kos was saying that Kerry's lowered podium helped shrub, b/c

[homerthompson]

it made them appear to have the same height. And as we know, taller candidates have an edge in the authoritative persona category.

BUT I think it actually helped Kerry, b/c you see more of his upperbody, providing a fuller view of his suit, posture, and overall a more commanding, presidential appearance. For instance, from the neck up, Lenox Lewis looks like just some dude. But if you see his upperbody, he's a big ass dude that'll kick yer ass.

The shrub, hunched over his chest-high podium, made me think that's what yoda must've looked like in grade school.

[jean]

1. someone said bush looked like he was in a highchair

[DeepModem Mom]

4. That was a TV knowledgeable person I know well --

and I agree with the post. At first, I thought it was unfair to make Bush of equal height on the split-screen, but the more I looked, it didn't seem to serve him well.

[mark11727]

9. That was ME... I been saying it all night.

...the kids were also watching the debate (homework in social studies)... NBC kept adjusting the split screen images to even out the head heights... and I said Bush looked like he was sitting in a damn high chair.

There was plenty of nose-blown milk in the household tonight, I can tell you.

[DeepModem Mom]

10. Then could be a lot of viewers had that same thought!

[mark11727]

16. Great DU minds think alike.

[DenverDem]

2. The podia were the same height, the "stature gap" made them look different

Johnny K is the bigger man in every respect.

[qanda]

3. My 6 year old daughter said

Mom, look how puny Bush's mic is! And sure enough there was a split screen and Bush had this wee little mic and Kerry and a nice long mic. I hadn't even noticed, but if my 6yo picked up on it, I'm sure she wasn't alone.

[Tansy_Gold]

6. "a wee little mic" and "a nice long mic"

sorry, couldn't help but think of some thing else boosh has that's "wee little". . . . . . . .

:evilgrin:

[Lex]

7. Hahaha!

Yes, I'm looking at Kerry's LONG mic and Bush's Wee SHORT mic right now.

LOL! Good one!

[qanda]

17. I know, I know...

I thought about it when I was posting and I just couldn't bring myself to edit it. I was hoping people would catch on to the symbolism. I told my daughter she was very observant-- hopefully she'll keep those skills for later in life (if you know what I mean). ;)

[mark11727]

11. Well, there goes my snack, all over the keyboard....

[genius]

5. Kerry towered over Bush.

During the primary, some guy told me that the tallest candidate would win both the primaries and the presidency. It's interesting that Kerry came from behind to beat 9 opponents.

[TlalocW]

8. I think you're right

The split-screens showed them with their heads level so it would appear as if they were about the same height, but that illusion doesn't work if the lectern is covering most of Bush's body and making him look like the small (not just in stature) man he is.

TlalocW

[TheDonkey]

12. you've got it. Kerry looked good

Sometimes Kerry doesn't look so good superficially, but this debate his hair, makeup, suit were top notch. Only adding to his incredible performance.

[krkaufman]

13. A petty, pleading, pitiful Yoda, maybe. n/t

[gatorboy]

14. Bwwahaahaa!! I just noticed the little mic thing.

Bush is in for a spanking from Rove when he gets home. :D

[TexasSissy]

15. The podium height was covered in the rules I heard on TV...same height.

So Kerry's podium wasn't lowered or shorter or anything. He's just taller, #1. And #2, I SWEAR the Faux camera angles were rigged so that Bush was or appeared closer to the camera and thus larger in size (which actually may have had the effect of making Kerry seem taller and slimmer---I don't know). But I noticed right away that Bush was larger....even on the split screen.

[arikara]

18. To be honest

I never noticed how they photographed the differences in size. I was too busy chortling over the chimp's bizarre facial expressions and how he kept rooting around in his podium.

I was really impressed with Kerry tonight. He shone like he did when he did his Vietnam speech. Until tonight, I was wondering if it was really the same guy or not.

on edit: I watched it on CBC, maybe they had different camera angles than they had on Faux and CNN?