[William Martel]

President Bush did really well on the domestic issues this evening and the next debate is domestic issues

That leads up to a point I have had rolling around in my head for a while now which was confirmed last night. All of the talking heads point out that the strength of the Democrats lies in domestic issues. This is simply not true.

The fact is, Democrats have a slight advantage, but it is in foreign issues. This is decidedly not because they have facts on their side, but rather because of the propaganda they have floating around and because of the willingness they have from the MSM to paint the Iraq War effort as a failure. The Democrats and the left in this country were under the mistaken notion that foreign policy was the strong point of this presidency, and they believed that if they somehow managed to undermine that, Bush would go down easily.

The problem, however, is that Bush has been far stronger domestically than anyone on the left would give him credit for being. In addition, the Democrats made the mistake of choosing the most liberal senator in Congress, a point which makes Kerry quite weak on domestic issues. His positions simply do not reflect what the average American believes in and wants from the government. His voting record largely contradicts that which he says he will do. On conservative issues, he has voted against issues that Americans want. On issues that would appeal to liberals, he has, for the most part, failed to show up to vote.

I read an article after the last debate that talked about how the President might have been sandbagging. I am thinking this could be true. He and his campaign know that the left and the MSM have muddied up the waters on foreign policy. He could afford to throw away that debate to give his opponent a little security. I personally have high hopes that the president might drive the final nail into the coffin in the next debate.

Bush owns the domestic issues on the table this election cycle.

[mathluv]

His statements about what he has accomplished on the domestic front in 4 years, and what sKerry and the dims have NOT in 40 years needs to be shouted wide and loud. He mentioned things about the environment that I did not know had been done.

I knew about the Healthy Forests, but I think that can be emphasized more.

[UltraKonservativen]

Sandbagging, Rope-a-dope, call what you want but Kerry is being dismantled piece by piece. I have a feeling that the final debate will be all about his 20 years record...Dubya jabbed him twice with...HE CAN RUN BUT HE CAN'T HIDE. Those punches hit Kerry hard in the gut and you could see the steam come out of him.

The beauty of this tactic is that by the time of the last debate, no amount of spin will be able to fix the record and the LIBERAL label will be indelible on November 2.

[mississippi red-neck]

The problem, however, is that Bush has been far stronger domestically than anyone on the left would give him credit for being. In addition, the Democrats made the mistake of choosing the most liberal senator in Congress, a point which makes Kerry quite weak on domestic issues.

Very good points.