Posted on 09/30/2004 7:41:42 PM PDT by Mobilemitter
In your opinion, how did the debates go? Did Kerry get the upperhand (yeah right) or did Bush come out strong?
Also, was it just me, or did Kerry seem a little too prepared for those questions? Kerry usually trips over himself whenever he has to answer something, but he glided through this.
I think Bush blew it.
The differences were clear. For a person who votes on principles, the choice will be easy enough.
I think Kerry came off stronger but ironically that may work against him. People want someone who isn't boastfull to be in charge of war, they want someone who reflects and struggles.
Maybe he is the best Mass.debater, however he did seem to know what the next question was coming up when he started answering the current question they were on. Maybe he eats cheese?
I had that feeling that Kerry had the questions beforehand. He seemed to have his answers right on target. Bush seemed like he was surprised by the questions. I wish they could investigate to see if the DNC got a hold of the questions beforehand.
Bush was right there responding at every chance though.
Kerry looked much more experienced (and taller, LOL, and oranger). He appeared to be relaxed and in control.
W looked weary and worn and sounded weary and worn. However, W was straightforward but missed some opportunities.
On the other hand, The President seemed to lose his train of thought at times. He continued to repeat the same things, and he looked tired and a little haggard. He needs to do much better next time.
Kerry used a lot of words to say nothing. Bush used few words but siad a lot.
I lost count of Kerry's filp flops and lies and just can't call a lieing flip flopper a winner. Bush was angry and may have tried a little too hard to control it but at least he spoke the truth. Truth wins for me.
Bush won.
Kerry's "I" "I" "I" ...people hate that
OTOH, I think he should have asked SKerry repeatedly, how he was going to do what he said he'd do.
In the end, I think that Bush's message is the one which will go forward because you don't have to be a policy wonk to understand it.
Missed too many opportunities to show Kerry for the liar that he is. He only mentioned Kerry's vote against the $87 million one time.
In response, Kerry said he made a mistake in the way he "talked" about the $87 million and Bush should have reminded him that what he "said" about it wasn't important. How he "voted" was.
Kerry won. Bush didn't lose.
The President did fine. Kerry did as expected in my opinion. He bloviated.
Oh dear... I am logged in? Oh well, I'm here now. I have to re-do my tag, though. I got stuck with Dad's somehow.
Looks like Kerry got ahead, IYOs. Still two more debates to go.
This went about the way I figured it would. Next time let's have a moderator that doesn't spoon feed Frankenstein.
"He needs to do much better next time."
Unfortunately, I do not think it is possible. This is not his milieu whereas it is Kerry's. Kerry loves to hear himself talk and W has no time for such indulgences.
The President did fine. Kerry did as expected in my opinion. He bloviated.
And yes, Kerry was way too well prepared.I think he knwew the questions and the order they would be asked.
I think Bush and Kerry both did fine overall. Kerry's quotes about needing to "pass a global test for preeminant action" and "never wavering in his life" are the sound bites that will be hung around his neck. I didn't notice any bad sound bites from Bush. He was nervous in some points and eloquent in others, but I didn't see anything that makes a good negative sound bite.
I got the same feeling. And I had a real problem with Lehrer from the outset. Why should a partisan get to structure the debate AND "moderate" it? Bush was being put in the position of being the chicken in the foxes den.
>Bush was angry
This is his greatest weakness while on TV. I understand exactly why he is angry (and I'm angry, too), but I wish he come off as being a little cooler-headed.
Not that any of this changes _my_ vote.
Both candidates sucked. I've seen better debates for high-school class president. Bush seemed disconnected for some reason - seems like he could have thrown some knockout punches but didn't. Kerry is just Kerry - socialist liberal fool. I regret G didn't do better.
The repeat of the North Korea argument was the best point, however. Seriously, we've already tried the bilateral talks. We got our current situation.
I wish the President has done better. Next time.
I think that Kerry won. I think that W came off as defensive, although cleaned up some real points at the end.
JOE LOCKHART ON FOXNEWS---ask him about the memos Carl!!!!
Bush hit hard with the issue of bilateral Korean agreements.
Kerry looked a little weird with the extra rouge. He sounded pretty good, but those hand-gestures were artificial and bizarre. He did make 3 oblique references to Vietnam and one in his closing statement. It actually weakened his performance.
Kerry won the weird "character issues" question. He complemented Laura (although Bush thanked the Kerry daughters).
Kerry should have let Bush use a riser or raised his lecturn. Even though Kerry isn't as tall as advertised, the split screen kept him out of focus. Bush had the pursed lips, Kerry had a smirk.
Overall it wasn't a great performance by either. Kerry definitely didn't make the case for himself and anyone who takes terrorism seriously will not consider him. The intangibles go to Bush, who looked like he had weighty issues on his mind and did not make the bizarre Kerry hand gestures.
Kerry's tactic was to throw everything but the kitchen sink at bush on every occasion. He would weave in fifteen charges on different topics iin every sentence he spoke. It was unnerving to Bush and he came across as tired but authentic. To one who knows this tactic, fogging it is called, changing the subject, telling half truths, I was not impressed with Kerry but to the ignorant, he may come across as very "smart". It remains to be seen what the public sees. I think minds will not be changed.
