Kerry given warning on clash with Bush, the 'TV genius'

News Telegraph ^ | 27 September 2004 | Alec Russell

[fullchroma]

The British writer suggests that President Bush's inferior syntax and lack of intellectual curiousity (his characterizations) resonate with the American people because we are similarly simple: Kerry will lose the debates because we a stupid.

Not so. After 8-plus years of Clinton, more Americans than ever recognize manipulative, putrid hot-air for what it is.

[blackdog]

I predict no less than three gaffes such as strategery, ambinivelent, or microcosinism. It's like America liked Clinton because he had all of our petty, self indulgent vices and wore them for us. We realized after Clinton that despite that making us feel good about ourselves, that that just made him as dangerous as Joe from the corner bar being in the Whitehouse. We've matured from that. Now we admire Bush because he's smart and responsible, but can still stumble on his tounge. That makes us all feel connected with him. Clinton on the other hand makes us realize just how disfunctional we were and still are, understanding that we can expect more from our leaders and ourselves.

[Rutles4Ever]

Don't be confused. Everytime they underestimate him, he comes out smelling like a rose. Now they're going to pump him so he can "fall short"...

[blackdog]

Unlike Al Gore who can rattle off Muslem leaders names from Yugoslovia in some sort of idiocy, if Bush names names of Islamic persons, it's either because they are dead, almost dead, or our good friend. I find a certain comfort in that.

I offer a hundred bucks to anyone who can get Kerry to say "Lockbox" on national television.

[SAJ]

...but can still stumble on his tounge.

Or even, possibly, on his kbd.

:^)

[hiredhand]

I predict no less than three gaffes such as strategery, ambinivelent, or microcosinism. It's like America liked Clinton because he had all of our petty, self indulgent vices and wore them for us. We realized after Clinton that despite that making us feel good about ourselves, that that just made him as dangerous as Joe from the corner bar being in the Whitehouse. We've matured from that. Now we admire Bush because he's smart and responsible, but can still stumble on his tounge. That makes us all feel connected with him. Clinton on the other hand makes us realize just how disfunctional we were and still are, understanding that we can expect more from our leaders and ourselves.

WELL SAID! I think this debate is going to complete the sinking of the Kerry campaign before the elections. They're gonna have to believe some mighty tall tales after it's over. :-)

[reformed_dem]

A little off topic, but has anyone seen video of jf'nk today on Fox? It looks like a really bad makeup job or a tanning booth accident happened all over his face. Kind of orange and shiny with red cheeks. What's up with that?

[RightWhale]

Yes, he will speak with the people, speak with people. Kerry will be aloof, FDR like, not personable.

[Revelation 911]

He'll just get angry and lose control like Al Gore. Bush seems to have that effect on people.

yeah - remember that during the debates - algore got threatening with his body language

[My2Cents]

The liberal bias against George W. Bush is akin to racism. They hate him because he's not "one of them."

He's from rural Texas; they're largely from metropolitan areas of the nation, mainly on the east and west coasts. They think of Bush as a "rube," and of themselves as "sophisticates." Consequently, they think they are better than him.

Bush believes in the capitalism, and the world of business as the best way create opportunities for people. He sees economic growth as the way to lift the status of people. The left, of course, hates the business world, trusting only in government to "level the playing field" and to fulfill the aspirations of people.

Bush is a committed Christian, perhaps the most sincere and public believer we've ever had in the White House. He believes that faith can not only impact the character of the nation, but gives our nation direction and purpose. The left hate anything that has to do with God. They consider conservative Christians as the equivalent of the Taliban.

So, the root of "Bush hatred" is simply this: Bush isn't "one of them." He has different roots, and different beliefs. Because he is different than most people on the left, they turn those differences into reasons to hate him.

How is this any different than unvarnished racism?

[My2Cents]

He's using Hillary's makeup person. ;-)

[TheCrusader]

Debates are great. But do they ever change people whose minds are already made up about whom they're voting for?

One thing seems certain about John Kerry though, if there are any 'fence sitters' waiting to decide upon a candidate based on the debates, he will convince nobody that's he's a gentleman, and will convince no intelligent person that he has a good plan for America's future. His entire political platform is a negative one that says "whatever Bush does, I'm against it".

[js1138]

After 6 years of preaching to everyone that he's the worlds greatest moron

Everyone knows it takes more intelligence to pilot a Boston Whaler than it does to be a fighter pilot.

[blackdog]

Yeah, AlGore got so mad he threatened to uninvent the internet. He'd just take it home with him in his lock(exceedingly long pause for the stupid).....box.

[Pastnowfuturealpha]

Too bad there isn't a way for him to get in why Germany and France didn't join in - like the oil for food issue -

Restraints can do more harm than good sometimes and this may be one of those times - PC in its glory -

just my thoughts -

[bootyist-monk]

I have to disagree. We've seen Kerry lose it on a few occasions already, including Charles Gibson (you're wrong, Charlie!), and with Leslie Stahl (no... no... you're playing games here) when he finds his cocoon of protection and self-delusion is threatened. I expect to see Dubya be self-effacing, but to also make subtle digs at Kerry throughout the debate that will be about goading him into losing his cool. And if he succeeds, I expect to see His Royal Gigalo, stripped of his handlers and his man-servant with the always ready bottled water and peanut butter sandwich, to start lashing out. Kerry is already on the edge with his pseudo-Dean rhetoric. I think Team Dubya's goal is to push him over the edge on live TV in front of a national audience.

[Pravious]

"After 6 years of preaching to everyone that he's (Bush) the worlds greatest moron

Yup & it's absolutely hysterical watching the kerryistas trying to lower expectations of their boy genius' debating performance."

Agreed. I noticed that trend on the Sunday shows - every single RAT commentator made it a point to rave about what a great debater George W. Bush is. The only reason I can think of that they would do this in unison is to try and lower expectations for Lurch - to have an excuse for him in case he blows it.

Lurch's problem is that he has to hide the fact that he's a sourpuss (goes with the RAT thing) .. but whenever he tries to imitate a real human being, he comes out looking like a pathetic dork, and is completely unconvincing.

[self_evident]

Don't be confused. Everytime they underestimate him, he comes out smelling like a rose. Now they're going to pump him so he can "fall short"...

Or, to be a little more economical... they misunderestimate him.

[RJS1950]

My thoughts exactly, GWB is going to kick JfnKs ass till it falls off and then hand it to him.

[ModelBreaker]

She added that the debates are partly a "media confection" and that while "they have an impact because they are naked moments" they did not often swing a race substantially.

She was obviously not around in 1980, when Reagan creamed Carter in a single debate about 10 days before the election. Reagan went from 8 points down to a comfortable victory. . . and the US won the cold war.

Hopefully, Bush has some upside in the debates. Even tho the voters know him, they have really only seen an MSM filtered version of Bush for the last year (fangs and all). Hopefully, folks will remember why they like him. That's the potential upside.

OTOH, folks have real reservations about Kerry and flip flopping. If he seems decisive and likable in the debates, he will go a long way toward blunting that image. A potentially big downside for us.