It seems like Bush's interruption is "THE" moment from the debate

[Ell09]

Dubya's interruption of Charlie Gibson, and his subsequent diatribe on the state of our coalition seems to be what the media is focusing on. Kerry's answer to Bush's passion/anger (depending on how you view it) was tremendous. He made Bush look like a fool for making the argument he made. I can't believe Bush walked in to the "90% of the costs, 90% of the casualties" line again, but he did.

I highly doubt very many undecideds watched the debate tonight. I am a younger guy and went out tonight, missing the debate. I just don't think politics are a priority on Friday night for most of the general public. I caught the debate on CSPAN when I got home, and then caught some of the clips from Headline News and NBC. IF I am correct and few undecideds watched this debate, then the Bush interruption and subsequent exchange is what most undecideds will end up seeing. I think this breaks very well for John Kerry, and should help us to build a lead in the polls.

As for my overall opinion of the debate (if anyone cares), I thought Bush was much improved and that Kerry maintained his high level from the last debate. I would give Kerry low marks for not hammering home the reports on Iraq and jobs that were released today, and possibly for not being more forceful with Dubya. I say "possibly" because I don't know if a more confrontational style would have fit well in this debate format. I realize this is Monday Morning Quarterbacking, but I think it's the biggest question left out there: Was Kerry nice to the point that he didn't show enough strength? As for Bush, he was more coherent in his points and limited his embarrassing pauses and stumbles to a more manageable level. That said, his message of a rosy picture on Iraq and the Economy simply don't fly. I think people who would prefer to vote for Bush were looking for him to outline some new plans and fresh ideas for a second term. Bush didn't give anyone a reason to vote for him, especially if they already believe the country is on the wrong track. With the final debate being right in Kerry's wheelhouse, I would hope to open up a lead of 5-7 points by the end of next weekend.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. that moment showed him melting down

until that moment he was doing Ok... then he had a bad while, and made somewhat of a recovery by the end

Reality is, dubya did better since there was not much ground to go lower....

Now if that makes it, it will be red meat for the base (They will go GO BUSH, showed his strenght), to us it showed his lucnacy, but I am hpping that and "it's hard work" will nail it for the undecideds

[detroit]

2. His "wood" thing...

Also seemed weird:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,134939,00.html

[0007]

9. You didn't see junior's nose start to grow last night?

"Where's the old wooden Pinocchio?" Kerry asked indirectly

"There!" exclaimed Geppetto, Kerry, pointing at junior. "When bad boys become good, their looks change along with their lives!" "They can't keep the lies from sounding like fairy tales!"

Well, most lives anyway!

[tomfodw]

5. If the Duelfer Report, Saddam instead of Osama, and jobs report...

...don't "nail it for the undecideds," then we are living in a land of the totally braindead and are doomed, doomed, DOOMED, I tells ya!

Serioiusly, what more evidence do these people need that Bush is incompetent beyond the dreams of Les Nessman?

[DeepModem Mom]

3. Great post, Ell09 --

[DarthDem]

4. Great Post

Once again, Tweety just completely missed the post-debate mark with his analysis. Conservative News Network actually had it pretty much dead-on, though, and (apparently) so did . . . Faux?? :D

[MaineDem]

6. Welcome to DU

:hi:

I worried that this debate would get buried like most news released on a Friday night (when the W people tend to release what they don't want widely known.) I think you're right about people not paying as much attention to this debate as they did to the first.

I'm glad you caught the reshowing. And it's good to see you on DU.

[kokomo]

19. Don't forget "Friday Night Lights" when half of America as at HS football

[progdonkey]

7. his posture

That exchange was awful for Bush in so many ways. Your points are definitely correct, but you left out Bush's posture. Just before he interrupted Gibson, he walked up to him with one arm just hanging out to the side.

It was a very aggressive posture; had he not been holding a mic, he surely would have had both arms outstretched in the classic "come and get it" position. I'm sure such a needlessly (and embarrassingly) aggressive posture scored well with his die-hards, but I think your average undecided viewer saw that and found it unseemly (to put it mildly).

[Kinkistyle]

12. Well he IS virtually a chimp.

Its all he can do to keep his knuckles from dragging along the floor.

[Crazy8s]

8. I'm watching the morning spin

and I haven't seen the * attack on Gibson mentioned let alone replayed once. I'm flipping around from cable news programs to the networks and I've seen more attacks on Kerry's performance than anything.:mad:

[sherilocks]

10. There's a link to it at KOS

http://www.dailykos.com/


I don't have a link to the actual video, but go here and go down the page to:

"Oliver Willis: "BUSH FLIPS OUT: Click here to watch your President flip out of his gourd. I've never seen anything like it."

