FR Live Thread: Bush Kerry - First Debate (Pre-Debate discussion)

[Admin Moderator]

There have been several "live threads" posted today regarding the debate starting early this morning. Let's make this the official thread.

FR Live Thread: Bush Kerry - First Debate - Thread 2 - Here we go!

[hispanarepublicana]

So that you'll know for next time, three words:
Jameson's Irish Whiskey.

[Fedora]

Yes, it's one of their summer homes.

[Right Wing Professor]

Actions not words is what counts.

I'm not disagreeing. I've never understood why debates are a test of fitness for executive office.

Point is, people have Kerry figured as Mr. Intellectual. He isn't. He's another Yalie C student, masquerading as the Brain.

[Lil'freeper]

CeeCee Conelly has her kneepad on. *hurl*

[aruanan]

Bush has used the phrase "hard work" a dozen times.

And most people know that this is something completely uncharacteristic about John Kerry except for the fervor with which he pursues masturbatory self-aggrandizement.

[guitfiddlist]

Perhaps Rove knows more about this than we think. Bush's closing speech was very good, but he was very hesitant in the defenses of his policies - and he certainly was not on the attack. Who is the key swing voter demographic? It ain't us, and we all know that we wanted Bush to knock the crappola out of this pompous windbag.


But the protective instincts of swing voter security moms may have been aroused by his tentative yet earnest posture. I HOPE this is what Rove was strategerizing...

[skipjackcity]

"I thought that the President had a better closing message."...I thought Kerry won the debate and the President looked nervous, until the end when the President had a killer closing message and absolutely blew Kerry out of the water, which is what people might take with them from the debate. He is serious about defending the country and Kerry is not (some mysterious plan).

[StarFan]

He was very repetitive but that is GWB's nature. Kerry was far too forceful and the likeability factor he sought did NOT come across.

[hattend]

Did the talking head ask Maddy about giving the nuke secrets to North Korea?

[DoughtyOne]

Korea developed their nuclear weapons during the Clinton administration, due to Carter buying them more time and Clinton hitting the snooze alarm continously.

Kerry said no less than five times tonight that Korea developed the nuclear bomb on Bush's watch.

Bush never refuted that.

Just damn!

[ohioWfan]

LOL! I'm not upset with you Joe. I just don't care what you think..........nor, it appears, does anyone else.

[Barlowmaker]

MM, the debate was a pancake.

It doesn't ever matter about words, it's about eye to eye. When our survival is at stake, it's all about eye to eye.

President Bush looked Amercians in the eye and made his case.

"You're afraid! You should be! Life and death. This is tough work. Follow me."

Kerry had no riposte. He was a skilled debater, not a leader.

Game over.

[Publius6961]

I failed to hear two things from Bush:

"I did not go to the U.N. for permission; the American people elected me and their safety is my job one. I went to the U.N. to get help in defeating the most brutal indiscriminate murderers to arise in 100 years. They chose not to give it."

And...

"To equate my country to North Korea, or Iran, leaves me speechless. To say that we are hypocritical because we own nuclear weapons and refuse to allow "others" also to have them is sophistry of the worst kind, for reasons that are obvious to anyone, so I will not respond to that sort of demagoguery!"
I sure hope that gets corrected before the next debate.

Kerry 1 : Bush 0
Defensive and repetitive ain't gonna hack it.

[altura]

the media elected Kerry months ago.

I'd say they were praying for Kerry to win the debate, but not sure they pray.

I'm gathering it was better for Kerry than people expected and that Bush was himself... which is pretty darn good.

P.S. I hate debates!

[Delphinium]

Susan Estrich (Fox News): The media will give Kerry the win.

She has probably talked to many in the liberal media before the debates and know what they haved planned.

[Nowhere Man]

She has packed on the lbs big time. Laura has trimmed down and looks lovely. There outta be a first lady debate. ;)

We must be on the same frequency, I said to Mom (she watched the debate with me, said Kerry's ramblings gave her a headache) that I'd like to see a debate of the First Lady against Terry Kerry. Laura would clean her clock, Terry Kerry sounds stoned and spacy all the time, sort of like a set of weak batteries in my 1970's era cassette tape deck. B-)

[GOP]

Fortunately you and your friends are wrong. The general consensus on the talk shows is that this debate was either a draw or slight Kerry. Go W!

[BlueOx]

Yes, he started out strong, but in the end Kerry came off as strong and Bush looked weak and stuttering and embarrassing in the end. Geeeez!


Kerry came off as strong .... depends what the meaning of *strong* is .... Kerry's not MY definition of STRONG!!!!

[altura]

the media elected Kerry months ago.

I'd say they were praying for Kerry to win the debate, but not sure they pray.

I'm gathering it was better for Kerry than people expected and that Bush was himself... which is pretty darn good.

P.S. I hate debates!

[Nowhere Man]

She has packed on the lbs big time. Laura has trimmed down and looks lovely. There outta be a first lady debate. ;)

We must be on the same frequency, I said to Mom (she watched the debate with me, said Kerry's ramblings gave her a headache) that I'd like to see a debate of the First Lady against Terry Kerry. Laura would clean her clock, Terry Kerry sounds stoned and spacy all the time, sort of like a set of weak batteries in my 1970's era cassette tape deck. B-)