Debate Predictions

In response to a question about health care, Bush will start saying, "It's gettin' hot in herre, so take off all yer clothes," then he'll realize the radio receiver in his ear is picking up the local hip-hop station, then Milli Vanilli will jump on stage, leaping to his defense, and Kerry will be forced into a Spears/Timberlake-style dance-off.

(In case you don't know what I'm talking about with the Bush earpiece, go over here. A word on this controversy, which has migrated from the Web to Salon and MSNBC: If Bush cheated by using a radio transmitter in that first debate, that has to be the worst instance of cheating in the history of cheating.)

Or,

I think Kerry will be ready for the "no wonder I made a face" line Bush tested out in PA earlier this week, and he'll have a stone-cold zinger for it. Something like "Do you want to make a face, or do you want to face reality?"

Kerry's been more prepared for this kind of no-holds-barred town-hall format; he's held dozens of them, and the questions were not at all reverential. Whereas the "Kiss the Hem of the President's Garment" events usually end up with such hard hitting questions as "I just want to thank you for everything you've done." And, we've all seen how bent out of shape the Prez got when his opponent dared to question his policies. What'll happen when somebody from the rabble does it?

We shall soon find out.