Every time I see the opening handshake I.....

[SeekingTruth]

laugh my ass off. I loved that extra second hold-on grip of Kerry's. That was brilliant, but what is suprising is how many people have missed it...

[Lex]

1. I saw it right away and I'm sure it unnerved Smirk.

.
It also made him look like a petulant child, didn't it?

[dennis4868]

2. yeah I saw it.....

it was Kerry telling Bush....DONT FUCK WITH ME!

[NJCher]

3. Kerry had the first and last word

I don't know which was smarter--the opening handshake or that wonderful remark he made at the end when bush said he wanted to put his daughters on a leash. Kerry said quietly, "I've learned not to do that, Mr. President."

Just excellent. Excellent in every way. I was really proud that John Kerry is our candidate.


Cher

[Seabiscuit]

4. I saw it

and I think I saw W grimace. I posted elsewhere that I think Kerry crushed poor 'lil Georgie's hand and that's why Georgie was making all those pained expressions everytime Kerry spoke, and that's why Georgie was slouching - for 90 minutes he was rubbing his right hand with his left behind the podium trying to relieve the pain. :)

[Technowitch]

5. I think the "lasting grip" was payback...

Shrub thought he could pull what Reagan did to Carter during the 1980 debates. Reagan almost raced across the stage and basically 'invaded' Carter's space. I watched back then -- and you could see Carter's consternation. It threw him off his stride.

I think Shrub's handlers told him to do the same thing, try to get the best of Kerry right off the bat -- only dear John is quick on his feet. He didn't let him faze him at all. Instead, he turned it to his advantage, but making it clear that Shrub could leave when HE (Kerry) was ready to let go of his hand.

And leaning down to say say something his ear also had another effect (aside from whatever it was Kerry said, which I actually suspect wasn't nice, but who knows for sure?) -- and it further showed how -small- a man Bush is, compared to Kerry.

[Birthmark]

6. Just because people didn't *see* it...

...doesn't mean that they missed it. IOW, they may not have noticed it and remembered the event, but it may well color their perceptions of the two men.

[Starlight]

7. The SNL parodied the handshake.

They had John about 3' taller than little Georgie. It brought me a giggle. :)

[tedoll78]

8. I was soooo looking forward to that handshake.

For weeks I awaited it. It would, at least in the subconscious minds of voters, be a pivotal moment. In the past 25 elections, the taller candidate has won 22 times. The three exceptions? McGovern, who was bald. Ford, who was bald. And (*sniff*) Gore.

For the Town Hall debate, I think Kerry would be smart to stay near Bush.. just to keep the height contrast there for people to absorb..

[Arancaytar]

10. So it *wasn't* an illusion

induced by tiredness as I thought yesterday after midnight when I saw a clip for the first time. Absolute LOL! Bush turning around, but Kerry not letting go of his hand until Bush tugs it away... now comes right after "of course we're after Saddam Hussein.... eh Osama Bin Laden..."

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

9. Kerry pulled him back, and to the right....

back, and to the right.

[JohnnyRingo]

11. Hahahahaha

"JFK"....Good one.

Sounds like a scene from a new Freeper movie.
Especially since I read there that JK did it to make Buxh's tie crooked.....And that's why he lost the debate.

[demwing]

12. Bone Daddy?

Kerry is Bush's Senior Bonesman by 2 years. Kerry joined Skull and Bones in 1966, Bush joined in 1968. I wonder if that gives Kerry some unspoken rank over Bush, as if Kerry is Bush's Bone Daddy.

I also wonder if--when Kerry grabbed Bush's hand and pulled him close--he whispered some Bonesian warning, just to mess with the Bush.

I hate secret organizations. :)

[NightOwwl]

13. It was hilarious

Watch closely and you can actually see Bush struggle as he attempts to pull his hand from Kerry's grip.

I could almost hear the"pop" when he finally pulled free.