U.S. Election links

The Presidential Horror Show--a Flash movie you really must see. (Link via grrwoo)

U.S. Presidential Debate Trivia--a National Geographic look at memorable moments from presidential debates. (via natlgeographic)

And this is just an interesting viewpoint you don't hear all that often: Forging a Pro-Gay, Pro-Life Alliance. (via a comment somebody made somewhere)

[Edit: Did I actually type something about hearing a viewpoint? Eesh.]

Woo.

This country needs more debates like that one. Unlike the first debate between these two, neither candidate seemed whiny, irritable, or otherwise bad in a way that distracted from the issues. Both Bush and Kerry made their points reasonably well, though of course there was some attempted wriggling as you'd expect when you've got politicians on a stage. Both men made tactical mistakes as they spoke, but not huge errors in political judgment. I can't really see either one as the "winner" of this debate, and it seems to me that that shouldn't be what matters anyway. This was an educational show--perhaps not one that teaches a politically-aware viewer anything new, but at least one that makes things clearer to someone who had only a fuzzy idea of where the candidates stood.

Yes, my anti-Bush side wishes the current president had performed badly enough to turn off all the undecided voters. Overall, though, I believe it's better for us all if the voters get to hear both the candidates on a good night--and then, hopefully, go research those statements to find out how badly politicians were twisting the truth--so those voters can cast their votes knowledgeably.

Then again, most undecided folks will probably cast their vote based on whether they think a Munster or a chimpanzee looks better in a suit.