On the plus side for Kerry. I think he projected strength, on a visceral level, and that he would be nobody's patsy. Also, on a visceral level, Kerry never got out of the box that imprisons his persona, no real warmth, no humor, no light tough, but rather one that exudes a certain angry undertow, hectoring, the Calvinist John Edwards redux.
On substance, it degraded into a fairly stock Dem demagogue speech - so much to offer, and just raise the taxes a bit on the rich, and lower them on everybody else, and cut the deficit, and it will all pencil. The freedom from Saudi oil bit of course was a ludicrous pipe dream, made slightly more ludicrous by Kerry's energy policy, but ludicrous in any event. The Western economic machine will run on Saudi oil as long as it is relatively cheap and available.
In the end it was an appeal to the base speech. I don't think Kerry succeeded in capturing that precious swing vote. The man still seems really not credible in his pie in the sky promises, and it is hard to just have hope via a package that is so remote and stern. One doesn't find hope when taking a shower where the water heater isn't working.
I suspect the Kerry bounce will be underwhelming. I think Bush if he sucks it up, can end up with a net plus out of the conventions, when both are over. And then Bush will have to face the demon hectoring Calvinist in debates, in an odd wawy, as the kinder, gentler Methodist, even while the kinder and gentler one has this habit of handling perps more in a Texas than a New England way.
It will be an interesting election. We live in interesting times.
And that's the way I see it, disjointed as it may be.
PS: The stem cell issue worries me a bit. We baby boomers want to live forever, and most of us don't buy the idea that their use is off limits, particularly if it seems to interfere with our sentient longevity. One might not like it, but that's the way it is.
NO one has BANNED stem cell research.....we're just not going to throw FEDERAL funds (YOUR TAX DOLLARS) at it....let private research do it....if it's sooooo great, they'll be there.
Bush already faced down one hectoring angry man in the 2000 debates...
I thought the speech was a flop. Quite frankly, I have a weak stomach for these things. I didn't expect to watch very much because of it... but I wound up keeping it on the entire time as he was doing so horribly, and I was having a good time watching it.
Of course, some argue that the country is fedup with Bush and Kerry need only offer himself up as a credible alternative. Did he do that tonight? I don't think so.
Thanks you for your input
I understand what you are saying about the Stem Cell
But the research is in ADULT cells and that is what needs to be pointed out
Not all Calvinists are hectoring. Some of us calvinists are quite charming.
The economy is good and the deaths in Iraq number less than a thousand.
For about half the swing voters it will be the economy stupid and that is a net plus for Bush.
As always when the economy is relatively good, the likeability of the candidates will decide nearly half the swing vorers. Bush wins the likeability contest 7 to 3 and the economy stupid voters 6 to 4.
That will be the election with 106 million voters going to the polls. It will be 54 to 46 for Bush.
Hey, I think you are so wrong about our generation wanting to live forever. We are the generation taking care of our sick parents. We see the consequences of medicine keeping people alive. If it's one thing I know..,I DEFINITELY don't want to live any longer than I'm supposed to.