Well, I was intending to write a real response to the first presidential debate – and I probably still will. I was too exhausted and sleepy after the debate to write anything. Today I had to work, and I’ve also been setting up our new DSL connection the last couple of days. When I finally got the adapter so that I could add my computer to the network, my machine had major problems with the installation disk. Somehow my monitor driver got corrupted, and then the whole system went down in a very major way. It did restart, and started looking for software to support some very intrinsic hardware. Eventually, it just became a series of fatal errors and crashes and I couldn’t do anything at all except get to DOS and use old commands I barely remember to navigate around. I am now trying to get into my drive enough to copy important files onto ancient blank diskettes (the CD-ROM drives aren’t being recognized). My professional opinion is that my six year old computer has finally gone ka-flooey.

I haven’t completely given up on the machine, although it is typical that when I finally upgrade from DLS is when it happens, and also when I want to write about the debate.

It’s after midnight here now.

But I will at least say a couple of short things. Kerry seems to have been misunderstood about his comment on passing the world litmus test – what he said and what some folk haven’t picked up on is that we should be able to justify a preemptive strike in terms understandable to humanity at large. Otherwise, or at least it seems to me, we are a bit like an empire, an invader, etc. And aren’t these the very charges being leveled against us in the world?

A small thing – somebody please tell Kerry not to smile if he can help it. Is his face injured? He is really a handsome man but something doesn’t quite fit right when he smiles.

George Bush is clearly not used to being criticized. However, I thought he did reasonably well for someone I disagree with on almost every point. Might have been nice if he gave some real examples about the "mixed signals" more than he did. Then at least we would know what exactly he had in mind. He seemed to purposely misunderstand Kerry on several points – for instance, he repeated that Kerry had seen the same intelligence that he had, when they weren’t even talking about that. Oh, and my husband John threatened to start pulling out his hair if W. said "hard work" one more time.

Lehrer did very well, I thought, except that he rewarded Bush a bit for being rude and intrusive. Kerry should have had a chance to rebut more some of the accusations that were made, but he was too polite to interupt like Bush did. Maybe Lehrer has let Brooks hang around too long at the New Hour and it has affected his head. Speaking of which, it was only a week ago that Brooks as still whining that he didn’t get a sense that Kerry had any real concrete plans – now, when Lehrer asks him specifically what they are, Brooks criticizes Kerry for laying out 4-5 points instead of one. What a weasel Brooks is – I was so prepared to like him because he seemed so reasonable, but I’ve come around to Paul Krugman’s view of him. No-one ever looks good against Shields though – he’s terrific. Maybe Shields should pick someone to replace that awful Ray Suarez – my hubby and I groan whenever he asks a question. He can’t possible be as bad as he seems – maybe he’s just going downhill.

Ok, ok, I’m rambling completely now – just too sleepy to think in any kind of organized fashion. Look for something much more substantial within the next few days or so. Now I’m going to sleep at last, knowing that if there is any justice here in America, Kerry will win this election. The polls mean nothing. What matters is who votes, how many vote, and how many votes are counted and counted correctly. Get out there and vote on November 2.