Live Debate Notes
9.03pm Bush was told before coming out: be sure to give them a big smile.
9.08pm Bush is smiling as much as possible while he smirks.
9.08pm Ooohhh ... Bush claims he never said that he wasn't concerned about OBL. Accuses Kerry of "ex-a-jer-ay-shun." Uh, pretty confident Bush is lying there.
[Post-debate note: Yep, click here for the video.]
9.09pm Bush calling for healthy people not to get flu shots . . . isn't that like Jimmy Carter asking for people to wear sweaters indoors?
9.13pm Schieffer asks about "economic security." That term itself is a piece of RNC vocabulary.
9.15pm Clearly the whole "plan" talk was approved by Kerry's pollsters.
9.16pm Bush's smile is creeping me out.
9.17pm Kerry clearly wanted to follow up on Bush's BS on the budget, but Schieffer wanted to move on. It's nice having good friends.
9.18pm Matching coats, shirts and ties! Did you ever see the I Love Lucy in which Lucy and Ethel wear matching dresses to a singing performance?
9.20pm Kerry returns to Bush's BS on the budget. Screw you, Schieffer.
9.21pm Schieffer doesn't like it . . . and introduces his next question, also on jobs, with a not so subtle hint . . . and a question that argues the President's case.
9.25pm Sister calls . . . I need to turn off my phone. Bush says Kennedy is the "conservative senator from Massachusetts." Boy, desperation time.
9.27pm Citizry?
9.29pm Kerry hits a homerun with his response on the Gay Marriage amendment. Thoughtful, sensitive, excellent answer. Bush is doing better in this debate, but I think Kerry is winning this one so far.
9.33pm We pay high health care costs because health care hasn't reached the information age? Wha'?
9.36pm Kerry bashes Bush on the cost of drugs and the Canadian importation issue. Don't hurt 'em, Hammer!
9.37pm Bush wants to step in and Schieffer lets him, even though he wanted to move on. Schieffer then calls Kerry's plan "massive" and implies he has no idea how to pay for it. This is becoming a tag-team match, but Kerry is still winning.
9.41pm "Leading news organizations" joke? Whew, tough crowd.
9.43pm Schieffer says we all know Social Security is running out of money. If so (ahem), why is that?
9.46pm Kerry succeeds in explaining why giving private social security accounts to young workers would be a fiscal disaster (today's workers pay for today's retirees). FINALLY!!!!!! Now let's see if journalists quote him on this. They certainly didn't explain the point in 2000.
9.47pm Schieffer quotes Greenspan and all but attacks Kerry for his views on Social Security. Kerry responds excellently . . . it's the tax cuts for the wealthy, stupid.
9.49pm Jobs, jobs, jobs . . . stop the fight, ref!!!! 1928, 1929 . . . wasn't America strong and getting stronger then?
9.51pm Schieffer asks a question about illegal immigration -- a subject that has conservatives angry at Bush. Bush distances himself from the idea of amnesty he seemed (?) to float at one point in time.
9.56pm Kerry is really hitting his stride. Both are doing best in this debate, but Kerry is very impressive. Just took Bush behind the woodshed on the issue of border security.
9.57pm "I'm sick and tired of politicians who talk about family values but don't value families." Amen!
10.00pm Schieffer returns to the Roe v. Wade question. Kerry answers and then parries Bush's previous take on No Child Left Behind. He's become a maestro before our eyes.
10.08pm Bush reminds people of Kerry's vote against Gulf War I. Bush wins that exchange. Kerry should have ignored the "global test" comment and focused on the question about our armed forces being overstretched.
10.11pm Schieffer asks about the failure to renew the assault weapons ban -- bad question for Bush. Kerry ties the assault weapons ban to terrorism. Home run!!!!
10.13pm Kerry reminds people that Bush avoided meeting the NAACP. Phone call . . . oops. Bush says some of his best friends are in the Congressional Black Congress. [Joke.]
10.15pm Schieffer asks how much faith plays in Bush's policy-making. GAG! I joked with a friend this afternoon that Schieffer (friend of Bush) would throw up that very softball. Give me a break. Bush actually doesn't hit the expected home run . . . rather uneven response. But Kerry does hit a home run, tying faith with values. Kerry is just en fuego tonight. Really impressive.
10.20pm Kerry reminds the public that Bush promised to be a uniter and instead was a divider . . . Great way to cap the evening. He's also directing his final answers to a general vision of himself as president. He's looking like a winner.
10.22pm Bush admits that things are indeed partisan in Washington. It's an admission of failure of sorts. Not a good response.
10.23pm Schieffer asks about their strong wives, and Bush cracks his first successful joke. GAG! Two softballs to Bush in one debate. Bush is talking about how he met his wife. Isn't there enough of this crap in press conferences? They already met with Dr. Phil on national TV, for Pete's sake. And who's running for president anyways? At any rate, best moment for Bush in the whole evening, but Kerry did well in response.
Closing statements: Kerry's was solid -- presidential. Bush's was folksy but a bit soft and unconvincing. Is it that I'm asking for your vote or begging for your vote? The bit about the painting was odd.
CONCLUSION: Both candidates gave their best performances of the three debates. I thought Kerry was the clear winner. He really hit his stride in this one, reaching Clintonesque levels of persuasiveness.
P.S. On MSNBC, Ron Reagan reminds people that Bush said the very words about OBL that Kerry attributed to him. Thank God he got that one in. Buchanan effusive in his praise of Kerry (although he refuses to name a winner) -- bad sign for Bush.
9:40:45 PM 
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