Posted on 10/08/2004 8:25:59 PM PDT by ambrose
Posted on Fri, Oct. 08, 2004
Bush Fights to Keep Emotions in Check
RON FOURNIER
Associated Press
WASHINGTON - President Bush smirked and winked and chuckled to himself. He jumped from his stool, chopped at the air and interrupted the debate moderator. As he fought to keep his emotions in check in a testy, personal debate with Sen. John Kerry, the president asserted, "That answer almost made me scowl."
Several answers brought Bush's emotions to the surface, for better or worse, as he sought to curb Kerry's momentum.
The question that hung over the second of their three debates was whether Bush's aggressive, hyper style was an effective tool or a damaging habit - an extension of his disastrous first debate performance. Reviews were mixed.
Bush "seemed wound a bit too tight. He was a little like Nixon - sort of jumping out of his suit," said David Niven, political science professor at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. "He looked bad on the TV close-ups."
"Kerry was way too wordy and Bush was folksy, feisty," said Charles Franklin, political science professor at the University of Wisconsin. "Bush looked comfortable, and produced a plausible story line."
As for voters, especially those in the shrinking mushy middle yet to make up their minds, both Bush and Kerry presented an angry, negative face to national politics.
Several said they were disappointed by both men.
"They're very argumentative. I'm actually disgusted," said Jennifer Schmitz, 38, a mother of three in Klamath Falls, Ore. "It's the same old back and forth meanness."
In their 90-minute faceoff, Kerry was cooler and windier, but no less confrontational.
"He gave you a speech" on Iraq "and told you he'd plan carefully," Kerry told the crowd of uncommitted voters standing in for millions of Americans watching the debate. "He didn't. He broke his word."
At times, Kerry swiveled to address Bush directly, forcing camera angles that caught the president's facial reactions. Bush seemed to be aware that his reactions were being watched; as Kerry spoke, he scribbled notes or looked at the Democrat.
"He rushed to war," Kerry said. "This president hasn't listened."
Both candidates sought to address their political vulnerabilities - for Kerry, assertions that he is a flip-flopper and, for Bush, the self-inflicted wounds from the first debate.
Kerry summed up Bush's re-election campaign strategy nicely - "He wants you to believe that I can't be president." Then he accused Bush of waffling on crime and education polices among others before turning the topic back to Iraq. "Let me tell you this, I have never changed my mind about Iraq," Kerry said, glossing over his history of inconsistency on the topic.
As for Bush, voters said last week they were turned off by his repetition of a few talking points during his turns at the microphone and his peevish facial expressions during Kerry's remarks. He did so poorly_ about a third of voters formed a less favorable view of him during the debate, according to an AP-Ipsos poll - that he had nowhere to go but up.
Bush cut down on the antics Friday night, but didn't eliminate them.
Early in the debate, Kerry quoted Republican senators expressing concern about Iraq. Television cameras caught Bush laughing to himself, then smirking, and finally giving a quick wink to somebody in the crowd.
He and Kerry repeatedly jumped from their stools to respond, wandering the red-carpeted stage to make their points. Bush was the most aggressive, at one point overrunning moderator Charles Gibson's attempt to pose a question after Kerry said he was "not going to go alone like this president did" in Iraq.
"I've got to answer this," Bush said, cutting off Gibson, then indignantly responded to Kerry. "You tell Tony Blair we're going alone."
Often, Bush's voice rose to nearly a shout. Was is too much? That's in the eye of the beholder.
"Bush looks the most determined. He's up and down, but he's not angry. He focused on how he responds," said Chris Montgomery, 48, an uncommitted voter in New Orleans who leaned toward Bush before the debate.
He said Kerry kept talking about his plan for Iraq, "but where was it?"
Craig Swatland, 40, an uncommitted voter listening to the debate on the radio in Bozeman, Mont., said Bush was "pretty heated up, but he's just being aggressive.
"I would just like one of these guys to answer a question," he said. "I'm tired of listening to the rhetoric and the carping."
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Yo, how much did soros pay you for this load Mr. Fournicator?
All the AP has to do is put the word OPINION next to the article and I'd be alright with it. The problem is that the AP cannot do that because no one would be fooled into thinking this was just NEWS. This is the DEVIL at work, folks.
Oh, I forgot. THE AP IS NO LONGER A NEWS SOURCE. THE AP IS A TRANSCRIPTION SERVICE FOR THE DNC!
This has been a public service announcement.
"Well, this settles it: MSM think Bush won the debate."
I agree. I think Bush won as well!
Kerry's "I have a Plan...!" sounded to my gal like ML King!
She thought he was a riot! One undecided won over.
Call, write, email, and fax the AP:
Associated Press
http://www.ap.org
feedback@ap.org
intdesk@ap.org
50 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10020
Phone: (212) 621-1610, 621-1500
Fax: (212) 621-7520
This sort of crap is unacceptable.
I saw Kerry smirking and looking smug and making faces during the debate which I have on tape. I told the hubby that the media will not mention his antics the way they did the presidents. I see I am correct. It isn't always nice to be right! :-)
Regardless of what the liberal media says, Bush had a huge crowd around him tonight after the debate, while Kerry had only a few people, and many of those were facing the other direction. Bush clearly has more respect. The abortion question toward the end of the debate was a defining moment in this campaign. Kerry tried his best to not mention specifics, but President Bush quickly clarified that Kerry failed to vote against the partial birth abortion (murder) and parental notification.
Someone be a smart ass and mail them the memo from ABC letting him know that you received it, as well.
ABC, NYT, and who was the third person quoted?
What absolute BullensShyeit.
I was very critical of President Bushes performance in the first debate and I am proud to say that he hit a homerun tonight. He exposed Kerry as the liberal that he is. John Kerry was hoping that his liberal record would stay out of sight since he certainly wasn't talking about it! Hey! Anyone want to buy some lumber! I laughed my butt off for 5 whole minutes!
More spin - the President was amazing, he was on FIRE! I thought he did wonderfully, and I am bursting with joy over it! I love that he was aggressive and swaggering, and on the offensive - it was awesome to see him the way he really is! I didn't see "anger", I saw perfect assertiveness, and a refusal to take any guff from that puffyheaded fop (who looked so smug, I wanted to kick him. And shoot one of his spitballs at that too-neat hair. Men aren't supposed to have perfect hair, that's for girls.).
God Bless our President and our troops!!!!!!!!
LOL. Many Network pundits called the debate a draw right after it was over, which is liberalspeak for Bush won hands down. Now they've apparently found ways to spin Bush's strength into weakness and Kerry's negative performance into a positive. They're bloody predictable and boring and the public knows it.
Oh, well- the stuck pig squeals loudest... which must mean Kerry's team is ready to be rendered into the grease and lard and "the other white meat" they are made of.
WHERE IS AP'S COMMENT ABOUT BUSH ATTACKING KERRY'S RECORD, Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?
What a pathetic piece of trash. I have nothing more to say.
Even FOX panel said how angry W appeared to be and angry AT THE QUESTIONS!
I could not watch but tuned in to FOX....wrong move on my part.
I think the fact that "dumb,incoherent " George Bush beat "Debator Exraordinaire" Kerry is simply amazing to these people
This woman doesn't have the intellectual gravitas to vote.
Talking points. Pres. Bush has a temper.
Contrary to popular belief, Bush has always had a major advantage over Kerry in these debates - more of the public sides with him on the issues then Kerry. All W. need to do tonight was appear relaxed and in control. He did that - wonderfully.
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