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Politics : Stockman Scott's Political Debate Porch -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: mistermj who wrote (58273)	10/3/2004 9:58:30 PM
From: stockman_scott	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 89467

Debate 2004: Bush Chokes! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Commentary by Egbert F. Bhatty October 1, 2004 washingtondispatch.com The wrong Bush showed up for the Presidential foreign policy debate at the University of Miami, Coral Gables, Thursday night. Or, let me put it this way – Kerry forced the wrong Bush to surface. Right from the outset Democratic candidate John Kerry attacked President George W Bush’s record. And, from the opening moments Bush was on the defensive – or, rather, put on the defensive. Bush’s best moment came in the 70th minute of the debate when he was asked about Kerry’s character. A very loving person in private – it’s in his public behavior that he becomes a monster -- Bush heaped encomiums on Kerry. His nature is such that he could not have done less. He cannot cut down a man directly. And, that is why his criticism of Kerry, the man, as Presidential material was mild. His innate goodness, his refusal to go for the jugular, may yet cost Bush the election. Beyond those four minutes it was all Kerry. Bush stumbled out of the gate. His answers to questions posed by Jim Lehrer of PBS, the moderator of the debate, were disconnected thoughts, unconnected ideas. He looked distinctly uncomfortable in the arena. Looking uncomfortable is a Bush family trait. It sank Bush 41 who was caught looking at his watch in his debate with President Bill Clinton. And, while Bush 43 did not look at his watch you could sense his dismay at having to stand there and defend his record against Kerry’s barbs. Like a skilful picador Kerry got under Bush’s skin till, finally, in the 72nd minute Bush exploded: “I just know how this world works!” But, that’s not where Bush lost this debate. It was in the opening minutes. Kerry attacked Bush’s record again and again and put Bush completely on the defensive. Bush was stumbling through his sentences. He lips were pursed. He was beginning to blink hard. In the 26th minute Kerry knew he had won the debate. He smirked. And that smirk/smile did not leave Kerry’s face after that for the rest of the debate. At the 56th minute of the debate Kerry nodded to himself – a nod of quiet, confident self-satisfaction. He had the President where he wanted him. In a box. Like a second rate challenger, Bush never really landed a good one on Kerry. Bush repeatedly asked Lehrer to let him respond to Kerry’s jabs beyond the allotted time. Kerry never once asked for this privilege. And, that is the measure of this foreign policy debate that was supposed to be in the bag for Bush. The Conservative bloggers monitored by Jeff Greenfield of CNN were awash in dismay to see their man on the ropes. Bill Kristol, the neocon ideologue, admitted on Fox News that Kerry did well. Morton Kondracke, Executive Editor of Roll Call and a Fox News contributor stated that Kerry, indeed, looked like a Commander-in-Chief. Bush failed to convince. But, neither are we convinced of Kerry, yet. The foreign policy debate has broken Kerry’s way. The domestic debate may well, yet, break President Bush’s way. The measure of Kerry’s self-confidence in the foreign policy debate was that he repeatedly referred to his Vietnam experience to delineate the sharp difference between himself and the President. The measure of Bush’s desperation was that he could not bring up the Swift boater’s charges to rebut Kerry. The wrong Bush may have shown up for the foreign policy debate. But, to the great relief of the Democrats, the right Kerry showed up! For the nation as a whole, the evening started out as a debate on the suitability of Kerry. It ended with doubts about Bush.

To: mistermj who wrote (58273)	10/3/2004 11:22:58 PM
From: DayTraderKidd	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 89467

ummmm, Kerry was wrting down notes throughout the debate. WTF took you so long to say something about that?

To: mistermj who wrote (58273)	10/4/2004 10:20:39 AM
From: Wharf Rat	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 89467

Bush caught redhanded cheating in debate, and this doesn't even include his hearing aid... Looks like he was doing a Terrill Owens impersonation. "Bush kept shifting his weight and sipping water. He sometimes scribbled notes so furiously with an oversize Sharpie pen that photographers in the wings could hear it squeaking. While briefed on main points—he had listened to audiotapes of Kerry—Bush made more assertions than detailed accusations. Republicans fretted afterward that he had been overcoached, stifling his genial personality." Message 20597212