The Problems with Our Side (Vanity)

[faithincowboys]

I actually think Bush --despite some awkard pauses, looking worn out and bad posture-- did pretty good. In many ways, he exceeded my expectations. He didn't make any large mistakes,which the Kerry people thought was inevitable-- that's huge.

Kerry was good and did look Presidential (even though he plainly is not). I was not at all surprised by Kerry's showing. The rules worked for him and that helped him be more articulate, but he was very within himself last night.

In addition, much of the post-debate punditry is designed to get Kerry back in tghe race, because the pundits want to have a race and they, by and large, are liberals who want Kerry to win.

That being said, I think we do have some problems to deal with. First of all, our pundits are far weaker than the leftwing pundits. Talk radio is the only thing we have that is as partisan as the Lefty pundits are.

The pundits have declared that Bush was too reactive. That may very well be true, but haven't our pundits been that way too.

Our pundits should have , a long time ago, researched the number of factories that closed and relocated to Mexico and China during the Clinton years. There was an abundance of post-NAFTA outsourcing during the Clinton years. Has anybody on our side done anything over these many months to point that out and change the dynamics on the airwaves. NO!!

Instead we have a position that will manifest itself on Tuesday night where Kerry and Edwards are perceived as against outsourcing and we are for it. Will Cheney mention that the sainted Bob Rubin, a Kerry econ adviser, just said that outsourcing is good for the economy.

Our side doesn't do what the other side does. Kerry made excellent use of Generals and Sons of GOP Presidents who have said things in his favor. He also used Colin Powell and Allawi's statements against Bush.

Who will we use against them? Will we mention that the Left of Cneter publication The New Republic said of Kerry's position on Iraq that it went from incoherent to indefensible. Will we mention that Howard Dean supporters gave Kerry flip flops last Christmas-- pointing out that the flip flop charge is hardly a rightwing talking point. People to Kerry's left and Right have called him a waffler and we should remind America of it.

There is a lot of ammo out there against Kerry and Edwards and we damn well better find a way to get it to the American people.

I also think the RNC has been pretty lousy. McAulliffe despite being ambivalent about wanting Kerry to win has been a damn tiger. Gillespie and Racicot haven't been doing a good enough job, IMHO.

[faithincowboys]

We have about 30 days to pull this out. We need to win well enough to get a real mandate. We need to get a lot better to do that.

[Names Ash Housewares]

"There is a lot of ammo out there against Kerry and Edwards and we damn well better find a way to get it to the American people."
Amen! Kerry gave us even more yesterday. He is a LIBERAL. Lets make sure people know that. Dukakis 2.0!

[madison46]

If FR turns into DU and we start giving Bush advice 24/7 with all the GOP editorialist like Kerry got, I'm gonna puke.

Kerry won't win the election cause he won the debate on debate points. Kerry lost cause he gave too much to GOP side as ammo. And re-enforced his image as weak with America's adversaries.

[faithincowboys]

Don't we need to come up with an ad showing how Kerry's plan to give the Iranian terrorist mullahs nuke rods is a damn mushroom cloud of a mistake? Where the Hell is the RNC getting that out? Shouldn't they have done a quickie on it to shift the post-debate talk on the political shows this weekend?

[vampire2191]

"Global test?" "Prove to the world...?" I don't know what's happening behind the scenes, but someone who really desires to be President of the United States doesn't say something like that. Except for these words, I would concede that Kerry won the first debate, but he said those words and he can't take them back. This was a campaign killer...just give it time to take hold.

[ArmyBratCutie]

except for Kerry looking "Presidential", he can NEVER look like anything but a lying traitor to me, I agree with a lot you say... McAuliff is the WORST, but he is ALWAYS on somewhere attacking and ranting like a psycho, ALWAYS.. Our side NEVER ever does that good enuff for me, unless you count VPCheney...he has been GREAT!!.....where is all the ranting about BinLaden and Clintons chance at being handed him and he didnt bother, wheres all the "draft dodging" quotes about clinton and the way the Left went after President Bush but ELECTED a draft dodger twice, the way they were all for a "war" to help clinton "wag the dog" .. Kerry and his ties to the Korean spy, BARELY reported, his disgusting Senate record ALONE would be enuff to rant on from now to doomsday... but our folks dont get passionate enuff I agree, unless you count Mr Fred on Fox hes GREAT TOO.....

