Posted on 09/30/2004 5:57:19 PM PDT by Admin Moderator
Thread 1 - Pre-Debate discussion
Two brief points, please take note:
1. Kerry: "Saddam didn't attack us...Osama did". Then, why is he so interested in Kim Jong Il? He hasn't attacked us, either!
2. Kerry consistently criticized the president for not being sincere in building a coalition before going into Iraq. But then, he focused on North Korea...and said we should pursue bilateral discussions...and effectively abandon the 5-nation coalition that Bush has built.
Hypocrisy? Inconsistency? I think so.
Yeah FOX panel seems to have the same take. Kerry strong enough to stay in the game. No one acting like this was an unusual debate or one side clearly won hands down.
I wonder if the "stumbling" and "grasping" (followed, of course, by the words he does utter) make an impression that he is sincere, honest, and has genuine care about the well-being of others. Quick, well spoken people may trigger a reaction of "snake" to the average observer. Just a thought. Human interaction isn't what it appears to be on the surface.
Right.
Who is President Kerry going to be? We still don't know. And THAT is what Kerry's job was tonight- if W had calmed down more, that point would have come across more.
How many of your friends would honestly tell you that they would base their vote on "style'?
To be certain, some shallow people will,
but I'll submit that many more will do it based substance.
On a whole we are not a shallow people;
Especially amoungst the subset who have taken the time to register to vote.
Solid performance by Bush. the "Trustfunder" had a couple of quotables:
1) I won't wilt...I'll never wilt...
2) Global smell test for Nuke Proliferation
CNN going crazy about Tora Bora - I think they are off on a diversion:-)
P
More importantly, I was disappointed that with Kerry babbling on about coalitions that Bush did not speak of sovereignty until his closing remarks. I was also disappointed that Bush did not tell Kerry he has no way of knowing the intricacies of the innner circle's state policies.
And why did it take Bush in his closing comments to finally make the point of keeping terrorism offshore? He eluded to that frequently about being on the "offense", but didn't make it clear about taking the fight to them.
Also, I kept hearing "talking points" from Bush, which is usually the demcRATs M.O.
He just lost 5 points in his lead. That said, there's a big difference between a leader and a "slick" talker.
Of course, Kerry was at Treblinka Square. Just as Kerry was in Cambodia at Christmas 1968, under orders from President Nixon.
I think he had too much of the wrong kind of preparation. I think they crammed his head full of talking points.
Bush sounded somewhat unprepared at the beginning. Kerry came across as confident and knowledgable. Kerry wins the Iraq discussion insofar as he did not sound like a waffler (though he most certainly IS and I am sure that Republican ads and talking points will hit this hard). Bush came across much stronger at the end when they talked abou NK, Iran and Russia. Kerry's claim to have "never waivered in my life" was a LOL moment and this will be used against him with good effect. The "global test" exchange was a definite winner for Bush.
I give the edge to Kerry but doubt this will make much difference in the polls. We will see.
I think the panic is premature and here is why I think this. I have a daughter who was taking notes for her gov't class. Her exact words when trying to take notes on one of Kerry's responses was "Its hard to take notes on what he says." In a world of spin and nuance, that was the single most brilliant political observation I have heard.
Yep.. Kerry really is UNFIT FOR COMMAND. Too bad he didn't try to push the OTHER book he wrote: "The New Soldier."
Unfortunately, Bush had to look Presidental and couldn't tell this tool Kerry what he really thought.
As an American, I don't want a President who thinks he needs to get world leaders' approvals before he takes action to defend America. I will not vote for a President who thinks he has to pass a "GLOBAL TEST" --
THE ONLY TEST I CARE ABOUT IS WHAT IS GOOD FOR AMERICA!!!
KERRY IS TOAST!
Another Kerry mistake, after flubbing Pottery Barn.
President Bush lost, and he didn't have to.
When is he going to expose all of Kerry's liberal positions, e.g. support for Gays in the military, opposition to the death penalty, etc.?
Polls will be moving in the wrong direction over the next week.
His attacks on Kerry came across as very weak, like talking points.
Kerry was convincing, smooth, and polished. If I had no horse in this race, I'd be on Kerry's side after watching that disaster."
Folksie vs. City-Slicker
What will be the impression upon the Undecideds?
No doubt -- Dubya seemed to have lost on points, but came off real and genuine.
Kerry won the debate. Had more facts, stayed on message better, seemed in control.
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