Better "Meet The Press" Performance: Dean or Kerry?

[THUNDER HANDS]

Some say that Dean gave a lousy performance on Meet the Press a few months ago.

Some say that he was treated unfairly and rather rudely by host Tim Russert.

Some say Dean did fine on that show.

Some say that John Kerry waffled on his performance today.

Some say that Kerry did well.


So who's performance, on arguably the most important political talk show on television right now, was better?

[THUNDER HANDS]

1. just in the interst of fairness

I think Kerry did a better job, and I'm not just saying that because I support Kerry.

Dean seems to struggle in sit-down interviews. Those certainly aren't his strength.

Kerry is much better and his talents are better suited to sit-downs.

Dean's strength in on the stump. Now, if he is the Dem nominee, I'd love to see him at the podium at the convention, because I think he'd give one hell of an acceptance speech.

But we'll wait and see. As for their respective MTP performances, Kerry ruled, IMO.

[IndianaGreen]

20. Kerry gets at best, a mixed review: some praise and some criticism!

Did anyone notice that Kerry bought the Bush line about "tax increases"?

Kerry is also all wet when he was talking about reducing the deficit. This was perhaps the weakest part of the interview. Kerry sounded like Arnold, dropping the names of economic advisors he had surrounded himself with.

The dumbest statement was when Kerry said he could cut the Pentagon's budget, without cutting weapons systems. Kerry should take a good look at Rumsfeld's management of the Pentagon. Rumsfeld is in the process of outsourcing the vast majority of Defense jobs to the private sector. There are no savings there to be realized (as a matter of fact, direct outsourcing cost more money to the taxpayer but it benefits the big corporations).

Kerry's appearance on MTP showed his strong points, and his critical flaws. It also showed why he would lose to Bush in an election. It took Kerry 20 minutes to get around to giving a tortuous explanation of his vote on the Iraq war. A fine defense by Kerry of an indefensible point IMHO, but a defense that was too nuanced, and too complex for the average couch potato to comprehend.

Kerry's strongest points was when he was attacking Bush for over-stretching the military and for bungling the post-Saddam Iraq.

Kerry's biggest failure was to even acknowledge the moral bankruptcy of the American occupation of Iraq!

On the more mundane side, did anyone notice how Kerry dodged the question about Skull and Bones?

Final assessment: Kerry would make a fine President, but Dean would make a better President than Kerry! Kerry and Dean are preferable to Bush!

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

2. Since I'm on the fence with who to support...

I am not biased- I think Kerry did a better job. Dean didn't do so hot on MTP when I saw him.

[Cha]

6. Dean may not "have done so well" on mtw but his campaign

chest and supporters rose tremendously after his sitdown with timmy.

[alcuno]

3. You can't ask who was better and then list both.

Kerry sounded tortured on his support for the war. Just say it John, "I was duped."

[billbuckhead]

4. I won't watch "Meet The Prostitute"

Why should we allow Tim Russert to dictate who we should be for?

[Cha]

5. I was through a long time ago ...watching meetthewhore.

the ge whore..what a farce.

[KaraokeKarlton]

7. Dean benefitted more, which means he did "better"

His appearance set off a massive increase in contributions and his meetup numbers skyrocketed.

I didn't watch Kerry today, but it sounds like he did alright on the show and might not get any grief in the press over it. But if he doesn't get the grief, that's less press for him and probably less contributions.

[ModerateMiddle]

16. I'll be willing to bet

that the press compares the two appearances, too. MTP performances are fodder for the rest of Sunday and early Monday. The comparisons are going to be brutal on Dean, IMO.

[chaumont58]

8. I'm a Dean supporter and I think Kerry probably did better, but....

I say so what? Fat Tim the slug doesn't decide for me who I will vote for. I thought Dean and Fat Tim will palpably hostile to each other. Anyone that is hostile to that beltway whore is halfway home for me.

