Yes the split screen did kill him. I'm not so sure he was looking to bag Kerry in the first debate though. I've posted some thoughts on that under Bush/Kerry Debate One, Rope a Dope?
Check it out.
Look, Bush may not have been a clear loser. He did come off flat and even on FR he only drew 52% of our participants saying he wone. Cheney pulled in a 92%.
I do think Bush will mop the floor with Kerry in Debate 2.
Your points about the questions are something I need to review. I was tired on the debate night and I didn't pick up on what you noticed. I have heard others address it. You may be right on target.
I think the split screen wasn't that bad. For goodness sakes, is this a screen test,,well I guess it is. But I thought Bush won as I was looking at content rather than style. Kerry struck me as using the same technique Edwards did, that of lobbing fifteen criticisms each time he got camera time. It is hard to respond to that and Cheney noted it, twice Cheney said there wasn't enough time to respond or there was too much to respond to. This is throwing everything but the kitchen sink at the opponent then criticizing the opponent for not responding. I dislike that in a debate but others may be wowed by it thus the criticixm of Bush for not answering every charge, for having missed opportunities to zing Kerry. Kerry was just slinging so much crap per minute of debate, it was impossible to answer even a small amount of it.
"Rope A Dope?"
I think we are looking at pure genius at work. I think that the plan was for President Bush to appear flat and tired at the last debate. They knew the media and Dems would freak out with excitement with his poor performance. The bar has now been lowered for President Bush for the upcoming debates. He will come out swinging and will WOW everyone. The focus will NOW be on Kerry's record. He will also use his poor prior debate performance in a humorous, self depracating way which the public always loves. Kerry will be seen as negative, dour and stiff and President Bush will be seen as strong, optimistic and human. The polls will put President Bush way ahead and he will win by a landslide. IMHO