Posted on 10/09/2004 2:57:51 AM PDT by maryz
ANNANDALE, Va. -- The story line this weekend will be that President Bush did a lot better, and John Kerry not as well, in their second debate. The only worry now is that in Arizona Wednesday the two will again be behind lecterns, which will once again play to Kerry's advantage and Bush's distinct disadvantage.
The Washington Post's often astute, sometimes maddening TV critic Tom Shales has already declared Bush the St. Louis winner on style, Kerry on the winner on substance. Coming from a Dan Rather liberal, that's saying something. Specifically, that Kerry lost on both counts. In liberal eyes the fix is always in on substance -- by definition there's no way a nonliberal can win here. What's more, the superiority on that front is supposed to go hand in hand with stylistic command. When it doesn't, it's a dark day indeed.
Poor Kerry. Without a lectern to tower over, he was a freak show. Perhaps John Edward can sue the television camera manufacturers. But exposed in his thin tallness on the stage floor, particularly when caught in profile, Kerry came across as some sad mix of scarecrow and arthritis sufferer, unable to bend his back at all or even take an unstiff step.
Bush by contrast thrived. No longer short he was in his sauce -- because he was among people. It's no accident his best performances have always seen him in a sea of humanity. (Yes, even on the USS Lincoln.) He was made to be seen with others. He easily leads because he likes and is liked by those he serves.
Kerry is another matter entirely. As someone has said, he can't help but treat people like help, and even to remind them they're help. Has anyone ever said anything more revealing than Kerry Friday night, apropos his tax hike promises on higher income brackets, when he said: "And looking around here, at this group here, I suspect there are only three people here who are going to be affected: the president, me, and, Charlie, I'm sorry, you too."
And looking around here, in this tacky auditorium? At this group of obvious nobodies? That's what he meant. By the way, he forgot to include his wife among the high rollers in the room. Or to convey any understanding of the American dream, more importantly.
There were some surprises. The awfulness of the town hall format was mitigated by the participation of some fine and serious citizens. The few dolts gave themselves away, usually by not having the good grace to wear a tie to such an event or being able to read the question they themselves had composed. The pointed questions seemed mainly directed at Kerry, and they all came from women. In response to Ann Bronsing's question about why no further attacks on U.S. soil since 9/11, Kerry stumbled badly, his practiced smoothness suddenly giving way to confusion ("…it's not a question of when, it's a question of -- excuse me -- not a question of if, it's a question of when. We've been told that") and lots of filler about the need for good intelligence. Before he was done he jumped back to answer an earlier questioner. (He did that several times in the evening, picking up on John Edwards' bad habit.) Two pro-life questions just about finished him off, in part because they allowed Bush to drive home some key points, but also because they brought out the NARAL side of Kerry which requires him to use the mother's health excuse as his reason for backing partial birth abortion and to oppose parental notification because all teen pregnancies apparently stem from incestuous rape.
Charlie Gibson will hear it from his colleagues for allowing those questions through. But has there been a lovelier and sweeter young American at such an event than Sarah Degenhart, who asked the second pro-life question? You have to wonder what tax bracket she'll end up in when she gets to heaven.
Kerry Stiffed - Well that's because President Bush gave him "some wood."
But on a more serious note, I am a bit worried about the last, upcoming debate. W must NOT be like he was in the 1st, he absolutely must be like he was last night. We cannot allow Kerry to gain any more ground!
"But has there been a lovelier and sweeter young American at such an event than Sarah Degenhart, who asked the second pro-life question? You have to wonder what tax bracket she'll end up in when she gets to heaven."
What question did she ask? And what was the response?
I'm not really sure. Was she the one who asked what he would say to voters/taxpayers who don't want their taxes funding abortion?
I did not see the debate, maybe later the transcripts will tell us. Thanks.
JFKerry sure was touchy at being called a liberal, didn't seem to hear that he was a Kennedy.
And to say Clinton's policy with all the distaste in the world focused upon "Clinton's".
Somebody forgot to tell JFKerry he was on a campus that tution rates are $38,000 per year.
Next week I forsee the President hammering home the facts that John Kerry LIBERAL...has forgotten the lessons of 911. After anything that Kerry brings up all The President has to do is say "There he goes again forgetting the lessons of 911, typical liberal mindset"..John Kerry flip-flopper will lose the war in Iraq and that John Kerry the incoherent will lose the war on terror. Not to mention that John Kerry the non-credible will raise all of our taxes and mayben not just once.. and snuff out any economic growth... Prediction: The President enjoys A Large Landslide 02NOV.
Ya know, I think W was over-coached before the first debate and trying to follow his coaching. I am pretty confident that he knew that, and I'm just betting that in the next debate, even though we're back to the more formal format, he will be back to his normal self. I think he knows his strengths and weaknesses enough to realize he does better when he's himself.
Granted, that's just my 2 cents. You can remind me if I end up wrong.
LOL! Surely you jest -- how could anyone in a room full of losers like that, none of whom (as Kerry could tell at a glance) will ever come close to $200,000 a year afford those tuition rates? They probably don't even speak French . . . or windsurf.
Good article, so true, and not even the half of it! Just a few highlights.
I think that if the President wears the flight suit that he wore when he landed on the carrier to the next debate, then John Freakin' Kerry will totally flip(per) out!
If he heard it, I can guarantee you it didn't bother him in the least--after all, I'm sure this phony, pompous poseur fancies himself a Kennedy, or Kennedy-like . . . after all, he has the same initials (JFK) and they are/were both Massachusetts senators. But that's the only things they have in common.
The issue of health of the mother can be fixed by performing a C-Section..I had 2 and my DIL had to have one with our grandson. Does no one ever think that a C-Section should be the prefered way to save the life of the mom AND the baby?
I think one of the big factors is he was so dang tired (did you see how much water he was drinking?!), emotionally and physically, from being out in the hot Florida sun surveying the hurricane damage and comforting the victims. And I do think he was definitely, as you mentioned, overprepped to the point where he had so much things stuffed into his head that it threw him off. Either that, or he was underprepared--it's as if he thought he could go in and just repeat the same stuff without having the points at hand to back it up, and it'd be enough. That won't work next week. Plus, I think he might have been hemmed in by his advisors wanting him to take a nonconfrontative approach so as not to turn off the swingers, a strategy that if you ask me, clearly did not work and on top of that, served to dismay his supporters.
"LOL! Surely you jest --"
Not at all, that the going rate these days...
I just got back from a shopping trip to Camp Doha, Kuwait and had the privelege of watching about 30 minutes of the debate on the PX TV sets with about 10 enlisted men. Bush was fantastic and it was quite obvious who the military supports.
Not if you do not value life as a first priority. This is exactly the Problem with the liberal argument for abortion .. .It holds no value of life... same with stem cells... same with cloning... A society that places no value on life will always fail... Any politician that will sell out his religious beliefs, his faith, his very soul for political gain is purly evil... Kerry stood on that stage tonight and said I am a Catholic... but he is on the wrong side of all Catholic values... He goes against the teachings of the church... He could be a politician and still hold true to his beliefs... his core... his values... his church... but no he wants more votes so he goes pro-Abortion it is simply reprehensible and explains his lack of character very well...
When the PBA issue first arose, a group of OB-GYNs took out a full-page in the WSJ (and probably other places) saying that a PBA is never necessary to the life or health of the mother.
The problem not fixed by a C-section is that then you have a live baby and killing it would be murder under the law (so far, anyway).
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