Kerry's Biggest Missed Opportunity...

[misanthrope]

...of the St. Louis (2nd) debate:

In the first third of the evening, Bush and Kerry were going back and forth on Iraq. At one point, after a Kerry rebuttal, Bush stood and tried to leap at Kerry's remarks.

The moderator attempted to stop Bush, trying to explain that he would give the President more time, but he wanted to direct the rhetoric more toward the situation of reservists.

Bush stammered over the top of the guy as he tried to rein in the president. Eventually, Bush just cut him off and blustered past, not respecting the man's role. Bush pushed him out of the way and charged forward.

I would like to have seen Kerry stand up after Shrub finished and say: "Ladies and gentlemen, we have just seen the biggest problem with this administration's approach. We've seen what makes half of the country feel more ignored than ever before. We've seen what leads to our diminished status on the world stage and the increasing animosity toward us from former allies."

Here, he should have turned squarely toward Bush and continued:

"The moderator was attempting to conduct this event in the manner he wanted, in a way we both agreed upon. But, that didn't suit the president. When he couldn't get what he wanted, he just ignored the moderator and bullied his way into what he desired. The rules were for everyone but him.

"Mr. President, I think you owe this moderator an apology for your brazen rudeness." (He could have made sure to point right at Shrub right here. It would surely gall the Dauphin.)

It would have been the coup de grace of the evening.

Had Bush decided not to do apologize, to continue with his "resolute" image, then he looks like a bully and a moron.

If he does apologize, then he's doing Kerry's bidding. Kerry gains the top-hand in the evening's psychological battle.

Kerry had already tried to rile Dubya when he faced him head-on and stepped directly toward him. Bush tried to counter it by laughing that jerky little snicker right in Kerry's face.

Demanding the apology might have been enough to send Shrub into meltdown.

[realFedUp]

1. Actually actions spoke louder than words...

Some people will be put off by that
little tantrum of his...kinda like
when Gore approached Bush in an
assertive manner. It offends and
it doesn't need to be pointed out
by anyone.

[WI_DEM]

2. I think Bush's actions spoke louder than anything Kerry would have

said.

[misanthrope]

9. Don't assume the public...

...is that observant. After all, look at all the crap people have swallowed from this administration for the last four years.

To say nothing of the easily transparent and oft-embrced mythology of the world at large.

"No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public." -H. L. Mencken

[4morewars]

3. *bush's head would have exploded !!!!

I like the way you think !!!! That would have been amazing !!!!

[misanthrope]

12. I think you're right...

...I heard some talking heads afterward saying that Kerry looked haughty, then referenced Georgie's rudeness as an example of how "manly" he looked.

I think that people are looking for someone who appears to have the strength of conviction to stand and operate on ideals, that's the only part of Shrub that appeals to a lot of folks. Regardless of its validity or conviction, Bush makes others believe he's following those oft-referenced "core values."

This would have made Kerry look like someone who is not afraid to call out something bad when he sees it. It would have made him look somewhat like a father figure (don't laugh--it counts for something, whether most want to acknowledge it or not), sticking up for the kid being picked on, righting a wrong.

It would have made Georgie appear suddenly less than invincible.

It would have been a trap that Dub couldn't have solved. He would have been "damned if he did and damned if he didn't."

Remember, debates are as much about psychology as they are about substance, especially under these conditions.

But, the biggest aspect of all is that it would have flustered Shrub. This is a man who once sharply barked at a reporter "Who you talkin' to?" when he didn't begin a question with "Mr. President..." He would have showed his ass for sure if Kerry said the right thing.

Not to mention, it is an aspect of Southern culture that "manners" are much more important. "Sir"s and "ma'am"s are everywhere. Southerners react more strongly to bad manners than many from other regions, still. Nobody likes anyone with poor "home trainin'." And every vote counts in this one, especially in a Southern state below Georgia.

[4morewars]

14. It is what it is...

We sure can't change it now. I'm beginning to think the end is near for mr bush*. Sen Kerry is a gentleman, I guess he didn't feel the need to point out the babys shortcomings. Perhaps he was just as shocked as the rest of us ? I'm sure the Senator knew he had delivered a knock out punch. But really, who saw THAT reaction coming?

