3 things I took away from the Debate

[Mojambo]

1. It becomes very clear that Bush wilts under even the slightest criticism these days. I'm sure the Kerry advisors noticed and we'll see their attacks on Bush increase a LOT. I think Bush is breaking down physically and emotionally.

2. For the first time in his political career, George W. Bush came out of a debate as the less likeable candidate. This point can NOT be overstated. He looked worse than Nixon and that is something I never thought I'd see.

3. Kerry won this debate on style AND substance. Gore only won on substance. Kerry was the epitome of competence tonight.

[EST]

1. I think you nailed it.

Also, Kerry is indisputably the most presidential.

[Tempest]

2. The one thing I came away with

1) Bush is HISTORY!

[bucknaked]

3. Excellent points!

Especially #1.

I noticed at one point, when Kerry was hammering him, he kept writing, would flip the paper over, write some more, flip it over again and pretend to write more.

[progdonkey]

4. Nixon

Your mentioning Nixon made me realize something: in the 1960 debates, everybody who watched on TV thought Kennedy won, while those who listened on the radio thought Nixon won. If you watched, you saw an impertinent little chimp; if you listened, you heard his fumbles and numerous space-outs. This will go down as the worst debate performance by any candidate (let alone incumbent), period.

God, I'm watching the repeat (AGAIN!), and Bush just said the "I know Osama bin Laden attacked us. I KNOW THAT!." Gets me every time.

[murielm99]

10. Interesting indeed.

I remember listening to the Reagan-Carter debates on the radio. There was a point during one of the debates where Reagan lost it. He stumbled over his words, and paused for a long time.

Listening to the radio, I was sure Carter had won. Everyone who saw it on television disagreed with me.

[crispini]

5. OMG, the stuff about N Korea

was DEVASTATING, esp. Kerry talking about the guy going home embarrassed.

Need to go read this whole thing.

[Mojambo]

7. His response to we were attacked,

Will be remembered as a great moment from this debate...

"The president just said something extraordinarily revealing and frankly very important in this debate," Kerry said. "In answer to your question about Iraq and sending people into Iraq, he just said, 'The enemy attacked us.' Saddam Hussein didn't attack us. Osama bin Laden attacked us. Al-Qaida attacked us. And when we had Osama bin Laden cornered in the mountains of Tora Bora, 1,000 of his cohorts with him in those mountains, with the American military forces nearby and in the field, we didn't use the best trained troops in the world to go kill the world's number one criminal and terrorist ... That's the enemy that attacked us. That's the enemy that was allowed to walk out of those mountains."

[mourningdove92]

6. You bring up very good points. What struck me most is that

Smirk showed annoyance and frustration and irritability. Now, Kerry was sharp, but I didn't hear him throw anything at Bush that he has not thrown before, but Smirk acted like it was the first time he had heard Kerry DARE to criticize him.

We really have to wonder about his current mental health. This was a big debate. It was supposed to be on Smirks strongest points, but he was no where near prepared.

[Mojambo]

8. That is an excellent point

I actually thought Kerry pulled his punches some in order to avoid looking over aggressive like Gore.

And he still was INSTANTLY under Bush's skin. It was really quite remarkable.

With the kind of shots they'll be lobbing on the domestic side, Bush could get very ugly before it's over.

[Fitzovich]

11. Good Point

I thought that Kerry was holding off as well. Either to stay on the debate topic or as you said to not look overly aggressive.

[tblue37]

17. Of course he was pissed.

Kerry failed to sign a loyalty oath promising to support the B/C ticket, so Bush probably was wondering how the hell Kerry was allowed into his august presence! Chimpy is not used to having to even look at someone who isn't already absolutely in his corner. He is protected from seeing or hearing anything vaguely resembling protest or disagreement, and he is famous for not tolerating crticism of any kind.

[sweetheart]

9. Its the cost of surrounding himself with yesmen

Bush has not faced opposition since he last debated gore... ever
since, all audiences have been cherry picked... or, he had cheney
with him to be nasty and dismissive.

Kerry looks in every way, like a commander and chief. He's already
got the job. It is sooo good to kick bush's ass. Man i wish more
people could get to speak directly to that asshole.

[phylny]

16. You hit the nail on the head!

Bush looked like a person who had never been challenged in his life. When I saw him, I remembered how he corrected a reporter who failed to call him "Mr. President." He's arrogant because those around him allow him to be.

[radfringe]

12. Watched it on C-Span - split screen

bush* had to reach into his stump speech in attempts to defend himself - for anyone who has become addicted to news, this came across like a summer re-run -- nothing new SSDD

"Fox-pas" for bush* - "I see on the TV screens how hard it is." --George W. Bush, assessing the situation in Iraq. Ummmm...maybe if you paid attention to the briefings you would KNOW how hard it is and what a miserable failure this is....

Don't know if the other stations showed it -- but on C-Span after the debate concluded and the candidates families were on stage there was applause. Then bush* family left the stage. Kerry and Theresa stayed a few moments -- the audience erupted in cheers and standing ovations....

[Mojambo]

14. I noticed that at the end

Kerry and Theresa looked like they were to exit the stage about the same time as the Bush clan but they delayed just long enough and got a rousing cheer.

It had to be the final irritation (in a night of many) for Bush.

[tblue37]

20. NBC showed that. eom

[ThePhilosopher04]

13. Trying to be as objective as I can be...

Kerry surgically dissected Bush and did in a forceful, yet respectful way. He literally embarrassed him on worldwide television without coming across as condescending and appeared WAY more Presidential.

Obviously partisans on the right are going to support Bush no matter what, but for those on the fence or looking for an alternative, I don't see how they could vote for anyone other Kerry after tonight.

[Englander]

15. I couldn't stop laughing when * was speaking...

he had his arse kicked in a debate with
a Proper President.Facts and logic demolished him.

[FearofFutility]

22. I had the same reaction

I have to go back and read the transcript because I missed a lot of what he said due to fits of laughter. There really is something wrong with him!

[WLKjr]

18. I loved how he spoke

It was great.

[mopaul]

19. right on

dead on correct. the likable label is over now. they call bush lincolnian and churchillian, but he came off as NIXONIAN

[0007]

21. junior will blow it big next time also