[OhGeorgia]

FR aint gonna win the election for Bush. Its his and the RNCs to win or lose

[faithincowboys]

Don't you think we should have the outsourcing numbers from the 90s? If I remember correctly, a lot of factories went to China and Mexico in the 90s. Why in the world hasn't it been pointed out??

[faithincowboys]

Well, we our influential. Don't you think the boys over at the RNC should get a Kerry wants to give nukes to kooks ad out right now.

[faithincowboys]

So you don't think our busting of Rather helped Bush's cause? I do!!

[OhGeorgia]

its over the top. Swing voters wont believe it. Better to harp on the Global what ever it was Kerry wants and his oppostion to new weapons (ie bunker busters)

[OhGeorgia]

it helped by stopping somethig nthat was going t ohurt him, but that isnt the same as advice to the RNC

[faithincowboys]

Why is it over the top? Kerry said he wants to give nuke rods to the mullahs? Why is that a good idea. I venture to say that most Americans think that is the wrong way to go.

[OhGeorgia]

swing voters wont believe that any US Senator is that reckless, even if they are.

[faithincowboys]

Don't you think they could use some advice?

Don't you think it's gonna be tough to win?

[familyop]

Kerry contradicted himself on Iraq more than once and said quite a few other stupid things in the Debate. President Bush was consistent, correct and logical.

Debates aren't supposed to be entertainment shows designed to wring emotions from a hysterical audience. Debates are contests of logic. Kerry is illogical. He's a "girlie-man."

I'm writing it up now but will not be posting it to obscure files as a "vanity." If it's good enough, it will go to a news outlet that wants to put it up front.

[pieces of time]

Remember when Agnew called us the "Silent Majority"? Because of talk radio and the Internet we are silent no more. Liberals have the time and the money for activism and their message gets out because the media likes what they are saying.
That being said, all of us should be taking all of the facts that are put out here on FR and writing to our local newspapers. CBS did us a huge favor by exposing their bias. The reaction to the fraudulent documents, the success of FR, bloggers, FNC and talk radio has put the media on notice. They are concerned about ratings and profit NOT to pay attention to us. Look at what happened with the Draft story? WE, not the pundits, or even the President have to get our message out. WE have to call the media on inaccurate reporting and false statements made by Kerry and company.
I don't think that the debate was bad. The President was not as good as he can be, but Kerry's statements were frightening. Facts are our friend and everyone should hear them. Even the most liberal media has to respond to the consumer. Take heart and keep those cards and letters going out!

[lt.america]

Let me preface by apologizing for the length of this post. This has been a busy couple of days for me at work and I was unable to get any of this out of my system post debate.

I think what we saw from the President was typical of a person or even a team that was playing not to lose. We all saw that he was very cautious and he was choosing his words very carefully trying not to give Kerry's camp that one liner that would be all over TV the next day and give him another life. Unfortunately, the fact that he was very cautious gave Kerry a chance to breathe a bit and get his legs under him.

I disagree with most who say the war in Iraq was supposed to be the President's "strong point". When National Defense is coupled with Iraq it is his strong point, but when Iraq is held out on its own (like it was for most of last night) it becomes a very divisive issue. Look at the RNC, that was post 911 and the decisions and actions the President set into motion, not Iraq. The President needs to come across as more "involved" in the next debate (he looked like a man disgusted he was standing on the same stage as Kerry, and I don't blame him, what can you attack the guy on besides the fact he has consistently changed positions; the man has changed positions so many times you can not point to one stance on any issue to attack).

In closing, the other thing we saw was a debate where the questions were very one-sided and we will see the same type of thing the next two debates. Unfortunately, that is the price you pay sometimes as the incumbent and he must be able to handle the BS line of questioning and the fact that the guy standing next to him is the poorest excuse for a candidate in sometime, but the press is giving him a pass. I do not blame the President's handlers, I blame the situation he was in. But, we need to put this guy down before he picks up steam.

[faithincowboys]

If Clinton was so expert at handling terrorism, how come when he and Gore reformed airline security they didn't force the airlines to fortify their cockpit doors? Hasn't El Al had fortified cockpit doors for decades?

Face it, Al Qaeda became huge on Clinton-Gore's watch. 9-11 was Clinton's legacy, sweetie.