Bush Rips Kerry on Iraq Following Debate

[Rose Siding]

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - President Bush (news - web sites) ripped into John Kerry (news - web sites) on Iraq (news - web sites) Friday, taking a more aggressive approach than he had in the previous night's debate as both candidates rushed back to the campaign trail to put their own spin on the first big faceoff.

Bush accused Kerry of withholding support for American troops and offering to turn over decisions about the nation's security to other countries. He said, "The use of troops to defend America must never be subject to a veto from countries like France."

The president spoke to a friendly crowd at a rally in Allentown, while Kerry was making a campaign stop in Tampa, Fla., the day after the debate at the University of Miami.

Voters who watched the policy-driven debate were impressed by Kerry......

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=1&u=/ap/20041001/ap_on_el_pr/debate_rdp

[fertilizeonarbusto]

1. OK, he's drinking again

You'd think he would change his tactics after last night. Oh, wait, that would be sending "mixed messages." :silly:

[progressivebydesign]

2. No, I believe you mean: Mexed Missages.

that was vodka, apparently, under the podium.

[skypilot]

19. He's just going to throw one fucking tantrum after another...

...between now and the next debate. Big baby.

[Longhorn]

3. He's lying, too.

Kerry specifically said he wasn't talking about "veto power" but Bush* doesn't understand a world that isn't "all or nothing." Funny how he can manage to say these things only when he's in front of a crowd that has signed loyalty oaths!

[CarolynEC]

4. Either Bush is a brazen liar...

... or he just lacks the ability to comprehend what's being said.

Which is it, Georgie? Answer the question, Mr. "President"!

:D

[KansDem]

5. Sorry, George, "Wait, wait, what I REALLY meant to say...!" won't work

You had your chance last night and you blew it. Just because Karl called you since then and chastised you for not playing the "Bash France" card doesn't mean you can now append the debate transcripts. What a desperate ploy!

[saracat]

6. Notice the wording "ripped "'

Implying a forceful leader. If it was Kerry ,they would say "commented" Or "spoke " !

[yardwork]

25. Flip-flopped.

The press doesn't miss a trick. What liberal press? Those a$$holes are bought and sold. If it weren't for the internet we would not have a free press in this country.

[KayLaw]

7. What a little twerp

He has to wait until the real man leaves the building, then he's a tough guy. That really turns my stomach.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. He had to wait until his speechwriters could tell him what to say

and Rove could tell him what to think.

[kodi]

22. you bet, bush is a backbiting coward

.

[Mountainman]

8. Bush is preaching to the choir.

He will not get more independent votes that way.

[54anickel]

9. Hey, where's W in this post debate picture. Pickles had to cover for

him again?!



First lady Laura Bush (L) waves with Theresa Heinz Kerry (C) as Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry (news - web sites) looks on after candidate debated U.S. President George W. Bush (news - web sites) at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, September 30, 2004. The 90 minute televised debate focused entirely on foreign policy and gave voters their first chance to compare the candidates directly. REUTERS/Jim Bourg US ELECTION


edit to add another pic of Pickles watching Shrub with a concerned, "oh God I hope he doesn't do anything stupid" look.

[yardwork]

27. Body language is everything!

Kerry is holding Laura's hand in a warm and reassuring grasp and obviously saying something nice (she's too worried about chimp to notice) while the chimp can't bring himself to face Teresa directly or stand near her. Teresa looks like she wants to belt him one.

I love Mama-T!

[wrate]

11. The sounds of DESPERATION n/t

[Catfight]

17. Bush yells LOUDER the exact same thing, soldiers still dying. n/t

[Emboldened Chimp]

12. You had your chance to say something at the debate, but you didn't....

This is a classic case of a bully getting his ass kicked, then talking shit once the other guy's not around. What a thin-skinned little coward.

[NJGeek]

13. Day late, dollar short

go home shrub, you are toast.

[wicket]

14. Nobody likes a sore loser, Georgie!

:nopity:

[daleo]

15. Easy to act tough when Kerry's not in the same room

A little more ludicrous France bashing too (they are going back to Kerry=France, I guess).

"The president cannot keep changing his mind," Bush said, thumping his finger on the lectern. "The president must speak clearly. And the president must mean what he says."

This is the reasoning that kept Viet Nam going for a decade. Millions had to die for the principle that "presidents cannot change their minds".

[Insomnicole]

26. "The president must speak clearly"?

Pfah -- that rules *you* out then, Shrubby!

Poor little guy must be beyond pissed that he blew the exam on his best subject.

[yardwork]

28. "The president must mean what he says" ---- ???

That's why we're firing you, shrubby.

[xxqqqzme]

16. U would think, after last night,

the script would have been changed. 50 million people who watched last night, now know this is a LIE!

[Hobarticus]

18. Sorry, you had your chance...

You blew it, big fellah. Cameras are off.

[wtmusic]

20. And this pussy is the president of our country?

"and he spoke with that whimpering, hysterical note in his voice that made him realize that no matter how many frock coats he put on, he would never make a man."

Henry Miller, Tropic of Cancer

[pinniped]

21. This assclown still has a problem with France.

How juvenile. The piece of shit's age is showing again. It's no wonder the vast majority of people around the world want this asshole gone.

[takumi]

23. Bush Is an Incompetent 'Never Has-Been'!

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

24. Time to roll out the Swifties for another attack

Now, which rock did they crawl out from under?

[damntexdem]

29. The debate is over -- now comes the spin.

How many who watched the debate will remember what was said versus what the Bushistas will say was said? Actually, I have some optimism that many will.

But how many who DIDN'T watch the debate will be taken in by the Bushista lies about what was said? There I'm more pessimistic -- that is, unless the media suddenly grows a backbone and acquires and ounce of integrity, so as to subject the post-debate spin to comparison to the debate record.

I disagree with Kerry's assessment of Iraq (I'm for getting out now, if not yesterday), but at least Kerry presented a cogent, comprehensible view. Dubya simply repeated sound bites.

And why couldn't Kerry have responded as Jon Stewart noted on the Daily Show: that Saddam did not fail to disarm, that he had in fact disarmed? True, he didn't disclose disarming, but then we wouldn't have believed him anyway had he done so.

[MasonJar]

30. Back to closed rallies and sound bytes. Ho Hum!

[llmart]

31. The day before the debate.....

I heard one pundit on TV say that more people usually watch the first debate and then skip the rest and that the first debate is the most crucial. Great news for Kerry.