Kerry Kicked Bush Tush

I don't know who the media were watching, but in my estimation John Kerry kicked George Bush's kiester (or is it keester?) in the debate last night.

Joe Scarborough on Chris Matthews' show after the debate said George Bush talks like the common man, so he connects with middle America. If you want to know what the common man talks like, read the Fan Line in the Patriot News sports section. You want a president who talks like that? You want a president who hms and uhs and smirks?

John Kerry won this debate clean and fair. He went in with voters suspicious of his ability to appear presidential. He appeared far more powerful, far more statemanlike, far more composed than W.

Here are some polls and quotes:

CNN / GALLUP POLL ON WHO WON DEBATE Kerry: 53 Bush: 37
CBS POLL Kerry: 44 Bush: 26 Tie: 30
ABC POLL Kerry: 45 Bush 36: Tie: 17

Mort Kondracke: "This is the President's turf, this is the place that the President is supposed to dominate, terror and the war in Iraq. I don't think he really dominated tonight. I think Kerry looked like a commander-in-chief."

Kate O'Beirne, National Review Online's the Corner: "I thought the President was repetitive and reactive."

Jonah Goldberg, National Review Online's the Corner: "The Bush campaign miscalculated on having the first night be foreign policy night."

Bob Schieffer: "The President was somewhat defensive in the beginning"

Mark Shields: "The President showed a few times obvious anger"

Bill Kristol, Weekly Standard: "I think Kerry did pretty well tonight, he was forceful and articulate."

Bob Schieffer: "Kerry got off to a very good start."

Joe Scarborough: "It was John Kerry's best performance ever.As far as the debate goes, I don't see how anybody could look at this debate and not score this a very clear win on points for John Kerry."

(MSNBC)Andrea Mitchell: "This is the toughest we've ever seen John Kerry. He attacked the very core of the President's popularity. He's basically saying, who do you believe?"

(MSNBC)Tim Russert: "Tonight he seemed to find his voice for the Democratic view of the world."

Fred Barnes on FNC: "Kerry did very well and we will have a Presidential race from here on out."