WSJ: "Is it just me, or does Bush look more like Alfred E. Neuman"

[tomfodw]

Subject: What WSJ reporter really thinks about Iraq
Date: October 1, 2004 12:13:33 AM EDT
To: [e-mail]


September 30, 2004
The debate..."mexed missages"
UPDATE: 11:03 p.m.: OK, going home. Hearing that several focus groups of "undecideds" went well for Kerry -- we'll see how the spin goes round for the next 48 hours. Unless some blogger uncovers an amazing Kerry gaffe, I think it'll be hard to knock him down.

UPDATE: 10:55 p.m.: John Roberts on CBS-- "close to a draw." He does slam Bush now for saying insurgents were fighting "vociferously" and for seeming hesitant. How is that a draw? Also, Bush is getting a lot of flack for claiming 100,000 trained police in Iraq. Was slightly off on ABC poll -- here's the numbers again below 45-36 Kerry.

UPDATE: 10:48 p.m.: Kerry wins big in poll! But no minds changed...for now. That may change tomorrow around the water cooler. ABC has Kerry winning 45-36, with 17 percent saying a tie. Checking other nets.

UPDATE: 10:47 p.m.: Getting more hints that Kerry will be annointed. We're hearing that Joe Scarborough on MSNBC -- a former GOP congressman -- is even calling Kerry the winner. And apparently even Fox is finding it hard to pump up Bush -- they're described the prez as looking "annoyed." OK, looking forward to the instant polls.

UPDATE: 10:41 p.m.: Giuliani spinning away on NBC -- he gets the "mixed messages" right, at least. Still trying to spin Kerry as a flip-flopper -- not so sure that'll work when viewers get to see Kerry for themselves.

UPDATE: Some 10:40 p.m. ABC punditry: You'll be shocked to learn that George S. likes Kerry, saying he "answered the flip flopping more with his demeanor than with his words." Martha Radatz also mentions how Fallujah was botched under W. Terry Moran says Bush "managed to get through his main points" -- you'll be hearing that a lot, although he admits the flip-flopping charge wasn't sticking. The pundits are really dwelling on Kerry -- I think he's going to get the call.

UPDATE: 10:32 p.m. pre-pundit punditry: Well, no gaffes (unless you count that Barbara and Jenna "leash" thing) and also no really memorably zingers. Bush did look less comfortable -- lots of blinking and heartburn expressions. Can people really want to have a beer with this guy? Actually, we thought Bush looked better that his recent, awful deer-in-the-headlights speeches and press conferences. If you're biased toward Kerry (hi, Mom!) you have no doubt that he won. He was confident, on message, and scored some solid blows on North Korea and Iraq. OK, time to watch the "pros."

UPDATE: 10:19 p.m.: Important note -- Bush has said twice that "we've busted the A.Q. Khan network." Sort of. But the Pakistani nuclear scientist doing deals around the world was allowed to remain a free man. What type of message does that send to terrorists?

UPDATE: 10:16 p.m.: Kerry wants to talk about "nuclear proliferation." Is that just a ploy to get Bush to say "nucular" a lot?

UPDATE: 10:14 p.m.: "That's a loaded question" on character -- you bet, W! You cannot lead if you send "mexed missages" -- there's the line of the night. I can already see the bumper sticker: "Stop Bush's Mexed Missages!" OMG! OMG! Bush "trying to put a leash" on his daughters. Wonkette's going to have a field day!

UPDATE: 10:07 p.m.: Kerry doing some serious truth-telling on North Korea. Bush does seem on the ropes a bit -- although I doubt the pundit referees will call it a knockout.

UPDATE: 10:00 p.m. overview: Kerry just landed a solid left hook by picking apart Bush's line about being attacked -- reminding everyone just who exactly attacked us in 9/11. Good follow-up with the 35-40 other more dangerous countries -- haven't heard that argument before. I think Kerry is pulling ahead here -- it's clear that his 20 years as a legislator have served him well. Also, Kerry fans -- not just my Mom but over at Atrios, who has some non-relative readers -- think the split screen thing is killing Bush. Will the punditocracy agree?

