I'm worried about debates. Bush is undefeated. He's cunning

[PretzelWarrior]

We really have a battle on our hands. The BUsh prep folks are some of the best and they will make sure their guy plays to his own strengths of homespun wisdom and everyman candor--perhaps even some slipups. He will gain sympathy as a Jack Lemmon character you root for even though he's flawed.

Kerry risks coming off as a patrician, slightly didactic ivory tower type who is not in touch with the guy in Topeka, Peoria, or Detroit.

This is something we have to realize--the media will not be an excuse. It is all about the moment. The moment in time that is frozen for posterity and irretrievable.

Think Clinton against DOle in 96 when Dole came off as angry and too old for the job.

Think Gore against Quayle.

Think Reagan against Carter "There you go again.....are you better off now than you were four years ago."

Reagan against Mondale: "I would never exploit my opponent's youth and inexperience for political gain."

We should put out guesses as to what wonderful zingers and strategies Bush, Rove, and the crew have planned as they look to continue their streak of debate dominance over seemingly superior foes.

[Cha]

1. Welcome to 1984 ..twenty years

later!

[PretzelWarrior]

7. do you mean my version of NewSpeak or the Reagan landslide?

just curious.

Holy Cow...I just reread 1984 this summer--my homage to corporate fascism buying the Borders Summer reading selection.

That juxtaposed against the Harpers article about Straussian philosophy of political manipulation through language is something else. It will blow you away.

[Cha]

18. Your "NewSpeak"!

But now that you remind me of what happened in 1984 ..I have to say that really ties in with Orwell's book.


And I'm afraid I already am "blown away"!;)

[ibegurpard]

2. I agree... we need to be VERY worried.

Everyone was salivating for the Bush/Gore debates and Bush won.

[Cha]

20. Yeah, the media sure called that one.

They were saying how great bush was, right?

[mac56]

74. They lowered the bar for Bush.

As long as Bush didn't piss himself behind the podium, he would have been called the winner of the debates. Hell, maybe even if he had.

[physioex]

3. I don't think Regan Carter was fair...

From what I understand Raygun had some inside info. Clinton is a very charming person and defeated Bu$h and Dole very easily. Plus Bu$h made the mistake of looking at his watch.

What worries me is that they lower expectations and make Shrub look good. I look forward to the debates, I say "Bring it on"...

[Dr Fate]

8. How can they lower his expectation- the media told us he "won" last time..

It's Kerry who has the low expectations this time- the media has told us over and over that Bush is a great debater...

[physioex]

49. Amazing the garbage the media tries to shove.....

Bu$h a great debator..bwhahahahahahahahah

[PretzelWarrior]

14. they CAN'T lower expectations. Cat is out of the bag. jig is up.

We understand the black magic of Bush's practiced accent and stuttering. We can see how he grabs ahold of the audience with his charm...especially grabbig hold of the pundits' imaginations. They will be agog with the as yet to be revealed slippery debate tricks he pulls from his back pocket.

I believe he may rank as one of the best method actors of our time. I say....set your VCR or Tivo for the debates because you are going to see Bush fillet Kerry quicker than he slices up a bass from his stocked pond.

Expectation? If Kerry comes off as anything more than a cadaver we can chalk it up as a victory. Bush is that good.

[ibegurpard]

17. excellent analysis.

eom

[Droopy]

27. You must be joking

I say don't underestimate Bush and Kerry should be preapared as if he's going against a genius, but Bush is no master debater. He's just got a few qualities that the uninformed like and don't see through as an act.

[Cronus Protagonist]

52. We know his modus operandi

And he's very tough to beat in a debate because all he has to do is smile and say his one-liners. I agree. Kerry's got his work cut out for him to come across as an everyman against Bush's "aww shucks" dumb redneck act.

Rednecks everywhere do the same thing when a "city boy" comes around. They act all "awwww shucks" but really they're all plotting how to steal your wallet because you're a dumbass "city boy". They can relate to that persona because it's just like they are. They don't know Bush is a New Englander born with a silver coke spoon in his mouth, they believe his act.

Very tough to beat in these debate formats. Very.

I expect Bush to have at least a 4% bump after the first debate, along with about 9% during the convention in New York (when they milk the 9/11 firemen, police and rescue workers theme again). That should put him at least 9 points ahead of Kerry going into the election, assuming Kerry picks up a few swing voters.

It's going to be close against such an astute politician as Bush and his dream team. I do hope Kerry can make it through without too much damage.

Swiftboat Veterans for Bush

JFK - Drop Bush Not Bombs! - FUCK BUSH
http://brainbuttons.com/home.asp?stashid=13

[Davis_X_Machina]

4. He is most certainly *not* undefeated.

And yes, you can blame the media.

There was a big study done after 2000 -- it was either the Pew Center for the People and the Press, or the Annenberg School for Communication -- that showed that people who watched the debates themselves scored them something like a 60-40 Gore win, but people who only watched the coverage after the debates, or the coverage the next day, scored them a 60-40 Bush win.

