This was clearly the best of the three debates thus far. The question, save one, were excellent, well-written, and pretty darned even-handed. That guy with the “Why are you oppressing me with the PATRIOT Act?” question was the lone exception.
John Kerry hit all his campaign points tonight. I, personally, don’t think he brought up anything new that really helped him. His answer to the stem cell debate question (taking embryos from fertility clinics) was new and strange as was his contention that we ought to be obliged to pay for poor people’s abortions. He seemed to elevate a right to the status of something that must be provided. I don’t know that it’ll earn him points. I did get tired of his incessant name-dropping, though. It seemed to me that instead of saying what he would do, or what he has done, he spent a lot of time telling us who agreed or disagreed with him instead of why his policy is the right one. And, as in the past, he’s fairly short on details: he’ll train Iraqi troops faster (how?), he’ll get more allies involved in Iraq (How? Who?), he’ll name good judges (who wouldn’t?), and so on. It surprised me that Kerry painted himself in this debate at being strong on defense, conservative on the budget, and a pro-lifer at heart. It’s not a position he can defend, and he didn’t defent it well tonight. Kerry really injured himself a few times tonight for no reason that I could see.
President Bush obviously wanted to paint John Kerry as a liberal. Mission Accomplished. He also did very well against a very good debater. He engaged the crowd, made them laugh, and showed honest emotion. That’s a definite plus for him. He also drew stark lines between himself and Kerry on the economy and abortion – issues where Kerry’s position don’t mesh with how he’s portraying himself in the campaign. He also scored pretty heavily on the flip-flop issues. He was consistent, direct, and confident. The Town Hall format really helped him.
So who gets the win tonight?
President Bush, on points. He didn’t score a knockout blow, though he did hit Kerry hard and kept him on the ropes on a couple issues. Kerry also lost points for not actually answering a couple of the questions posed to him – notably the abortion question – and for contradicting himself directly on the Patriot Act question, among others.
This wasn’t the commanding victory that the President may have wanted, but it was certainly a clean win. It wasn’t all that close.
UPDATE: Nicole Griffin (one of my favorite bloggers) also liveblogged the debate – sober! She really should have played the “tax cuts for the rich” drinking game.
Spoons also liveblogged the debate. Check there for a slightly different take on things than mine.
Also check out Allahpundit’s debate blogging roundup. Mine should be there shortly, too.
Of course, check out Blogs for Bush’s roundtable and his list of folks who also liveblogged the debate, including me!
UPDATE: The transcript is here.
Sounds like the fight is over. Send ‘em in, and remember: No synopsis, no link. Hewitt gives Bush an A or A+ for 22 of his 26 responses. Allah’s beginning to think we might get a more objective opinion from…
Quick Presidential Debate Reaction Part Duex
Outrage of the Night: The final question! How is President Bush forced to defend himself against self-identified “mistakes,” while Kerry is given a free shot to attack his opponent in the rebuttal? This is absolutely outrageous, specifically with its…
My mother-in-law, a hopeless republican from suburbia if ever you saw one, recently sent my wife one of those annoying emails you often get from relatives.
You know, the kind. They mainly consist of apocryphal anectdotes to warn us about bands of roaming theives who want to steal our kidneys, or they contain some “cute” list of reasons explaining “why beer is better than a wife” or some shit like that.
These are the people who are voting for Bush. People who send emails like these to their friends and family as a means to “keep in touch” during these modern times.
The images they share with us, tend to revolve around religion, 9/11, the troops, and first responders. You know the type.
The one we got yesterday was supposed to be a very complimentary picture of Bush.
It finally dawned on me why Bush, after all he’s done, still has so many supporters. It’s not that they like his policies, or that they support the war in Iraq.
They are in love with him.
It explains everything. I mean, who among us has not been in a relationship that we know is damaging, yet can’t find the courage or the will to leave.
What about male Bush voters, you say? It’s simple. They are more in love with Bush than the woman are.
Think about it. The vast majority of Bush support comes from the white anglo saxon male. The kind of man who agrees with Bush that we should change the constitution to ban gay marriages. As shakespeare said, “I think thou dost protest too much”.
Consider the above photo, and compare to the one to the right, which is the cover to a gay video called Cowboy Boy Roundup. The mystique behind Bush’s appeal becomes much more apparent doesn’t it. It all makes sense.
Rove is a genius. Cowboy=Village People=Latent Sexual Urges=Millions of votes.
It also explains the appeal of Laura Bush, which I could never understand. The vacant eyes, the stepford wife posture and visage. The complete and utter asexualness about her.
She’s the perfect kind of wife for a man like Bush. A wife who’s off baking cookies and planning PTA events, while the men go out back and take off their shirts and chop wood. The sweat glistening down… anyway
This explains a lot!!
It explains the obsessive desire these people had to bring Clinton down. The poster boy for heterosexuality.
It explains rebublicans total disgust when they are asked to pay their taxes. The man (Bush) is supposed to pay for the date. Not them.
It explains the obsession with Military and Firemen.
It explains the love of BIG GUNS!!!
For the record. There is nothing wrong with being gay. But these people are SICK!!!
New Drinking Game Rule for Next Time
D’oh! I can’t believe I didn’t think of this one myself, but Jimmie points out a rule I should have been using: