Posted on 10/01/2004 7:20:26 AM PDT by PhiKapMom
Last night, President Bush spoke with passion and clarity about the war on terror and the road ahead – and John Kerry’s credibility gap grew larger. He called the war a “mistake” but said that our troops in Iraq aren’t dying for a “mistake.” How can he lead a war he doesn’t even believe in?
Also note the poll story in here: on the questions pertaining most closely to the voters’ choice in November – who voters agree with, who they trust as Commander-in-Chief, who they trust on the situation in Iraq, and who is tough enough for the job, President Bush came out ahead.
Last night, President Bush spoke from the heart, with clarity and conviction, about the remarkable challenges we have overcome in the last four years, and the road to peace and security in the next four. John Kerry failed to meet a critical test: to close the credibility gap he has created with his vacillation and contradiction on Iraq.
By embracing an anti-war position, Kerry now embodies the ultimate contradiction and raises a new and troubling question about his ability to protect us in the war on terror: How can he win a war he doesn't even believe in? Last night, he said the war in Iraq was a "mistake" -- but that the troops in Iraq are not dying for a "mistake." He called his vote against the $87 billion a "protest." He sends mixed signals to our allies -- and our troops -- by calling the war "a diversion" and "the wrong war at the wrong time." You can't be anti-war and a wartime leader at the same time.
In the Los Angeles Times, Ron Brownstein says the race offers a clear choice, and the President offered a clear vision:
President Bush and Sen. John F. Kerry increased the odds that the voters' verdict on the war in Iraq will decide the November election, as they deepened their disagreement over the conflict during a sharp but civil debate Thursday night. ...
Continuing the tougher tone that he had unveiled in recent weeks, Kerry described the war as a "colossal error of judgment" that had weakened American security ...
Bush was often at his best in the encounter when he was most visionary. Many of his most effective moments came when he echoed his argument from his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention last month and portrayed the war in Iraq as a crucial first step in a generation-long effort to reduce the threat of terrorism by encouraging the spread of democracy in the Middle East.
"We have a duty to defeat this enemy," Bush said. "The best way to defeat them is to never waver, to be strong, to use every asset at our disposal, to constantly stay on the offensive and, at the same time, spread liberty."
The Washington Post also says that the debate highlighted the sharp contrast on the war on terror -- between pressing forward or changing course under pressure:
It was no surprise that Iraq dominated the first debate between President Bush and Democratic challenger John F. Kerry on Thursday night, but rarely have the differences between the two men -- and the choices for the country -- been stated so clearly and with such passion. ...
This was a debate shorn of gimmicks, gaffes, canned one-liners, gotcha moments or even many light-hearted asides. It was as serious as the times in which this campaign is being waged. Bush and Kerry gave as good as they got and laid out for the country a choice between Bush's determination to stay on the course he has been following in Iraq or what Kerry said would be a genuine change in the direction of policy there.
The New York Times covered the debate like this, noting Kerry's emphasis on withdrawing from Iraq:
Senator John Kerry argued last night that President Bush had made a "colossal error of judgment'' in invading Iraq, while Mr. Bush belittled Mr. Kerry as a weak leader who would embolden the United States' foes, as the two men offered starkly different views of the war that has dominated this campaign. ...
Mr. Kerry, while stopping short of making a promise, said that it might be possible to begin bringing troops home under his leadership in six months. ...
"I've made some tough decisions," Mr. Bush said in a refrain he repeated throughout the evening. "But people know where I stand. People out there listening know what I believe, and that's how best it is to keep the peace."
Boston Globe columnist H.D.S. Greenway supports Kerry on most issues, but says that the Senator didn't make the sale last night:
I believe Senator Kerry's position on all the issues -- Iran, Iraq, North Korea, and the Sudan -- were superior to President Bush's, but my guess is that Bush came across as the strong leader he meant to project, and that Kerry did not manage to seriously dent his armor.
A Gallup poll immediately following the debate shows some strong points for both candidates -- and the underlying dynamics of the race remain the same. Americans still trust President Bush as commander-in-chief and to handle the situation in Iraq by solid margins. More Americans agreed with the points President Bush made, and by 17 points, said President Bush is tough enough for the job.
The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) takes note of the campaign's state-of-the-art response operation:
The Bush campaign, meanwhile, took a more high-tech approach, urging conservative bloggers to incorporate some simple Web coding that placed a live "debate feed" on their Web sites. During the debate, the campaign used the feed to instantly rebut Sen. Kerry's statements. More than 5,000 Web sites subscribed to the feed, says Brian Jones, a spokesman for the campaign. ...