UPDATE: 9:55 p.m. My own mother, one of my four valued readers, just declared Kerry the winner in the Comments section. Is that a subtle hint for me to do the same?

UPDATE: 9:53 p.m.: Bush thinks that Allawi is "courageous and brave." When was that? When he was shooting those six prisoners, or when he was reading the speech that Bush's aides wrote for him?

UPDATE: 9:49 p.m.: "He's misled again..." -- Kerry's version of "There you go again, Mr. President."

UPDATE: 9:45 p.m.: Bush is trying to look "presidential," but presidential can also look "arrogant," when you're not used to being challenged. His rule-bending may hurt him more than help him. I must say that Jim Lehrer is doing a good job letting things go with the flow. Also, it's good to see that W. remembers the name of one soldier that was killed -- wonder how many days of rehearsal that took.

UPDATE: 9:36 p.m.: Did anybody catch Bush's expression at the first mention of Halliburton -- looked like a serious case of acid indigestion? Seconds later he said of UN: "They pulled out after Sergio de Melo got killed." Uh, and how exactly did that happen, Mr. President? Also, it does seem like maybe Bush is overplaying his indignation at Kerry statements "denigrating" the troops and the war effort.

UPDATE: 9:30 p.m. overview: Seems like they're playing a draw -- which is bad news for Kerry, who needs a clear win. Both men seem well-prepared...the most relaxed I've seen presidential candidates in Debate One. (also, Kerry just mentioned Vietnam -- surprised he did that). A lot of folks on this site may not like what Bush has to say, but he's playing very well to the support-the-troops-let's-not-consider-anything-else crowd -- and that's a lot of American voters.

UPDATE: 9:25 p.m.: Good job by Kerry mentioning the 100,000 hours of untranslated tapes. And Bush really opened himself up when he said: "You better have a president who chases these terrorists down..." Uh, like Osama bin Laden.

UPDATE: 9:21 p.m.: Is it just me, or does Bush look more like Alfred E. Neuman than ever before.

UPDATE: 9:19 p.m.: Bush's big talking point: "Pre-Sept. 10th mentality." But W.'s answer misses the point. Inspections were working in Iraq -- they showed there was no nuclear program, and were unable to find other WMD. Also telling was that he almost called "bin Laden" "Hussein" His body language was bad when he had to mention Osama..."he's isolated. " Bush also on Iraq: "We will succeed -- we've got a plan to do so."
OK, what is it?

UPDATE: 9:10 p.m.: Kerry: "We also need to be smart, Jim." Expect to hear that a lot. Also, he's playing the Osama card strong. Good line: "He outsourced that job, too." Also good -- Bush "changed his mind -- his campaign has a word for that."

UPDATE: 9:09 p.m.: Bush: "People know where I stand..." Expect to hear that a lot.

UPDATE: 9:07 p.m. Kerry gave a nice answer on Iraq -- too bad the question was about 9/11. Bush looks OK -- we think they've finally got his dosage right.

UPDATE: 9:03 p.m. Interesting handshake. Boy, is Kerry tall! Nice job sucking up to "plucky" Floridians.

[tabasco]

1. Separated at birth.

No other explanation.

[cheshire]

2. I was so thinking that. His face is close and ears stick out.

[fudge stripe cookays]

3. I'm so looking forward to wearing my button tomorrow...

The one that has Bush superimposed on A. E. Neumann's face, and says "Our Worst Nightmare- "What Me? Worry?"

It starts the best conversations and gets lots of new voters to register.

FSC

[opihimoimoi]

4. This is so funny. My wife made that same remark...LOL

[Merlin]

5. A. E. Neuman with a crown.

And maybe a few less freckles.