Imagine my surprise when the consensus headline this morning is that it was a "draw". I thought Bush got creamed last night.
But on substance Bush won, and I think that will carry the day, ultimately.
The facts are stark and plain. We are in a death match with terrorists and we must be on offense and use our power when we choose to, and you don't have to be a great orator to get that simple point across. It's the only salient point and all of Kerry's smooth BS won't win any voters over IMO, on that all important defining issue.
I agree. Bush was awful last night. I couldn't bear to watch it. It was as though he was trying to remember talking points and was not being himself.
When he DID speak off of the cuff, it was great. I thought he'd finally gotten into the swing of the debate, but then he went back to "uhmming" over the talking points again.
I think anyone here on the FR could have done a better job against Kerry. Kerry should have been verbally obliterated, not the other way around.
APf
"I thought Bush got creamed last night."
Here at our house it seemed the opposite. Hubby & I thought Kerry was his ususal stiff, charmless self. He said Vietnam! or (vietnam) far too many times. He's got NO PLAN for anything, that's plain.
Bush was no shining star, that's true, but I'd still say he came across better than Kerry.
"I thought Bush got creamed last night".
You and your wife were wrong. Bush won. He gained more of the women voters, and made inroads into Indy undecided's. Overnight internals show a 2 to 5 point gain for Bush nationally... all from TARGETED demographic groups!
LLS
You're overstateing it by a bit...yes, Bush was defeated in a pure rhetorical sense...good thing everybody already knows mellifluous verbiage is not his strong point because he exhibited none last night...and somehow he must find it within himself to avoid those pauses and 'uhs'...prime no-no's in debate. And once and for all, say 'nooclear' instead of 'noocular'. But let's not forget that Al Gore looked like an insane idiot in the debates in 2000...the sighing, the harrumphing, the exasperated glaring, then capping it off with a toungue thrust down Tipper's mouth as if on the set of a French porn film...and he came within a whisker of winning the election. (Should've won actually; Nader deep sixed him if Florida)These debates are meaningless except as fodder for the political junkies...let's look forward to Nov 3 and the fun of watching the tallies coming in...
Here is hoping sKerry made some serious misstatements last night such as the Osama in Afganistan mistake etc. and the MSM will be forced to cover those misleading statements.
Kerry looked like the kept, poofed, pampered paramour of a rich woman who had spent his day at the spa getting manicured, pedicured and spray tanned. The President looked like a man who had supported his own family and cut his own nails and spent the day touring the storm devastation in Florida.
At the end, when TeRAYza waddled onstage and endured yet another hug in that grimacing way (cute at 16, not so cute at 65) contrasted with the President's family coming onstage and gladly greeting their man - - don't think that very small thing doesn't resonate.
I'm crude enough to have noticed that the unfortunate pronunciation of the name "Putin" coming out of Kerry's tongue-darting mouth was not attractive in contrast with the President's more glamourous "Vladimir" first name basis with world leaders.
"My wife and I both thought this was an absolute horrible showing for the President."
Agreed. Whoever prepared him for this should be fired. He needed to demonstrate that Kerry was inconsistant on all the foreing policy issues. All he did was SAY he was inconsistant. Some examples would have been VERY effective. He should have highlighted Kerry's votes that would have weaken the military. Talk about how Kerry missed the intelligence briefings. Stress how he has demoralized the troops. Jeez it was painful to watch.
Same here. Both my husband and I thought the same thing - Bush looked defensive, irritated, and tired. On occasion he had some good moments but overall, it was Kerry on the offensive and Bush on the defensive. But then, that's to be expected given the fact that Bush is the incumbent.
I thought Bush's closing argument was much better than Kerry's. Kerry may have won on the debating points and in a debate competition, clearly was the winner. However, he also came across as Monday Morning Quarterbacking and lots of me-tooism. "I'll just do it better" nonsense.
I'm disappointed because Bush had lots of opportunity to put Kerry away - and not in a mean way but just by mentioning his own words more and some facts about the coalition - and he didn't do it. I think he should have spent less time clearing brush and more time preparing. Also, I think they had better find someone other than Judd Gregg (?) to take Kerry's spot during the practice sessions.