[My2Cents]

There's a fine line between joy and hysteria. The Democrats are in hysterics...insane hysterics. Seriously, the Dems are all a-twitter today because Kerry spoke to the base...that amorphous mass of leftist appeasers, defeatists, and French-lovers who make up the bulk of the Democrat Party. They loved what they heard, and Kerry was very good at articulating their beloved positions. But those comments didn't play well in Allentown today, nor in any other burg in flyover country.

[Steven W.]

I commented about this last night, after the debate, and noted that observable fact - being Kerry's total anti-war position now - only serves to rev up his base. What does that say about where the race is now while any general election campaign should be focused on the middle.

Think about it - if anybody is on the fence between Kerry & Bush, they're NOT anti-war candidates. Anti-war candidates, whom Kerry was targeting with his posture in last night's debate, were split between Nader & Kerry. He did nothing to reassure true moderates who want to win the war on terror.

[SVTCobra03]

You hit the nail on the head. Kerry spoke to his base while Bush spoke to the swing voters; and the swing voters were turned off by Kerry's attacks and mean-spiritedness. And Kerry gave the Republicans ammo with his ill-advised comments on Global Testing, nuclear-tipped bunker busters and North Korea. Bush gave up a tactical loss in order to gain a strategic advantage. Kerry is bleeding out and doesnt even realize it.

[GOPrincess]

Great post re joy & hysteria, and Allentown.

I'm listening to Hugh and really thinking about the implications of Kerry imposing a nuclear freeze, so to speak, on the U.S., killing the bunker buster nuclear program. The unilateral disarmament he advocates is scary.

I think we need to get the phrase "unilaterial disarmament" out there as much as possible. It won't play well in a post-9/11 world.