Posted on 10/02/2004 10:40:59 AM PDT by nonkultur
WASHINGTON: George W Bush must get rid of the grimaces and smirks, John Kerry is still struggling to put on a natural smile, experts said after the first presidential debate.
Communications experts said on Friday both contenders must work on their body language ahead of the two remaining presidential debates and the November 2 election.
According to Patti Wood, an Atlanta-based body language consultant, Bush had an assured first 30 minutes at the crucial first debate. "But he seemed to run out of planned stuff to say and I think he became emotional," added Wood, who has advised the US military on communications.
Wood said Bush has a "tongue thrust" during speeches but kept this under control at the University of Miami debate. "He only did it a few times." But she added that Bush also "grimaced" and "smirked" a lot and must also control this in future debates.
Taking advantage of the debate, the Democratic National Committee yesterday released a 51 second video, titled "Faces of Frustration" comparing Bush's expressions to Kerry's.
But Kerry also has problems, Wood added. Kerry "did not look at the camera so he was not engaging the American public. He has to look at the camera and give off more warmth from his voice and smile."
Experts say 50-70 per cent of the impact made by speakers can come from their non-verbal body actions. The Republican and Democratic campaigns set out 32 pages of regulations for the debates, aimed at controlling how the candidates are seen on television screens.
Because of GWB's lack of "command" I could not watch much of the debate. I am still angry/frustrated/confused as to how GWB could give such an uterly amateurish and poor performance.
He still has my vote...but I am very disappointed!
Smirks, grimaces and other expressions of disgust are perfectly reasonable reactions when the commie traitor Kerry speaks.
Kerry's lipsticked smile was the the inappropriate thing.
Smile?Kerry?More like a $h!*-eating grin.
That would indeed be a "problem" in that John Kerry does not possess a single degree of "warmth."
But Bush seemed disengaged, distracted and, at times, even bored. His performance reminded me of the style — or lack of it — that he brought to the pre-primary debates of 2000.
He seemed to convey a message of: Don't bother me, leave me alone, you don't understand and I can't bother to explain what I'm doing and why I'm doing it.
The president's closing statement was so focused and polished, so intent and energetic that the contrast between a speech he has memorized and one which he ad-libs was obvious to all who watched. If the Bush of the last two minutes was on display for the 90 minutes, the election would have been over last night.
By contrast, Kerry looked presidential, collected and, above all, strong and confident. If you'd seen the two men without knowing which was the president and which the candidate, you'd have guessed wrong. Kerry looked like the guy in charge.
The essential message for Bush is that he had better get his head back in the game and pay more attention to his performance if he doesn't want to get massacred in the second debate — which will focus on domestic policy, Kerry's strong suit.
Bush needs to undergo the same kind of transformation he went through in the 2000 primaries. He started smirking his way through those debates, obviously resting on his lead and feeling put upon to have to debate the pigmies vying for the nomination. But when he understood that he was facing a life-and-death challenge from John McCain, he got it together and showed energy and determination and won the subsequent debates.
He has to realize that he is in the fight of his life and bring passion, discipline, focus and commitment to the next debates or he will lose.
Mr. President, last night you looked like it was the end of the fourth quarter, and you were running out the clock. This is a tough race, and it's going to take your focused energy to win it. Last night you looked like you were just mailing it in.
I reckon that's why they pay HIM the big bucks!
That's okay. Kerry's five figure hair, botox injections, manicure and other metrosexual behavior get more press still. I refuse to vote for a guy who spends more on his grooming than I do.
Try reading the transcript of the debate and see if you get a different read.
There is no doubt Kerry style was the winner but Bush is no "talker" and within the first 30 minutes he had exhausted explaining his position. The questions kept coming but they essentially led to the same answer. I think that's were the frustration set in for Bush. How many ways can you say..No I didn't lie, the intel said so, I saw the threat, Gave up on the UN and went in to kick ass, and we will win...
Today's Gallup poll which trumpets that Kerry won,clearly show that he only won the "Style" measurement, on all other factors he was beaten by Bush.
While we love to watch a good "competition",the election is not about a style/beauty contest, it's about the character of the man that becomes POTUS...and GWB will win.
I totally agree with you. I didn't notice Bush's smirks and grimaces until Kerry started lying, lying, lying. And Lehrer didn't help with his questions. I think the President was just P##$$ed.
The questions kept coming but they essentially led to the same answer. I think that's were the frustration set in for Bush. How many ways can you say..
Bush is a straightforward person. He answered the questions put to him and then had to counter these with more answers and explanations because Kerry kept lying.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.