Bush Fights Emotion, Scowls in Debate

[NJmaverick]

Bush Fights Emotion, Scowls in Debate

1 minute ago

By RON FOURNIER, AP Political Writer

WASHINGTON - President Bush (news - web sites) smirked and winked and chuckled to himself. He jumped from his stool, chopped at the air and interrupted the debate moderator. As he fought to keep his emotions in check in a testy, personal debate with Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites), the president asserted, "That answer almost made me scowl."



Several answers brought Bush's emotions to the surface, for better or worse, as he sought to curb Kerry's momentum.


The question the hung over the second of their three debates was whether Bush's aggressive, hyper style was an effective tool or a damaging habit — an extension of his disastrous first debate performance. Reviews were mixed.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=703&e=1&u=/ap/20041009/ap_on_el_pr/debate_analysis

[Newsjock]

1. Ron Fournier sees the light!

amazing.

[Judi Lynn]

2. There's a poll with the article, too. Thanks, nomad1776! n/t

[UCLA Dem]

3. Finally, someone is telling it like it is!!

[Beetwasher]

4. Excellent Summation!!!

Bush's behavior was disturbing and unhinged at times...

[montana_hazeleyes]

5. Did he

pound a shoe on the poduim?

[LiberalFighter]

21. Hmm Breshnev??

[daleo]

36. Krushchev, actually

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikita_Khrushchev

Although, Bush will bury us, if he isn't voted out.

[LiberalFighter]

66. Glad you had it right

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. This is the new, improved, more arrogant, more aggressive

George Bush. Soon he's going to change personalities faster than Madonna changes personas.

[MatrixEscape]

7. He thought ...

That admitting the scowl would diffuse it. I guess he didn't see himself doing it at one point.

His scowl is about a reaction to losing his power. It is a scowl on America and the potential that they might not want him, an obvious loser, in such a place of great power here.

Cheney is known for scowling, but I have to hand it to Bush, he admitted the scowl and we all know what it means to us.

If he had not scowled at all during the debate, his meager attempt to diffuse his nasty face to us all, and his "opponant", might have been diffused. It was NOT!

[the_red_pill]

8. doesn't aggression work?

I think Bush getting fired up is part of his strategy. It shows that he is a man of passion. That he can loose his cool just like anyone. If indeed he is wired, I wonder if they give him cues of when to get fired up? Does this make him seem more macho/more appealing to men?

[Politicub]

9. I thought it made him seem like a lunatic

A madman on the verge of becoming unhinged. He came across to my less politically aware partner as being rude, arrogant and condescending.

Kerry fielded some very tough questions tonight. I think his questions were more complex than Bush's.

Kerry's steadfastness and resolve really shined through. Wouldn't you agree?

[Tight_rope]

39. Me too...He came across very arrogant and stupid!

[saigon68]

43. Mostly Rude

A lot of people confuse tough with rude. Especially the Necks

[Digit]

52. "A madman on the verge of becoming unhinged"

Your accurate description really got my attention.
Scary, ain't it?

[0007]

65. junior is A man who is or seems to be mentally ill.

[Steelangel]

10. Yelled at audiences & interrupted morderator frequently..

I don't think that made him 'seem more macho/more appealing to men'..

WIth kind of act he was in during debate, it is not safe for us to have a man like him with a finger on 'red' button.

Maybe his ridiculous behavior is appealing to the red-necked people who beat their wives/girlfriends up for life.

[donco6]

11. He did yell at the questioners several times.

Not good form.

[Tansy_Gold]

18. the men in the audience didn't approve

The ratings on CNNfn showed negative reaction from men almost every time boosh spoke.

[LiberalFighter]

22. I find it rude when someone interrupts me and doesn't let me talk

I don't mind if they interject a word or few but if they refuse to allow me to talk then that is a different story.

[Seabiscuit]

45. Yup... seems his only appeal,

beyond his evil corporate backers, are among the simpleton KKKristian Koalition and the rednecks screwing their cousins' daughters in their pickup trucks.

[loyalsister]

31. Men aren't his problem

That's the constituency he already has in place. He's had an abundance of machismo going all through the presidency. He has been trying to court women lately. I think that strategy pretty much went down the tubes. With the exception of the enlistment of fellow stepford wives, Laura's token campaign efforts will never counter that performance.

[Seabiscuit]

46. Aw, come on...

Real men don't fall for that phony "machismo" Texas dude ranch horsepuckey. There are no real men supporting this asswipe.

