Posted on 10/09/2004 5:58:09 AM PDT by Land_of_Lincoln_John
At the very end of Friday night's second debate between President Bush and John Kerry, Bush tossed out a congenial "been enjoyable," about a contentious session dominated by the Iraq war with a heavy emphasis on domestic programs.
Polite for the president to say, but it was only at the end, when the questions were on domestic issues, that Bush seemed to relax and help himself in the face-off that was otherwise dominated by Kerry.
There were no real pleasant exchanges, but there was plenty of tough talk.
"I don't see how you can win in Iraq if you don't think we should be there in the first place," said Bush.
"Compassionate conservative?" said Kerry, referring to Bush's signature line from his 2000 presidential campaign. "What does that mean?"
On the issue of legalizing prescription drugs from Canada -- a subject of particular interest in Illinois because the issue was pushed on the national stage by Gov. Blagojevich and Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) -- Bush was disingenuous after being asked why he was blocking Canadian drugs.
"I have not yet," he said. "Just want to make it safe."
Blagojevich last week announced that the state was launching its own service for Illinoisans to buy drugs, mainly from Canada, legal or not. The Food and Drug Administration has been resisting the aggressive Illinois approach. However, Bush said come December there may be some "safe way" to do it. The Bush White House is not pushing the GOP-controlled Senate to put the drug importation measure to a vote.
On that point Kerry said, "the president is not leveling with you," but gave the wrong impression that at issue are only drugs made in the United States being reimported back here.
A town-hall tangle
The town-hall format and camera angles worked to the hyper-coiffed Kerry's advantage. The Massachusetts senator looked more physically commanding than the president, as he made effective use of the ability to get up from a stool and walk around a stage.
Kerry repeated his refrain "I have a plan'' so often I expect the line to show up this weekend on a Saturday Night Live lampoon.
The main audience consisted of voters from the battleground state of Missouri who are called "persuadables" in the political business, identified by pollsters as having "soft" support for Kerry or Bush. The two rivals pandered to their audience, none more so than Kerry when he was asked to look into the camera and make a pledge not to raise taxes. And he did, for those making $200,000 and less.
Bush again, as in the first debate last week in Florida, was shown in a few reaction shots looking weird, at one time shown blinking rapidly and another with a bit of a smirk. He also sounded shrill at times.
On other points in the wide ranging session:
*Canned humor did not go over well. Kerry made a Red Sox joke that died. Bush tried a line he used this week on the stump, one about his "scowl." After the first debate, Bush got in trouble for seeming to make faces. Much better: On a question about who he would pick for a Supreme Court opening, Bush said "I'm not tellin'!"
*What on earth was Kerry thinking when he talked about Bush getting $84 from a timber company? "I own a timber company?" said Bush. "News to me!" Pause. "Need some wood?"
The Kerry campaign rushed out an e-mail explaining that Bush had $84 of business income from his part ownership of a timber-growing enterprise on his 2001 tax return. It was silly of Kerry to get into such a confusing sideshow.
Is anyone but Freepers calling it for Bush?
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 see that Kerry's constantly changing positions doesn't bother the MSM at all.
Lynn needs to get off the crackpipe.
I was just saying the other day how delusional Dems are.
In the first debate repubs readily admited GWBs faults, but Dems refuse to admit any fault on their candidates part in subsequent debates.
they are drinking from the denial river
even Julian Brown on Fox is giving it to Kerry
Yeesh
Bush won the debate. When the MSM calls it a draw, you know Bush took it big time.
Besides, the language this woman uses is loaded: Smirk, shrill to describe President Bush is just stupid.
"There are none so blind as those who will not see.."
I thought Bush was masterful and that he took Kerry to school. What does this guy have to do to get any recognition from the Democrat Party wing called the media?
Bush got a laugh both times. I saw it. I didn't see Kerry's lame joke so I don't know if anyone laughed. Does he know Boston finished off the Halos last night?
I thought Bush won this one.
It had something to do with fantasy land and Red Sox fans. It was utterly indecipherable.
Uh yeah. Terry McAuliff for one.
"Win in a landslide"
How about the line...."got wood?" L0L
If Kerry were in the hospital brain-dead, this twit would have said Kerry won the debate. A classic example of democratic happy talk. How could a God fearing person ever succumb to becoming a democrat? I would presume God has no place in their communistic feeble mind. Bush/Cheney 2004
She might also get off her knees after obtaining the finances for crack from her democratic John's. To lynn, the mind was a terrible thing to waste. Lynn then stomped out her own twit mind. Bush/Cheney2004
Hi: I'm Canadian and conservative, but I do have apprehensions about Bush and some policies. I don't see Kerry as being a great leader and am wondering why they couldn't come up with a more credible candidate. (I know I know, no dems are credible) but seriously, as an outsider looking in, if they had a better candidate I think the democrats would walk with this election. IMHO
However, what I do have a bit of a beef with is this, cross border prescriptions sales. As you know Canada is a socialist country and our prescriptions cost us less because they are partially subsidized by the gov't, in other words, our tax dollars.
These huge cross border sales could trigger a drug shortage for Canadians and increase our prices. We pay high income taxes for socialized medicine and cheaper drugs and honestly, I really don't like the idea of my tax dollars subsidizing non-Canadian taxpayers.
As I said, I'm conservative, but I do believe that a basic level of health care is a right and a necessity, its unconsionable to me, that so many people are with those basics in the U.S. That said, I admire and respect your country and am happy you are our neighbours.
Julian and e d Hill both are too liberal for my tastes, so it doesn't surprise me.
What did surprise me was Fox's analysis of the debate last night!
I know I have a hard time not being partial, but even my husband conceded that Bush won.
What's the deal with Fox?
Sorry, that should read " that so many people are without those basics (health care) in the U.S."
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