[EST]

16. Good point

n/t

[PretzelWarrior]

21. but don't you get it? That counts as a Bush win. just like 5-4 ruling.

he may win in unconventional ways...but it's still a W for the Dubya.

We've got to realize this election most likely will be won on things like facts on the ground in Iraq or latest unemployment numbers.

It's sort of like a given that Bush will pull the same things he's pulled before. Look for a sharp uptick in "Bushisms" right before the debates to recalibrate people's expectations downward.

That is part of the debate. He believes the debate starts MONTHS before the actual event night. That's how smart and crafty they are.

All KErry did with his tremendous speech today was tilt the debate win toward Bush. Based on Kerry's nomination speech, people will be expecting Moses on Mount Siani against Mo or Curly.

[Cha]

23. Well, there ya go! Our media does

it again!

[Julien Sorel]

30. Then we need to fucking BOMBARD the media with

that study. Make them well aware of what they did. Because most people don't watch the debates, and only hear about them second hand.

I would be willing to bet that more Republicans watch the debates than Democrats. What does that mean? At watercooler discussions, the Republican spin will heavily outweigh the Democratic spin.

[BurtWorm]

63. Thank you!

Let's also not forget who won the election, never mind who scored the White House.

[Claire Beth]

76. In my opinion....

Winning 2 debates (according to the media) hardly constitutes a pattern on need to worry! Now maybe if he had been in 500 and won 500 I would be worried. Kerry was a prosecutor, so I'm hoping he will bring a little bit of debating skills to the table.

[Dr Fate]

5. Yeah me too (wink wink) I'm REAL worried...(nudge nudge)...

...that Bush sure does have some very HIGH expectations.

I expect he will do even BETTER than last time.

If Kerry even shows up, it will be a DEM victory.(Wink wink, nudge nudge)

[Myrina]

64. Arrogance leads to downfall, my friend ....

...don't count your chickens, and all that ...

[Droopy]

6. Your right

This is something I've been saying for a long time: Do not underestimate Bush. He's probably not much on his own, but he's got some pretty smart people working for him.

[speedoo]

13. Dumbya has a record to defend now.

And the record sucks. he will need a lot more than good prep to defend his woeful record well in the debates. Especially with Kerry there to attack the record.

In additon, these are different times than in 2000. The economy is much worse, dumbya's war of choice in Iraq is going poorly (remember "Mission Accomplished almost 900 US deaths ago?), and OBL (remember "Wanted Dead or Alive") is still at loose plotting to kill Americans.

These debates are not the time to be folksy and a good guy. These debates are about competence.

[Droopy]

22. Good point

I still would play it safe and prepare like I was debating Einstein if I were Kerry. That way he'll be thouroughly prepared to deliver a serious smack down.

[speedoo]

35. I expect Kerry to be very well prepared.

Did you see him on the Daily Show? He got in several good licks that would work well in the debates. Mostly on the economy. What's Bush going to say on the economy? We've turned the corner? Heard that one before. Only way that might work is if the Sept. jobs numbers are super. Kerry's gonna raise your taxes and kill the recovery? Kerry's ready to answer that.

[PretzelWarrior]

37. so what? He had a record to defend in Texas too. GOre flopped.

He should have thrown in more quick one-line knocks on the real substance of his failed governance in that state.

If Kerry spends all his time trying to talk about values and hope and his Vietnam service...he will get whalloped when Bush out of nowhere like Rainman starts quoting all these figures (both true and false) to buttress his case that actually his presidency hasnt been so bad.

He will beg for audience sympathy when Kerry attempts to go in for the kill. It's all about the emotion both evoke.

I think Kerry should show up with resolve and with about 50 very well rehearsed SHORT SHORT SHORT statements in a nugget easily digested by Americans and about 50 well-rehearsed rebuttals of dirty attacks by Bush as he attempts to mischaracterize KErry's statements, war record, and years in senate.

[fujiyama]

43. You have a great point

Kerry's weakness up till this point (and in general) has been not being able to deliver statements that can be digested as short soundbites. Didn't THK actually comment on this once?

That's why many people don't understand his plans. Bush (or Rove) cleverly coined worthless phrases like "compassionate conservative" and "uniter not a divider". They were effective to some extent last time. This time, I'm not aware of their phrases, but they've defined Kerry as "flip flopper".

Kerry would be better advised in not spending much time about Vietnam in the debates. I think he already knows this though. On his stump speeches he has been sticking to important policy issues. Hopefully he can summarize them easily enough so that the average American (who has the attention span of a fruit fly) will listen.

[Stephanie]

9. Think Deer in the Headlights, Stammering, Mispronouncing

Uninformed, Unintelligent, Incapable, Embarrassment.

Kerry just needs to show up.

[physioex]

50. Steph....

Please don't oversimplify things. I agree Shrub is not a charming as Raygun or Clinton nor is he a good debator. However he has that stupid aura about him that appeals to certain people in the population. So no I don't it will be that simple...

[NewYorkerfromMass]

54. you do have a point- Kerry is significantly taller than Bush

even without the hair. The taller candidate ALWAYS seems more presidential.