In order to post instantaneous rebuttals to Mr. Kerry online, the Bush campaign developed an "attack matrix," a computer document showing past attacks made by the Democratic candidate against Mr. Bush's record and possible rebuttals, Mr. Jones said. More than two dozens campaign staffers, including three dedicated to the live blog feed, were working at the debate site in Miami and in campaign headquarters in Arlington, Va., to choose responses to Sen. Kerry's statements. Campaign staffers also prepared links to video clips of Kerry speeches that could be used to contradict his positions in the debate.
Go to DebateFacts.com for full debate response, and log on Tuesday night to see live responses during the Vice Presidential debate.
I couldn't agree more -- underestimated! They also seem to forget that President Bush toured the areas ravaged by the latest Florida hurricane to view the damage and comfort the victims of the hurricane. At the same time Mr. Pampered was getting his hair styled, makeup applied, and a manicure! Bet the people of S. Florida know who they can count on and it sure isn't Mr. Pampered!
BTW, this little gem popped up at National Review:
INTERESTING [KJL]
More of what Bush camp is noting: How important is “winning” the first debate? Since 1984, when Gallup began asking the question, “Regardless of which candidate you happen to support, who do you think did the better job in the debate?”, only one candidate to win this measure in the first debate went on to be elected. In 1996, Bill Clinton “won” the first debate and went on to be elected President. Candidates Gore, Perot, Dukakis, and Mondale all “won” their first debates, but failed to win election.
Sept. 30, 2004: Kerry 53/ Bush 37 (-16)
Oct. 3, 2000: Gore 48/Bush 41 (-7)
Oct. 6, 1996 Clinton 51/Dole 32 (-19)
Oct. 11, 1992 Perot: 47/Clinton 30/ Bush 16 (-17, -31)
Sept. 28, 1998 Dukakis 38/ Bush 29 (-9)
Sept. 28-30, 1984 Mondale 54/Reagan 35 (-19)
LOL!! We are totally "not doomed" -- I refused to read the live thread last night after getting home from a meeting because of the "sky is falling" and the "doom and gloomers" that appear around here everytime that President Bush speaks! :)
Exactly -- they whine but won't go roll up their sleeves and go volunteer.
Excellent review!
I agree with you 100% -- cannot believe a few of the comments I read and what was in my email this morning. The pundits gave Pres Bush better marks on the whole then some folks around here.
LOL!!! I have to remember that phrase "Gloomy Gusses" -- that's perfect!
However he did pass the "world" test and has passed many other tests by passing them on to some one else.
I heard the last part of the debate while driving home on the radio and what struck me was that Kerry sounded like his answers were rehearsed. I heard someone today ask why there were no questions on Cuba since it sits 90 miles from our shore. This format was a set-up for Kerry and Pres Bush after a long day outside was tired. But then some folks around here prefer a well rehearsed candidate over a genuine it seems in a debate.
Wonder if they would buy from a snake oil salesmen too? :)
LOL!! Good one!
I have DSL and this forum was a complete bog so i didnt post much but was reading and thinking OMG what handwringing and angst,I did notice a lot of newbies though trolls maybe? trying to upset everyone?
so far my email has been quiet but that dosnt mean anything:) Ive done very well this year in being diplomatic,thats why I have to come here to get up to speed with all that goes on.
I have made a vow to not flame my friends and family and its worked! now my in laws just look irational and my sisters and mom and dad are voting for the President!
?!?! I'd love to see just one of these polls.
Yeah. It was bad. The President's reviews this morning are better than those last night, and I suspect that he'll look better as the next couple days go by. Also, I think some people here would not have been happy short of the President calling Kerry a bogus medal winning, traitorous son of Hell. That would have been hailed as a victory among some of the doom and gloomers here, but I'm not sure it would have played well to those who don't follow these things like we do.
Has a lot of the things that I was upset about last night on it!
How long before the Kerry managers start coming out and saying< Well, this is really what the Senator met!"?????????????
This is a point we all need to get a grip on. Last night's debate was what the whole campaign would have been if Dean had won the nomination: A serious, ideological debate between an appeasenik and a war president with a confident vision. No silly extras. Not even a "There you go again" moment, not that it would have been bad to have one. And that's why Dubya won it, because you had a dove spouting Michael Moore fantasies and eight different positions against a tough guy who lives in the real world.
bttt!
I despise Kerry. He scares the hell out of me. He's an evil liar who will destroy this country.
In a pig's a$$. "We", huh?
Link, please.
Exactly. The reaction to the first debate with Gore was that Gore slapped him around. The long term winner of a debate usually ends up being the guy who deserves to win. In a few days Gallup and some other big pollsters will show this as a net win or draw for Dubya, I figure a win. Kerry handed us a bunch of stuff last night and Dubya handed them nothing.
Kerry really couldn't help himself last night, he just HAD to 'stretch' the 'truth' every time he spoke.
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