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1st round goes to W.
The Philadelphia Daily Snooze ^ | 10/1/04 | John Baer

Posted on 10/01/2004 6:41:57 AM PDT by Hermann the Cherusker

1st round goes to W.

Kerry needed a knockout, and he didn't get it

HILLARY won.

Or one of the Johns. You know, McCain or Edwards.

Or anybody else seriously looking to run in '08 after George W. Bush serves out his second term.

That's because John Kerry, who had to score a knockout last night, landed some punches but didn't take the title.

Yeah, he looked a little tougher than when he's windsurfing off Nantucket in spandex.

And, OK, he had a good line about how it's one thing to always be "certain" but one can, after all, be certain and wrong.

And he even seemed somewhat directed and focused.

But this debate, critical if not determinative to the outcome of the election, did not take Kerry where he needs to be.

Instead, the champ at staying on message is still the undisputed George W. Bush.

How so?

Because of one moment that defined the debate and the race.

When debate moderator Jim Lehrer asked Bush if there are "character issues" that maybe should keep Kerry from being president, Bush showed he's a consummate politician.

He first did some aw-shucks plain-speak. "Whew, that's a loaded question."

See, he's just folks.

Then he graciously praised Kerry's service to country and family, calling him "a great dad," and even praised his service in the Senate.

It was Bush being the nice guy, the guy people like. Brilliant.

Then he hit Kerry with the message of the night, indeed the campaign:

"He changes positions."

It was the pat on the back before slipping in the shiv.

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


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Pennsylvania; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 2004; bush; debate; debates; firstdebate; kerry
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The liberals of Philadelphia woke up this morning to this article in their tabloid newspaper.

"And the fact Kerry spoke to Lehrer and not to me and not to voters and seemed more intent on showing how much he knows rather than how much he cares? I just think that's a killer."

1 posted on 10/01/2004 6:41:57 AM PDT by Hermann the Cherusker
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To: Tribune7

Ping for the SE PA ping list.


2 posted on 10/01/2004 6:42:22 AM PDT by Hermann the Cherusker
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To: Hermann the Cherusker

Amazing. I was expecting disasterous reviews for W today. Thats hardly the case.


3 posted on 10/01/2004 6:43:15 AM PDT by LongsforReagan (Democrats =Girly Men)
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To: Hermann the Cherusker

The thing everybody will remember down the road is "you can't lead our troops in a war, if you call it the wrong war at the wrong time".


4 posted on 10/01/2004 6:43:58 AM PDT by kjam22 (What you win them by, is what you win them to)
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To: Hermann the Cherusker

Hehehe... G.W is the consumnate mastery of strategery. And opponent has been terminally done in when was basking in his rival's praise. Bush killed John F*ckin' with a smile last night.


5 posted on 10/01/2004 6:45:28 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: Hermann the Cherusker
This guy gets it. Bush is not a spectacular debater; Kerry has been debating in the senate for 20 years. Last night people were awed by his "smooth" style.

Today, people are thinking about what he said, not how he said it.

6 posted on 10/01/2004 6:46:31 AM PDT by Darkwolf377
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To: Hermann the Cherusker

I'm still wondering about that Kerry "plan" to win in Iraq and bring the troops home. He didn't give us a clue as to what it is (other than working with the hallowed "international community"--though he didn't use that phrase--and other vague references.

It sure sounds a lot like Nixon's "secret plan" to end the Vietnam War, doesn't it?


7 posted on 10/01/2004 6:49:53 AM PDT by OldPossum
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To: Hermann the Cherusker
12th round goes to W.

Kerry needed a knockout, and he didn't get it

---------------------------------------------

Actually, the debate is more like round 12 of a 15-rounder than round one. Kerry is so far behind he needs a knockout. Bush played defense and avoided any hard blows.

8 posted on 10/01/2004 6:51:31 AM PDT by WildTurkey
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To: Darkwolf377
Today, people are thinking about what he said, not how he said it.