Maybe if we flood the media with copies, they will get the point.

[DeepModem Mom]

11. Do Coalition issues push W's Daddy button? "TELL THAT TO TONY BLAIR!"

n/t

[RobinA]

13. Kerry Was Fine

I thought that if Kerry had hammered any harder he would have looked strident in that format. I still wish he'd deal with the 87 billion, but other than that I think he's covering the bases and recovering them when it is appropriate. Oh, and he was a little weak on stem cell, but he can't answer in my preferred way... "Look you moronic dweebs, frozen embryos are not people. Join the 21st century, where we believe in science, not witch doctors." That obviously wouldn't go over well in certain quarters.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

15. I appreciate seeing your perspective since you tend to lean more

moderate than I. And I agree about the 87 billion...I wish Kerry would point out Bush planned to VETO it if his rich buddies had to share some of the costs.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

16. He did deal with it when it came up at the end of the debate, but

his answer was a bit less clearly stated than it could've been because he used a little time saying that Bush lying us into war was worse. Then he said that he erred in the way he TALKED about the votes but the purpose was to have fiscal accountability.

[RaleighNCDUer]

14. Was Kerry nice to the point that he didn't show enough strength?

The other night at the VP debates that was exactly what I thought. I was very disappointed with Edwards, in that he didn't hammer on several of Cheney's blatant lies, and so posted here. Over the next couple days, after seeing the general reactions and re-viewing the debate my opinion changed. He could hardly have countered all of Cheney's lies, there were too many of them, and the ones he did answer he answered very well.
I think the same applies here. Most the country are not political junkies like some people we know. They don't know the truth. So they must glean the truth from the political theater they see. What they saw was Kerry being calm, steady, nice, intelligent. And Bush being angry, agitated, blustering, dogmatic. What conclusions will they come to?

[Quixote1818]

17. I think your analysis is dead on. I agree 100%

Kerry did not do as well as he could but the theatrics in this kind of debate tend to overshadow content. Bush did do better but was a little weird at times. Kerry will have a better advantage in the final debate.

[TwentyFive]

18. Kerry's debating style was excellent for this type of forum.

I think his low key style in this debate shows he's comfortable with the issues and himself. Completely presidential.

I agree that Bush was less confused this time around, but I think his forceful style left me thinking he was some kind of a drill sargent. He seems like a "my way or the highway" kind of guy -- not one you could ever discuss things with.

John Kerry is clearly the kind of guy you'd talk to at a dinner pary where opinions & ideas are expressed and batted about. A very intelligent guy who is comfortable at explaining how he arrives at his decisons.

[depakid]

21. Kerry's courtroom demeanor showed through

although I personally think he overcompensated a bit, too, from his role as a prosecutor. He's worked many juries, and while he's now quite a few years removed from the practice, his old instincts showed- though maybe not quite enough. He's a smart guy, though- and he'll look at the tapes and find his moments in the final debate.

Advantage: Kerry.

[ldf]

20. if the moderators are supposed to enforce

the rules that the PARTIES agreed to, then the moderator should have an on/off switch for either candidate's microphone.

if either can't play by the rules, turn his damn microphone off.

THEN watch the a**hole have a complete meltdown, as he is babbling into the microphone with no sound.

YOU JUST DON'T DO THAT TO GOD'S MOUTHPIECE.

i would pay money to watch that.

:evilgrin:

[lefty_WOHM]

22. That's what I was saying as I watched it

Cut his mic! Cut his mic!

[ajmstpete]

23. I agree the meltdown and Charlie's backdown was quite telling.

Another question I have is when they asked dumbass about any mistakes that me MAY have made. The only thing he could come up with that he wasn't happy with a couple of his appointments, but he didn't want to say which ones, he didn't want to, "hurt their feelings... smirk and wink". WTF, god forbid he hurt anyone’s feelings. If this idiot isn't blown out of the water in November, I am going to have to increase my daily dosage of Zanex.

[ajmstpete]

24. I agree the meltdown and Charlie's backdown was quite telling.

Another question I have is when they asked dumbass about any mistakes that me MAY have made. The only thing he could come up with that he wasn't happy with a couple of his appointments, but he didn't want to say which ones, he didn't want to, "hurt their feelings... smirk and wink". WTF, god forbid he hurt anyone’s feelings. If this idiot isn't blown out of the water in November, I am going to have to increase my daily dosage of Zanex.