Posted on 10/09/2004 7:32:34 AM PDT by MarlboroRed
There's no point in doing a little political punditry in the October of an election year without going way out on a limb, so here goes: As I smelled it, the most important thing that happened in the second presidential debate is that George W. Bush lost a good chunk of the women's vote.
He's been ahead, you know, among large blocs of women. If you take away black women, who appear to vote more based on their race than their sex (and thus vote heavily Democratic), Bush leads John Kerry among women. The media have made great hoo-ha lately about this fact, noting and arguing that Bush was gaining steadily and building a solid lead among the "security moms" because of his successful attacks (read: fear-mongering lies) on Kerry's ability to fight terrorism.
I'm guessing that Friday night, that trend started shifting into reverse. It wasn't any single thing Bush said. It was the manner: the schoolyard swagger, the left arm cocked like an itchy gunslinger's, the arrogant sneer, the roosterish strutting -- and the voice. God, that voice. You don't quite call that screaming. It wasn't exactly caterwauling. Maybe yowling. Whatever it was, he sounded like a tedious and noisome braggart in the parking lot after a football game. Having seen plenty of those, and having been that myself from time to time, experience teaches me to take the view that most women do not find that figure appealing.
They might have, if Kerry had come across, to extend the metaphor, as the inadequate sad sack portrayed in Bush's television commercials. But he didn't. Kerry was terrific. Far better, by my lights, than he was in the first debate. I know no one else will see it that way, because he was the first debate's obvious winner, while he merely edged out round two on points after Bush didn't show up in where-am-I-again? mode. But Kerry was, if anything, stronger -- more succinct and direct, more challenging to Bush, and tougher -- than he had been in the first debate. And he especially showed all those qualities when he was talking foreign policy. I'm betting the security moms noticed.
Of course, I'm guessing, and I have no actual idea whether I'm right. Certainly, this isn't the kind of angle that will have been discussed on the cable post-game shows. The few women permitted into the club are busy proving that they can be one of the guys (Andrea Mitchell) or that they can be just as sycophantic toward Bush as the big boys (Candy Crowley); they know that's the only way they can stay on television, so they sure aren't there to represent their sex.
It's very much worth remembering, in fact, how aggressively male a domain cable television is. The worst moment, when Bush just clearly behaved like a rude jerk, came at 9:36 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, when Charlie Gibson was trying to ask him a follow-up and Bush brusquely waved him off, interrupted, and charged forward and started yelping about Tony Blair. It was witnessing this moment that made me start to think about women viewers. But Chris Matthews, naturally, thought it was great. Which makes me think I'm on to something.
Polls won't deal with this question for a few days, and if they prove me wrong, they prove me wrong. But as hunches go, this strikes me as one worth playing.
Michael Tomasky is executive editor of The American Prospect.
That is not the impression my wife has of George Bush.
when W charged out and broke the rules, and defended himself, and Tony Blair and the allies, was my favorite part of the debate. I am a woman.
Real women can't stand girly-men.
This is true. Mostly younger women like the hairless, non threatening males like decaprio and jude law, but that is because they would prefer a girlfriend type boyfriend to a real man. Women who like real men go for the W type.
BS
Imagine you are a British, Italian, or Polish citizen or politician and you see a video of this (which is probably the only video the media in those countries will focus on). The natural aggressiveness of the President in making sure their contribution is not ignored will be noticed, and that helps the Coalition.
The people of these countries don't vote, but tell me Americans don't have admiration for a guy who is unstoppable in defense of his friends.
I don't think so...there was a young blonde in the background who looked like she'd fight Laura to the death over Bush.
Since the writer is a man, I'd say he really has no idea whether the President hurt himself with women last night. What he probably means is that he hurt himself with girlie-men...like himself.
Yeah, no woman I've ever seen likes a weak or indecisive guy. And I guarantee the Left Kerry comes across looking like both after last night's debate. Bush took some risks - women will protest they don't like testosterone flowing through a man but the secret is they admire his guts for protecting them and their children. Its human nature and that singular fact trumps ideology every time.
