Possible turning point in the debate/election? The "marrying up" moment

[BurtWorm]

Here described by Slate's William Saletan:

http://www.slate.com/id/2108121

By the time the clock had ticked down to 15 minutes, the balance of power onstage had shifted. Kerry was the one talking like a president. He complimented his opponent as a leader and father, pledged to work across the aisle, admitted with a twinkle that "I can sometimes take myself too seriously," and joked to Schieffer, "The president and you and I are three examples of lucky people who married up." The audience laughed, and Kerry, growing looser by the minute, took another poke at himself: "And some would say maybe me more so than others." The audience laughed again, and Kerry relaxed into the smile of a man who has been humbled by the toughest campaign of his life and believes that despite it all, he is about to win. "But I can take it," he shrugged, beaming through a goofy grin. Bush, sensing that everyone else was having a good time, tried to smile along, but all he could do was twist up one corner of his mouth. His eyes darted around the room as though trying to make sense of a nightmare.

[rkc3]

1. I thought bush had no idea of the joke Kerry was making.

Perhaps he thought Kerry was throwing a barb in Pickles' direction.

[asthmaticeog]

4. I thought he looked pissed.

I mean, it WAS an obvious jab - the scion of power marrying a normal girl of whom his mom disapproved - there are several levels on which that could offend the shit out of a silver-spooner, and I thought Bush's face betrayed the offense he took.

[BurtWorm]

5. What struck me about that moment is that I felt sure Bush had scored

by drawing a laugh with his "don't scowl" "joke." I was thinking, oh, shit, everyone will be talking about how Bush broke through the audience's enforced reserve. And then what does Kerry do? He scores a bigger laugh than Bush! And this, from a guy who allegedly has no sense of humor about himself! That blew my mind.

[DrFunkenstein]

2. I Loved His Sense of Humility

Admitting that he can be too serious - speaking from his heart, not because advisors told him its a good idea - made Kerry a more endearing, humbler choice on election day.

[DemocracyInaction]

3. I honest to god thought there was a point about mid-point in the

debate that Bush was going to go out and vote for Kerry!!! Bush all of a sudden had these looks like "hey, this guy makes sense" or "hey, I really did fuck that up, didn't I", or "hey, he has a workable plan and I have shit". I think it was the first time Bush was allowed to have an 'alternative' thought in his useless brain and all of a sudden he realized that he was in the presence of someone who should be running the government and sensed he was way out of his league.

[Anaxamander]

8. Or how about those moments

where Bush didn't know WHAT he thought? Like whether being gay is a choice or not? Then as John Kerry delivered his moving, heartfelt answer, Bush seemed to have the look of a student trying to understand his professor. I hope Kerry taught him something. Maybe once he's out of the White House he'll be a better person because of it.

[venus]

10. I thought that a couple of times myself! n/t

[Cocoa]

6. Bush's reaction when Kerry mentioned his dead mother

Bush saying to himself, dang, I wish I had a dead mother.

[BurtWorm]

7. We all do, George.

And not just for your sake.

;)

[shrub chipper]

11. LOL!!!

We all do, George."
Posted by BurtWorm
And not just for your sake.

;)


Too Cheneyin' FUNNY!!!

[Bunny]

12. ***snarf***

Good one, BurtWorm!! :D

[Demit]

14. hahahahaha! I'll just bet he does. Probably not for the first time either

[krkaufman]

15. I'm howling. Thanks. n/t

[Willy Lee]

9. That was so funny

I laughed out loud, rewinded on TIVO, and laughed out loud again. Who knew this guy had such a sense of humor? And to be able to poke fun at yourself is great. I could never imagine Bush* making fun of himself so sincerely. He is too insecure.

[CityHall]

13. Bush was furious at that

How could HE marry up??? He's a BUSH, for heaven's sake. It's not like he married into the Saudi royal family or something. This guy is so insecure, he can't stand to have it pointed out that he's vulnerable in any way.