Without the debates Al Gore would probably be president now, he made such a poor showing in the 200 debates. Bush has shown he can stay cool and do well in debates, why it didn't happen Thursday I don't know.
And without the debates, we may never have had Reagan.
Oops 2000, not 200. The 200 debates were not televised.
I Think Prez Bush recognized the debate for what it was. A left leaning stupid media show and he doesn't have much patience with stupidity and grandstanding. To me his obvios irritation shows his true common sense character. God bless him.
I think that's for several reasons. And NOT, as some (thankfully few) people here have suggested/latched onto out of hope/desperation--that it was part of some long-term "strategy" to purposely blow it and "set a trap" for Kerry--that's crazy talk.
I think a big factor was that he was tired, it was a fool's decision to let W exhaust himself that day when he ought to have been resting. The way he was slumped over his podium, it struck me that if it was yanked from him, he'd collapse or something for lack of support. I think he was either overprepared or underprepared (more likely), he didn't seem to know what to say after a while so he just kept on repeating a lot of the same stuff again. I can understand staying on message but it became overkill. I also think Rove-Hughes advice shackled W into not going in for the kill because he had to be "nice" to supposedy appeal to them swing/women voters.
And lastly, I think there was overconfidence on his handlers parts, everywhere they went W. was treated like a conquering hero at the rallies. It was a case of tunnel vision, living in a bubble.