Well, I see the Southern strategy is in full effect

That was the biggest thing I got from that debate--Bush is going to pander to the racists and Kerry isn't. Pretty much everything Bush said even touching the issue pandered to some ugly racist sentiments. His answer on the immigration question was completely incoherent and you could just see the gears clicking--how to get the Mexican-haters and the Hispanic vote in one fell swoop?

Questions about affirmative action got the same incoherent reply. Kerry was firm--this country is still racist, there is work to be done. Bush said that we just need to educate people, a blatant insult to everyone who's not white. The implication is clear--if you don't get into college, it's 'cause you're ignorant, says the C student who got into Yale even though he can't speak in complete sentences.

The discussion around education in general was just grossly insulting. Anyone who knows what's going on knows that poor schools aren't helping kids and NCLB isn't making it better. Bush all but came out and said that all the schools are the same and if kids from certain neighborhoods aren't doing better, it's because they aren't good enough. The comment, repeated twice, about kids whose parents don't speak English as a first language made me fall out of my chair. Yes, we were graduating those students before (passing them through, in Bushspeak). Children of immigrants, in case this wasn't obvious, learn English pretty much immediately. He brought it up twice, though--I dare say that this is some coded way to tell racists that he'll do what it takes to make sure their kids don't hear a word of conversational Spanish growing up.

The racist pandering isn't going to score him any points, though, but I guess he didn't have much choice. Kerry came out swinging on women's issues, a smart choice because it derailed the weak effort that Bush made with the touching story of one woman who voted in Afghanistan for the cameras without explaining how most are scared to get near the polls. Kerry quickly destroyed Bush's pathetic efforts to make it sound like he gives a shit about ordinary people--Kerry made it clear that he had plans, and Bush had sentimental wanderings.

The last question was stupid, but since that sort of emotional stuff sticks with people, it's worth considering. Not now, though. I have to think about that one. The closing statements were great, though. Kerry made a great speech and Bush didn't drool. Kerry should have the election wrapped up, and if he doesn't, I'm definitely suspecting fraud.