Posted on 09/30/2004 10:35:23 PM PDT by Pokey78
It's not a g-damned media event. It's a central part of the campaign, and a president whose job hangs by a thread, as Bush's does, has an obligation to his supporters and to the country to put on the best campaign possible. With the MSM solidly against him, Bush must understand how crucial debates are. The American people have a right to see how a president stands up under real questioning and opposition.
And do you really think long visits with hurricane victims are part of a president's duties?
Conservatives have failed to gain real political power in this country because they have failed to communicate effectively to the dopes in the middle of the spectrum -- the "undecideds." Last night, despite superior substance and some good lines by Bush, was another missed opportunity.
LOL! Just for the hell of it, I went back through everything you have posted since joining FR.
You have been critical of the RNC and Bush throughout. As a result you have spent most of your time defending your statements and your history seems quite combative.
I found not a single post of any significance that was not negative and confrontational, so I probably should just ignore you and your criticism. But the fact is that I can agree that in a perfect world your criticisms are sometimes quite valid.
But we do not have a perfect world and never will.
You must obviously see yourself as a intellectual conservative. As such you will never have anything positive to say. Liberal intellectuals have exactly the same problem. Nothing but criticism and disdain for imperfections. You remind me of Sabertooth, the "unappeasable".
Having said that, I will tell you that I am a moderate. I find myself in agreement with this administration's policy more than any previous administration, including Reagan's or the Bush 41 years. I am in complete agreement in principle with everything Bush has done and I see the wisdom behind all of his actions and proposals. As such we have little common ground except our voting patterns.
You will vote for Bush because you see him as the imperfect better of two evils.
I will vote for him because he represents all of my principles and ideas for what government should do. For the direction he is leading the country and for his domestic policies, ideas for border control and for entitlements. In short, everything...........
Bush represent me in every way. Yes, I fit the "BushBot" shoes.
But you have nothing positive at all to say. Nothing at all!
One wonders how we can be so diametrically opposed and still be in the same party.
Anyway, I will leave it where it lies and remain quite confident that Bush will go on to victory in November regardless of all this unnecessary and ridiculous criticism that I find inappropriate during the final stage of this election.
I will continue to defend my candidate, as I suspect you will continue to criticize his imperfections.
My point, if you need to hear it again, is that this is not a perfect world, a perfect man, a perfect party or a perfect election.
Reality is very imperfect and your cynicism will not change a single iota of it. Not a single bit.
Stylistically, Bush could have looked better. Sadly, many voters make their judgements on shallow stuff like that.
For the next debate, Bush should look refreshed. Bush should be genuine like he was tonight, but should be sharper. I do worry about the next two debates. The ad war and the ground game is going to be critical.
The MSM is the biggest obstacle. The ads are indeed going seriously negative on both sides now. The dems have been doing it for what seems like two years now.
Indeed Bush needs to correct the errors of the first debate. I think he will, in fact, based on past performances he is better when under the gun.
The real problem I have is the expectation game.
I firmly believe that many repubs have too high of a expectation going into the first debate and are now so deflated. It irritates me.
Kerry is a master debater. (there is a joke in there some where) He rarely answers direct questions and spins like a top, changes direction and launches an attack on a second subject or issue.
Bush discovered this although I am sure that people tried to tell him and it caused him to begin to shut Kerry's words out and respond in anger.
I really don't think that anyone else would NOT do the same. Governor Weld said he fell for it as well and never found a way to defeat it.
Bush needs to maintain his cool and not react emotionally to the crap that is intended to do exactly that. I do not think he can put Kerry away, but he does not need to.
He only needs to win again on substance and this time not lose anything regarding mannerisms or loss of concentration.
Kerry is a slippery as black ice and he knows it. Kerry made many openings that Bush could not take advantage of because he was knocked off balance.
Had he taken advantage of some of these Kerry mistakes the outcome would have been different.
But, I do not expect anything like a blow out. I know Bush can hold his own from now on. That is all I expect from him.
All good points. Are you in a swing state? Have you seen good RNC ads? I haven't. I have seen devastating DNC ads in my area. I am in a liberal part of FL. I suspect they don't want to waste money here, but the DNC and Soros have been bombarding my area with really vile ads.
Do you think Cheney will do well?
Gotcha. The world isn't perfect, nor should perfection be expected. I agree with you completely.
You are absolutely wrong to say that my comments are always negative. Not true. And they are always written from a pro-Republican, activist viewpoint. I'm not one of those FReepers who takes his marbles and goes home in elections and the like. I hang in there and fight. It does bother me when some of my leaders aren't aggressive enough. But I still vote for them, and still defend them.
It's just that I see FReep as a forum for free and open discussion, including criticism. If more FReepers made thoughtful criticisms, instead of trivial jokes and cheerleading, I'd post less and seem less "negative."
I have high hopes for Cheney, again on substance but Cheney is a excellent speaker.
I am very suprised at the lack of skill from Edwards. I think Cheney can whip him pretty good and have much higher hopes for that debate.
I was happy Bush did not make any major flubs in his. Cheney should do much better.
I have seen only the RNC ads on FOX. I do not watch the locals. I am a news junkie and the network programming gets in the way.
I feel sorry for anyone in a swing state. The few negative DNC and 527 ads I see on Fox and other news channels are quite enough for me. I would need to turn off the TV if I was bombarded like that. Or, the TV would have a big hole in it.
ROFL! I always post those defensive comments you call cheerleading because of critical ones made and bad jokes like Colon Bowel.
See ya around...................:-)
I have a feeling that Bush could have done just the same — exactly the same, no better, no worse — with zero preparation. With no practice at all. Just wingin' it.
I'm sure Bush would have done BETTER in that debate with zero preparation.
Bush's biggest fans can be his toughest critics because they see so much to fear and loathe in Kerry that they want Bush to express their feelings for them. When he does not do it as effectively as they think it can be done, they feel overly let down and disappointed.
Yes, I think that's about the size of it.
Obviously it wasn't front page...what did Kerry do on a NYC subway platform? Sounds juicy!
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