By know you have seen, heard or read about the first of the Presidential debates. I am not going to rehash the analysis of the media's talking heads, but I will point out some personal observations.

Let me first state, I found the format of the debate highly restrictive thereby producing a somewhat lackluster result in light of all the lead-in hype. Dismissing style and substance, I rate the debate a draw: early rounds Bush, later rounds Kerry. That being said, from a purely strategic point of view, we consider the debate a Kerry victory.

Now, some of Sen. Kerry's comments were extremely alarming to this writer. Kerry's 19 year Senatorial record is a matter of public knowledge and, taken as a whole, reflect the sum of his true convictions. We all know that Kerry's voting record show him to have been on the wrong side of history throughout our last great conflict, the Cold War. He opposed a majority of US policies during Reagan's march to victory over communism in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. At that time, Kerry stubbornly pressed for the unilateral disarmament of America. An irresponsible and, ultimately confirmed, erroneous position. Apparently, Kerry still believes the weakening of America's combative power is the answer to our offensive and defensive readiness. Here are Kerry's telling quotes from the debate and my follow-up comments.

Commenting on America's research into 'bunker-busting nuclear weapons' Kerry emphatically stated, "I'm going to shut that program down …". - "Well, there he goes again!" Kerry not only maintains a pre-September 11th posture but, more disturbingly, a pre-Cold War victory stance! Dangerous stuff! This man has learned nothing from his mistakes throughout the history of his Senatorial tenure. (Side note: We cannot help but observe Kerry's usage of Bruce Springsteen's music along the campaign trail. 'The Boss' is known to be a long time vocal proponent of US disarmament, anti-defense, and no-nukes advocacy.)

Kerry also revealed his preposterous notion that the US should somehow kow-tow to the United Nations and other foreign bodies in matters of self-defense and self-determination:

"The United Nations, Kofi Annan offered help after Baghdad fell. And we never picked him up on that and did what was necessary to transfer authority and to transfer reconstruction. It was always American-run." - Necessary? Transfer authority? To Kofi Annan and the U.N.? After our boys and the 'coalition of the willing' toiled and sacrificed lives in an unparalleled victory over the enemy? The same U.N. unwilling to enforce its own resolutions over a 12 year span? The same U.N. unwilling to back the US when we were obliged to enforce those resolutions? The same U.N. forever discredited by the Oil-for-Food scandal? Are you serious Mr. Kerry?

"Two-thirds of the country was a no-fly zone when we started this war. We would have had sanctions. We would have had the U.N. inspectors. Saddam Hussein would have been continually weakening. If the president had shown the patience to go through another round of resolution, …". - Technically, Mr. Kerry, we did not start this war. Since Iraq was in violations of the Gulf War cease-fire agreement (meaning the end of hostilities, not the end of an actual state of war), this was merely the conclusion of a war started by Saddam Hussein.
• Sanctions? Done that! - 12 years worth.
• Inspectors? Done that! - hampered and evicted multiple times.
• Resolutions? Done that! - 17 was the final count and if Kerry had his way, we would still be counting!
Mr. Kerry you are sadly lacking a comprehensive grasp of reality.

"But if and when you do it, Jim, you have to do it in a way that passes the test, that passes the global test …". - Wrap it up, place a pretty bow around it and the package is complete. Kerry's true character is exposed: Globalist extraordinaire! Conceivably, his true purpose since he falsely testified against his fellow soldiers, attended and had knowledge of assassination plots targeting US officials and covertly participated in negotiations with the enemy during a time of war. This is a man willing to undermine the sovereignty of his own nation in order to achieve some unknown, possibly nefarious, goal. If I were of the 'black helicopter', conspiracy crowd, I would consider Kerry a true 'Manchurian Candidate' of our time.

"I believe that when you know something's going wrong, you make it right. That's what I learned in Vietnam."
"I'm going to lead those troops to victory." - Say what? Going by what you "learned" from Vietnam, you'll abandon Iraq and pull out the troops faster than a Frenchman can drop his weapon, raise his hands and say "Je capitule!" ("I surrender!"). OK, I'll make a partial retraction - No one can perform this deed faster than a Frenchman.


Finally, and most insulting of all:

"I believe that Ronald Reagan, John Kennedy, and the others did that more effectively, and I'm going to try to follow in their footsteps." - Senator Kerry, you opposed President Reagan nearly every step of the way. Ronald Reagan was a champion for freedom! Ronald Reagan was a man of conviction, determination and supreme foresight! Mr. Kerry, you are no Ronald Reagan and you are hardly a worthy enough leader to even suggest you could follow in the footsteps of that great defender of democracy and liberator of millions!!!

My friends, at the helm of this great ship, 'USA', Mr. Kerry will navigate our vessel down a meandering river to disaster. As for me, this is one crew member intent on swiftly ending that objective!