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."
I remember him on fox bashing the network until O'Reilly gave him guff over it, and he backpedaled like mad.
My point is this: look, it's either a conservative network you should ignore, or it's a fair channel that you need to acknowledge and work with. Enough of this bash-it-and-go-on-it-the-next-day-and-praise-it.
I can't actually hear any of them with Mara hocking up loogies thru every show.
If Mort and Bill think Kerry won this debate they must have too much of that Washington D.C. political hot air between their ears. Kerry got his clock cleaned, and real Americans, not these media elites from D.C., know a butt kicking when they see one.
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.
Excellent catch. Very important point!!!
I wrote and told them the"grumpy old men" struck again and that they were up past their bedtime.
Good, thank you.
I emailed my displeasure to Speakout at Fox, Britt Hume and the Beltway Boys.
You've done a good job!!!!
What They're Saying About President Bush's Decisive Victory
NBC’s Tom Brokaw: "Well, I Think that the President stepped up his game tonight, and I think that he came with a game plan in mind, and tried to execute it on that stage."
ABC's George Stephanopoulos: "I Think President Bush was most effective, is when he brought people into the Oval Office, talked about meeting with the Iraqi Finance Minister, talking about going to the Situation Room and talking to General Tommy Franks, and then, finally, also, bringing up Senator Kerry's Senate record. But you did see, I think, a lot of skill out there tonight."
USA Today: "Bush appeared more relaxed and forceful."
The New York Times' Katharine Q. Seelye: "The format served [President Bush] well. He looked comfortable and sounded confident."
NBC's Tim Russert: "George Bush was more energetic."
New York Times columnist David Brooks: "So I think overall, the effect of the debate will to be to give the Bush campaign a boost."
Columbus, OH Undecided Voter Lisa on CNN: I was kind of on the border, but after hearing both candidates tonight, I think that I've kind of swayed over to Bush's side."
The Weekly Standard's Stephen Hayes: "I would say that President Bush won the debate, and for me, it was actually a rather decisive win."
Jesss...what do these people expect, it is just a debate, Bush can't wrestle the guy to the ground and make him stop BSing. Bush at least was sharp and intelligent sounding, and much better at engaging the audience.
Fox stunk on post-debate analysis for all three debates. Mort and Kristol, sometimes even Brit [I know Halprin--he'ss a decent guy"--not if he is rigging election coverage in favor of Kerry].
MSNBC WAS BETTER WITH REFERENCE TO HOW BUSH DID TONIGHT THAN FOX. IF FOX CONTINUES THIS DOWNWARD SLIDE I'LL TURN THEM OFF IN HEARTBEAT. WHAT A BUNCH OF BACKSHOOTERS.
President Bush was very effective in connecting with the audience tonight. He got several laughs, I don't remember Kerry getting any.
Once again, President Bush came across as a plain spoken, down to earth person. Senator Kerry as a patronising "intellectual." He answers were ponderous and long and usual full of double talk.
What is important is that Bush connected, Kerry did not.
I agree. I can not believe this BS coming from FOX..nevermind...yes I can.
freddie barnes can kiss my *ss
Honestly, FoxNews has been the Weekly World of TV News. If you watch Fox, you come away with clear DNC talking points on almost every news item. That is, every news item one can fit into the extensive coverage of Laci, Lori, Martha, Mt. St. Helens, the hurricanes, batboy, UFO's, and what's new at the Heff's Playboy Mansion (I heard he has a section of suites and penthouse being built in the new Las Vegas casino that will merchandise their logo and product).
I don't watch Fox anymore. I watch news.
~LOL~
I now watch the debates on C-Span and keep my computer on Free Republic. I wouldn't go to a football game and sit with a bunch of people cheering for the other team, why should I have to do that during a rousing debate.
By the way, my team (Bush) won by four touchdowns. Team Kerry got one measely field goal in the third quarter, but it went just barely through the uprights!
name even ONE person from FOX other than hannity who
said that Bush won....i didnt hear NOT EVEN ONE
My wife points out that an incumbent president is always having to check what he says, or how he says it. For example, Bush couldn't come out and call the UN corrupt, or that the WMDs are in Syria....A president always knows more than he can say in a format like a debate. So, of course, Bush will look somewhat on the defensive. Kerry, on the other hand, looks agressive because he says anything he wants, whether it's true or not, without care or conscience.
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