Decent Rebuttal, HORRIBLE Delivery

[liberalpragmatist]

Seriously, there was some excellent substance to the actual rebuttal. They challenged Bush on pre-emptive war, brought up Halliburton, etc.

But the delivery was absolutely god-awful! I was so disappointed in Pelosi. She's an excellent House leader, she's really drilled House Dems into line, but her delivery was atrocious! Her eyes were glazed, she had a horrible fake smile pasted on the entire time, her lips barely moved, she spoke in monotone without breaks, and she kept stumbling! And was it just me or did it look like she was white with fear?

As for Daschle, WAY too soft-spoken, but at least he was better than Pelosi.

Damn.

[EllieDem]

1. Pelosi's look can be attributed to one thing

too much plastic surgery/botox.

[BigDaddyLove]

14. I thought that too...........

They didn't do a very good job of animating her for her section of the rebuttal.

[Hippo_Tron]

23. I honestly never would've guessed...

You just reminded me of reading about the fact that she's in her 60's.

[rockymountaindem]

2. I thought it was quite good...

I prefer Daschle's quiet demeaner to Bush's silly smirk. I thought it was hard hitting, way better than I expected.

[pasadenaboy]

3. Agreed, I listened on the radio, and it seemed fine

but I guess the visuals must have been horrible.

[ogminlo]

4. She must not be used to the teleprompter...

It is tough to appear comfortable reading off those things... But she should know how for this kind of work.

[fjc]

5. This strident thing didn't help Dean in Iowa

I liked it. But I did grow weary of it. It has its place, but rare is the person who knows when and how often to use it. Edwards did better then Dean because the went the other way. I want the fire, but I don't want it to lose us the election in November. I think Pelosi and Daschle hit the tone that people want to hear. What can you do? They don't want constant anger and outrage, even when its called for.

[lovedems]

6. I actually thougth it was an excellent rebuttal. My expectations were

low, but I thought they showed the dems had viable, reasonable alternatives to this administration. I was impressed and pleased.

[hlthe2b]

7. Pelosi-- I think other DUers are right about the botox...

She does come across as emotionless and robotic. Daschle had good points but clearly thought it necessary to come off as upbeat, friendly, and likeable. Thus, I think the message was lost. Sheesh, they can be emphatic and still come across as positive, can't they?

[Carni]

8. AND Why in the HELL were they smiling???

Horrible was not the word for that delivery!

I felt like I was watching a couple of people on the Trinity network discussing the end of the world!

The substance of the speech was more than adequate but the fake game show host demeanor of those two was just too much!

[masshole]

9. Agreed

As soon as Pelosi began speaking that's the first thing my wife said..."botox".
Daschle did seem ultra-mellow. Why is the idea always to come across as "calm and collected, yet with a different vision"?
C'mon, just a smidge of passion please! SHOW that you care!
I'm not saying go Dean-like, but the monotone Joe Friday-like delivery took away from the message tremendously.

[shanti]

11. botox

keeps her from looking like an "angry woman", and we wouldn't want that, now would we?~! :eyes:

[Bake]

10. Pelosi was TERRIBLE on the teleprompter!

I thought she lost her place a few times. Of course, Smirk mispronounced a few words (he actually sounded drunk a time or two!). But the Dems had a perfect chance and blew it. They should have had an ORATOR -- somebody with the skills of a John Edwards or a Robert Byrd. Instead, we get Botox Pelosi. The message was good although not too inspiring, but the delivery was god-awful.

Bake

[EllieDem]

13. All that was missing was a fire in the fireplace

a pipe in Daschles hand and a dog at his feet!

[wuushew]

12. As a radio listener my opinion is that Pelosi sucked and Daschle was okay

I found Daschle acceptable. Do you have to be angry illustrating deficiencies in health care coverage? Calm delivery and stick to facts. Works for me.

[EllieDem]

15. wuusew , are you a radio??

wow you sound pretty human. <snicker> (just kidding!)

[EllieDem]

18. okay wuushew you edited and cleared that up

thanks!!!

[wuushew]

19. I must be drunk or something

This is the most number of edits I have made to a post ever.

[digno dave]

16. These are the faces of the Democratic Party....UGH!!!

That was embarrassing. No wonder it's hard for Jo Blow american to take us seriously. If you don't follow the issues closely and come face to face with those two can you blame them for being turned off?

Daschle sounds more like a woman than Pelosi. Would Jo Blow trust America's security to a party who's leader sound like he's telling granny she's being put in an old folks home.

Trinity Broadcasting...TRUE

[stevedeshazer]

17. It was truly awful

Even if a Dem wins the White House, we are screwed if this is all we can expect. Why didn't they practice this? Junior high school level speaking. I've seen paint drying more passionately.

[EllieDem]

20. Lets just go back to the old format

of one person responding < and standing up. This "living room" atmosphere is corny.

[digno dave]

21. These people would have done a better job...

What about Rangel, Schumer or Boxer.

[stevedeshazer]

24. You are right

I'd take any of those three in comparison, among others such as McDermott, Waxman, DeFazio, Murray, Gore, Clinton...even a Dem governor like Granholm or Bredesen or Blanco.

[GR]

22. I Thought It Was One Of The Best I've Seen...Both Were Good...

Much better than usual and they hit the Chimp very hard...he needs a red ass after that highly partisan and radical SOTU...

[stevedeshazer]

25. They hit the Chimp hard?

When? I must have watched a different response.

It was the worst Dem response I have ever seen, except last year's with Gephardt.

No passion whatsoever.

What did they hit the Chimp with?

[tinanator]

26. Daschle sounded like William Shatner for a bit

quite funny. they didnt show real fire and opposition to the policies.

[Neecy]

27. Pelosi was ghastly

...and I honestly can't even tell you what she said, as I was fixated on the fact that her lips seemed to move but her cheeks were frozen in place, making for a very odd effect. It's like her face has been injected with ten quarts of anti-freeze. Her eyes are pulled so tightly her eyelids go almost to the hairline.

I wish women wouldn't be so damned afraid to age. She just looks shellacked (and I say this as someone who's voted for her more times than I can count, so there's no personal dislike involved).