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.
:^D
Kerry Stiffed - Well that's because President Bush gave him "some wood."Like Dick Cheney suggested. :^D
Here is the FULL version of that.
Speak softly and stick a big poodle.
I heard him say that too -- no wonder he has no time for his own job, intelligence committee meetings, etc. Just like in '71, he's too busy poking in nose in matters too big for him. And, yes, I was surprised that Bush didn't say anything (probably afraid he'd say too much!).
Hey, even Miss Manners would have been tempted to bean him with her beaded reticule: it's incredibly rude to comment on other people's supposed income, no matter whether you consider it low or high. Only the most crass and vulgar person would ever do it.
Of course the last debate has to be the grand slam for the president and heres how..
Senator Kerry talks about building strong coalitions. He says I didn't do it right after he gave me authorization to go to war, he says our coalitions are built of the coerced and bribed, he says the war is a mistake and he would do it differently... Well the fact of the matter is when my father built the strongest coalition in recent history to take Sadaam out of Kuwait in 1991 Senator Kerry voted NO to support that resolution... Now he votes yes and undermines our allies and coalitions... Senator Kerry has been on the wrong side of every major issue since he returned from Vietam.. his efforts against the War were wrong then and his efforts against the war are wrong now... Unlike Senator Kerry I have not forgotten the lessons of 9/11....
Oh I hope for this exchange...
and once he plants the seeds of forgetting the lessons of 911 the rest of the night to anything that Kerry says about JOBS or Economy... the president starts his response in the best Reganesque form he can Muster "There he goes again forgetting all about 911."
Ending: You cannot be President of the Unite States if you fail to realize the lessons that 3000 american citizens died to teach US.
After last night, I don't think we need to worry. The President was on fire, and now that he realizes how that feels in the debate format, he'll do it again. I do believe the biggest problem in the first debate was that he was tired from the visit to the hurricane victims, and he seemed to get really frustrated at having to sit and listen to the tripe coming from Kerry after seeing those folks that afternoon who were truly hurting.
Yeah, but the problem for Kerry and his ilk is that with a C-Section, the result is a LIVE baby! That's not what those folks want!
That's right!!
BTW, Good to see you!
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.
That lovely young woman had tears in her eyes while she listened to the answers.
>We all know some self made millionaires. I am positive a lot of FReepers fit that category. The ones I know are "The Millionaire Next Door" and you cannot tell their economic status by looking. One couple I know, with a grown son and three older teenage daughters are proud that their kids don't know if mom and dad are multimillionaires or budget-conscious, struggling small business owners. The parents want the girls to learn to work and to have the joy of self-achievement. If there is anything for them when mom and dad are gone, it will be a surprise and a gift, not a birthright.<
Like President Bush explained, you don't have to be a millionaire, if you have a Subchapter S corp, to get nailed by Kerry's threat to tax people who have incomes above $200,000. Small businesses provide jobs, and they are not rich fat cats like John F'N and "Step Money", by a long shot.
Of course, once I knew it would be town hall format, I was afraid the questions to Bush would be of the "Why don't you ever level with the American people" variety, while those to Kerry would be more like "Why doesn't everyone see how wonderful you are?" I guess you could say my expectations were low. ;-) And based on experience.
Yes, but John Edwards will ensure as Vice-President that there are no more practicing OB-GYNS to perform those life-saving deliveries.
Reminder that the third debate is here in glorious Arizona where it will be 9pm east coast, but only 6pm local. Depending on when President Bush arrives, he could have a day or two to adjust to the time change and so the debate will be "earlier".
The Fox pundits were clueless.
I was shocked they didn't pick up on the part of the debate that is highlighted in this article (amongst other telling unappealing Kerry statements).
The part where Kerry announced he could tell by looking at those in the room that they would not be affected by a tax increase on those making over $200,000. On the Live Thread we were in shock that he would be so elitist. Maybe the Fox panel thought this was an acceptable way for a politician to address the peasants.
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