The Presidential Debate: A Clear Kerry Win?

[Nicholas_J]

The Presidential Debate: A Clear Kerry Win? Four Opinions on How Kerry and Bush Performed
Our editors all seem to agree: Kerry wins the debate. Read on to see why...
By The Simon Editors Oct 8, 2004


"As the debate wore on and the arguments about Iraq grew more and more heated, though, Bush transformed from the pleasant but dim guy who can sell you a belt sander at the local Home Depot into a crazed, fire and brimstone carnival barker who was just accused of hosting a rigged game..."

The media, in an attempt to be impartial, might score this debate as “draw” or a narrow Bush victory, but just about any rational viewer could surmise that Kerry wiped the floor with Bush once again. Put simply, Kerry looks intelligent, confident, and in control up there; Bush, the exact opposite. Fighting back like a caged animal, Bush acted rattled and more distressingly, seemed to be complexly unable to deal with criticism. Has Bush been living in a bubble for four years, hearing only what he wants to hear from his advisors about some of the most important issues our country has ever faced? I’m afraid I already know the answer to that question.

Time after time, Bush would make a generic, talking points reliant smear on Kerry’s record or policies, only to be completely destroyed by a well-reasoned rebuttal. One glaring TKO occurred when Kerry explained that because of Bush’s incompetence (a word I wished Kerry used more often in addressing the President) young soldiers are getting killed by weapons that we failed to protect. Bush had no answer to Kerry’s charges about defective stem cells, (I’m not sure Bush had the slightest idea what he was talking about when addressing this topic), got destroyed when addressing Medicare, and almost had a near meltdown while trying to butt in on Charlie Gibson...

But the real story is the continuing decline of Bush. He’s becoming like a small town priest whose congregation is no longer listening. The louder he yells, the more he pushes, he disintegrates into desperation. He seems to be squeezing harder and harder, but as he does, it all begins to feel lifeless and forced. Bush often appeared out of breath, his voice sounded gravelly and weak. He looked alone onstage tonight, small somehow, whereas Kerry always seemed surrounded by the audience


http://www.thesimon.com/magazine/articles/article_of_the_week/0659_the_presidential_debate_clear_kerry_win_four_opinions_how_kerry_bush_performed.html

[ogradda]

1. well

kerry can walk and talk at the same time. it helps.

[LSK]

2. YES!!!!

CNN online poll :
Kerry 77%
Bush 20%
Undecided 2%

MSNBC online poll : (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/)
Kerry 68%
Bush 32%

I was shocked to just see these #s but I view them way more accurate than any "phone" surveys. Especially after seeing all the spin doctors say it was a draw.

I watched and I'll admit that Bush was better but on issues he doesnt really have much to go on.

[jacksonian]

3. You can't win with a war rationale that was made up this week

that's the story.

[Joe Turner]

4. Well Said, I saw it that way too......

"But the real story is the continuing decline of Bush. He’s becoming like a small town priest whose congregation is no longer listening. The louder he yells, the more he pushes, he disintegrates into desperation."

And the audience there didn't seem receptive to Shrub either. They looked bored out of their mind. Mr. Bush, time to ask your dad on early the moving preparations from the White House to Texas.

[StlMo]

5. Yes!

Kerry Won!