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All of you people who thought the President should have landed a "knock-out" punch have forgotten it's not his style. In fact, had the President turned into a debating martial artist, kicking the hell out of Kerry, he would have really brought questions about who he really is.

Bush was the same leader we have seen for nearly four years.

He does not EVER step into a debate like some macho man entering the boxing ring to beat up his opponent. He gives rational and quiet assurance that, though the battle is tough, the war will be won.

Agreed.

This is part of the problem with reading mostly conservative websites. We know our own arguments, and assume that since we think we're right and the other side are bad people, that all we have to do is prove that the other side are the bad guys.

The great unwashed middle of swing voters doesn't react to those sorts of arguments all that well. Approaching them has to be done in a subtle fashion, not a scorched earth approach.

Bush took the subtle approach tonight. He scored some points, and missed on some other opportunities. I can guarantee you that there are liberals howling because Kerry didn't come out and try to prove to the world that Bush is a Nazi. They're upset too, but Kerry's people knew that Kerry had to make his approach in less histrionic terms.

If there's one thing I wish Bush hadn't done, it was letting Kerry bait him in the last 30 seconds of each of Kerry's answers, so Bush would be briefly off message at the start of his response. Sometimes he had to take the bait, but other times Bush should have ignored the bait.

Jim missed a few questions:

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