Was Bush told that looking annoyed would be a good move?

[Hamlette]

I can't believe his handlers didn't tell him not to pull a Gore.

the Cspan split screen was the best way to view the debate. We hardly heard a word Kerry said because we were gasping at Bush's body language and facial expressions when Kerry was talking. And his constantly going for water. Picking up the same empty glass over and over it seemed.

I know the debate rules said the media couldn't show Bush when Kerry was talking. That the Bush people insisted that be in the rules. But the media told us before the debate they wouldn't follow that rule so the Bush handlers knew.

It's possible that Rove told the boy if he looked annoyed, people would think Kerry was annoying.

I just saw the clip on Democrats.org. Bush's antics were exaggerated. Like he was doing it on purpose.

Or have I over analyzed this to the point that I'm spinning now?

[robbedvoter]

1. He thought it won't show on teevee - as per agreement.

Faux screwed him - believe it or not.

[MsTryska]

5. I know......

again...up is down. does this mean we're back in reality again?

[Sparkly]

2. Great question!!

What the hell did they do to prepare?! Kerry not only won on substance, he won on style, on preparation, on demeanor, on posture, on vocal tone, on anything you could possibly name!

So what on earth were they doing with Chimp during the days of preparation?

[NYCGirl]

3. I've heard a number of times from the pundits that Bush's handlers

told him to be aware that the camera would always be on and to watch himself. Either he thought those simian smirks would be a good move, or he thought no one could see them, we'll never know.

[JI7]

4. no, he just could not control his anger

[Castilleja]

13. I thought it looked as though he was struggling to control

his anger, as well as frustration opr disbelief that someone was being allowed to question him. At certain points, I thought he may be ready to go kick ass or something. He looked barely under control to me.

[carpe_vinum]

6. I was wondering that throughout the entire debate.

His disgusted expression was too consistent not to have been rehearsed. Surely they could not have thought that was a good look for him. If they did think his annoyed expression would rub off on viewers they miscalculated to an extreme degree. And the Republican handlers usually don't screw up like that. *shrug*

What will be interesting is his demeanor at the next debate. I suspect we'll be seeing a much different face on the President. I bet they've got the mirrors and video cameras set up in the rehearsal room at this moment.

[DenverDem]

7. He's a petulant spoiled frat boy moran.

He's too hubris riddled to listen even to his own handlers.

[Richardo]

9. 'hubris-riddled' HA!

...and 'petulant' - one of my very favorite words to describe the frat boy. :thumbsup:

[wtmusic]

8. To spin, no analysis is necessary

;-)

Kerry had good advice--while Bush was talking, he smiled and nodded. Every time.

The smirk is not only something that Junior can't help: it's a useless defense against a full frontal attack of logic.

[rkc3]

10. One of my repug colleagues was concerned with Kerry' shaking hands

during the debate. I wasn't sure what she was talking about. She stated she didn't want a president who appeared to be afraid when he talked with other world leaders.

I reminded her I didn't want a short retard for president.

It's amazing to me what people saw in the debate last night. I've been overly intent after limpball's pointed out Kerry's sweat after the DNC speech and didn't notice any bad marks for Kerry. bush, on the other hand, loooked like a 14 year old girl fighting with her boyfriend while Kerry spoke.

Even Jon Stewart slapped Guiliani last night and asked him which debate he was watching.

After the debate I could only think -- President Kerry. Has a nice ring to it don't you think? Or better yet - george w. bush, inmate number 42345324.

[cmf]

11. Funny story

We had a group of friends over to eat pizza and watch the debate. We watched the first part of the debate on C-SPAN. Then we went to ESPN to check the score of the Navy - Air Force game quickly (husband is in the Navy, and there were a couple of USNA grads there last night). Then we clicked back and accidentally put it on C-SPAN2. They didn't have the split screen. We were all screaming that Rove must have put a call in, etc. and that they pulled the split screen to make Shrub look better. Imagine our embarrassment when we realized we had put it on C-SPAN2. I think our tinfoil hats were on a little tight. :tinfoilhat:

[Philostopher]

12. Smirking and being derogatory IS his style.

Somebody posted an article the other day about a debate between Bush* and a guy who ran against him for Texas governor one of the terms after he screwed Ann Richards out of the office. They were jammed into a small basement room at the University of Texas, El Paso (UTEP), in the UTEP media center, and though the Democrat who was running against him hadn't been told, they didn't put cameras on both men through the whole debate. So this guy had to stand there and watch Bush* smirk, scowl, do anything he felt like doing -- basically, behave as if he had better things to do -- which of course threw the other guy off because he thought they both were on camera the whole time. It wasn't until later he saw the rebroadcast of the debate and realized that they'd played him -- it made him seem easily rattled, and because Bush* only did it when the camera off him, made Bush* seem to be more in control.

That's exactly what they were hoping for last night, I'm sure. Well, except anybody could have told them Kerry wouldn't get rattled over a few faces Bush* made at him. Bush could have dropped his pants behind the podium and Kerry probably wouldn't have blinked -- I'm sure he was expecting dirty tricks.

So my guess is Bush* just assumed, even though he'd been told otherwise, that Fox was going to cover his ass on that smirkin', slouchin', derogatory faces crap and he was profoundly wrong.

Doubtless they'll fix that, if there's another debate. Either they'll get what they want next time, or they'll put some clothes in the Naked Emperor. Maybe they'll put it in the rules that the candidates have to debate with a flour sack over their heads and their hands tied behind their backs. I think sneering at his opponents is so ingrained in the guy, Bush* may have more difficulty stopping doing that shit than anybody thinks.

[tomfodw]

14. No, he was told to be cheery and upbeat

But that's one more item than his brain can hold at any one time, so the overload caused him to go into smirk/grimace mode, which is one of his two defaults (the other being blank stare deer caught in headlights mode).

[bloom]

15. I was wondering the same

To me - it looks like Bush* doesnt' know how to control his emotions - but I wondered if is was purposeful - like you said. It seemed too obvious.

To send a "message"...