Too many people here are celebrating as if we've won some big victory with this debate.
Kerry did quite well, and Bush did unusually poorly. I still think Kerry could have driven a few out of the park, but I will not quibble with the assessment that he won the debate.
But that's all he did. Kerry has not won this election, not by a longshot.
Does this change the fact that Bush and the media still have a special relationship?
Does it change the fact that in OH and PA, GOP folks will count the ballots and set the electoral rules?
Does it change the fact that Bush still has two more debates and five more weeks to turn this around?
My point should be clear - tonight was a shot in the arm. Kerry did well, came out swinging. But we haven't won anything yet. We won't have won anything until Kerry is sworn in at the capitol on January 20.
Until then, this is but a step in the right direction. And it won't mean a goddamn thing unless we e-mail or call every media outlet in these 50 states and tell them that Kerry did well, that Bush could not defend his policies coherently, and unless Kerry wins both of the next two debates, we should still consider ourselves behind.
Because that's the politics we have to deal with. Bush is still strong. He is down but not out. Let's not get carried away by euphoria. This debate was a shot in the arm, a rallying cry. The battle has not yet been won.