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3rd Debate Notes

Written by Derek Brigham on 13 October 2004.

Myself, DClark, EJorde, Roomate Tim, Senator King and Lulu will all be at the big Patriot sponsored debate party downtown tonight. Yes, my leg is still gammy, but I will overcome. We will give our first effort that may be as lame as my leg at offering some insights to the debate and the party. The Elder offers this pre-party notice:

The social event of the political season takes place tonight at the downtown Minneapolis Hilton. The occasion is the final Presidential debate and AM1280 The Patriot and Wade Financial are good enough to sponsor a free party for all those wishing to enjoy the spectacle in the company of other political sophisticates.

The Hilton is a beautiful facility and it has Wi-Fi. As such, live blogging is encouraged. So if you're in the biz, bring your laptop and join in on what promises to be the Largest Live Gang Blog in World History. Those uncomfortable with the salacious overtones of that title can instead refer to it as the Biggest Circle Journal of All Time. Or the Most Massive Blorgy Since Caligula.

See you in a few hours...

... and I'm back with the following report:

In a word, Slaughter..."in the mainstream of American Politics, he sits on the left bank." I am paraphrasing, but I think that summed it up well for the night. Like my previous notes on debate #2, the unsuspected but deadly issue for Kerry was the religion, moraliry, life issue. I could actually see Kerry's tongue roll out of his mouth 3 feet and become 2 feet wide while he danced on it to no avail, while Bush tackled the very tough question of homosexuality more naturally and deftly than I could have with a weeks prep time.

We did not live blog the event because EJorde did not bring an AC adapter for the laptop (correction: EJorde could not find any A/C near our table). Such is life, I enjoyed a few Summit Pale Ales without burden of commentary. It was great to be hooting with the crowd and not focused on tapping away with notes on each question—and it was a great crowd at the Hilton. We were accompanied by Roommate Tim that night. He is a very fair man who, more often than he should, wants to give the left the benefit of the doubt. It was good to hear that a man as fair minded as he saw this as a completely closed sale for Bush—no handicap. I like to think that any intellectually honest person would come to the same conclusion.

Another small side note - I only saw Kerry smile once other than the introductory and closing pleasantries and that was when he talked about his wife. And if it did not seem forced I don't know what did. Bush was confident and in control the whole night. Countenance tells a great deal.