Does Anyone Else Feel Like They're In The Trenches Waiting?

I feel an odd sense of quiet. I know that it is only days - hours, even - before the final assault. I know that the task before Kerry is daunting - against both Bush and a hostile media - but I also know that Kerry is at his best under fire.

I feel like there is not much more we can do in the days before the debate (besides the expectations game - which worked, by the way).

At this point, I guess we have to do what every parent must do when they send their child to kindergarten for the first time: hope we have done our best to prepare them to stand on their own. And I'm not being self-important - the grassroots has had more effect on this election than any in 25 years.

All I can recommend as comfort is this passage from The New Yorker in 2002 - one of the first pieces that really put me in Kerry's camp for good:

The last four debates were fabulous political theatre—two very smart men having at each other. "John's at his best under pressure, when he's being seriously challenged," Paul Nace, an old Navy friend, says. "He gets really cool, very calm. He really is a warrior—he just loves it. I took one look at him as he was walking into Faneuil Hall for one of the last debates and I thought, Bill Weld has no idea what's about to hit him."

Kerry will not back down. Prediction: W will wilt like a flower.

We need to trust Kerry on this... These last few days - everyone has been giving advice, warnings, predictions...we've played right into Bush's hands, we've LET him think he's defined Kerry!! I remember before Kerry's convention speech - and how the pundits kept saying he had to hit a homerun and what did he do?? He hit a homerun - you had Scarborough even saying how he wouldn't be upset waking up knowing Kerry was Commander in Chief... There was talk of how noble he seemed - how Presidential he seemed...polls went up and he was even higher on trust than Bush... The Bush Camp along with the media & swiftboats simply threw him out of the spotlight. Kerry will be the same intelligent, passionate person he was that convention night on Thurs and the America will feel good again...

be. This is going to be one hell of a bumpy ride for a urban cowboy who hates horses. Or is that horses hate him.

Kerry's shown the ability to come through in a crisis. Let's hope he can do it now.

he is good and does know how to make his point. They showed him old debate in the 70's and and in a race he was close in 96. Both times he thought fast on his feet and knew just what to say. I think because he just started getting tough we are not sure if he will be that way with Bush. I think he will be after seeing the videos.

instead of the orchestrated show that it's going to be.

beat Bush* in a debate with both hands tied behind his back. ;-)

Even that wouldn't keep the Freepers from voting for their Chimpy Bunnypants.

He DOES have to prove to the undecideds that he has the brains, resolve and experience to get us out of the mess * has made.

This will be NO problem, as * is like a wind-up doll saying the same things over and over.

I am looking forward to seeing * get that deer-in-the-headlights look, myself.

But want someone decent to vote for. That's Kerry's audience. As a hardcore Dem, I want the red meat, but I also think Kerry would be served by showing some real cojones.

I'd love to hear Kerry talk about Plame, BBV, Prescott Bush and cocaine, and I hope he gets some great digs in. But more than that, I expect he will be engaging and show his greater command of the English language and the American heart.

I'll be damned if I'm going to sit in the trenches and take the shelling.