[dead]

Bush started horribly, finished decently.

Kerry won the debate. Had more facts, stayed on message better, seemed in control.

Not a big deal in the big picture though. Kerry needed a knockout punch and didn't get it. No major gaffes from Bush, though (inexplicably) he seemed unprepared.

Shouldn't move the polls much, but Bush needs to do better in the next two debates.

[Blowtorch]

There is only one more debate for the President. The VP debate is the third debate. So Bush has one more round.

[B Knotts]

Agree with your observations. I'm puzzled at the president's apparent lack of preparation. He should have absolutely nailed Kerry in this debate, but seemed very hesitant.

[Constantine XIII]

I'll tell you what got W worst.

Same thing that makes good fighters lose fights, the same thing that makes many wise men stumble.

Kerry made him mad.

[quantim]

Kerry won the debate. Had more facts, stayed on message better, seemed in control.

Kerry won the debate. Had more facts, stayed on message better, seemed in control.

[MNJohnnie]

Nonsense. Kerry lost the election tonght. Here is why. It is unfortunate when people confuse relentlessly negative critical comments as intellectual sophistication. There is this strange fascination with a certain segment of Freepers. They seem to think if they are playing devils advocate ALL the time and making constantly critical comments about their own side, it makes them seem thoughtful and intelligent. Maybe we should have a term for this? Call it "McCainism" A metal defect that requires the victim to constantly critize their own side while NEVER pointing out where the other side blew it. Mccainism does not make you look smart. See REAL intelligence would be to provide some serious BALANCED review not this hysterical "OH WE LOST! IT IS ALL OVER" chicken little screech time after time, post after post.

Mark my words Boy's and Girls, John Kerry just lost the election tonight. Since most who suffer from McCainism seem to be lawyers, I will put it to you in terms you might understand. John Kerry may, or may not, have won the formal debate but he didn't win the Jury. And you people always forget this one fact. The JURY (i.e. The American people), not the Debate coaches decides the election.

John Kerry lost the election tonight people. You heard it here first.

[Willie Green]

Bush started horribly, finished decently.
Kerry won the debate. Had more facts, stayed on message better, seemed in control.

I don't agree with that assessment.
Kerry really wasn't very impressive.

No major gaffes from Bush, though (inexplicably) he seemed unprepared.

IMHO, he missed an opportunity to highlight Kerry's inconsistancy:

North Korea is a regime arming with missiles and weapons of mass destruction, while starving its citizens.

Iran aggressively pursues these weapons and exports terror, while an unelected few repress the Iranian people's hope for freedom.

Iraq continues to flaunt its hostility toward America and to support terror.  The Iraqi regime has plotted to develop anthrax, and nerve gas, and nuclear weapons for over a decade....

States like these, and their terrorist allies, constitute an axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world.

~ George W. Bush, State of the Union Address, January 29, 2002

• When discussing Iraq, Kerry downplays the "coalition of the willing" and insists that Dubya should have had more UN and international participation and negotiations.
• When discussing North Korea, Kerry wants to abandon use of Chinese, Russian and other international leverage against North Korea and go it alone with bilateral talks.

Can't have it both ways.

[plain talk]

Bush started horribly, finished decently

I thought he started well and did worse towards the end. Doesn't matter. Americans knew he wasn't a great debater. But he plainly stated his positions and made sense. Kerry didn't. Bush probably made more sense to the mushy middle and independents. That's what counts.

[cyncooper]

Kerry won the debate. Had more facts..

Depends on the meaning of "facts". Even Brian Williams on MSNBC just said that several NBC producers watched and started fact checking candidate's assertions and he cited examples from both. Surprise! Bush's stood up to sourcing and Kerry's were "creative".

We in this house all thought Bush won but conceded Kerry did well stylistically. I submit that many an American thought by the end--perhaps just subliminally--that they would not care to spend the next four years listening to or looking at Kerry.