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

[Admin Moderator]

Thread 1 - Pre-Debate discussion

[concerned about politics]

Bush was horrible. I love him and support him, but he really sucked tonight. Just damn....

"Be ye as wise as a serpent, but as gentle as a dove."
Kerry was a pampas ass. That's what the uninformed voter will remember.
"Humble yourself before men."

[RasterMaster]

"Kerry STILL touts his four months as a badge of leadership, Also I didn't know he'd lost any men during his tour as he stated."

He probably did lose alot of guys over there, but they were all VC.

[LiveFreeOrDie2001]

*** CNN Poll ***

Bush only 12 % !!!

[OXENinFLA]

Homework assignment:


COMPARE WHAT KERRY SAID TONIGHT W/ WHAT KENNEDY, HARKIN, DRUBIN, PELOISE & THAT KIND OF LEFT WING ILK HAVE BEEN SAYING FOR THE LAST WEEK.

You'll see alot of the same things said......

[mwl1]

Kerry made him mad.

I predicted all day, here and elsewhere, that the President would be so disgusted by Kerry's shameful lies that he would go defensive and just "check out" and shake his head in disgust.

Tragically, that happened to some degree.

However, we got some GREAT attack lines to use against Kerry: global test; we didn't need that tax cut; the business with North Korea; I have never waivered. And more.

[Willie Green]

Bush started horribly, finished decently.
Kerry won the debate. Had more facts, stayed on message better, seemed in control.

I don't agree with that assessment.
Kerry really wasn't very impressive.

No major gaffes from Bush, though (inexplicably) he seemed unprepared.

IMHO, he missed an opportunity to highlight Kerry's inconsistancy:

North Korea is a regime arming with missiles and weapons of mass destruction, while starving its citizens.

Iran aggressively pursues these weapons and exports terror, while an unelected few repress the Iranian people's hope for freedom.

Iraq continues to flaunt its hostility toward America and to support terror.  The Iraqi regime has plotted to develop anthrax, and nerve gas, and nuclear weapons for over a decade....

States like these, and their terrorist allies, constitute an axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world.

~ George W. Bush, State of the Union Address, January 29, 2002

• When discussing Iraq, Kerry downplays the "coalition of the willing" and insists that Dubya should have had more UN and international participation and negotiations.
• When discussing North Korea, Kerry wants to abandon use of Chinese, Russian and other international leverage against North Korea and go it alone with bilateral talks.

Can't have it both ways.

[MontanaMatt]

I too believe that Kerry lost voters in the jury room. I follow politics and I know who I support no matter what. However my wife does not pay attention at all, she felt Kerry was unfairly attacking the President too much.
My eleven year old and ten year old both were turned off by Kerry's "cheesy attacks". At least their generation can see it as it is.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I don't agree that Kerry was particularly stylish!

But he didn't slobber very much!

[Abigail Adams]

Everyone go to cnn.com and vote for who won the debate (Bush)!

I think Kerry tried to tone down the orange glow with his makeup.

I think Kerry was slick in how he lied and attacked Bush. Bush did not want to stoop to attack and he doesn't lie. So I think that was one of the big differences tonight. Bush seemed relaxed and confident, moreso as the debate went on. Bush came across as the candidate with the experience to back up what he says.

[Mo1]

Well, Fox thinks it was a draw.

I agree that it was a draw .. the president could have nail Kerry better though for lying out his rear end

Lockhart is on FNC talking about the annoyed smirk on Bush's face

HEY JOE .. how about Kerry bobbing his head and talking to himself ... oh and let's not forget that pen in his hand

[MontanaMatt]

I too believe that Kerry lost voters in the jury room. I follow politics and I know who I support no matter what. However my wife does not pay attention at all, she felt Kerry was unfairly attacking the President too much.
My eleven year old and ten year old both were turned off by Kerry's "cheesy attacks". At least their generation can see it as it is.

[LiveFreeOrDie2001]

*** CNN Poll ***

Bush only 12 % !!!

[Tribune7]

Kerry came off as a slick know-it-all with no solutions or plans. Bush came off as a sincere guy who isn't much of a debater, but has the experience to back up what he says.

Good summation.

[Sooth2222]

Tradesports last had Bush Futures +0.7, Kerry Futures -0.6.

Kerry needed a knockout, but Bush just needed to hold his own. And he did. Nothing much changed tonight.

[Spunky]

"George never attacked Kerry...George was sincere and right but that won't convince anyone riding the fence..."

If there are any who were really undecided before this debate they are those who just aren't to swift in the head.

[He'sComingBack!]

Your analysis is spot-on! My wife and I listened to the debate on the radio and were so disheartened to hear Bush stammer and hesitate. He let Kerry define the issues and played defense all night. Others have said Bush did not seem prepared. I concur.

The polls will get closer. Bush needs to come out swinging in the next debate.

Pray.

[COEXERJ145]

Let me guess, you search through every post I make just looking for one to take a cheap shot on.

[Hoboto]

To all the naysayers out there:

John Kerry just PO'ed about 20% to 30% of his own anti-war supporters tonight by what he said in the debates. Bush had to look Presidential...he did.

[In The Defense of Liberty]

They care about style over substance? You act like G.W. Bush is the unknown he was 4 years ago. We KNOW this man. He led us through Sept. 11. He has spoken to us from his heart many times. So maybe he had a bad night, big deal. He is the one we all know in our hearts, not the slick botoxed liar from Boston. Style connects with some people for certain, and most of them are Democrats already. We already lost those, didn't we? No, GW is not an unknown.. and he didn't need to sell himself to you - you're already in the basket.... But 17% of the population that watched tonight were "on the fence"... and I doubt if GW won over even a single one of them. Face it, Kerry won, hands down. I hate to admit it, and I wish it weren't true, but it is. Mark my word... the end is near. (And I don't need a tin-foil hat for that prediction.)

[tame]

Oh Barnra Streisand! Asz usual,your political "sense" is nill.

Projection.

you,YOU,who are rather young,have less than no political experience,and havedn't seen more than what ...

argumentum ad hominem.