Like giving Iran tons of fissile material as long as they "promise" not to make nuclear weapons with it?

9 posted on 10/01/2004 6:52:50 AM PDT by Hermann the Cherusker
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To: Hermann the Cherusker

I didn't see the entire thing so maybe things happened in the parts I didn't see, but it looked more like a draw to me. Bush seemed a little defensive in some of his answers, while Kerry didn't enlighten me on what he'd actually do in Iraq if he were President, other than use the sheer fact of his being John Kerry to rally allies to our side.


10 posted on 10/01/2004 6:52:57 AM PDT by John Jorsett (Kerry-Edwards: FORGING AHEAD)
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To: LongsforReagan

I think our expectations were too high. I didn't cringe at Bush's answers it's just that SKerry handed him the hammer many times and Bush wouldn't hit him with it. I wanted Bush to say in one of his 30 sec rebuttals. "How? How does he think he's going to do that?" SKerry came off as a good speaker but sneeringly. He came off as the guy who always says he has or can do better than anyone else but never proves it. He came off as a lot of hot air and no plan.


11 posted on 10/01/2004 6:54:20 AM PDT by tiki (Win one against the Flipper)
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To: Hermann the Cherusker
I feel a bit better about President Bush's performance after sleeping on it. Kerry looked more like a used car salesman, saying what people wanted to hear - we can get out of Iraq soon if we only changed Presidents, everything will be fine if you just elect me, etc. President Bush was on message all night and made some key points about flip-flops, needing to have a focused foreign policy, taking the war to the terrorists, etc.

I agree with those that say that the President did well enough last night. Kerry is a good debater, but the President showed last night that he is, too. No change in the race dynamics.

12 posted on 10/01/2004 6:57:09 AM PDT by KellyAdmirer
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To: Hermann the Cherusker

My coworker, who is non-political, watched last night and said that looked good, but couldn't believe all the things that he was promising to do. People are now considering what he said and it doesn't ring true. I thought Bush could of ended by saying in his closing remarks that Kerry promises alot, but can you believe him - he will change the next time the winds change


13 posted on 10/01/2004 6:57:13 AM PDT by 3dognight
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To: Hermann the Cherusker

Is this a liberal newspaper?


14 posted on 10/01/2004 6:58:24 AM PDT by no dems (Does the BC/'04 Campaign staff monitor this website? If not, they should.)
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To: Hermann the Cherusker

My thoughts exactly on the debate! Kerry does chance positions depending on who he is talking to!


15 posted on 10/01/2004 7:05:14 AM PDT by Sunshine Sister
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To: axel f

Ping!


16 posted on 10/01/2004 7:05:39 AM PDT by Sunshine Sister
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To: Hermann the Cherusker; Smartass; StarFan; Howlin; Joe Brower; SandRat; MeekOneGOP; ohioWfan; ...

Bless you Hermann for finding & posting this column!

Pinging Freeper Friends.......hey guys.....this columnist saw what some of us saw last night!


17 posted on 10/01/2004 7:06:31 AM PDT by JulieRNR21 (I trust NOBODY BUT BUSH! Take W-04....Across America!)
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To: LongsforReagan
I was expecting disasterous reviews for W today. Thats hardly the case.

Even the left-leaning Detroit Free Press seemed reasonable, sort of.

Round One
Kerry jabs, Bush counters

18 posted on 10/01/2004 7:08:07 AM PDT by ride the whirlwind (And I have faith in the transforming power of freedom. - President Bush to the criminals in the UN)
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To: Hermann the Cherusker
Why was TayRaySa wearing bright white at the debate last night? I think that's a no-no after Labor Day for women. Was she trying to convey the image of being a chaste woman?

Enquiring swines want to know.

19 posted on 10/01/2004 7:08:15 AM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: Hermann the Cherusker

pardon me for a DQ but is the second debate tonight?


20 posted on 10/01/2004 7:08:34 AM PDT by modest proposal
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