Big softball to Kerry on the National Guard and Reserve being overextended. He cites the president’s bad judgment, says the best fix is to “run a foreign policy that recognizes America is strongest when we are working with real alliances.”

Bush: The best way to take the pressure off our troops is to succeed in Iraq. To train Iraqis. 125,000 troops trained by the end of this year.

There he goes again, back on the “global test.” “I will never turn over our national security decisions to leaders of other countries.”

Kerry: The test is not to turn over our security to other nations — but I think it makes sense, most Americans in their guts know, you ought to pass a truth standard.

http://www.wordyard.com/2004/10/13/729/

On immigration, Bush charged, with an irate tip of his head, that Kerry doesn’t understand the borders if he can say that they’re less well protected today than they were four years ago, and Kerry calmly and quietly responded, “4000 people a day.” It was a simple but deadly rebuke, that seemed to say, “You can say I don’t understand, Mr. President, but I know this stuff inside and out, and it’s obvious you don’t.”

http://www.wordyard.com/2004/10/13/728/

Bush says, “He talks about middle class tax cuts. That’s exactly where the tax cuts went.” This is where a real moderator would step in and re-tether the proceedings to reality.

http://www.wordyard.com/2004/10/13/727/

Social Security: Q to Bush — where do you get the money?

Bush: “Seniors: You’ll still get your checks.” Problem is for youngsters. “We need a different strategy.” (He looks like he’s struggling very hard to remember the facts — the name “Daniel Patrick Moynihan” seemed to be hauled from the deep lumberroom of memory.)

Kerry: You just heard the president say that young people should be able to take SS money into their own accounts. Disaster. The CBO said there’d bea $2 trillion hole. Today’s workers pay into the system for today’s retirees. President has never explained where the transitional money comes from.

http://www.wordyard.com/2004/10/13/726/

Bush is charging Kerry with “no record in 20 years in the senate” on healthcare.

Kerry: 56 individual bills that I’ve personally written. I was one of the original authors of early childhood healthcare in the 1990s. The president’s wrong.

http://www.wordyard.com/2004/10/13/725/

Here’s what Bush said about Osama that he couldn’t remember tonight:

THE PRESIDENT: Well, as I say, we haven’t heard much from him. And I wouldn’t necessarily say he’s at the center of any command structure. And, again, I don’t know where he is. I — I’ll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about him. I know he is on the run. I was concerned about him, when he had taken over a country. I was concerned about the fact that he was basically running Afghanistan and calling the shots for the Taliban.

http://www.wordyard.com/2004/10/13/723/

Do you believe homosexuality is a choice? Bush: I just don’t know. Treat people with tolerance and dignity… I believe in the sanctity of marriage. Defense of Marriage Act.

Kerry: “We’re all God’s children. If you were to talk to Dick Cheney’s daughter she would tell you she’s being who she was born as. It’s not choice.”

http://www.wordyard.com/2004/10/13/722/

Bush’s cadence is strangely repetitious, and I’m sorry to report it looks sometimes like he’s literally frothing. The camera is showing some very unflattering accumulations of what I can only describe as excess spittle.

http://www.wordyard.com/2004/10/13/721/

Kerry: “Being lectured by the president about fiscal responsibility is a little like being lectured by Tony Soprano about law and order.”

http://www.wordyard.com/2004/10/13/720/