This woman says: "My heroes have always been cowboys"!!
The number one thing women find appealing in a man is leadership.
Bush is a true leader.
Kerry is not.
Kerry does not have the leadership skills or experience to run a fast food franchise.
Week after week Bush was going up and up in the polls. Then Kerry had a small blip - one that did not give him the lead. Suddenly, the legacy media is calling this "momentum".
Everyone was buying into the "Bush must win the debate or he'll lose" philosophy. Wrong. Kerry is behind. He is the one who would only have a glimmer of hope if he wins the debates.
Last night, he lost.
Bush won.
We won.
I think she was just choking on a ham sandwich.
Of course, I'm guessing, and I have no actual idea whether I'm right.
BEEP! This guy guessed wrong. Why write an article on a subject which he has not researched? DUH! Dumb question. Researching articles & "news" before printing or palabbering has become passe'.
You can bet that the author of this article is one of those so-called new aged, metro-sexual types. As a liberal POS, his balls are in his wife's purse.
Most of the women I know can't stand feminized-men, or asArnold would say "Girlie-Men."
What a perfect metaphor for the Stone-age press’ distorting the truth for all the world to see. Just like last weeks debate where the moderator wanted to become the story and asking anti-Bush question after question. Starting Yaaawn with, “would you be a better President?” What’s he going to say no? Then Mr. Hate your guts President, explain your failed War! Here in a Town hall debate Charlie Glibson helps Yaawn clarify one question and then tries to corner President Bush with Charlie’s “follow-up” he had been laying in wait for.
The proud Republican looked at the Ratherforged Danosaur holding the Gate with all of his weight, trying to pin Capitalism in it’s box. spewing its vile flames. The young strapping cowboy sized up the situation and decided if your are going to keep that Gate closed, I will turn my steed out the Internets Gate and talk to the American People directly. He has those rare instincts of a normal person to say, if your not going to let me get my message out; then I will go talk to my people my way. What a perfect metaphor for the dying mediaCrats of the Old NY Times and ABDNCBS and W’s way of leading.
And what a message he gave! Not only did he defeat the media, he fileted Yaawn with the skill of a Champion Bass Fisherman. He turned to the people with arm extended and said, “Tell Tony Blair, “your going it alone”, tell Berlusconi, “your going it alone”, tell the President of Poland Kwasniewski, “your going it alone”..You Can’t Lead a coalition that way!” Game, set.....
That was a rhetorical moment for all times.
This debate will go down as one of the Great Debates of this country. President Bush not only defeated and exposed Yaaawn Tax & Carry for the Liberal he is but exposed the press to the American People. He was masterful in his delivery and his answers were complete and from the heart. This President has one of the most complex minds that has occupied that office since Lincoln. I would say Ronald Reagan, but Yaaawn seems to mention RR at least 10 times per debate trying to sound Conservative even though he hated Reagan.
From that moment on you could see that Kerry was done. Searching for ideas and numerous times unable to come up with words. His answers were disjointed syntax and not on topic add to that his turning from the audience to lecture and dress down The President of The United States on his failed policies was way over the top.
His worst answer of all, was his answer on abortion. The beautiful young lady with the angelic face asked a question from her heart about the need to end Partial Birth Abortion? Yaawn attempts to answer it by saying he was in Vietna....no that he was a Catholic and an Alter Boy? What does being an alter boy have to do with abortion?? He fished for Dingbats work with Planned Abortionhood and then after W answered it so clearly and compassionately, Yaawn has to have a follow-up?? Why would anyone need to have a follow-up on abortion?? Abortion is not an issue that you debate with your mind. Either you believe it is a baby and death or you don’t.
What a night and what an answer to Prayers. GW showed the country and the world why we Bushbots love him like only one other President, his mentor; who must have that twinkling little eye and that rosy smile, President Ronald Wilson Reagan.
Pray for W and Our Troops
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