Posted on 09/30/2004 7:48:13 PM PDT by wagglebee
Presidential debate moderator Jim Lehrer showed once again Thursday night why top aides to President Clinton used to call him "our moderator" when presidential debate time rolled around in 1996.
The questions, which Lehrer announced at the outset had been authored exclusively by him, were supposed to help the American people determine which candidate would be a better steward of U.S. national security in a post-9/11 world.
But there were no queries to Sen. Kerry about his long Senate record of voting against defense appropriations; or his sponsorship of a bill to cut CIA funding by 6 billion dollars a year after terrorists struck the World Trade Center in 1993; or Kerry's support of the nuclear freeze movement during the height of the Cold War.
Kerry wasn't asked about why he teamed up with Jane Fonda to protest the Vietnam War while his band of brothers were still on the battlefield, or why he met with enemy leaders in Paris, or why he accused fellow soldiers of being "monsters" and "war criminals."
Most Americans would consider the answers to those questions extremely relevant to the selection of any U.S. commander-in-chief during a time of war.
But not Jim Lehrer. Instead, he focused on Iraq with question after question that suggested Bush had blown it.
Here's a sampling:
"You said there was a miscalculation in Iraq," Lehrer asked the president. "What was it and how did it happen?"
"What colossal misjudgments, in your opinion," Lehrer asked Kerry, "has President Bush made in these areas [Iraq]?"
To Bush: "Mr. President, has Iraq been worth the cost in American lives -10,052 - I mean 1,052 up to today?"
To Kerry: "You've repeatedly accused President Bush of lying to the American people on Iraq. Give us some examples of the president being untruthful on Iraq?"
Despite his focus on Iraq, however, Lehrer never asked why Kerry voted to authorize the war, then turned around and voted against the legislation to fund it. Or why he voted against authorization for the first Gulf War, even though President Bush's father had amassed just the kind of coalition Kerry says the U.S. needs now.
Likewise, the PBS host declined to ask Kerry about comments in recent days from French and German officials who announced they have no intention of sending troops to Iraq, even if Kerry is elected.
That's quite a stunning development, given that Kerry's Iraq policy rests almost solely on the promise that he'll persuade Old Europe to pitch in and take some of the load off U.S. forces.
But not stunning enough, apparently, to interest Mr. Lehrer.
W was great in 2000 against Gore. Sure, Gore imploded with his three different personalities during the debates. He certainly wasn't the Gore that debated Kemp in 96, but W beat him hands down in each debate in 2000. Both in style and substance. Tonight, he was far from his 2000 performance. Bush looked tired, irritated, uncomfortable, groped for words, kept repeating himself. There were some solid moments, by for consistancy and style, Kerry won.
He did seem to have an amazingly good sense of how long to speak after each one, and how much time he could affort to use on 'prelimiary' topics.
I thought Jim was less obnoxious then he was in the 2000 debates
That's ridiculous, but if it were true, then W should do good in the next debate with questions from the audience.
I too, was disapointed By 43's responses, but having lived i MA, Kerry's B.s was almost too hilarious for words!! He Spoke ALOT, But what did He REALLY SAY?
I agree with all your "why's"!!
One thing about the current crew of Republicans is that THEY WILL NOT FIGHT!! I heard today that there is so much voter registration fraud going on but the Republicans will NOT challenge due to being AFRAID OF BEING CALLED RACISTS!!
These guys must get over their timidity and do what is right! Get a backbone! They should not have agreed to 3, should NOT have agreed to Lehrer, etc., etc. THEY ARE SO AFRAID OF WHAT PEOPLE WILL SAY that by not doing what is good for them may bring THEM DOWN!!
THIS WAS W'S BEST CHANCE and he goofed.
Bush shook his hand first
You must have dozed off during the President's response on bilateral talks with the North Korean Kook. Bush made it very clear that his strategy of engaging China, Japan, and other countries in bringing pressure to bear on NK is working.
As W said, there is nothing Kim Jong-il would like better than to go back to bilateral talks ( a la Clinton), and get China off his back!
This is spot on, and besides, those of us watching CSPAN must have been put off by his Warden like behavior to the audience before the debate. He made me sick with his threats.
And we're surprised because...?
If you're griping about the moderator, you didn't train hard enough. Period.
So, you don't like the President's style.
I'll take substance over style any day. As a speaker, W is straightforward, sincere, calm, and effective.
Kerry speaks like Hitler-- a damned megalomaniac.
I was hoping the president would have hit Kerry with his record, the president was too scripted he does better when he speaks from the heart with just a few notes.
I thought the president was too easy on Kerry.
"Strong at home, respected abroad."
"Strong at home, respected abroad."
"Strong at home, respected abroad."
"Strong at home, respected abroad."
"Strong at home, respected abroad."
"Strong at home, respected abroad."
"Strong at home, respected abroad."..........
Lehrer is out of touch with his roots - Oklahoma, where Bush will garner 68+ % of the votes. Shame on him!
Anybody but a fool knew he was going to do that.
Bush: "we are fighting terroists on their turf .... bringing freedom to middle east.... defending America.... defeating terrorists..... trying to defuse nukelar threat... I am resolved.... I will continue to follow course and not send mixed signals and waiver... I want your vote of confidence for 4 more..." Amen!
SKerry more presentable debater about same old wafling crap - Dubya solid defender and fighter for America. Who you gona vote for? Wafling POS or real commander?
FR rocks, way slow Eh?
FReeper Leo
I thoroughly agree with this.
The premise of every question was negative toward President Bush and his policies.
These people are absolutely forgetful of 3000 murdered on 9/11. They want to go back to bread, sex, and circus; and being murdered is less a concern than if they lose their "sensual delights."
This is the ultimate immorality...to value your own life less that your pleasures.
It is the rat eating cocaine instead of food until it flops over dead.
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