Update: Digby on "America's Ex-Husband." Michael Tomasky, writing for American Prospect, says, Hello Gender Gap.

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Oliver Willis has the video of Bush flipping out at Charlie Gibson.

Billmon returns from hiatus to say:

If Kerry and the Dems can't make an issue out of the fact that the president of the United States is utterly incapable of controlling his hairtrigger temper, they don't deserve to win this election. I mean, the man is a walking time bomb.

Markos of Daily Kos:

Sh*t, this isn't even close. This is worse than last Tuesday's debate for Bush. He's rude, loud, arrogant, angry, and has been outmaneouvered by Kerry on question after question. This one isn't even close. Not even close.

Kevin Drum:

OFF HIS MEDS?....I've been surfing around TV a little bit, and the one thing that surprises me is that there's very little comment about George Bush's demeanor, especially during the first half hour. His voice was several notches above presidential, he was interrupting both Charlie Gibson and the questioners, he was leaping to his feet, he was jabbing the air with Ross Perot-like abandon, and there were at least a couple of times when he looked like he was about to leap into the audience and throttle someone. It's one thing to be passionate, but it's quite another to look like you're off your meds and need to be restrained.

Atrios:

ALERT: These polls are ongoing and can remain open for up to two days-- VOTE NOW and spread the word.

* MSNBC
Ongoing Poll Results

Kerry: 78%

Bush: 22%

* CNN (Scroll Down to 'Quick Vote')
Ongoing Poll Results

Kerry: 83%

Bush: 16%

* CBS News
Ongoing Poll Results

Kerry: 88%

Bush: 11%

* Fox News (Scroll Down)
Ongoing Poll Results

Kerry: 70%

Bush: 30%

John Kerry won, hands down. He had concrete answers. He was Presidential. He showed his knowledge and exposed Bush's mistakes.

Bush was defensive, belligerant and condescending at times. He keeps playing up the fear factor. He doesn't get it. He's detached. He's scary.

Your thoughts?

Update: Media Spin

• Chris Matthews: Biased for Bush, again.
• Bill Kristol and Mort Kondrake on Fox: Both said Kerry won the debate.
• Bill Clinton: Hillary says Bill says Kerry hit it out of the park. (She's on Larry King Live.)
• Hillary: Bush couldn't think of anything he did wrong, he didn't have a plan, particularly for change, and everyone knows we need change. Race will be close, but Kerry will win. Kerry was clear winner tonight, President said same old-same old.

Polls:

ABC POLL: Who Won The Debate:
Kerry: 44%
Bush: 41%

Update 5 8:35 closings: Kerry's is good. Concrete plans. He's presidential. Articulate. Engaged.

Bush: Soft-speaking, mealy. Touting his economic successes. He still doesn't get it. Instead of a plan, he announces goals. "We will be safe."

8:30: Bush is asked to name three of his mistakes. He bobs and weaves, trying not to say he didn't make any but not acknowledging any specific ones. Kerry has Bush's mistakes down pat. Gets in another shot at Bush for going to war.

"Saddam was a risk to our country, man." Man?

Update #4: 8:20 pm Kerry is good on the Patriot Act abuses. He opposes sneak and peek's. He opposes detentions where people can't challenge their confinement. But he says he supports the Act. Which portions?

The stem cell questioner has to be a plant. Could anyone who is that much against embryonic stem cells not be a pro-lifer whose mind is made up? Bush's relaxed answer shows he knows he has this questioner, there's no threat. Nonetheless, Kerry is great on his second shot at the answer.

Onto the Supreme Court: Bush says he hasn't decided who to put on the Supreme Court yet. He wouldn't pick a judge who ruled against the Pledge of Allegiance or the one who decided Dred Scott. How timely. He would pick strict constructionists. No litmus test except for how they interpret the Constitution. Kerry blows Bush out of the water on this one.

Another pro-lifer question. Uncommitted, please. I'm surprised Charlie Gibson allowed these questions to be posed in such a partisan manner.

Update #3 8:07 pm: Bush says he's been a good steward of the land. Now we know we can't believe a word he says. Kerry is becoming more confident and natural as the debate goes on. He's in his stride now, and Bush seems angry and petulant.