"Kerry used a lot of words to say nothing. Bush used few words but said a lot."
I agree. I also think Kerry never answered a question directly and Bush tried to; so, Kerry's indirect screed came off a bit better in terms of performance.
Kerry better thank his lucky stars that he had the best debate prep squad. His answers were well rehearsed and his delivery was polished. Bush looked like he was up past his bedtime. He needs to improve his command of Kerry's inconsistencies and lies. I love the W guy and will vote for him early and often. But Bush got spanked tonight.
Watched the debate with Kerry muted the whole time.
Could not decide if he was leading an orchestra, or talking in sign language. However, he missed his calling life. Would make a good orange picker. Just hook that big ugly nose of his over a limb and pick with both hands.
I think it was a draw, both made good points and helped their positions, but yes kerry is a flip-flopper!
Im a HUGE Bush fan... but I got to say that I think President Bush missed a HUGE opportunity tonight to bury Kerry :(
Even I could have chewed Kerry up and spit him out on national security issues :(
But in the end I dont think any of this will matter because Bush is going to win short of some catastrophy.
We're DOOMED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kerry won. Smoother delivery and kept pounding "I have a plan"
Mike McCurry said they hoped Bush would engage them on the plan-so they obviously had a comeback prepared.
Bush seemed hesitant at times and never rose to the occasion. My God, if he can't remember the lines after all the prep...
Monica Crowley just said that she believes Bush won the debate hands down and that he wiped the floor with Kerry.
Didn't make me feel safe to have Kerry in the white house.
Kerry had to have a home run and he didn't. A tie doesn't help. Bush may not be smooth like Reagan but he is believable, Kerry isn't and that's the bottom line.
Pres. Bush was as he has always been, common speaking to the common people! I do wish Bush had called him on more of his lies.
I think Kerry had a better tone to his voice than the President did. His stance was better than the Presidents. President Bush appeared as if he was leaning on his podium during the last half of the debate where Kerry was standing up while he spoke.
On the questions, I think Kerry knew about what was coming. He appeared to have prepaid answers. There was no hesitation in his voice when asked a question by the narrator, while the President appeared as if he needed to formulate his answer.....which is how I speak. Think first then say it.
Overall, Kerry may have come out slightly ahead even though I didn't like his plans.
Lehrer: President Bush, do you still beat your wife?
Bush: No, sir.
Lehrer: Senator Kerry, do you think Bush still beats his wife?
Kerry: Yes, I do.
Lehrer: President Bush, your response to that?
Bush couldn't win; all the questions were ABOUT Bush.
You're correct, but this means little to nothing to most undecided voters.
For someone just tuning into this election, so to speak, John Kerry won, but probably not convincingly enough to cause the ground to shift all that much.
I don't think anyone would argue, either before or after the debate, that John Kerry was/is the better debater of the two. If this were a debate team tryout, George would be in deep trouble...LOL.
Also, the president had, by my count, only one "Damn, he sounded like an idiot" moments and that was the "And I won't hold it against him that he went to Yale" comment.
I suppose that'd make more sense if GW got his undergrad from Harvard, but since he also went to Yale it sounded...really, really weird.
Pres. Bush was as he has always been, common speaking to the common people! I do wish Bush had called him on more of his lies.
Kerry is obviosly a better speaker but we knew that going in and talk is cheap.The president made some good points and managed to stay on message maybe a little too much so.We'll see how it looks in the morning.
Relax, everybody.
Kerry's lack of substance showed. He was asked twice about his big huge "plan" for Iraq and didn't answer either time; he was FOR multilateralism regarding Iraq but AGAINST multilateralism regarding North Korea, and so on and so forth.
Kerry's regal bearing, smoooooth talking, executive hair and impressive manicure may have impressed the impressionable, but basically he came off as a professional politician. He didn't bomb as I'd hoped he would, but he didn't do a really great job either. Bush seemed a bit defensive but against Lehrer--who had to wheel his leftist agenda into the arena in six steamer cases and a pullman--so would I. Bush did okay, but Kerry's lack of substance in his answers and several untruths will not wear well as this debate is discussed and picked-apart over the coming weeks.
Besides, Reagan's first debate against Mondale was disastrous (and you know how THAT turned out). This wasn't.
Monica Crowley just said that she believes Bush won the debate hands down and that he wiped the floor with Kerry.
You're correct, but this means little to nothing to most undecided voters.
For someone just tuning into this election, so to speak, John Kerry won, but probably not convincingly enough to cause the ground to shift all that much.
I don't think anyone would argue, either before or after the debate, that John Kerry was/is the better debater of the two. If this were a debate team tryout, George would be in deep trouble...LOL.
Also, the president had, by my count, only one "Damn, he sounded like an idiot" moments and that was the "And I won't hold it against him that he went to Yale" comment.
I suppose that'd make more sense if GW got his undergrad from Harvard, but since he also went to Yale it sounded...really, really weird.
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