The third presidential debate

Once more, the Republican and Democratic candidates will face one another... while the Libertarians, Constitutionalists, Greens, and Naderites are left out in the cold. The Libertarians have filed a lawsuit trying to halt the debate or force their inclusion. They did not get an injunction,

I find it both amusing and sickening that in the lead-in speech involved a man from the "non-partisan" debate commission telling the audience, "This event is not about you. Do not cheer, do not laugh, do not try to participate in this event. Tonight is not for you. Do not applaud until Bob Schieffer tells you to."

On that note, let the debates begin.

First amusing comment from Kerry: "Return to the fiscal discipline of the 1990s". It seems that the Senator has forgotten the dot-com boom and subsequent bust. While that's not necessarily a problem with fiscal restraint in government, I would hardly cite the 1990s as a period of fiscal discipline! And, of course, with the Federal Reserve and its monetary policies so deeply embedded in the economy, the government bears some responsibility for the results. (And yes, folks, that's the government under Clinton that is responsible for the dot-boom and thus for the dot-bomb).

Fixing social security

Kerry deftly dodges the question of how to fix social security: he's going to ignore the problem. Bush followed up, though, and didn't let him get away with it. Privatizing social security isn't the best solution out there, but it's better than sticking your fingers in your ears and shouting.

Illegal Immigration

Bush has a plan that involves a temporary worker ID card, and has come out against amnesty; he thinks that people should either legitimately cross the border or should be stopped. Kerry has something that sounds similar, and he promises that he will close the borders, but he doesn't have a plan for how he'll do that. Typical.

Minimum wage

Kerry doesn't get it. He thinks that raising the minimum wage is a free money handout. He doesn't understand that it has economic costs associated with it.

My god. Kerry has just come out in favor of a law setting wages on the basis of gender. No details, but "the administration has stopped it".

Global Test

Kerry has the balls to deny the "global test" line from his last debate. I don't think that'll fly with voters,

Assault weapons ban

Bush believes in background checks and in renewing the ban.

Kerry: "I am a hunter, I am a gun owner, I respect the 2nd Amendment..." "Terrorists can come into American and buy an assault weapon at a gun show without a background check". Kerry is strongly in favor of the ban. This isn't a surprise.

Affirmative Action

Kerry wants more affirmative action. The fact is, he's in favor of racial and gender preferences -- not equality. Equal rights for all, Senator. Equal rights. Oh, and as President, Kerry will personally end racism. Wow. That's one hell of a campaign promise.