Posted
11:52pm, Thursday, September 30, 2004
"Kerry
wrote a book; W almost read one once but he was interrupted by a
terrorist attack." - Post from live chat during the debate
DAMN!
Kerry
kicked Bush's ass tonight! While Kerry answered all the questions
as they came to him, Bush clearly stuck to his rehearsed talking
points.
Often
times, Bush struggled to fill his alloted time. He
debated like a ninth grader trying to write a thousand word report,
padding his answers and going to trusted phrases time and time again.
So,
President Bush, how would you best describe the situation in Iraq?
Hard
work, hard work, hard work, hard work,
hard work, hard work, hard
work, hard work,
hard work, hard work, hard work.
And
what do you think of Kerry's position on Iraq?
Mixed
message, mixed message, mixed message,
mixed message, mixed message,
mixed message,
mixed message, mixed message, mixed message.
Apparently,
Karl Rove and Karen Hughes told Bush to describe Iraq as hard
work and to say Kerry was sending mixed messages. I imagine
they're both gonna kick Dubya's ass when they debrief him.
Most
early polls say Kerry beat Bush:
CNN / GALLUP POLL ON WHO WON DEBATE
Kerry: 53
Bush: 37
CBS POLL ON WHO WON DEBATE:
Kerry: 44
Bush: 26
Tie: 30
ABC POLL ON WHO WON DEBATE:
Kerry: 45
Bush 36:
Tie: 17
I
realize the right-wing wingnuts are going to claim Bush won,
but at least most of the conservative
bloggers
admit
that
Bush
got his ass kicked:
PoliPundit says:
"I think most people's first impression, is that Kerry was strong
and forceful, while Bush was less effective, more hesitant."
"I've been watching the debate for five minutes now. Despite my
partisan inclinations, I have to admit that Kerry has won this
debate. And not just in the high-school debate-coach sense of the word.Kerry
comes off as the prosecutor accusing Bush of incompetence. Bush comes off as
his Meet-The-Press, press-conference version - dogged, arrogant and unlikable.
Kerry will get a significant bounce in the head-to-head poll numbers from this
debate."
Powerline
Blog says:
"But, candidly, I don't think it went that well for the President.
I think Kerry helped himself tonight. He came across as a credible
candidate, and he was usually on the offensive... I think Kerry made headway,
and there is plenty of material there
for the mainstream media to proclaim the beginning of Kerry's
comeback...On the whole, though, I think Kerry helped himself tonight."
Freepers
say:
"While we were all hoping that Bush would defeat Kerry handidly
tonight and put the election out of reach, we can't be that
upset with tonight. Kerry may have even had a slight win..."
Oxblog:
"ONE LINE ON THE DEBATE: Kerry won. Hands down. By a lot. That's
all for now."
Winds
of Change:
"Kerry did well in terms of his persona; I went in expecting a
pompous windbag and he wasn't one. Bush did less well
in persona; fragmented, repetitive..."
New
Republicans:
"Well, if I'm generous, then Bush stuck to his talking points.
As a former debater, however, I am tempted to say that
Bush missed many, many, many chances to really make key points against Kerry...
I'm
not certain that Kerry won more than a few swing votes in this, but I don't know
if Bush can win those votes back. He simply didn't deliver as well as Kerry."
More
Powerline:
"I've taken more than an hour to try to talk myself out of concluding
that John Kerry won tonight's debate. I haven't succeeded.
Senator Kerry, I think, edged President Bush on substance and, surprisingly,
looked better throughout."
VodkaPundit:
"Kerry won on points, which probably was enough to shore up his
weakened support in New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania."
Dean's
World
"My
gut's telling me it's a win for Kerry because, frankly, he scared
me less than I expected him to."
(Thanks
to Daily
Kos for doing the legwork - includes links)
"Free
societies are hopeful societies. And free societies will
be allies against these hateful few who have no conscience,
who kill at the whim of a hat." - George
W. Bush, 9/17/04
©2004
Ron Lim unless noted |
