|
In Your Opinion...
9-30-04 | 4mc
Posted on 09/30/2004 7:41:42 PM PDT by Mobilemitter
In your opinion, how did the debates go? Did Kerry get the upperhand (yeah right) or did Bush come out strong?
***I think Bush blew it.
***I think Kerry came off stronger but ironically that may work against him. People want someone who isn't boastfull to be in charge of war, they want someone who reflects and struggles. (Code for retarded.)
***Maybe he is the best Mass.debater, however he did seem to know what the next question was coming up when he started answering the current question they were on. Maybe he eats cheese?
***I had that feeling that Kerry had the questions beforehand. He seemed to have his answers right on target. Bush seemed like he was surprised by the questions. I wish they could investigate to see if the DNC got a hold of the questions beforehand.
***Unfortunately, Kerry looked more prepared. He seemed to have more facts?, however questionable, at his command and he delivered his message succinctly. Even when confronted on his flip-flops, he had plausible explanations. On the other hand, The President seemed to lose his train of thought at times. He continued to repeat the same things, and he looked tired and a little haggard. He needs to do much better next time.
***Kerry used a lot of words to say nothing. Bush used few words but siad a lot.
***I lost count of Kerry's filp flops and lies and just can't call a lieing flip flopper a winner. Bush was angry and may have tried a little too hard to control it but at least he spoke the truth. Truth wins for me.
***Bush won.
***Kerry's "I" "I" "I" ...people hate that
***I don't think Bush won but I don't think he lost either. I think he kept his message pretty simple, he didn't pretty it up with rhetoric but he stuck to his principles. OTOH, I think he should have asked SKerry repeatedly, how he was going to do what he said he'd do. In the end, I think that Bush's message is the one which will go forward because you don't have to be a policy wonk to understand it.
***Dubya was "off" tonight.
Missed too many opportunities to show Kerry for the liar that he is. He only mentioned Kerry's vote against the $87 million one time.
***Kerry won. Bush didn't lose.
***The President did fine. Kerry did as expected in my opinion. He bloviated.
***Looks like Kerry got ahead, IYOs. Still two more debates to go.
***This went about the way I figured it would. Next time let's have a moderator that doesn't spoon feed Frankenstein.
***"He needs to do much better next time." Unfortunately, I do not think it is possible. This is not his milieu whereas it is Kerry's. Kerry loves to hear himself talk and W has no time for such indulgences.
**And yes, Kerry was way too well prepared.I think he knwew the questions and the order they would be asked.0
***I think Bush and Kerry both did fine overall. Kerry's quotes about needing to "pass a global test for preeminant action" and "never wavering in his life" are the sound bites that will be hung around his neck. I didn't notice any bad sound bites from Bush. He was nervous in some points and eloquent in others, but I didn't see anything that makes a good negative sound bite.
***I got the same feeling. And I had a real problem with Lehrer from the outset. Why should a partisan get to structure the debate AND "moderate" it? Bush was being put in the position of being the chicken in the foxes den.
***Both candidates sucked. I've seen better debates for high-school class president. Bush seemed disconnected for some reason - seems like he could have thrown some knockout punches but didn't. Kerry is just Kerry - socialist liberal fool. I regret G didn't do better.
***I think that Kerry won. I think that W came off as defensive, although cleaned up some real points at the end.
***I think Kerry made a only blow with Osama "slipping away" in Tora Bora. Bush didn't respond. Not even to say that Kerry might know something Bush didn't. Bush hit hard with the issue of bilateral Korean agreements. Kerry looked a little weird with the extra rouge. He sounded pretty good, but those hand-gestures were artificial and bizarre. He did make 3 oblique references to Vietnam and one in his closing statement. It actually weakened his performance. Kerry won the weird "character issues" question. He complemented Laura (although Bush thanked the Kerry daughters). Kerry should have let Bush use a riser or raised his lecturn. Even though Kerry isn't as tall as advertised, the split screen kept him out of focus. Bush had the pursed lips, Kerry had a smirk. Overall it wasn't a great performance by either. Kerry definitely didn't make the case for himself and anyone who takes terrorism seriously will not consider him. The intangibles go to Bush, who looked like he had weighty issues on his mind and did not make the bizarre Kerry hand gestures.
