MyDD :: President Kerry

President Kerry

by Chris Bowers, Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 11:49:28 PM EST

With the polls, both telephone and Internet, all showing sweeping wins for Kerry, and with the pundits calling either a draw or a Kerry victory, there is now little doubt that Kerry won not only this debate, but all three debates. Every time, Kerry crushed Bush among independents and undecideds. Every time the enthusiasm of the left wing netroots was greater than that of our equally sized right wing adversaries.

However, did we even need polls and pundits to tell us the obvious? On the very first question tonight, Bush lied about his past statements on Osama Bin Laden. On the second question, he looked completely unprepared when it came to securing flu vaccine. Before long, he almost completely stopped talking about his record, and just attacked Kerry over and over again. He tried to change several questions into education and Iraq, two subjects where he has poor records but where he at least feels comfortable talking about the issue.

This was the key to the debate. The President actually looked less Presidential than Kerry. While Bush looked out of his depth on questions of public health, Kerry was prepared for every question. While Bush tried to frequently change the subject, Kerry was well informed about everything and always on message. Sure he attacked Bush's record, but he has more than enough grounds to do so. Further, Bush's attacks tended to be of the generalizing "he's from Massachusetts" or "he's like Ted Kennedy" sort. The thing is that attacking Democrats as liberal and throwing out names like Ted Kennedy are what Republicans do to all Democrats, and just come off as so much noise rather than relevant to this campaign.

Kerry looked like the President tonight. In a debate where he was expected to win, he still won. Kerry lived up to people's high expectations, which is a clear sign that the country can now quite easily envision him as President. As we continue to fight media thugs like Sinclair, expose Bush's lies, GOTV and work the spin, our momentum will push Kerry over the top. The floodgates may indeed soon open in our favor, but no matter what happens never let up one bit. Work tonight until you pass out, and then wake up tomorrow and keep working. Hope is on the way. We have less than twenty days to make that hope a reality.

Tags: General 2008 (all tags)

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President Kerry (none / 0)

I agree that the election is now flowing toward Kerry. His performance in the debates has put him up as a reasonable alternative to Bush. There are three things that can stop Kerry:

A gaffe, on the order of Jerry Ford saying that Poland was not under Soviet domination.
An October surprise-- Osama dead or captured, something akin to the Swift Boat Veterans, revelation of scandal in the Kerry camp.
Related to #2--Republican dirty tricks or vote-rigging.

by flatblade on Thu Oct 14, 2004 at 12:28:53 AM EST

Amen... (none / 0)

There's a lot of work to be done. There will be plenty of time to sleep on November 3rd.

by bushsucks on Thu Oct 14, 2004 at 01:15:33 AM EST

Re: Amen... (none / 0)

Three weeks from now, I hope to use the following quote from a Republican president of three decades ago...

Our long national nightmare is over.

by KTinOhio on Thu Oct 14, 2004 at 01:49:05 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Amen... (none / 0)

Good one. I recognize it - Jerry Ford after pardoning Nixon!

by bushsucks on Thu Oct 14, 2004 at 12:21:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Debate 3 & turning points (none / 0)

Th 14 Oct 2004
00.15 Los Angeles

He tried to change several questions into education and Iraq, ... The President actually looked less Presidential than Kerry. While Bush looked out of his depth on questions of public health, Kerry was prepared for every question. While Bush tried to frequently change the subject, Kerry was well informed about everything and always on message.

Chris, this take on tonight -- parallel to Josh Marshall's, esp. in the overall image of 'presidential' -- tracks very close to mine. While Bush did not have a meltdown like the St. Louis one, or stammering, dead air blanks and nasty smirks as in Fla., I still thought his inability even to pretend to address a question or point stood out as quite a gap compared to Kerry.

But like debate 1, this one did still deliver up a nice palette of choice for most jaw-dropping one-liners. Kevin Drum's wife may have been offended by the 3 card monte shift to education in reply to outsourcing, but I was most struck -- not to say stunned -- in Bush's religion / prayer musings: "I love it when people all across the country pray for me..." (words to that effect). What, pray tell, does this clearly spontaneous line tell you of his mind? Louis XIV comes first to my mind. Staggering the arrogance and narcissism.

I cannot close without throwing out a great big raspberry to Bob Schieffer. Only Gwen Ifill's questioning at the VP debate was worse. What on God's green earth was that last question supposed to bring out?? No questions on environmental protection, but a softball to GWB so he could wax on about the power of prayer. Jeebus, how pathetic. Bring back the audience in St. Louis for doing the questions; this was pathetic.

by melstrom on Thu Oct 14, 2004 at 03:30:39 AM EST

Work to do but news is helping (none / 0)

While the Bush team will be in full slander/october surprise mode - anyone want to place odds on the threat level being raised? - Click over to Yahoo news and look at the headlines. Attack in the Green Zone, Dow Slides below 10000, Deficit at record high. Then click on the Business news section - Oil Rates up, Trade deficit surges, dollar weakens, Jobless rate rises. The Bush camp is fighting two fights - one against Kerry and one to distract America from the News. Instead of a lot of weekend news shows all about the Election, I think we will see a lot of discussion of the economy/Iraq and none of it will favor Bush. Keep fighting.

Wes

by Wesc on Thu Oct 14, 2004 at 05:32:52 PM EST

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