The radio had me thinking that "there was no real winner"

[BattyDem]

:eyes:

My sister and I had tickets to see Barry Manilow tonight. He was great!!! (Go ahead, make fun of me. I don't care ... I love Barry!) Anyway, I taped the debate so I could watch it when I got home.

After we left the arena, we put the radio on in the car so we could find out what happened. CNN Radio (via our local NY affiliate) said that there weren't any knockout punches and there was no real winner in tonight's debate because both candidates repeated the same things they've been saying on the campaign trail. I was a bit depressed by the news, because I was hoping that Kerry would hammer W, but I was relieved that Bush didn't win.

When I got home, the first thing my mother said to me was, "Kerry clobbered Bush!" I was very surprised! Happy ... but surprised. She said Bush was making ridiculous faces the whole time (she watched the split screen on C-SPAN) and he didn't have any answers, he just rambled on about the same stupid things he always does. She said, "Kerry looked Presidential and Bush looked like an idiot!"

I said to myself, "Ok ... time to check out DU." And sure enough, DUers backed up everything Mom said and more. I especially enjoyed reading about the exploding heads over at Freeperville, LOL!

My point is ... before talking to anyone about the debate and/or seeing it for myself, I thought Kerry and Bush's performances were pretty much equal ... thanks to the "liberal" media. :mad:


January 21, 2005

Dear President Kerry,

Please do something about news broadcasts that will require them to be truthful and unbiased!

Thank you.


Well ... I'm going to go watch the tape of the debate now. Thanks to all of you, I'm really looking forward to it! :evilgrin:

[Mr_Spock]

1. There is a way to look at the debate in the "knock out" punch mentality

and say that nobody won. But that really misses the point. Kerry wasn't getting the support of some people because they had heard a lot of the RNC talking points and were "leary" of him because of that. Kerry TOTALLY blew any hint of doubt that I had, and I am sure he had the same effect on MILLIONS of people watching. He won by looking more presidential and banishing doubt about his toughness and determination and steadfastness. Bush looked a bit uneasy and had pretty bad body language - never mind the few mind freezes and finishing early a couple times because he was simply repeating himself over and over again.

From the "knock out punch" perspective - I'd give it a draw too.

From the "who gained more confidence of the voting public" perspective - Kerry really dominated.

[BattyDem]

2. Your post is exactly the way it SHOULD have been reported

Something like ... "Though there were no real knockout punches in tonight's debate, Kerry seemed to eliminate any doubt about his toughness and his ability to lead by looking more Presidential, displaying more confidence and providing more complete answers than Bush." ;-)

[Mr_Spock]

3. You got it - that's exactly how I saw it.

I wanted Kerry to be concise, knowledgeable and firm - and he was all three. I have so much confidence in him now.

[Elidor]

4. Kerry "became" the candidate tonight

He established a clear identity with people who hadn't seen him before. He didn't have to do much with Dubya slouching and looking peevish and unhappy. But he was credible and concise, and he made Bush say repeatedly how it's a virtue to be too stubborn to admit mistakes.

Bush is wearing his ass for a hat. Karl Rove's butt is on the menu for breakfast tomorrow.

And something I haven't heard mentioned yet: when Bush does it, it's called "shifting tactics." When Kerry does it, it's called flip-flopping. The hollowness of Bush's ad campaign was laid bare for all to see tonight.