Kerry 1, Bush 0

on Oct 02, 2004

My point was that it surprised me, not that debates are normally scored that way, but that you score them that way. Do you really think it matters if the President leans against the podium? Why?

Actually, yes, I think it matters a great deal. If you have read many experts, they universally agree that the majority of our communication is nonverbal; what a person conveys with body language says far more than what they communicate verbally.

77

Gideon MacLeish

on Oct 02, 2004

Something I haven't heard anyone address...a key turning point was towards the beginning of the debate, when Lehrer asked Bush if electing Kerry would lead to an increase in terror.

Bush then did what I call "pulling a Clinton". He gave an eloquent, well worded 2 minute response...WITHOUT ANSWERING THE QUESTION. Clinton amazed me as a man who had the skill of being able to say nothing in more words and still make you feel good about it than anyone I had ever viewed before; Bush has that same ability. I guess it's what makes a good career politician.

78

Gideon MacLeish

on Oct 02, 2004

helix...

You are a sick, sick man...I like that in a person!

79

The Trellinator

on Oct 02, 2004

Kerry politely wiped up the floor with W. Frankly I was embarrassed when I learned that folks from other nations watched our petulant President t Bush bumble, stutter, and stumble his way through a painful 90 minutes. It's a sad day when the President can't even talk for a full 2 minutes on a war he started. The media must've really worked to find a couple coherent soundbites.

Kerry was clear, concise, firm and most importantly, Presidential.

And if you want to talk about flip-flopping, try these on for size:

Against the dept. of homeland security--then for it
Against the 911 commission--then for it.
We're gonna catch Bin Laden dead or Alive- -Divert 200,000 troops to Iraq before we catch Bin Laden (remember him, the guy who attacked us?)
Mission Accomplished? Well, a couple nights ago, all we heard about was what "Hard Work" it is.
The Iraqis will welcome us as liberators-- Iraq is full of evildoers who hate democracy
Saddam Hussein poses a direct and imminent threat to the security of the United States--Saddam Hussein had the CAPACITY to make weapons of mass destruction (of course, with some fertilizer and petrol, so do I)
America should have a "humble" foreign policy (remember that one from 2000?)--spurn our allies and go it alone.

I could go on, but I'll leave you with my favorite Bush flip flop:
After 911, Bushy told us that it would be important for us all to make sacrifices for the greater good of the country and I was with him. Now, several years later I wonder what sacrifices the wealthiest Americans have made after virtually none of their loved ones are in Iraq and Bush gave them the biggest tax cut in the history of the nation.

80

Grim Xiozan

on Oct 02, 2004

Kerry was clear, concise, firm and most importantly, Presidential.

Don't forget boring, good lord I expect it from a President but a Senator should know better.

- GX

81

stevendedalus

on Oct 03, 2004

The US needs to pass a "World Test" for us to use force.

No, he mentioned the global test as a metaphor for measuring the seriousness of a given threat.

82

stevendedalus

on Oct 03, 2004

what a person conveys with body language says far more than what they communicate verbally.

Are you talking about sex here?

Frankly if what happened last night could excite you enough to change your vote, then a warm breeze would be as good for you as viagra...

Now that's funny!

83

Bahu Virupaksha

on Oct 03, 2004

I think that Kerry out performed Bush in evry manner. The argument is in my Blog. All we cuold sdee was Bush grimacing each time Kerry brought out the Iraq War. Bush says that Kerry voted in favor of the War and is therefore inconsistent. The fact of the mat

84

Bahu Virupaksha

on Oct 03, 2004

I think that Kerry out performed Bush in evry manner. The argument is in my Blog. All we cuold sdee was Bush grimacing each time Kerry brought out the Iraq War. Bush says that Kerry voted in favor of the War and is therefore inconsistent. The fact of the mat

85

Bahu Virupaksha

on Oct 03, 2004

I think that Kerry out performed Bush in evry manner. The argument is in my Blog. All we cuold sdee was Bush grimacing each time Kerry brought out the Iraq War. Bush says that Kerry voted in favor of the War and is therefore inconsistent. The fact of the mat

86

Daiwa

on Oct 03, 2004

2 cents, here.

I just don't believe, come Nov 2, that the electorate will allow looking & sounding good, in any or all of the debates, to run interference for Kerry's lack of principles. I still believe the election has almost nothing to do with Kerry and everything to do with Bush - it is Bush's election to lose. The short-sighted left could care less who their candidate is, just so long as Bush loses. They'll worry about Kerry if & after he gets elected.

And the frenzy about the perceived results of Debate 1 in the Kerry camp was a little too over-the-top - to listen to their spinners afterward, you'd think Kerry'd delivered a knockout blow and the election was over. You can put a fresh turd in a fancy package, but it's still going to stink and I have my doubts that Kerry will pass the smell test at crunch time. If I'm wrong, so be it. And I will support Kerry, should he be elected, as long as he prosecutes the war in Iraq to a stable conclusion as he has promised, though I will remain opposed to just about everything else he proposes to do.

Cheers,
Daiwa

87

Politically Active

on Oct 03, 2004

i don't think that Kerry intended to have the "world test" used when we are truly in danger, just in situations like Iraq. We could have gotten rid of Hussein with a lot less bloodshed had we had international support.

88

Grim Xiozan

on Oct 03, 2004

i don't think that Kerry intended to have the "world test" used when we are truly in danger, just in situations like Iraq. We could have gotten rid of Hussein with a lot less bloodshed had we had international support.

Who did we leave out from international support?

China, Russia, Germany and France? Who else is a major player that got left out in the support? Seriously can't you think of something better than that?

- GX

89

sandy2

on Oct 03, 2004

Who did we leave out from international support?

China, Russia, Germany and France? Who else is a major player that got left out in the support? Seriously can't you think of something better than that?

- GX

Are you saying that leaving out China russia germany and france is no big deal?

90

bakerstreet

on Oct 03, 2004

"Are you saying that leaving out China russia germany and france is no big deal? "

I suggest you go and look how big of a part they played in Afghanistan, supposedly the "model" coalition. Take a look at how much they had to do with the original Gulf War. To be quite frank, we don't get much out of it when they DO help, so really it isn't a big deal when they don't.