AP: Bush fights to keep emotions in check

[lancdem]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=536&ncid=536&e=6&u=/ap/20041009/ap_on_el_pr/debate_analysis

WASHINGTON - President Bush smirked and winked and chuckled to himself. He jumped from his stool, chopped at the air and interrupted the debate moderator. As he fought to keep his emotions in check during a combative debate with Sen. John Kerry, the president jokingly said, "That answer almost made me want to scowl."
Several answers brought Bush's emotions to the surface, for better or worse, as he sought to curb Kerry's momentum.
The question that hung over the second of their three debates was whether Bush's aggressive, hyper style was an effective tool or a damaging habit — an extension of his disastrous first debate performance. Reviews were mixed.
Bush "seemed wound a bit too tight. He was a little like Nixon — sort of jumping out of his suit," said David Niven, political science professor at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. "He looked bad on the TV close-ups."

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[Roland99]

1. Voted a 5

[lancdem]

2. It's on the front page of yahoo now

[LibertyorDeath]

3. Thanks Rate it 5

[BeatleBoot]

4. Ya' Think?

:wtf:

[BayouBengal07]

5. Look at the Liberal media go!

" When Bush said Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) would still be in power if Kerry was president, the Democrat said, "Not necessarily." He offered no explanation for an unclear answer, the latest twist in an uneven history on Iraq."

[emulatorloo]

10. Yep - see my post 9

This is a lot of pro-Bush spin. . .

[Philostopher]

6. Uh-oh.

Somebody said the "N" word! Those debates with Kennedy were a contributing factor to his losing the election. I hope Mr. Niven doesn't plan on flying anywhere soon.

[Fridays Child]

7. A five, a kick, and a question: who the hell was Chimpy winking at?

Just one of so many bizarre non-verbals he had going on, last night--Will Pitt is right, B*sh is a scary little man.

[Downtown Hound]

8. Done

[emulatorloo]

9. This is an icky negative article positing that Kerry is as bad as Bush

<snip>

As for voters, especially those in the shrinking mushy middle yet to make up their minds, both Bush and Kerry presented an angry, negative face to national politics.

Several said they were disappointed by both men.

"They're very argumentative. I'm actually disgusted," said Jennifer Schmitz, 38, a mother of three in Klamath Falls, Ore. "It's the same old back and forth meanness."

<snip>

The Fornier ends by quoting two voters "positive about Bush" but no voter positive about Kerry

<snip>

Often, Bush's voice rose to nearly a shout. Was is too much? That's in the eye of the beholder.

"Bush looks the most determined. He's up and down, but he's not angry. He focused on how he responds," said Chris Montgomery, 48, an uncommitted voter in New Orleans who leaned toward Bush before the debate.

He said Kerry kept talking about his plan for Iraq, "but where was it?"

Craig Swatland, 40, an uncommitted voter listening to the debate on the radio in Bozeman, Mont., said Bush was "pretty heated up, but he's just being aggressive.

"I would just like one of these guys to answer a question," he said. "I'm tired of listening to the rhetoric and the carping."

<snip>