[Bandit]

53. To his base yes... To Average America I don't think so..

America wants a calm and rational leader who is cognent of the world and the world's politics. Bush* is arrogant and totally oblivious to the wants and needs of anyone but his core base. He is certainly not a pResident for all Americans but only his solid Republican Base.

[demokatgurrl]

75. maybe they zap him with a few volts at the right time. n/t

[Guaranteed]

12. This guy on the MSNBC panel is saying this RIGHT NOW!!!

That the press WANTS to write the Bush being angry story!!

[radfringe]

41. quick to attack

our reaction to the little show of temper last night "Whooooa, smirk-boy is pissed...good thing he wasn't packing -- attack first and maybe ask questions later...."

C-Span didn't do as much of a split-screen, but there were a few scowls, smirks and one shot did seem to show bush* looking like a deer in the headlights

[realcountrymusic]

13. Nice quote from further down

Bush "seemed wound a bit too tight. He was a little like Nixon — sort of jumping out of his suit," said David Niven, political science professor at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. "He looked bad on the TV close-ups."

RCM

[owillis]

14. Video of Bush flipping out at Gibson

http://www.oliverwillis.com/node/view/956

[Carolab]

17. Anger management problem

if I EVER saw one

[daleo]

29. It is fascinating to watch it without sound

The contrast between the two men is very stark. Bush looks like he is coming unglued. Kerry looks, well, presidential.

I didn't see the first hour or so of the debate, but I had heard Bush was frantic in that part. This video shows it nicely. His medications must have kicked in by the last third of the debate, though, as he seemed to have settled down.

[Catherine Vincent]

15. I could tell Bush was fighting real hard tonight to hold those

facial expressions. He was really trying! LOL!

[Dark Jedi]

60. Hard Work. Yep. Real Hard Work.

Keeping emotions in check is hard work, damn it! Heh heh heh.

[alfredo]

16. His head bobbing is so irritating.

On the BBC site I likened it to a bugie going mental in front of a mirror.

He came across as deeply troubled.

[crossroads]

19. Yeah he managed to doodle so he could look down all the time

you know he wasn't writing...lol! So unreal!!!
:eyes:

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

23. It wasn't just doodles...

...that GW was "doodling", he was making those much revered "circle bunnies".

[study_war_no_more]

32. he was mimicing kerry from the last debate

that was so obvious

[jackieforthedems]

20. Bush Is About As Well-Versed As

a tongue-twisted seal. He acts like he has ADD, too.

[lovuian]

24. I think Bush was Desperate...and he can't control his Unconcious

Carl Jung said it the Unconcious is Bush's worst nightmare

And obviously Bush's actions is wearing on his psyche

thus the blinking..the facial grimaces and smirks

He can't control it...

[depakid]

25. Another example of Bush says earth is flat- opinions vary

I seriously doubt that any reasonable person watching Bush's angry, indignant strutting around thought it the slightest bit flattering.

[despairing optimist]

26. Carl Woodward's next book: The Final Days, Next Generation

All we need is a revised prayer scene in the Lincoln bedroom. Maybe Karl Rove can stand in for Henry Kissinger this time around.

[ckramer]

27. Need Wood?

[RockyO]

37. My wife LOL at this remark!

I think George is a 14 year old

[Logansquare]

56. Comment most likely to end up on Wonkette! n/t

[The Night Owl]

28. Did Bush say Servio Berlusconi?

In the video of Bush wigging out, he sounds like he says "Servio Berlusconi". Freudian slip?

[Judi Lynn]

35. He shreded his name. Can't remember what his substitute name was

but I was stunned when I heard him mangling the name of his lil' pal. I almost think he screwed up the last name, too.

I'll bet Berlusconi was flattered!

http://www.giornaledibrescia.it/giornale/2002/09/15/01,PRIMA/BRI01T1.jpg



If ever I would leave you
It wouldn't be in summer.
Seeing you in summer I never would go.
Your hair streaked with sun-light,
Your lips red as flame,
Your face witha lustre
that puts gold to shame!

But if I'd ever leave you,
It couldn't be in autumn.
How I'd leave in autumn I never will know.
I've seen how you sparkle
When fall nips the air.
I know you in autumn
And I must be there.

And could I leave you
running merrily through the snow?
Or on a wintry evening
when you catch the fire's glow?

