Open second debate thread

Along with a few other hardy conference attendeess, I got up at 3 AM to watch the second presidential debate live. This means I did not get a lot of sleep, but my quick opinion was

a) Bush did better than the first debate; b) Kerry also did a bit better — he was sharp from the start this time; c) Again, both candidates whiffed on the openings given by the other candidates; d) If Kerry gets elected, you just know that his to-the-camera pledge not to raise taxes for households under $200,000 is going to bite him in the ass; e) The bizarre moment of the night was the Bush foray into Dred Scott territory. But I do feel safer that Bush will not appoint pro-slavery judges. [UPDATE: Some have suggested that the Dred Scott reference was code to the anti-abortionists that he would appoint justices who would reverse Roe v. Wade. This would be consistent with efforts to get out the base, but it’s still a bizarre move because it could alienate just as many swing voters who thought Bush sounded either drugged or incoherent in his response.]

So I think Kerry won, but not by as much as last time. Post your own thoughts here!!