Kudos to Jim Lerher, he's really good at moderating these debates

[BootinUp]

He helped keep the debate on point which gave Kerry a bigger opening to shoot through.

[skylarmae]

1. My sentiments exactly

I couldn't sleep very well (about 3hrs.) and I still can't
believe JK kicked butt to the extent he did. I am so thankful.
It's bloody about time! Now's the time to
BEWARE OF THE WOUNDED ANIMAL!!!

[Eurobabe]

2. I have always found Lehrer to be one of the last remaining

unbiased journalists.

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. I think we're being charitable because Kerry won.

I felt that Pres. Bush assumed the sale on those 30 second follow-ups. Before Kerry was finished with his time, Bush was already impatiently waiting to spout out his rebuttal and looking up to Leher only for protocol. He didn't even look like he had to concede to Leher's authority, and indeed, Leher never cut him off.

[tblue37]

6. Every time Kerry signalled for his chance to do a 30-second rebuttal,

Lehrer ignored him, but every time Bush wanted his 30 seconds, he got it. On the other hand, I suspect that just like the rest of us, Lehrer couldn't take his eyes of Chimpy's fidgety performance while Kerry spoke, so he might well not have even seen Kerry's request to rebut.

[flordehinojos]

10. LEHRER IS A BUSH PIMP! and, while I've heard Lehrer's performance

last night praised by different people in other venues .... I have to say that Lehrer was pimping for Bush last night and one of the ways in which he did this was to grant bush every 30 seconds response that Bush wanted while cutting Kerry off of any 30 seconds response that Kerry wanted.

LEHRER IS A BUSH PIMP. LEHRER IS A BUSH PIMP. LEHRER IS A BUSH PIMP.

}( }( }( }( }( }( }( }( }( }( }( }( }( }( }( }( }( }( }( }( }( }( :P

[RafterMan]

12. Which 30-second responses did Kerry want?

??

[flordehinojos]

13. On a couple of times or more Kerry's words were nixed in the air by Lehrer

But I'd have to look at the tape to tell you exactly when these moments happened.

[RafterMan]

15. You do that

Because I never saw him do it, and I did see Bush.

[BootinUp]

16. I saw one time when Kerry signaled, but Lerher moved on

to the next question. I am not sure whether Lerher saw the signal or not though.

[flordehinojos]

17. Perhaps you and I have different perceptions ... I did see Lehrer

move on right quick to "another question, Senator" as Kerry was opening up his mouth to rebut something Bush was saying and Kerry, being the gentleman who plays by the rule that he is, shutting his mouth and smiling as if saying, okay, you go ahead.

[Supersedeas]

18. Yep, you were not the only one to see that (nothing major, Kerry handled

it)

Just another example of how Kerry was so much more Presidential than the "Let me finish" guy--the one who really had nothing more to add.

[SidDithers]

20. Actually, I thought Boosh's overuse of the 30 second reply showed weakness

Bush would get the question and 2 minutes to answer, Kerry would make Bush's answer look silly, forcing Boosh again and again to try to clarify his point, and then Kerry would get another 30 seconds for the final word on the subject.

Kerry not using the 30 second retort on every question to me showed that Bush's critiques of Kerry's 2 minute answers were not scoring points.

It was like a lawyer who objects to everything, appearing desperate in front of the jury.

Sid

[Catt03]

4. Enjoy it now

because I think that Gibson and Gwen Eifel will be Bush cheerleaders

[BootinUp]

5. On Gibson I agree.

Gwen Eifel I don't have an opinion on her politics, wasn't she also on the Newshour? IIRC she is a good interviewer though.

[tblue37]

7. She and Condi are best buddies.

When Condi is on News Hour, Gwen gushes over her and brags about having dinner at Condi's house, and brags about what a great cook Condi is. Objective? I think not.

[Toronto Ron]

9. I agree about Ifil

I remember liking her, several years ago. She has been absolutely horrible the last couple of years.

[SidDithers]

21. Gibson and Bob Schieffer...

Gwen Ifil is the moderator for the VP debate.

Sid

[DeepModem Mom]

8. He didn't go for "gotcha" moments either, did he? It wasn't about him...

as is the case with so many prima donnas who've moderated. Every question he asked was a serious, legitimate, logical question. Now that I think about it, you're absolutely right!

Remember the low-point horror of Judy Woodruff's moderating the CNN Dem primary debate? Remember Peter Jennings and Wes Clark? Remember the self-importance of some of the pompadoured panels that moderated primary debates?

I hope Lehrer has set a precedent.

[tblue37]

11. Yes, even with his failure to give Kerry his turn at

rebuttal, he did ask tough questions that frequently put Bush on the spot, and he did offer Kerry some very nice openings.

[sendero]

14. Lehrer...

... creeps me out big time and I don't think he's impartial at all.

[JI7]

19. he kept it on the issues, but he was favorable to Bush

with all that extra time to respond. and many of the times bush requested extra response time bush didn't even really have anything to say about what kerry had just said. half the time it was "uhhhhh___ " and then he just repeated some stupid talking point about how kerry changes positions and he sticks to it.

and he should have called out bush on breaking the rules the way he did to al gore in 2000.

that being said , he did a good job in that he kept it on the issues that matter. he didn't play word games like russert does where he brings up some quote from years ago to compare to what is said now without taking into account the context.

we should worry a bit about the next debates. charlie gibson went after kerry on the medals thing and may have a bias. and scheiffer from cbs will also host a debate and since cbs went through the whole crap with the memos they might try extra hard to be tougher on kerry and easy on bush to try to convince people they aren't biased against bush as some are accusing them of being.