Viva Kerry!

All I can say after watching these three debates is how terribly badly I want to see Kerry become our next president. Not, "well at least he ain't Bush", not, "well, I kinda like him I mean he'll do", as Christopher Hitchens recently characterized Democratic support of the new JFK. I really seriously want to see him, John Kerry, as our Prez in a way I never felt about Gore, and in fact have not felt in this way possibly ever in my adult voting life. Clinton was charming and wonky all together and it was a wonder to behold, but no one ever, on either side I think, really had any illusions about his personal character. Part of his charm was in fact that he was a rogue and able to charm his way through any tight squeeze. Kerry will never have that kind of appeal, and, right at this point in history, probably thank God for it (though of course as Kelley pointed out, imagine Clinton debating Bush - damn, the mess they'd have to mop up off the stage after those blowouts). Polls, even the current excetionally heartening CNN post-debate-poll that shows all numbers sliding into Kerry's lap, even the latest in which Kerry is finally (thank the good Lord of all that is sane and reasonable) seen as "more believable" - all of these polls consistently show Bush as more "likeable" (although that gap has closed considerably as well). With Bush, the only possible appeal I can imagine is that he appears to be "just a good ol' boy, never meanin' no harm" - beyond this, he strikes me as nothing much more than smarmy, stiff, garbled, occasionally just plain lost in space, and sometimes downright petulant and rude like someone that never learned their damn manners, Gufus to Kerry's Gallant. Unquestionably I myself am going to be more strongly pre-disposed to the cold, reserved, intellectual types. But the constant characterization of Kerry as this cold, fact-spouting "Boston Brahmin", after these debates I finally really don't get. There's something that I've really come to like about him, something very curious about the thoughtfulness and confidence of his approach, that I would love, love, love to see in action in the White House. Really and truly.

Kerry was almost preternaturally calm during these debates, and what I think will become more and more discussed is how self-confident he must be if he can take a good solid moment to compliment the President sincerely on his response to 9/11. I think any typical campaign advisor would think, my God man, are you suicidal, bringing up the opponent's shining moment and highlighting it? But no, watching the poise and grace with which he delivered these encomiums was wonderful. And I think - subliminally or no - that my response is not unlike the response a lot of people are going to have to him, and are having to him. That likeability gap is closing fast, and with good reason. I can't see how anyone, in their gut, couldn't be impressed as hell with him. When I watch Kerry, while there's the straightforward issue of "is he Presidential", which without a doubt anyone with clear eyes would be forced to admit he is in spades (as certainly as his opponent is not, conservative denial states be damned) - there is another issue, harder to define, and easier to get laughed at for trying to define, whether beyond the huggermugger politics which he like any politician is forced to mouth, there isn't someone with a very strong moral code who not only "seems Presidential" but in fact deeply deserves to lead this country. Maybe I've just been watching too much West Wing, maybe I just want to believe too strongly that there really is a Jed Bartlett out there waiting to stand as a moral beacon in the White House, guarding the interests of the common man. But I don't care. I've really loved watching him in these debates, watching the absolute glacial calm, with occasionally just the merest hint of an amused smile, while he waited his turn to speak, the measured pace he would take to drive a point home without having to raise his voice or lose his demeanor, the fact that he was always perfectly ready to jump in with an informed, articulate, smart, rational response (not like he didn't occasionally make us all cringe with certain of them), and how he never seemed fazed in the least by Bush's attacks. I want to see him take this election more than I ever imagined I would. Yes, admittedly for me Kerry used to be "anybody but Bush". Not anymore.