It wasn't pretty, but it was plain -- Kerry won

[Nicholas_J]

BY LYNN SWEET SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST Advertisement

At the very end of Friday night's second debate between President Bush and John Kerry, Bush tossed out a congenial "been enjoyable," about a contentious session dominated by the Iraq war with a heavy emphasis on domestic programs.

Polite for the president to say, but it was only at the end, when the questions were on domestic issues, that Bush seemed to relax and help himself in the face-off that was otherwise dominated by Kerry

There were no real pleasant exchanges, but there was plenty of tough talk.

"I don't see how you can win in Iraq if you don't think we should be there in the first place," said Bush.

"Compassionate conservative?" said Kerry, referring to Bush's signature line from his 2000 presidential campaign. "What does that mean?"

On the issue of legalizing prescription drugs from Canada -- a subject of particular interest in Illinois because the issue was pushed on the national stage by Gov. Blagojevich and Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) -- Bush was disingenuous after being asked why he was blocking Canadian drugs.

"I have not yet," he said. "Just want to make it safe."

Blagojevich last week announced that the state was launching its own service for Illinoisans to buy drugs, mainly from Canada, legal or not. The Food and Drug Administration has been resisting the aggressive Illinois approach. However, Bush said come December there may be some "safe way" to do it. The Bush White House is not pushing the GOP-controlled Senate to put the drug importation measure to a vote.


http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-sweet09.html

[WI_DEM]

1. I'm actually sad that the next debate will only be on domestic issues

Kerry has been kicking ass on Iraq--and Bush loses it when people ? his judgement on the war.

[chaska]

2. Bush's bumbling through his answer on the environment was truly funny.