Posted on 09/07/2004 3:06:45 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Horseface will either be completely paralyzed, not knowing which of his Heinz 87 positions is the "right one" to give in response, or will stick his foot in his mouth again and again.
To put it another way, I think most Americans today see anything and everything they view on TV as entertainment- it's all of equally little value, except for titillation or a laugh.
Unless one candidate really screws up. ala Al Gore in 2000, it won't mean much.
According to Kerry's personal friend and debating coach at Yale, only William F. Buckley was better than Kerry. Rollin Osterweis felt there were none better than Buckley and then Kerry. But I watched as O'Neill debated the issues with Kerry in the 70's and I didn't get the feeling that Kerry was superior in any way. And now we see Kerry coming unglued in this campaign. It will be interesting to see these debates between Bush and Kerry, for sure.
The Kerry campaign is trying to lower the bar for Kerry by talking up Bush's debating skill. My own feeling about it is Bush is in command of the issues and is more likely to give a straight story. Kerry has changed his position on many of the issues and it makes it much more difficult to be coherent. Plus, Bush is far more likeable. Kerry is arrogant and aloof. Kerry has that aristocratic european fringe about him that most Americans just aren't into. The way Osterweis scores a winner is likely very different then the way you or I might. That said, I think Bush might just walk away with these debates. Easily.
If his acceptance speech is any indication of how he performs under pressure, they'd better have a big supply of towels available or the inside of the TV studio might start looking like the flood aftermath of Frances.
I'm looking forward to them. I know, at times, it will be hard for President Bush to keep a straight face.
The dems will say he is "smirking". LOL.
Kerry should know everyone is focused like a laser on his flip flopping and it wouldn't be hard to bring that to the fore in a debate.
You should properly rephrase this to: He went on to win the election by voter Fraud. Had Nixon been of such low moral character as Al Gore he could have contested the election and would have WON. Nixon knew unlike Gore that while this was undeniably true it would have harmed the country so he stepped aside and ran again later.
Bush will be funny and POLITE.
Kerry will be plodding and SNIDE.
Kerry definately CANNOT win the debates on charm or looks. Bush has him beat in both areas hands down. I don't see Bush having a major misstep in the debates either.
Every question asked Bush can simply point out the LACK of a Kerry record on the topic (in spite of 20 years in the Senate) or the repeated waffling on it by Kerry over the past 20 years.... Kerry will be on the defensive throughout the debate if the moderators ask anything remotely relevant.
A lot of people believe Gore should have run away with the election. By using that yardstick, he did very poorly by coming in a close second.
It will be interesting to see how "old media" spins Kerry's performance.
Bump!
"I'm looking forward to them. I know, at times, it will be hard for President Bush to keep a straight face."
Remember when Gore asked "What about Dingell-Norwood?" and then the look W gave him?
It instantly turned Gore from the invincible policy wonk into the annoying, whining know-it-all that everyone hated in school.
I look forward to such a moment in this year's debates. It can't be forced, though - it must come from the heart.
Bush will do better if he's misunderestimated again.
You know W is going to have a full case of ammunition that is labeled, "But what about the time you said..."
That's exactly why he will lose this election.
Expect Kerry to handed his own ass on a plate!
Exactly! I can't wait! :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.