Posted on 10/01/2004 3:46:07 AM PDT by LS
Ever watch one of those boxing movies where the hero belts the loud-mouthed opponent right in the kisser, but to no apparent effect? Then, the villain wobbles a little, develops that funny look in his eyes, then tumbles like an rotten oak?
Last night in Miami, the President delivered one of these delayed-reaction shots to John Kerry.
Reading the posts of Freepers was both funny and horrifying. "We lost the election tonight," moaned one. "It's over," said another.
That's probably what "Rocky's" trainer was thinking right before Clubber Lang hit the mat.
The fact is, Kerry is finished.
The post-moretms today---from Seattle to Albuquerque, from the Fox All Stars to the human catfish, Susan Estrich---all agree that while Kerry scored minor points early, no opinions changed.
That, my friends, is the knockout blow for Bush. It's now October 1, meaning that foreign policy will not come up in the subsequent debates. Put another way, had Kerry delivered a right uppercut, Bush would still have had a 30-day-standing count to recover. But Kerry did no such thing, His minor style-sheet debate point "wins" will fade by early next week, while Bush's seriousness---yes, at times, anger at having to even deal with such nonsense---will continue to shape public opinion.
Leave the boxing metaphor for a moment and use that of a roller-coaster: Kerry pegged everything on Iraq---his "high point," if you will. Now, that "momentum" (or lack thereof) has to sustain him for 30 days. It ain't gonna happen.
While Terry McAuliffe smirks and thinks he can run videos of Bush "being angry and perturbed," he's missing the fact that his coaster is already losing momentum, and his boxer is already out on his feet.
I not only look for polls not to change, but for Bush to continue to gain in Maryland, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maine, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Two lines in particular will reverberate after the Kerry condescension evaporates: the one about asking allies to fight for a "diversion," and the one about leaders needing to be steady and consistent.
It was a huge mistake for Kerry to allow the foreign policy debate first. Even if he had won decisively, it allowed Bush more than a month to regain his footing. But as matters stand, the coaster is already pulling into the station, and there won't be any more runs this year.
Right. Exactly my point. Initial reactions were 180 degrees wrong.
Treblinka Square? Is that in Moscow or somewhere in Germany? Ah oh, Lurch is in trouble now. When Terayza hears about this she'll cut his allowance by another 10%.
Treblinka - extermination camp in Poland
You nailed it.
My neighbor agrees with you. I, however, thought he looked like death warmed over. But at least he took care of the Agent Orange problem. :-)
Although Kerry usually sounds good, he made a number of serious errors last night. There's some good material for Bush campaign ads from that debate. His statement about a "global test" for preemption was a big mistake, as were his supinely dovish remarks that he would cancel research on bunker-buster nukes because the US can't develop such weapons while telling horrendous terror-sponsoring states that they can't have nuclear weapons. Apparently in Kerry's view, the US is only slightly more responsible than Iran and North Korea, an opinion that is NOT held by 90+% of Americans.
I woke up expecting to hear that Senator Kerry may tighten the race, instead I watched many of the morning news programs (local and national), and to tell the truth, the "sound bites" from last night make the President look much stronger.
I love our President, but his ums, ahs, and pauses really perturbed me. Watching the edits this morning, most of those are gone, and the news media (even ABC) are showing the context of the answers, and the "meat" of the answers making President Bush look like the true leader he is.
Let's hope the fence sitters are seeing what I am!
Very interesting. Thanks for posting.
Perhaps his mediocre performance will give him a Reagan-like opening in the next debate. He can make some comments about how he was tired or cranky, and perhaps get some laughs from it. It might work.
I knew Treblinka was either in Germany or Poland. But where did Kerry get the idea of a "square" in Moscow named Treblinka. This is another example of his willingness to say anything with no concern for whether his statements are true and factually correct. It reminds me of that song..."there's a certain kind of fool who likes to hear the sound of his own voice."
I think who 'won' the debates is irrelevant. The important piece is who wins the spin. And I think the D's orchestrated efforts to spam polls and call ins and letters to the editor won the opening round. And you can count on the media trying to cement that early lead for Kerry.
I think the BC04 campaign has to very quickly get some of Kerry's big gaffes into commercials so that they become part of the story, not just more Boston fog that dissipates. We need to see an ad about 'global test' We need to see an ad that blasts Kerry's unilateral approach to NK. We need to see an ad that says Kerry wants to disarm the only weapon that could destroy the Iranian Mad Mullahs' Nukes if diplomacy does fail.
For what's it's worth, you would have hated Lincoln, who was a terrible public speaker. It's only when you listen closely to---or read---his words that they carry greatness.
BTW, the instapolls aren't working. The "spin" from even the MSM is disappointment with Kerry, not Bush.
"Our honorable President Bush, was clearly perturbed by having to stand on the stage with a POSER, a liberal mental case, a lying gigolo. "
True however the idea behind a debate is to EXPOSE that to stupid voters.
My 14 year old son was yelling at the TV, saying to Kerry "I know you say you have a plan, but what is it?" So listening to him, I am also thinking I was watching it too emotionally.
I just thought at times, listening to President Bush was like listening to a teenager say "you know, like" every other sentence, and I just wanted to get up on stage and pull the words out of his mouth.
As I said, watching the recaps today is so much more refreshing. Kerry looks like the pompous ass he is, and President Bush looks like a determined leader. I am happy this morning.
A point that crossed my mind while Bush could have "put him away" on the misstatements Kerry made, He might effectively put him away by planting the seed of debate to go on in each of our minds.
"to the human catfish, Susan Estrich-"
The whole piece is excellent, and this has got to be the funniest characterization of this awful woman I've run across. LOL.
Well looking good is all that matters to liberals.
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