Bush's debate performance is a lot like the Dean "scream"

[girl gone mad]

I don't mean to start a controversy, so please hear me out.

I know the Dean scream was pure media manipulation, whereas the media is now working overtime to cover Bush's ass. I also know that Dean was already suffering from some loss of momentum, but it did become a missed opportunity for him.

I see Thursday's debate as analogous to the Dean scream fiasco in a big way: Bush supporters are embarrassed. The scream sowed doubt in the minds of a lot of Dean supporters, and especially in the minds of undecideds who had been considering him. Overnight, Deaniacs went from playing offense to having to defend their guy from charges that he was emotionally unstable.

Bush's 'faces of frustration' act is no different in that sense. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of moderate Bush supporters took down their signs Friday morning. As I observe the reaction from the RW minions, I get the same sense of a big balloon deflating.

Now is not the time to get complacent, though. We need to keep reminding people of Bush's disastrous debate showing. Don't let them forget how arrogant and out of touch he is, just like the media whores never let people forget that Dean screamed.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Going to an independent political meeting this afternoon

inspired by the debates. It's a group of leftists, independents, and Republicans who are all interested in getting Bush OUT. I'm bringing literature about our candidate for Congress, Jan Judy-it is important that we not only get Kerry in office but that we make sure he has a Democratic Congress to help him!

Check out this site and help us elect a Dem to the 3rd District in AR!

www.janjudy.com

[MichiganVote]

2. Yeah, as in, Bush screamed incompetance

[blm]

3. What Dean did that night was in SUPPORT of his supporters.

I never thought that what he did was wrong or worth criticizing and I was no shrinking violet when it came to criticizing Dean's campaign.

What George Bush did on Thursday should be labeled CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE. No president should be allowed to perpetrate such a fiasco upon an entire nation, without being roundly admonished.

[KittyWampus]

8. It Was Insulting To Have Bush Be So Unprepared

[rock]

4. What goes around, comes around

[milkyway]

5. I agree, and it's also similar to Gore's sighs. Dean's candidacy was ended

by the media coverage of the scream, and Gore probably lost the presidency because of the media coverage of his sighs. The way bush acted for the entire 90 minutes the other night was a thousand times worse than Gore's sighs. bush seems like he's gone off the deep end. As bad as his first term has been, it's horrifying to think of four more years of bush retreating further into his own delusions. His actions during the debate should be the subject of non-stop media coverage.

I began a thread similar to this the other day, and one reply made an excellent point--the Dean scream was a short clip they could play quickly and repeatedly. It made for a great sound bite for the media. bush did not have any one moment that stood out--the entire debate was an endless stream of bush falling apart.

[tblue37]

16. What about that moment,

which was shown last night on SNL's "Weekend Update," where Bush stands there, mouth wide open, blinking rapidly--for several long seconds.

[madfloridian]

6. I am so sorry you see a comparison there.

I do not even have words.

[KittyWampus]

7. It Was Dean's Comportment During The ENTIRE SPEECH

forget about the fucking Scream and just review his speech.

The whole thing was beyond the pale of what is acceptable for a concession speech in a presidential election.

That is the painful truth. Even without that "scream" in the end... Dean was totally out of range of normal behavior.

I somewhat agree with your thesis.

[madfloridian]

9. This is flamebait, and it is not needed right now.

.

[AntiCoup2K4]

14. I would have to agree...

...and the responses here make it clear who has moved on from their irrational hatred of Dean and who has not. Amazing, isn't it? ;)

[madfloridian]

15. Same folks.

Same ones.

[kentuck]

10. I think he looked as whupped as Dan Quayle back in '88...

:)

[goodboy]

11. except the media will not make Bush implode, like they did with Dean.

[belle]

12. A ninety-minute "scream" is a lot more than a soundbite. Next?

[progressivebydesign]

13. I think the most important point is not how badly Bush did..

.. but how well Kerry did. I think we're doing a disservice to Kerry when we focus too much on what a dufus Bush was. It's as if we're saying that if Bush acts normal, he'll win next time. Kerry won on substance.. and because America got to see him for once, unfiltered.

I think it's a mistake to focus too much on Bush's failure. It's Kerry's success that is most important. The fact that Bush was a total freak.. well, that's just delicious icing on the cake, and Kerry would have won either way.