[Cha]

9. That's right! I'm sorry but you hit it on the head!

Cheers to you this Sunday afternoon here in New York!

:toast:

[robbedvoter]

10. Clark.

Didn't vote because I didn't see Kerry, but Dean had a mixed score and I don't like Kerry's "Bush is likable" either.

[oasis]

11. Kerry holds his own against the Rovebot Russert. He was steadfast

on his voting record and his explanations ( with the possible exception of the Cuba issue) were clear.

[VolcanoJen]

12. I don't want to bring up a RW Talking Point, but...

... I was more than a little turned-off by Dean's lack of knowledge about the current size of our military. Foreign Policy happens to be my #1 issue at present, and I would have liked to have seen Dean come to the table prepared to answer that question. Kerry, regardless of how I feel about his pro-war vote, is definitely more convincing on the foreign policy experience issue, so far, in my opinion.

I certainly haven't ruled Dean out, and will most definitely cast my ballot for him if he ends up the eventual nominee. I do hope he brushes up on his military knowledge for the next MTP round... and I'm confident that he will.

[ryharrin]

13. From what I remember, he didn't know exact numbers,

but the answers he gave were incredibly close to what the correct answer was. Was Dean supposed to have every single statistic on the subject memorized beforehand?

[VolcanoJen]

14. Yes, actually, I feel that he should have had it memorized.

Chimpy is certain to frame the election in terms of foreign policy. In fact, we should be quite pleased that his game-plan is so transparent.

If you're going to be Commander-in-Chief in the middle of a "War on Terror," well, I feel it would help you win votes if you could clearly explain the current state of military enrollment. It would be a bonus if you could clearly describe the purpose of the 3rd and 4th ID, as well.

Everyone has their own issues of importance... and foreign policy is at the top for me. Like I stated, this wasn't a deal-breaker for me as far as Dean is concerned, but I do hope that his handlers prepare him better for such inevitable questions in the future.

ON EDIT: Not that it matters, but I did choose "Both were good" in answer to this poll. Dean absolutely impresses me on domestic issues! :-) However, the person who wins the Presidency is going to be forced to clean up that mess in Iraq, whether he likes it or not, and knowledge about our military will certainly be viewed as important by the American electorate.

[stickdog]

22. Rumsfeld made the exact same answer weeks later.

It was "gotcha" politics at its most transparent and Dean was honest enough to fight back.

[CMT]

15. Kerry is more polished in sit down interviews

but this is to be expected he has done many more than Dean has over the past twenty years he has been in the senate. He has been on MTP, FTN, ect many more times than Dean.

[KoKo]

17. Who knows? Gas Bag Russert only focuses on himself and how good he does!

I saw both.......and couldn't say one was better than the other. Because they were drowned out.

[Fixated]

18. ....

I like Russert. He's tough. Everyone just hates him because he tears their buddies apart.

[Cha]

24. russert is a whore ..what's to like?

[dean4america]

19. judge on effects of, not content

in style points, Kerry was good on MTP (with some waffling); Dean is not that good in 1-on-1 interviews. But, we have to remember, Gore destroyed Bush in the debates but the fallout was different.

I think we have to wait a week to see what happens with this one. People were ready to crucify Dean for his performance, and he gets a bump in the polls in a lot of money coming in to the campaign because of it.

[farmbo]

21. Kerry did better...he knew enough to spot the tripwires.

After seeing Russert repeatedly ambush Dean with bogus premises, spun information, and dubious "quotes", Kerry seemed more-or-less up to the task.

[shance]

23. Apples and Oranges. Television is Kerry's sport.....

Hes tremendously skilled and experienced in front of the camera and that experience has helped build a confident demeanor on television.

I didnt see MTP today, but Id be interested to know as well how the tone of questioning seemed with Tim Russert?

He has that big soft spot for Republicans, and would probably have no problem doing them a favor here by going easy on Kerry.

Maybe not, but wouldnt be a surprise if he did.