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Posted on 10/08/2004 9:47:53 PM PDT by wagglebee
Fox News Channel debate analyst Fred Barnes said Bush's performance against John Kerry Friday night was sure to be a morale booster for Republicans.
"Into about the third half hour of this debate, if you cupped your ear you could hear Republicans all over the country and Bush supporters and the White House staff, all giving a great sigh of relief," Barnes told panel anchor Brit Hume. "Because the president did so much better than he did in the first debate."
While Kerry wasn't quite as good as he had been during last week's debate, said Barnes, "He was still good - [but] Bush was much better." He pronounced the verbal duel a tie.
Co-panelist Morton Kondracke disagreed:
"I think Kerry won this debate as he won the first debate. Kerry was much more aggressive and the president was basically on the defense. He didn't have new arguments. He wasn't as facile as he should have been."
Kondrake complained that for the second time in a row, Bush had failed to raise the issue of Kerry's vote against the first Gulf War, which he has invoked repeatedly as a model effort of military action by a coalition force.
Fox analyst William Kristol said that while Bush improved, it may not have been enough to get the job done.
"If you think the president was doing OK and didn't need a win in this debate, he did fine," he said. "But it one thinks that Bush missed an awful lot of opportunities to go after Kerry in the first debate - and he had to make some of them up in this debate - I'm not sure he really succeeded."
Kerry contradicted himself within a few minutes tonight on Iraq:
At one point he said that he's always thought Saddam was a threat and has never changed that position.
A few minutes later he said the president took his eye off the ball and went after Saddam even though he wasn't a threat to us.
I am so sick of the media, Fox included, that thinks a bunch of pundits interviewing and debating each other constitutes "news".
I like Mort, but Kerry-Heinz was the one who sank into Rain Man-like repetition: Top 2%, Shalikashvili (sp.?), I have a plan
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I have to say, I did not watch the debate tonight, I was out with my wife adding to the country's economy in a big way, but I can say that we should not believe that the election is a done deal. The dems always have a dirty trick up their sleves. Slimy SOBs.
Bush killed Kerry in this debate. It wasn't even close. There are so many examples it's hard to pick just one.
How about the last question. Bush says that if Kerry would have been President, Saddam would still be in power. And Kerry's response? "Not necessarily". Man, that's a commercial.
I guess Mort thinks Kerry won with his "I have a plan".
even CNN had their fact-checker repeat that Shalik? was not fired, but was only serving out his four years, and had let the media know that he was almost done.
We've taken two out of three, no matter how the media spins it--TONIGHT WAS OURS!
Bush won this debate. Methinks Fox news ratings will be slipping very soon.
"Kerry contradicted himself within a few minutes tonight on Iraq:
At one point he said that he's always thought Saddam was a threat and has never changed that position.
A few minutes later he said the president took his eye off the ball and went after Saddam."
Excellent observations. NOW, I remember that too!
Aside from Sean Hannity, FOX was unreal tonight. I switched over and am watching MSNBC's post debate coverage now. Much better than FOX.
Yes to the first statement.
But the election will be won only if we get our people OUT TO VOTE.
These people are morons. Its a freaking disease.
I think the Beltway Boys need to put down that crack pipe and pay attention.
Barnes can kiss my lilly white butt. Goodbye Buttway Boys.
Kristol and Barnes belong to faculty of the David Gergen finishing school for Republicans.
Once Republicans start listening to them, we're finished.
Just ignore Bill and Mort. They'll eventually go away.
Did somebody say "I have a plan"?
I can have another sip of Scotch now, eh?
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