In Your Opinion...

9-30-04 | 4mc

[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.

[Rokurota]

Bush resisted the attack

And he was right. Despite what some here think, Bush was smart for not going for the jugular on those sort of questions. Those questions are traps.

[areafiftyone]

Doomed? From 1 debate????? How can we be doomed from one debate??? There are two more debates and the VP debate to come up. We are not doomed. We know how Bush is. He is going to watch this debate, correct where he went wrong and the next one will be a knock out punch!

[PizzaDriver]

Kerry wants Allies, The UN & coalitions on every front, BUT ONE.

He wants Unilateral talks and Unilateral Actions {no nosey neighbors}, when dealing with North Korea!

[F.J. Mitchell]

It is no secret that the entire liberal media is not only adorers of Kerry, they have been nursing their hatred of Bush for four years now and it would be so very easy for that bunch of scum to rig the debates. And suspecting them of doing so would in no way qualify us for tinfoil hats.

[Joann37]

Not gonna happen. Bob Schieffer and Charlie Gibson are moderating the final two debates.

Bush's debate negotiator messed up big time, IMO.

[sweetliberty]

"Would make a good orange picker. Just hook that big ugly nose of his over a limb and pick with both hands."

.

. That's the best laugh I've had all day.

[modest proposal]

me too.

This has been the suckiest week ever for me. I pray that bush will get a chance to show this guy for what he really is during the next two debates. Kerry is all talk and no action.

Kerry did look like a pompous jerk though, for what it is worth.

[bellenh]

This is exactly right. I haven't watched debates in the past (I already knew how I would vote) but I always got tired of the reporting, and people concentrating on the performance and not the substance. So Bush wasn't perfect (yes, I thought "deer in the headlights" once or twice)--big deal. You want judge debates on style, I'm sure lots of high school debate teams need judges. Concentrate on what was said. CONCENTRATE ON WHAT WAS SAID, not how. Don't let other people steer the meaning of this debate off course. If you really think that Kerry won this debate on substance than vote for him (and reap the consequences), but nobody was running for the presidency of the debate club.

[omstrat]

I think just the opposite. The average person out there dosent seem these days to have the depth of political savy needed to really know the issues and the truth . It's all hollywood and how ya come off to most of them ..Bush blew it big time . I know Kerry is full of it as do you . We READ a lot no doubt and understand the issues, history and background of these issues..Most dont

[LisaMalia]

Bush shot hinself in the head tonight ..He was horrible.

Absolutely not! Anyone with half a brain would know how President Bush was set up by the liberal media. But guess what...WE'RE ON TO YOU!

[Linda Sandoval]

Have you seen Bush's new commercial? It was the first time I saw it & I watch lots of Fox. Its talking about the terrorist & Kerry flip-flops & who you want to lead the nation in taking out these guys. It was the best ad I have seen yet. It would also be good to have that Oct surprise soon. We'll be ok. Have faith

[Let's Roll]

Thank you for your thoughtful response.

For many voters tonight - and early on tonight at that - will be their only exposure to the two candidates.

GWB has to act like he wants it.

I thought he did better in the 2000 debates. He was more relaxed because although he wanted it, he had no idea how high the stakes were ... he knows now.

[fr_freak]

Kerry was much slicker than Bush, that's for sure. One thing I noticed from watching the debate on NBC was that the camera was much more focused on Bush when Kerry was talking than it was on Kerry when Bush was talking. Every facial expression of Bush's was crystal clear, which did tend to make him look a little nervous. During the moments when Bush was talking and Kerry was on the splitscreen, the camera was pulled much farther back, and I got the impression that the camera wasn't held on Kerry nearly as long.

Kerry initially came off badly I thought, not because his speech faltered but because he attacked Bush way too viciously. I think Kerry realized what he was doing about 1/3 to halfway in and softened his accusations somewhat. Bush did appear far less prepared and did look angry at times (as well he should have been with the blatant slander going on).

All in all, Kerry came off as far more self-possessed. He spoke a whole lot of nothing, but the only people who would be undecided by now are the ones who are dumb enough to fall for that kind of thing, so there may be somewhat of a bounce for Kerry, if any such people do exist.

One thing that should not be overlooked is the very same thing that has shaped the course of this campaign so far: the new media. The debate is no longer over after 90 minutes. It will be discussed, re-hashed, and analyzed thoroughly for the next week leading to the next debate, and any of Kerry's lies or inconsistencies will be displayed in great detail. In essence, there will be a national debate about the debates in all forums. The only bad thing that can be said about Bush from the debate is that he didn't look as well-composed. However, Kerry's statements, once extracted from his pompous smoke and mirrors, will be shown to be untruthful on their face.

Don't lose heart, folks.

[areafiftyone]

Miles you have a great head on your shoulders and "Please No More" should be very proud of you. God Bless you. Its nice to hear an opinion from someone your age. Thank you for your wonderful insight!

[Joann37]

I hope they do!!!

[cilbupeR_eerF]

Al Gore lost the election BECAUSE he sighed at the debates. He took it personally when someone (Bush) disagreed with him. Taking disagreement too personally is one of the worst images to portray as a leader.

How in THE WORLD could W's handlers have allowed him to make this same mistake in style is beyond me.

[modest proposal]

*sniff* lets not panic FReepers. Lets pull ourselves together and hope for the best.

[killjoy]

So please, don't say Bush blew it and add to the negativity that us young kids have to wade through.

First, thank you for your reply. Have your dad sign you up for your own account and keep posting.

Unfortunately, I think Bush did blow the debate, but I don't think that should be taken as a personal attack against him. He is a much better candidate for President than Kerry, obviously, but he has a lot of trouble in a public speaking environment. I don't have a problem with pointing out Bush's failures because I do support him. I just wish he could be better at getting his point across.

Did you see the O'Reilly interview on Fox this week? He did an incredible job. It was one of the best interviews I have seen with him. I wish he would have had that same confidence in the debate.

[LisaMalia]

Maybe you should forget about the Hollywood crowd, and understand where the REAL people in our country are coming from.?

[Common Tator]

But , the general public isn't very savvy politically.It's a popularity contest to them half the time

Like all socialists you believe that the ordinary people can't see the things your vastly superior brain can deduce.

Actually ordinary people make extraordinary decisions while egotistical people like you couldn't pour urine out of a shoe with instructions printed on the heel.