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DEM CHALLENGER STANDS TALL BUT STILL COMES UP SHORT
New York Post ^ | 10/01/04 | ANDREA PEYSER

Posted on 09/30/2004 11:55:35 PM PDT by kattracks

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Sometimes, you can score points off a big guy just by making him trip over his own feet. Or his tongue.

Last night, John Kerry, the physically imposing, formerly pro-war senator who's running for president as a born-again dove, walked into the debate with the cockiness of a school dork who'd completed every lick of his homework.

He was prepared. Still, the littler guy knocked him down a peg or two.

Early in the debate, Kerry turned his stern visage on President Bush and declared that the war with Iraq was wrong.

"Iraq was not even close to being the center of the war on terror until the president invaded it," he boomed. Hard to argue with, right?

Well, replied Bush, "he voted to authorize the use of force" against Iraq.

[snip]

Kerry did rather well, considering that, earlier in the day, I imagine he was ready to stick his finger in a light socket. On a day in which he was to prove to America he was presidential, the debate hall here was abuzz with news of how Kerry & Co. suffered a meltdown — over lights.

A Kerry adviser threw an all-out hissy fit, vowing to rip out the colored lights that warn the candidates — as well as the rest of America — when each debater was about to run out of time. It seems the verbose Kerry didn't want everyone to know when he's prattled on too long.

This after Bush spent a perfect day being photographed hugging hurricane survivors. Kerry, meanwhile, was holed up in his hotel room — at one point enjoying an in-room manicure.

Kerry's day could only improve from there.


(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2004; debates; firstdebate
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1 posted on 09/30/2004 11:55:35 PM PDT by kattracks
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To: kattracks

Its as good as its going to get for Kerry. He should bask in the glow of a perceived win while it lasts.


2 posted on 09/30/2004 11:58:41 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: goldstategop

The last uptick for Kerry- a speed bump for Bush?


3 posted on 10/01/2004 12:00:44 AM PDT by Jeff Chandler (Thank you Rush Limbaugh-godfather of the New Media.)
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To: kattracks

SKerry is just a sissy, a girlie-man.

How many men do YOU know that take a manicure? Throw "hissy-fits"?

What a maroon.


4 posted on 10/01/2004 12:00:52 AM PDT by clee1 (Islam is a deadly plague; liberalism is the AIDS virus that prevents us from defending ourselves.)
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To: clee1

Big Boss Man: "You just tall, and that's about all." The Dead's version with Pig Pen on lead was great!


5 posted on 10/01/2004 12:04:42 AM PDT by nimbysrule
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To: goldstategop

I hope you're right. Bush had way too many long pauses and fumbled for words too often. His closing remark was a saying grace IMO. He better hole up in a hotel room next week and cram for the next debate. Although the "Global Test" remark by Kerry was a priceless moment.


6 posted on 10/01/2004 12:07:16 AM PDT by Mr. Rips (Bunker buster nukes kick a*s!!!!!!!!!!)
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To: goldstategop
.
Bush needed to get across the message that Saddam was harboring terrorist and sponsoring terrorism and that he was more vital to the war on terror than Osama bin Laden.

He isn't doing it. So we need to do it.

Here is an easy to read chart of what the media was saying pre-911 (and after): Connect the Dots...Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden
.

7 posted on 10/01/2004 12:11:51 AM PDT by christie (John F. Kerry Timeline - http://www.archive-news.net/Kerry/JK_timeline.html)
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To: kattracks

I just rewatched the debate, and I'm almost convinced this was an orchestrated ambush.

95% of the questions were framed in such a way as to cast W in a bad light, and Kerry never once paused to consider his answer before speaking...almost as if he had prior knowledge of the questions.

At a certain point, Dub seemed to let his frustration get the better of him, then just kind of ran out of steam.

He's had better nights, for sure.

But, considering that this was more of an inquisition than a debate, I believe he did as well as could be expected.

Griz


8 posted on 10/01/2004 12:12:31 AM PDT by mr_griz
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To: kattracks
I thought Bush did terrible when I read the FR thread.

Then I watched the debate.

Wow....FR is wrong. Bush did extremely well. He hit every point and looked outstanding in his convictions about Iraq.

Bush won this debate hands down IMO!