And I heard that "who you talkin'to?" press conference !! Oh, the height of arrogance !!!!! And there you have it: the super arrogant, ALWAYS underestimate their opponent ! Or should I say "MISunderestimate" ?

So, Sen Kerry ended up on the high road, but I would have been more than OK with your scenario !

[Peanut Gallery]

17. self delete, meant to reply to another post

[Bozos for Bush]

4. Strongly disagree, sorry

Pictures speak louder than words sometimes - no need for Kerry to pander to the 65,000,000 watching, would have diluted the impact.

[Peanut Gallery]

19. Kerry seems to know how to let Bush defeat himself

It's hard to remember every word that was said during 90 minutes of debate. It's not hard to remember which candidate kept having temper tantrums and which one demonstrated presidential qualities.

[madrchsod]

5. well in a bar-------

kerry just said nothing and made bush look like the complete crazy guy in the bar that you just as soon would go away before someone kicks his ass and disrupts the mood...

[The Doctor.]

6. Kerry Should have called Bush* out when...

Bush referred to him as 'Kennedy'.

"Mr. President, last I checked Mr. Kennedy was not in a presidential debate..."

[Awsi Dooger]

7. It was up to the Gibson to call him on that

How about a simple and ballsy, "Mr. President, I'm the moderator. Please wait for my followup and respond to it."

That would have been incredibly appropriate and memorable and replayed forever. Gibson forfeited a chance at history.

Otherwise, Kerry was correct in letting it pass without comment, similar to Edwards the other night.

[liberalpragmatist]

8. Nah, that would've sounded like grandstanding on Kerry's part

I think the actions spoke for themselves.

[underseasurveyor]

10. I agree with you

Pointing out geedumbya's demanding, intimidating "forcefulness" would slide perfectly along side of Kerry's point about bush's overbearing rush into war. And further proof as we witnessed tonight, that georgie doesn't, can't, and won't listen to anyone, interrupts rudely, nor follows the agreed upon rules. Because when little georgie wants what he wants there's no stopping the arrogant bastard.

I think Kerry passed on the ultimate slam dunk right there but despite not doing that, I thought John did a fantastic job tonight. So now we wait eagerly for the 13th :-)

[Captain Lance Bass]

11. The biggest miss step by Kerry was

when he didnt walk over to shrub (when he was flipping out on Charlie Gibson) bitch slap him and tell him to sit his dumb ass down and STFU.

JMHO

[misanthrope]

13. LOL!

"Anybody want some wood?"
Damn, when I heard that, I wondered what would have happened if Kerry had loudly said "Yeah, Laura does all the time!" and winked at her.

Now THAT'S outta hand!

[4morewars]

15. LOL !!!!

NOW, you've gone too far !!!
:bounce:

[OneBlueSky]

16. he missed another major opportunity as well . . .

the environmental issue was served up on a silver platter, and he bunted . . . calling Bush "one of the worst environmental presidents in recent years" (or something like that) is letting the little weasel off the hook . . . big time . . .

Bush is not one of the worst environmental presidents . . . he is, by far, the worst environmental president ever! . . . he is an environmental disaster, which is precisely what Kerry should have called him . . . he should have hit with things like the wholesale turnover of our natural resources to private firms for their own profit (Bush even opened the door with his talk of forest "management") . . . the failure to address global warming . . . the use of depleted uranium weapons in Iraq and Afghanistan . . . and any of a thousand other disastrous Bush policies that are well known and well documented . . . http://www.bushgreenwatch.org/

but he let him off the hook . . . Kerry should seriously rethink this approach for the next debate, because the environment (despite the polls) is an issue that resonates strongly with a LOT of voters of all persuasions (they have an innate aversion to "fouling the nest") . . . not capitalizing on this gift is a mistake of major proportions . . .

p.s. . . and it's important, dammit! . . .

[spooky3]

18. I agree--unfortunately a lot of people were probably impressed by the list

of initiatives that * rattled off because they haven't been paying attention. But here is where the difference in their records could not be more clear, and Kerry needs to develop a better response to make sure people do not give Bush credit for his BS and DO give Kerry credit for his great record.

[w4rma]

20. That could go either way, depending on how it played out.

We're dealing with a cult here, imho. Those guys will defend anything Shrub does.