TIA:   "I predict that Cheney will say "trial lawyer" ohhhh, 26 times tonight."

Quite probably. At least. But I'm pretty sure this can be countered effectively. I doubt that Cheney will introduce the subject, but I'm wondering how many times the word "Halliburton" is going to come up tonight. Maybe Edwards can induce Cheney to use the "f-word" again.

I heard some political pundit being interviewed on the radio yesterday going on and on about how one of the factors most important to American voters is "likability," and how it often trumps all kinds of other things, like intelligence, knowledge of issues, tendency to declare war at random, etc. He said that Bush had it made before the first debate, but he lost it with his frowns and "sucking lemons" expressions while Kerry was speaking. At the end of the debate, Kerry came out "more likeable." I though Kerry won on issues, and the fact that he didn't just keep repeating the same bumper-stickers over and over. If the pundit was right, it's a pretty damned sad commentary.

But if the pundit was right, Edwards should walk away with the trophy on this one. He's relatively young, handsome, articulate, has a pleasant personality, and he has the ideal "anchorman" hair—all things that matter most on television. Also, he is intelligent, and his experience as a crackerjack trial lawyer means he will be well-prepared, and if anyone throws him a curve, he'll be quick on his feet. Cheney is intelligent, quite articulate, and he, too, will have his arguments well prepared, but he tends to be gruff and argumentative (in a less than pleasant way), and where Bush tends to smirk a lot, Cheney is endowed with a permanent sneer. Not very high on the "likeability" index.

Helluva way to decide an election.

But I'm really looking forward to this one. It's gonna be a real good mud-wrestle.

Don Firth