9 posted on 10/01/2004 12:15:21 AM PDT by what's up
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To: mr_griz

**I just rewatched the debate, and I'm almost convinced this was an orchestrated ambush. **

I think that Kerry had the questions before hand. A couple of threads here about it.


10 posted on 10/01/2004 12:17:45 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: kattracks
walked into the debate with the cockiness of a school dork who'd completed every lick of his homework

It did seem like JF'nK was more familiar than he should have been with each question that Lehrer asked him. Also, someone said that Lehrer winked at Kerry after the debate was over. Hmmmmm.........

11 posted on 10/01/2004 12:19:17 AM PDT by Mogollon
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To: mr_griz
95% of the questions were framed in such a way as to cast W in a bad light, and Kerry never once paused to consider his answer before speaking...almost as if he had prior knowledge of the questions.

That's the impression I got too. Kerry was a little too smug and a lot too pat.

I think President Bush realized this right from the start, and I think he was angry.

12 posted on 10/01/2004 12:24:14 AM PDT by kattracks
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To: Mr. Rips
He better hole up in a hotel room next week and cram for the next debate.

Worst thing he could do.

He needs to debate principles not policy details.

Leadership is about understanding first principles, not 'nuancing' details.

13 posted on 10/01/2004 1:00:58 AM PDT by fortheDeclaration
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To: kattracks
I think President Bush realized this right from the start, and I think he was angry.

Yup and disgusted by the spectacle.

14 posted on 10/01/2004 1:10:23 AM PDT by Helms (nu-ance : [French, from Old French, from nuer, to shade, cloud, from nue, cloud, from Vulgar Latin ])
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To: fortheDeclaration

nu-ance : [French, from Old French, from nuer, to shade, cloud, from nue, cloud, from Vulgar Latin ]


15 posted on 10/01/2004 1:11:08 AM PDT by Helms (nu-ance : [French, from Old French, from nuer, to shade, cloud, from nue, cloud, from Vulgar Latin ])
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To: christie

thank you thank you and thank you again for that site-I've been searching for something like it for some time(guess just not in the right places)

more facts for libs to spin(for they are tenacious) but valuable info in helping to sway fence-sitters

and who knows-it may convince a hard-core lib or two to vote Nader(not that moi would ever encourage such....!)


16 posted on 10/01/2004 1:17:13 AM PDT by snuffy smiff (Jean Fraud Kerry-the Botox BoatWarrior,"oh no, aground again and huge riceberg approaching")
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To: b.crinton
I'm glad you think it will help.

There is so much good information on Free Republic and I try at times to put it in a format that is easily accessible and can go beyond FR. (The site is again: Connect the Dots...Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden

You might also be interested in one of my other projects: The John F. Kerry Timeline. It is a good reference site for quotes, facts, trivia, links to great articles and documents.

I've tried to make both sites as comprehensive as possible, but there is so much information.

17 posted on 10/01/2004 1:45:39 AM PDT by christie (John F. Kerry Timeline - http://www.archive-news.net/Kerry/JK_timeline.html)
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To: clee1
I've been calling him the girlie candidate for some time now, for nothing I can see in his demeanor or character or soul qualifies him as a "man"--and I don't care to see him undressed to verify whether standard physical qualifications might qualify him in part.

Regards . . . Penny

18 posted on 10/01/2004 3:04:11 AM PDT by Penny ((Proud member of the Free Republic Negligee Brigade for Truth and Justice!))
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To: goldstategop

Everyone, including myself, was so focused on performance last night that the true import of Kerry's stance is the big news today.

"Global Assesment" of our security?

Sending nuclear fuel to Iran?

Dismantling our nuclear program?

Stopping the development and production of bunker busters?

Not wanting China involved in North Korea talks?

He finally took a position, but it is a very bad position.

Kerry's screwed. I hope the Bush team makes use of all of it.


19 posted on 10/01/2004 5:37:11 AM PDT by OpusatFR (Let me repeat this: the web means never having to swill leftist garbage again. Got it?)
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To: OpusatFR

http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,134152,00.html

JFK on Iran:

"I think the United States should have offered the opportunity to provide the nuclear fuel, test them, see whether or not they were actually looking for it for peaceful purposes."


20 posted on 10/01/2004 5:38:26 AM PDT by jimbo123
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