Keeping Score: A round-by-round look at how Bush and Kerry did during the debate.

The Weekly Standard ^ | 10/01/04 | Jonathan V. Last

[Hoosier-Daddy]

He is in the lead. I just would've enjoyed seeing him crush Kerry like a Coors beer can.

[Time4Atlas2Shrug]

I agree with you 100%. In addition, I do believe that we are part of the post-election "spin" and we are blowing it bigtime. I was looking forward to getting on here because I though he did so well and I was shocked to see such defeatism.

[Howlin]

Well, my opinion is you're wrong.

[Time4Atlas2Shrug]

Sorry, I'm tired. I meant further into the lead. :)

[DJtex]

I think that GW needed to be more agressive toward Kerry.

Actually, I was very pleased that Bush hammered Kerry on not being CIC-material because of his demeaning of our allies, and his "wrong war" stuff. I was driving home for the first hour of the debate. Just listening to it on the radio, I analyzed substance more, and thought that Bush had two or three brilliant answers (turning Bush "deceiving" around on Kerry who said all the same things yet "not deceiving"--also, the touching story of P.J. and comforting Millie and their son.)

I think that Bush stayed on message tonight--maybe too much at times. But I think he struck the right tone in being a little peeved at Kerry's lies, and Kerry's offending our allies and our soldiers. They say that Bush wasn't as likeable tonight, but Kerry didn't come across as more likeable, as some of tonight's polls show.

[Howlin]

Just remember, a LOT of the whiners never supported Bush in the first place.

[Time4Atlas2Shrug]

Republicans are so quick to freak out. He did not lose and the sheep mentality of "other people think he lost so he must have" is not a substitute for good analysis.

He repeated himself as he always has in debates. It is his technique and he does this becaus it works for him. It is called "staying on message", exactly what the Dems talked about disrupting. It didn't work.

[Hoosier-Daddy]

It's not defeatism. Kerry is just soooo ripe how Bush could have seemed unprepared is beyond me. I just hope he's dealing with more important issues and just does not have the time "I don't think bilateral talks with North Korea will work" indeed... Bush should never speak as though Kerry has a rat's chance of being POTUS. "North Korea has lied to us in the past, why would bilateral talks with them, or for that matter Iran be any different". It should be implicitly "you're an out of touch idiot, John" not, "I don't think that'll work". We can see he's above this. Why can't he?

[Just mythoughts]

"Even if he in lying in wait for the other debates, he has NO business being uncertain of himself in front of the nation. He should be above all this, and instead sounded like he was disconnnected and couldn't express himself."

The whole world was watching, we are at war and you think you saw a man disconnected. I saw a man who thought about every word he said and yes there were times he had the look of incredulity on his face, but he did not buy into the snake's pit of lies, distortions, and deception.

There was not enough time to respond to all the lies and distortions spewed out of JFKerry arrogant mouth.

[b9]

omstrat: but the general TV folk out there who dont read a lot and dont have the political savy we may have on this blog site may not see it all that way .

Howlin: Perhaps you better leave this thread and read some of the polls and articles being posted before you keep saying Bush looked so bad.

I haven't read any other articles or polls yet,
but what stands out to me is that many
voters who aren't as informed or articulate
as we freepers, will be extremely impressed
by Bush's cool lack of reacting.
He's proven that what you see is what you get.

We can't underestimate the power of sincerity.
I think it's brilliant that Bush did not treat Kerry like the enemy.

[Howlin]

My niece, who is NOT political, called in the middle of the debate to ask me if Kerry had ANY ideas that didn't start out bashing Bush.

[Grampa Dave]

The latest line on the Iwoa Electronic Market Numbers indicate a debate win for GW"

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1232235/posts

Latest IEM Electronic Market Numbers In (Bush Reverses Pre-Debate Decline, wins "Debate Day"
Iowa Electronic Market ^ | September 30th, 2004 | Remember_Salamis


Posted on 09/30/2004 10:32:18 PM PDT by Remember_Salamis

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1232235/posts

[Hoosier-Daddy]

Like I said, Kerry lied repeatedly. I think the Reagan "now there you go again" would have worked well. Kerry misrepresents facts. I know it, you know it, and his coaching team knows it. He should have been well prepared for the JFKBS.

[anglian]

The debates style was to pressure President Bush to defend his policies while leaving Kerry's decades long policies of shame unexposed and off limits.

[b9]

My niece, who is NOT political, called in the middle of the debate to ask me if Kerry had ANY ideas that didn't start out bashing Bush.

LOL Smart girl.

If this debate were behind the barn instead of
in front of the whole world,
I'd like to see what W REALLY wanted to say (or do!)

[Just mythoughts]

"Like I said, Kerry lied repeatedly. I think the Reagan "now there you go again" would have worked well. Kerry misrepresents facts. I know it, you know it, and his coaching team knows it. He should have been well prepared for the JFKBS."

Think about it this way, JFKerry's lies were not only to present himself as smarter, better, etc., JFKerry was seeking to elicit a response from President Bush.

There simply was not enough time to tackle JFKerry's lies. Also some of the lies required more than a that not true response, which is the "quagmire" JFKerry was trying to lay for the President to step into.

Personally, I am proud that President Bush showed considered restraint. JFKerry is a trained talker and he is quite professional at distortion of facts just for the sake of it. Quite different to already be in the position of leadership and show that leadership by not debating a liar over his lies.

[The Citizen Soldier]

He seems to have totally missed the "Global test" question. Kerry blew it tonight. By responsing that he would defend America only if the cause "met the global test".

Sitting in my living room in a comfortable chair with soft lighting, I often think how much better I would do on Jeopardy than most of the contestants.

Then I remind myself it's probably not quite the same under the bright lights with the "game-time" pressure.

[BonnieJ]

Pres. Bush actually worked on the day of the debate. He toured the hurricane destruction and tried to comfort people and do an assessment. Sen. Kerry had a manicure, worked on his teeth, his hair, his skin, his wardrobe, etc, with a staff. One man was pampered, the other tried to do what he's paid to do. If he was tired and didn't come up to your expectations as a great debater, well I guess that is sad but a LOT of us look beyond the emptiness of rhetoric and style. And it isn't as if we don't know him, as we didn't 4 years ago. We know him very well.

[b9]

Quite different to already be in the position of leadership and show that leadership by not debating a liar over his lies.

Oooo...I like that.

[MNJohnnie]

Kerry lost the election with the "global test" statement


That is my view too. Should of see the Trolls and the Freepers suffering from McCanism flame out when I posted that!