If ever I would leave you,
How could it be in spring-time?
Knowing how in spring I'm bewitched by you so?
Oh, no! not in spring-time!
Summer, winter or fall!
No, never could I leave you at all!

http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/camelot/ifeveriwouldleaveyou.htm

:cry: :cry: :cry: ~ sniff ~

[chenGOD]

40. I thought he said "Servio Bellasconi"...

But I'm a furriner from Canuckistan, So I might not unnerstand yer presidental's Anglaise.

On edit: also did you notice how long it took him to "think' of the other names after he said Tony Blair the first time? Any chance that Rove was sending him the other names over the earpiece?

hmmmm???

[Armand04]

42. What language is the resident using? ....

I'm an spanish new member, but long time lurker indeed. Therefore, I'm not a native speaker and while I can enjoy Kerry's mastery in english, when * is in one of his usual mentals seizures, allowing the ire to posses him, it's very, very difficult to understand just a couple of words.

We've got him cornered, in the ropes. Let's go dems. Make this "coward spanish liberal" feel proud of you.

Note: The flag that's not going to be parading in our national day it's not yours, it's just the symbol * desecrated. The stars and stripes still have a powerful meaning of hope and freedom in the bottom of our european hearts. Kerry, if refuses to stay this damned course, will hold it again.

[NVMojo]

55. welcome, armand04!

[alfredo]

67. I think they call his language

Stupidlish.

You know that when bush was born the doctor dropped him on his head, twice. The first time was an accident. The second time was so the other doctors could hear the loud

Boing!!

Welcome to DU

[annabanana]

79. Hi Armand, and welcome

We are doing our damnedest to get this idiot out of office so we can start rebuilding some international unity against the common enemies of civilization!

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

57. Watching...

...the debate with closed captioning on, they said "Serbio".... don't know if it is voice to text software or not.

[GHOSTDANCER]

30. I'd bet he plays his cry card in round 3,

Thats if he didn't use em all up at the convention. I mean we can't have a big crybaby in the oval office now can we.

[loyalsister]

33. Bet you're right!

He'll be feeling VERY sorry for himself. This is a guy who lives in a world where he sincerely believes that he is incapable of making mistakes, and that disagreeing with him is a serious personal insult. When I say that, what I mean is that he believes that in his shell. That's all he is.
He does not feel- except to sense his low self esteem and feel sorry for himself. Now that he has been irrecoverably insulted on the world stage, we very well could see some tears.

[dogpatch]

34. He looked totally coked up to me

The way he kept grinding his jaw from side to side and all that twitching and shouting. I think they re-adjusted his meds upwards from last week and he was seriously tweaking.

[Disturbed]

38. The debates are now about...

how a person acts more than the issues.

I felt that he was wrong on all the issues that he espoused.

[VLC98]

44. How many times did he wink?

I saw him wink once, which creeped me out, but then I read a comment on the BBC site that said "he kept winking". Did anyone else notice him wink more than once? I was watching on c-span, perhaps other coverage had different angles?

[Seabiscuit]

47. Yup - his eyelids blinking were like the Energizer Bunny was

working overtime behind in his eyelid nerves. Throughout the debate. At one point I even saw his left eyelid twich and blink all by itself.

I got the impression, after these first two debates, that he's definitely "on something"... word has it he has psychotic episodes in the White House. His managers just don't seem to know how to control him either there or in public. No wonder he has never gone out in public during his presidency (the first President never to do so) - and is insulated in his little bubble for his screened campaign crowd speeches, etc., etc.

You know what? W.'s going D
O
W
N
.
.
.

[Lizzie Borden]

62. Yeah. What was all that blinking about?

It's more noticable when he is sitting on the stool not talking. It's just not normal.

[Sabriel]

63. He's sending Morse code distress messages

ala the POWs in Vietnam. He's blinking, "Help! Someone commit me and get me out of here!"

[Seabiscuit]

69. ROTFLMAO!!!

:headbang:

[Seabiscuit]

68. I first noticed it in F-911 -

Moore included some great footage of Dubya making weird faces (especially the one where they're adding the final makeup before he makes a speech in front of a camera) - and blinking away. I used to think Nixon's facial expressions were out of control, and out of synch with his words, but Dubya makes Nixon look sane by comparison.'

Dubya's face is the creepiest thing I've seen in my life - Cheney's face is the look of pure evil, Rumsfeld's pure madness, Wolfowitz's pure lowlife scum, but Dubya's is pure creepazoid.

[missile_bender]

49. More than that, his left eye was twitching

Just like Inspector Clouseau!

[Seabiscuit]

58. You mean Clouseau's boss...

n/t

[missile_bender]

59. Yes, the madman Dryfus

Thanks!

