Mondo Washington
by James Ridgeway
A Knockout for Kerry
Big John Sends Dubya to the Mat in Round One
September 30th, 2004 11:22 PM
ASHINGTON—Contrary to all the press predictions, John Kerry easily overcame George Bush in Thursday night's debate, taking the attack from the very beginning and never once losing control. It was a knockout—with Bush going down almost immediately and never getting back on his feet. The president appeared confused, left to mumble aloud on the subject of Iraq, "It's incredibly hard work."
In debating terms, Kerry controlled the floor from start to finish with one rapid fire attack after another. Bush never was able to break through. His famous frat-boy disdain was reduced to goofiness. Kerry made him look by turns ignorant, deceitful, churlish, and just plain out of it.
Bush tried to use his campaign's flip-flop line against Kerry, but it went nowhere. Kerry had such a clear control of facts and argument that the charge fell almost immediately, a spent and useless weapon.
Sometimes the president looked like he didn't know what Kerry was talking about. Bush would shrug his shoulders, try one of his little sneers, or chime in with "That's absurd" or "I don't appreciate the candidate saying" such and such. Time and again he reverted to his punch-drunk line that "it's incredibly hard work. . . . We're making progress."
more:
http://www.villagevoice.com/print/issues/0439/ridgeway3.php 
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