I missed part of the debate, what Bush moments were there?

[Chichiri]

In the first 40 minutes or so, were there any major Bush gaffes, or any really cool Kerry moments that I missed?

[nycmjkfan]

1. yes

[Technowitch]

2. I'm torn

...between claiming he never said that OBL didn't matter (which he did, it's on video tape) and the little gob of white spittle that hung in the corner of his mouth for fully half of the debate.

Both are precious moments in my memory...

[krkaufman]

6. ha! I missed the spittle.

Will have to review the vid.

[evilqueen]

3. Link to Transcript

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/debatereferee/debate_1013.html

[readmylips]

4. little bush was making a lot of strange noises...

not very presidential. He also admitted that his wife speaks better English than he does. Not very presidential. Talked too much about his faith and whatever..Not very presidential. bush should be running for tel-evangelist.

[kerryin2004]

5. He kept pounding on the podium and flailing his arms!!

He was bobbing back and forth and pounding the pdium, and his arms were everywhere..Very irrational looking!

[central scrutinizer]

7. when the facts are on your side,

pound the facts; when the law is on your side, pound the law. When neither is on your side, pound the podium. Same as it ever was.

[TheDonkey]

8. Kerry called bush out on saying he didn't worry about Osama

bush said he never said that but Kerry was EX_AGGERRATING
but there is a nice vid. clip of him saying those same words.

[pfitz59]

9. Paygo, ashken, lots of other malprops.....

Endlessly repeating NCLB BS! Never answering a question. Freaky...TWEAKY....body movements. Bush* was at his abysmal best...

[krkaufman]

10. Can't restrict response to the first 40 minutes...

... but here's what I recall, off the top of my head, these 3 hours later.

- "never said I wasn't interested in Osama bin Laden" (MAJOR f-up that should get *PLENTY* of play on Thursday; masterful of Kerry to lure him into the denial. Bush should have just left it alone.)

- "freedom is on the march" (such a pitiful soundbite)

- Asked about jobs, Bush talks about education and "no child's behind left"; Kerry points out Bush's evasion on the question. Astonishingly, Bush is later asked about the minimum wage and *again* retreats to talking about education. This second diversion was painfully obvious, due to Kerry's pointing out the previous non-answer.

- Several Beavis & Butthead "heh, heh" moments.

edit: p.s. Just gotta add that the THREE faces of Bush, one for each debate, was hilarious. Kerry was consistent throughout all 3 debates, while we enjoyed Petulant, Furious and Detached George, respectively.