He did win the debate. But, he couldn't keep his mouth shut, and gave so many openings to bush it was unbelievable that Bush didn't go after him.
The "Global Test" was only one of many idiot remarks Kerry made. The NY City subway didn't shut down; the nuclear bunker-buster bomb is another weapon that Kerry would kill; Kerry would sign the Kyoto protocol, and decimate the economy; Kerry would "dump" our allies in Asia against the North Koreans, but he insists on having UN allies for our war on Iraq.
There was so much more that he damned himself with, but Bush let it all slip by.
I'm admittedly an obsequious Bush-bot, but I just cannot get on board with that "take".
We seem to have a lot of folks here who are consumed with style over substance factors. These are hardly debates, they are beauty contests.
My little informal Fred Luntz-esque focus group of friends and family came away from Thursday night's festivities with one major perception reinforced: that John Kerry is an imperious twit.
Bush hammered home salient point after salient point. Inarticulately at times? Sure, welcome to Bushville. Folks have come to accept that about our Prez. His exasperated looks were well warranted.
When in doubt, I use Hugh Hewitt as a reality check. Hugh saw the same Bush steamrolling of Kerry I saw.
I just don't see what you see. Incidentally, that doesn't make you wrong. Put perhaps your expectations were unrealistic?