Update #2 7:50 pm. This debate is kind of a snooze. The audience is about as homogenous as you can get. Very little diversity. Too many are keeping their arms folded across their chests when one or the other talks, hardly the sign of an uncommitted voter.

Just as we thought....the terror alert that went out yesterday about schools was bogus. [link via AmericaBlog]

U.S. authorites obtained a federal order to seize Indymedia's webservers in the U.S. and London.

Why? IndyMedia is in the dark. Here's what Rackspace, its hosting company had to say:

"In the present matter regarding Indymedia, Rackspace Managed Hosting, a U.S. based company with offices in London, is acting in compliance with a court order pursuant to a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT), which establishes procedures for countries to assist each other in investigations such as international terrorism, kidnapping and money laundering. Rackspace responded to a Commissioner’s subpoena, duly issued under Title 28, United States Code, Section 1782 in an investigation that did not arise in the United States. Rackspace is acting as a good corporate citizen and is cooperating with international law enforcement authorities. The court prohibits Rackspace from commenting further on this matter.

In other words, Rackspace is gagged. Note that a search warrant wasn't used. Only an administrative subpoena. An end run around the 4th Amendment. Here are the questions IndyMedia has at this time.

There's going to be a showdown. The House passed its Intelligence Reform bill this afternoon. The Senate passed its version earlier this week. The two are dramatically different in that the House version contains expanded law enforcement powers. Now the House and Senate will appoint conferees to see if they can hammer out a single version in time to get it to Bush for signing before the election.

The House version stinks. One additional note: The provision that would have allowed the U.S. to deport non-citizens to a country that might torture them was scrapped. Here's what they got instead:

I just dropped the rates for ads on TalkLeft. Check them out, there are some real bargains. Ads placed today will be up in time for the debate. Act soon, because prices will be going back up Monday or Tuesday.

Placement links:

• Premium, top right
• Right sidebar
• Left sidebar

Demand for the top left spot is very high. It's available only between Oct. 19 and 28. Instead of lowering the price on this one, I"m offering 9 days for the rate of 7. Then it's filled until November 28, so again, act soon.

If Civil Rights, human rights, prison reform and drug policy reformer advocates across America want to have a real and positive impact on Congress in the 2004 election, they will seriously consider voting for their Democratic candidates in House races. Regardless of any personal third party inclinations.

Democratic control of the U.S. House of Representatives will mean John Conyers, D-MI, a drug war policy reform advocate, will become the first Black chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. For progressive voters across America this is an electoral outcome well worth voting for.

[Received from Pat Rogers.]

Bump and Update: She's in.

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The media has assembled.

Here is one from this morning when she surrendered. Another of her pre-dawn arrival.

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Original Post
Martha Stewart's Last Day of Freedom

Martha Stewart will surrender tomorrow to begin her 5 month prison term. Today is her last day of freedom for five months. For those who think "Camp Cupcake" is a walk in the park, it's not. It may not have cells with bars and razor-wired fences, but there is no way that inmates are not aware 24/7 that their choices and movements are restricted and they have very little control over their lives. Here's some of what Martha reportedly will face:

The process will begin as soon as Stewart voluntarily surrenders on Friday. Just like every other inmate at the minimum security facility, Stewart will be fingerprinted, photographed, and strip searched.

She will have to give a urine sample in front of the guards. She will be issued a prison uniform and black steel toed boots. She will be given bedding -- a pillow, sheets, a blanket and towels. She will be assigned a bed in one of the dorm-like facilities.

Her day will consist of:

The Center for Public Integrity has obtained classified background materials from the Army report on Abu Ghraib that describe in detail attacks, prisoner riots, interrogation methods and the torture and death of detainees. These documents, along with reports about the documents will be released in two parts beginning today, October 8. [link fixed]

If you have that uneasy feeling you're being watched between now and Election Day, you may be correct. Attorney General John Ashcroft has issued a sweeping 60 day directive authorizing federal agents from a variety of agencies--DEA, FBI, BATF and the U.S. Marshal's service--to begin surveillance of potential terrorism suspects.