[kddid]

I only got to see 15 minutes of the debate. Is it true that the questions were framed to keep Bush on the defensive and ignore Kerry's many positions?

[sarasota]

PBS's Jim Lehrer? What would you expect?

[MizSterious]

I watched it all, and it seemed to be the case, at least to me.

[pabianice]

That Lehrer failed to ask Kerry about his 20 years of cutting weapons systems and US intelligence was inexcusable. Bush's agreeing to him as moderator was a big mistake.

[The G Man]

He most certainly did "wink" at Kerry as he shook his hand.

[kendu]

to me it appeared KErry was aware of what the questions were going to be, halfway through almost all of the questions, he was ready to answer. It was so scripted even his answers were exactly 2 mintues or less.

[misterrob]

They were both asked tough questions and since Iraq was the big question of the night, it made sense that Bush was going to see tougher ones. Kerry was asked what SPECIFICALLY he would do differently about Iraq, which was a hard question in itself cuz their ain't no answer for that.

Lehrer also gave each guy chances for extra rebuttal time, which Bush could have used more effectively if he was sharper.

Bush wasn't the best I'd seen him before.

[Miss Marple]

Yes, it is true. As one Freeper put it, the questions were basically in this format:

President Bush, why do you suck?
Senator Kerry, why do you think President Bush sucks?

Pardon my unladylike language, but this is exactly how it was. I also think that Kerry had the questions before hand, since his answers seemed to seque quite nicely into the next question.

Theere is a thread which lists all the questions, and without the responses you can see exactly how anti-Bush they were. I recommend reading the threads about the suspicioins that Kerry had knowledge of the questions, as well.

[aruanan]

"I don't know what in the world you're talking about," Lehrer told radio host Don Imus, in his only post-debate interview.

This is because liberals are some of the most imperceptive people on the face of the planet. Their assumptions and biases are, to them, merely reality itself.

[B Knotts]

The questions were definitely biased against President Bush. He should have had at least a couple of questions that would have challenged Kerry's long record of opposing national security.

[skeeter]

Is it true that the questions were framed to keep Bush on the defensive and ignore Kerry's many positions?

It was obvious how Lehrer was going to handle debate with the very first question directed at Kerry - "what 'collosal mistakes' has Bush made in the War on Terror?"

[Porterville]

Let's go after him... take him out like Rather.

[guitfiddlist]

Bush and Rove agreed to the format and the moderators. I thought that maybe Rove had a double-secret jujitsu strategery to manipulate these obviously biased moderators to advantage. I don't think so anymore.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Yes, the questions were awful. I was on the phone with my sister when Bush was asked if he thought all the American lives lost in Iraq were worth it. We both gasped. What a horrible way to ask the question. If I remember correctly, Bush said something about how honorable the soldiers were, etc...but the question was almost phrased in a "Do you still beat your wife?" way. He couldn't really say yes or no.

Some of the questions were directly from Kerry. No, Kerry didn't get to ask them, but he might as well have.

[NavyCanDo]

Mr Bush - What did you do wrong?
Mr Kerry - What did Bush do wrong?

[Onelifetogive]

"I don't know what in the world you're talking about," Lehrer told radio host Don Imus...

Headline: Lehrer Admits to Being Clueless

[hellinahandcart]

"I don't know what in the world you're talking about," Lehrer told radio host Don Imus, in his only post-debate interview.

As Bernard Goldberg put it the other day, "'Fish don't know he's wet'".

[Fruitbat]

There's absolutely no question that the questions were skewed in Kerry's favor, Bush's detriment.

What I don't understand is why when they make these debates the GOP doesn't insist on different moderators! It IS that simple!!!

Who are the next two, Dan Rather and James Carville.

[snooker]

It's obvious ...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1232331/posts

[Onelifetogive]

Lehrer on Defensive Over Biased Questioning

Lehrer responds, "Bias? We're the media.....it's what we do!"

[Brilliant]

I guarantee you that Jim Lehrer doesn't give a rip whether the whole world thinks he's biased if that is what it takes to swing the election for Kerry.