Rove sat up 'til very late this morning trying to figure out an attack ...

[kentuck]

And how they should handle the next debate? He does not want to discuss domestic issues on Kerry's terms. They must put Kerry on the defensive. Early in the debate, they must make an attack that Kerry cannot recover from. That will be their strategy for the next debate.

However, Kerry should be prepared for the oncoming attack and be ready to launch an offensive of his own. The probable attack will follow the "flip-flop" issue and Bush will not pull any punches. Kerry could counterpunch with an old Reagan quote and throw Bush off guard, in my opinion. When Kerry is accused as being a untrustworthy "flip-flopper", then he could turn to Bush and say, "There you go again". ......and let it soak in for a few seconds...and then point out that Bush was against the 9/11 commission before he was for it, the same with the Homeland Security - he was against it before he was for it, and one day he says the war on terror cannot be won and the next day he says we will win the "war on terror".

[DeminDC]

1. On the mixed messages theme...

What kind of message does it send when we protect our air and water supply from terrorists but refuse to protect it from polluters? What does it say when we rollback parts of the Clear Air and Clean Water Acts?

[livetohike]

2. Good points kentuck

I think Kerry should mention Bush's mother. That will turn Bush into a bigger, blathering idiot than he was last night.

[nickinSTL]

3. Against the flip-flop, Kerry should use Bush's BIGGEST...

That after 9/11, Bush said his top priority was to find OBL, and then, having not captured him, saying that he was not important.

Isn't he supposedly the head of the terrorist organization suspected of the biggest terror attack on American soil? How is he no longer important?

[kentuck]

5. Good point but....

How much emphasis should we put on Osama. Although I think that was one of the strongest points that Kerry made last night.

[nickinSTL]

6. You have a point, as well...

I know focusing on bin Laden is risky.

If Bush brings him out before Nov.2, or if Kerry can't catch him either, it could be a liability.

[snoogins]

4. speaking of attack

i bet cokechimp Mc Smiley Murder engineers a terrorist attack between debates to cover for his miserable failure

[DancingBear]

7. Kerry has a quiver full of arrows still left to use

He was able to destroy Bush last night without even resorting to OBL dead or alive/not my concern. The stock of ammunition JK still has at his disposal is enormous.

If * is actually stupid enough to try an attack (and he will - it's all that Rove knows) Kerry will hammer him so far into the ground he won't see daylight for a week.

[librechik]

8. Karl can plan all he wants--his boy just can't do the job

when he's on the spot alone without his props.