If the on line polls are any indication, forceful won the night. However, if these same people had tuned in to CNN to hear their commentator list at least six instances in which Kerry lied and then listened to Tommy Franks tell what obstacles he had to overcome in Iraq, the President's truthfulness would have reigned supreme.
I agree. There were moments when the right response would have burried Kerry, but the pregnant pause was unfulfilled IMO.
Kerry's dumb comment about moms and dads having to purchase body armour for their troops was one such moment.
Instead of Bush making an elemental comment, "Why did you vote against that body armour Mr. Kerry?", he would later make a technically correct comment, but leave some weasle room for kerry. Saying that Kerry voted against the $87 billion dollar appropriations bill doesn't bark out at the viewer as much as directly mentioning the 'body armour' it would have funded.
This would have been the optimal answer.
Mr. Kerry, as you ought to know, I sent our troops into battle with the level of preparedness left over from the administration before mine. When it came to my attention that our troops were not outfitted properly, I send an appropriations bill to the Senate. You voted against that bill, after you voted for it. Remember?
Our troops got the body armour anyway, but no thanks to you.
Attacking me me on that point is a sad reflection on you.