how did kerry do?
 

he made his big push last night (thursday). do you think he did well? did he create the explosion the democrats need?

Re: how did kerry do?
 

I watched it last night. He was making lots of promises that will be impossible to keep. He wants to double the number of troops in Iraq for example, but not use national guard and reservists. I'm trying to figure out how he plans to accomplish that without a draft?

There was all this talk about no negativity. It seemed as if there were quite a few negative parts to me.

Also, there was quite a bit of talk about Kerry and Vietnam, not Kerry and Iraq.

America is divided right now pretty hard. Kerry's points might go up slightly but Bush is now able to maneuver better and will have his own convention coming up. Nothing will have changed after these conventions except for a lot of money being wasted.

-Rudey

It was the best speech I've heard him make -- not only in terms of content, but also delivery. Until last night he has seemed to have kind of a dull speaking style.

Edwards, however, seems to be a natural communicator.

In terms of negativity, I thought it was really mild in comparison to other things in the campaign which have come from both sides. My personal impression is that TV ad wise, the GOP has been much more negative. Again, just an impression, but some of their stuff has been brutal.

As for troop levels in Iraq, we had a much larger all volunteer Army before the first President Bush started downsizing and President Clinton continued it. It would take a year or two to accomplish, but is entirely possible.

Finally, regarding Vietnam, the fact is that Kerry was there and none of the other candidates were. Bush gets a little help because the American people have been reluctant to replace a president in the middle of a war, but Bush's perceived bungling of the situation after the major fighting, and his somewhat premature announcement of the end of fighting could offset that advantage.

The pundits are saying that there will be a "bounce" in his popularity -- then there will be one for Bush after the Republican Convention -- and, going into the election, they will probably be in a dead heat again.

Some observations of a purely political amateur.

You know what really made me feel strange?

OK I understood that Al Gore didn't want to seem cold at his convention so he kissed his wife, but was it really necessary for Kerry to french kiss Obama Barak to show he wasn't boring, was still on the fence about gays, and really loves French everything?

-Rudey
--It freaked me out when he said Dick Cheney was going to get a French tickle...FREAKED ME OUT!