublic, folks will question when someone requests people to act even on a poll. Whereas liberals are just waiting for someone to tell them what to think, and what to do.

That's why you'll find tens of thousands ready to go march, not even understanding what they are marching for, but just that they were told to do it. It was a lesson that came home hard to me in 2000 at the DNC, watching mindless drones following behind signs bearing the faces of Marxist leaders, murderers and phrases they couldn't even begin to comprehend.

It was frustrating finding anyone who knew anything, even the sign holders. You couldn't hold a rational interview, because the horrible taste that would form in your mouth as they sometimes were able to not mangle too badly the day's press release.

A lot of journalists I knew just simply gave up, went back to their computers in the press canyon, and made up whatever quotes they needed for their articles, sometimes choosing to put the words in the mouth of someone they interviewed, other times just making it up wholesale.

I regret not just taking the quotes from these idiotic protesters and putting them online verbatim so that everyone could see what lunacy was walking the streets of Los Angeles.

Here's what I received immediately after the debate:

Dear XXXXXXX,

John Kerry won tonight's debate on foreign policy, and we need you to make sure the media reports this right.

Jump into the post-debate debate and keep the record straight.

America saw John Kerry as our next President tonight. Bush had a record of failure to defend, and he failed to defend it. Bush refused to take responsibility for his go it alone rush to war. Bush had no plan, no clue for ending the chaos. Bush can't fix the mess in Iraq because he pretends things are fine. Pretending is no substitute for planning.

Your assignment: Immediately e-mail and call all the major networks and programs listed below saying that John Kerry won the debate. The Republicans are going to do everything possible to spin the debate in their favor. We need you on the offensive.

Everything you need is in this e-mail, including contact information for the major news networks and programs.

Here are some things to emphasize:

* America saw John Kerry as our next President tonight.
* Kerry showed strength, conviction, and a steady command of the facts.
* Kerry left no doubt he can lead the fight to hunt and kill the terrorists.
* Kerry offered hope for a fresh start in Iraq so we can finish the job. Kerry has specific plans: Bush had shallow promises.

Here is a phone/e-mail list for the major news networks. Commentators like Larry King, Chris Matthews, Sean Hannity, and Alan Colmes are on TV right now offering their view of the debate results. Hosts of network news shows on ABC, CBS, and NBC are also busy offering their reviews. Hosts of tomorrow's morning shows, Good Morning America, The Today Show, and American Morning, are sure to do the same beginning at 7:00 a.m. EST tomorrow morning. Don't let your voice be cut out.

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