[Seabiscuit]

70. "Every day, in every way, I'm getting better and better"

Yes, *that* Dreyfus, the Chief Inspector played brilliantly by Herbert Lom.

[DinahMoeHum]

73. Writing on the padded cell walls "Kill Clouseau" !! Remember that?

Betcha Chimpy was writing similar words on his notepad that night about Kerry.

:evilgrin:

[Seabiscuit]

77. I'm not sure Chimpy can write - after all, he doesn't read anything

but teleprompters.

He was probably drawing a stick figure of Kerry with a bomb aimed at this head.

[biftonnorton]

48. That Was Scary

Before his tantrum he was coming off as angrily pleading with us as he tried to explain his reasons for his policies. After the tantrum he seemed to get a little more conversational, but he spent much more time showing us how susceptible he is to stress rather than showing us a strong steady leader. He was "goin' off the rails on a crazy train" there for a while.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

50. Better Presidenting through chemistry.

[tlcandie]

51. IMO from having watched him last night...

I saw the redneck swagger upon walking away after feeling you had just given someone a what for!

I saw the egotistical "uh huh" nodding of the head many times as well after he had given his what for.

I saw the winks and nods and that's right..all ego and ballsey, macho mannerisms all night.

I saw the overly-done huge grins he gave the questioners and in sincere thank yous offered before he swaggered to his seat.

I saw the continual jaw grinding and movement which, from personal experience, is due to drugs which act like speed... adrenaline pumping, on top of the world, I can do anything, drugs.

I saw when he ran rough shod over the mediator and was abhorrent that he did not do more to put him back in his place for having done that.

I wasn't impressed.

Edit: And I saw where he hemmed and hawed trying to recall and act hubmle when asked what 3 mistakes he had made. He admitted none other than general givens of IN THE FUTURE regarding home policies NOT the war, IF and when that time came.

Little Big Man... Little Man Syndrome... tsk tsk

[Cat Atomic]

54. He seemed like a spoiled third grader throwing a tantrum.

Even when he tried to call Kerry out on his well-tested '$87 billion flip-flop' angle, he did it like a smart-ass kid. He was sarcastic.

'Oh, yeah? Well that's strange, since you voted against it before you voted for it!'

And he repeated that sarcastic, grown-up-bully kind of rhetoric again and again. It doesn't make him seem tough. It makes him seem like a little spoiled rich boy who never grew up.

[Jack Schitt]

61. Bush reminded me of a third grader.

He was impatient, kept interrupting, and kept getting angry. That was highly unprofessional.

[not fooled]

64. Bush is really a creepy jerk?

But... how can this be true? We all know what a NICE GUY he is. The KKKmedia tells us that all the time.

Whatcha gonna believe, Faux or your own eyes?

[Seabiscuit]

71. By the third debate,

Dubya may just start dooling and sucking his thumb.

[funnymanpants]

72. From the article: American voters are stupid and

their stpidity is going to take the rest of us down. Here is a quote:

"As for voters, especially those in the shrinking mushy middle yet to make up their minds, both Bush and Kerry presented an angry, negative face to national politics.

"Several said they were disappointed by both men.

"'They're very argumentative. I'm actually disgusted,'" said Jennifer Schmitz, 38, a mother of three in Klamath Falls, Ore. "'It's the same old back and forth meanness.'"

Yes, they are agrumenative. Imagine that. In a debate. That's like saying the runners were too fast at a track meet.

YOU DUMB STUPID ANTI-INTELLECTUAL FUCK! Kerry pointed out how Bush is wrong, and you blame him?

[janx]

74. He was just as bad or worse in the second debate as he was

in the first.

This is the only journalist I've seen to date who is willing to admit that!

[ninainsf]

76. Did anyone see Bill Maher right after?

He portrayed Bush as a "girlie-man", pointing to all of Bush's "feminine" characteristics, backing up with tons of examples. I found it hilarious, and frightening, because Maher was totally on with everything he said.

[MODemocrat]

78. Was Bush "wired" literally?

He seemed overly aggressive. A lively debate is just fine, but he was apparently making things up as he went along. I wonder why he was not asked what his EXIT strategy was! It seemed to me the "questions from
the undecided" were skewed to favor Bush, and he still couldn't get the best of John Kerry. He reminded me of my little nephew when he used to talk loud and make up things to embarrass his Mom, and to get her attention. The only thing about that was that he finally settled down after he got his craved attention. Scary stuff having him for president.