***Kerry's tactic was to throw everything but the kitchen sink at bush on every occasion. He would weave in fifteen charges on different topics iin every sentence he spoke. It was unnerving to Bush and he came across as tired but authentic. To one who knows this tactic, fogging it is called, changing the subject, telling half truths, I was not impressed with Kerry but to the ignorant, he may come across as very "smart". It remains to be seen what the public sees. I think minds will not be changed.
***I agree. I also think Kerry never answered a question directly and Bush tried to; so, Kerry's indirect screed came off a bit better in terms of performance.
***Kerry better thank his lucky stars that he had the best debate prep squad. His answers were well rehearsed and his delivery was polished. Bush looked like he was up past his bedtime. He needs to improve his command of Kerry's inconsistencies and lies. I love the W guy and will vote for him early and often. But Bush got spanked tonight.
***Watched the debate with Kerry muted the whole time.
Could not decide if he was leading an orchestra, or talking in sign language. However, he missed his calling life. Would make a good orange picker. Just hook that big ugly nose of his over a limb and pick with both hands.
***Im a HUGE Bush fan... but I got to say that I think President Bushmissed a HUGE opportunity tonight to bury Kerry :( Even I could have chewed Kerry up and spit him out on national security issues :(
But in the end I dont think any of this will matter because Bush is going to win short of some catastrophy.
***We're DOOMED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
***Kerry won. Smoother delivery and kept pounding "I have a plan"
Mike McCurry said they hoped Bush would engage them on the plan-so they obviously had a comeback prepared. Bush seemed hesitant at times and never rose to the occasion. My God, if he can't remember the lines after all the prep...
***Monica Crowley just said that she believes Bush won the debate hands down and that he wiped the floor with Kerry.
***Kerry had to have a home run and he didn't. A tie doesn't help. Bush may not be smooth like Reagan but he is believable, Kerry isn't and that's the bottom line.
***I think Kerry had a better tone to his voice than the President did. His stance was better than the Presidents. President Bush appeared as if he was leaning on his podium during the last half of the debate where Kerry was standing up while he spoke. On the questions, I think Kerry knew about what was coming. He appeared to have prepaid answers. There was no hesitation in his voice when asked a question by the narrator, while the President appeared as if he needed to formulate his answer.....which is how I speak. Think first then say it. Overall, Kerry may have come out slightly ahead even though I didn't like his plans.
***Here's how it goes:
Lehrer: President Bush, do you still beat your wife?
Bush: No, sir.
Lehrer: Senator Kerry, do you think Bush still beats his wife?
Kerry: Yes, I do.
Lehrer: President Bush, your response to that?
Bush couldn't win; all the questions were ABOUT Bush.
***Also, the president had, by my count, only one "Damn, he sounded like an idiot" moments and that was the "And I won't hold it against him that he went to Yale" comment.
***I suppose that'd make more sense if GW got his undergrad from Harvard, but since he also went to Yale it sounded...really, really weird.
Before this one ... BWAHAHAHAHAHAA! Okay, more ...
***Relax, everybody.
Kerry's lack of substance showed. He was asked twice about his big huge "plan" for Iraq and didn't answer either time; he was FOR multilateralism regarding Iraq but AGAINST multilateralism regarding North Korea, and so on and so forth.
Kerry's regal bearing, smoooooth talking, executive hair and impressive manicure may have impressed the impressionable, but basically he came off as a professional politician. He didn't bomb as I'd hoped he would, but he didn't do a really great job either. Bush seemed a bit defensive but against Lehrer--who had to wheel his leftist agenda into the arena in six steamer cases and a pullman--so would I. Bush did okay, but Kerry's lack of substance in his answers and several untruths will not wear well as this debate is discussed and picked-apart over the coming weeks. Besides, Reagan's first debate against Mondale was disastrous (and you know how THAT turned out). This wasn't.
And so it goes ...
|
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(666 posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