[bobbyboucher]

79. Do you think they'll try to fix that?

You know, some lifts for Bush or some tinkering with Kerry's or Bush's podium.

[mumon]

68. "My Pet Goat"

Kerry's GOT to bring that up.

[Morning Dew]

10. Bush is possibly the best debater I've ever seen

he wiped the floor with Gore in 2000.

Be afraid, be very afraid.


And tell everyone you know that Bush is an excellent debater - clear, concise and intelligent.

[Guaranteed]

45. LOL that's right

He'll probably get a fifteen point bounce afterward, too.

[CBHagman]

60. Dear, you must get out more.

"Bush is an excellent debater - clear, concise and intelligent."

I've heard more Bush press conferences (few though they may be), media availabilities, and speeches than I care to remember. He's politically ruthless, but no one would call him articulate. What he does is spout boilerplate -- a few declarative sentences, swipes at his opponent, phoney nice-guy drivel, etc. Yes, some people eat this up, but it doesn't make him even a passable debater.

[VolcanoJen]

73. Exactly!! Start raising expectations for Bush NOW.

"If I were Kerry, I'd be nervous too. Bush beat the stuffing out of Al Gore in 2000. Kerry's not known for being able to explain his positions clearly. Bush is so much more charming than Kerry, too. He's warm, and he makes so much more sense in these kinds of situations. And he's done such a great job for America in the War on Terror. I mean, how on earth is Kerry going to be able to address that?"

Talk Bush up to everyone you know. }(

[Morning Dew]

77. Raise the bar for *

If he doesn't meet expectations for his great debating skills, it's surely not my fault. <wicked, evil grin>

[LynneSin]

75. HE WIPED THE FLOOR BECAUSE THEY GAVE HIM THE QUESTIONS

Bush practically refused to debate until the debates were set up in his favor so he would look like the winner.

He 'won' because Gore allowed him to set the formats

[EST]

11. History has it that Kerry is a crackerjack debater.

Of course, after watching virtually every relevant, major political debate of the last forty years, I am quite clear these ain't debates, they are just a trotting out of sound bites and campaign promises. The whole thing can be won if JFK just keeps pointing out the obvious--these rascals are just flat incompetent. No matter what the issue, the overriding facts are they are avaricious, unprincipled, and stupidly incompetent. The biggest thing we have to fear probably isn't even this election, it's the next regrouping of these fascists with some actually competent people in charge.

[nosmokes]

12. i might have agreed with you a couple of weeks ago,

but JK is loosening up, he's relaxing, he's becoming at ease with himself. remember, that folksy bullshit of lil flora's is an act, it's just one that he has a lot of practice with. but there's nothing genuine about his schtick. and JK is a man that can think on his feet. i say he takes the shrub in all 3, 2 in a KO.

[Scorpious_Maximus]

15. Worried? Why?

Those who say they are worried about the debates, need to do their homework on John Kerry.


<snip>

At St. Paul's, Kerry founded the John Winant Society, an organization that still exists to debate major issues of the day. Kerry recalled delivering an award-winning speech titled ``The Plight of the Negro.'' St. Paul's officials could not find a copy of the speech but did unearth a speech Kerry gave for the Concordian Literary Society that won the top prize. It was titled: ``Resolved: that the growth of spectator sports in the western world in the last half century is an indication of the decline of western civilization.''



The Boston Globe has an excellent series on John Kerry.

Start here.

http://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/

[PretzelWarrior]

25. yep...GOP talking points are out: Kerry is silver tongued devil

He'll talk you silly like a flim-flam man. Then old Bush will spit and swear...profess love of God, Country, and the local football team and say....what did you ever do in the Senate?

I created a new foreign policy doctrine and pushed through an entire new cabinet level position and department. All you did was get your name on some fancy bills that took food out of our soldiers' mouths.

Game, set, match to Bush.

[gauguin57]

19. If Kerry doesn't sigh, wear too much blusher, or get right up in

George's grill with some piece of paper, like Gore did, he'll be ahead of the game. And he's not going to do any of those things.

He'll dish it right back out, I suspect. He won't take any silliness or crap from Bushie.

[Supersedeas]

69. Yep, easy on the blush and sighes, and Kerry'll be fine. (eom)

[Stephanie]

24. But he's no Linguist!

sorry....

[Nordic]

26. the big question: will they take Bush off his meds for the debates?

because right now the guy can barely put together a sentence.

There's seriously something wrong with him.

Remember the Meet the Press interview? MY GOD. He came across as utterly brain-damaged.

Who knows what they'll dope him up with for the debates.

[PretzelWarrior]

28. that is meat to set the trap. just like his latest faux pas

where he basically said they are constantly looking for ways to harm our country and its people.

This has polled well. His lack of mental agility or speaking prowess doesn't bother most people. Some actually warm to him for that reason.

Remember...Kerry has got to look a little sympathetic to people out there. He's actually gotta look like he's playing defense against Bush or people will describe him as mean-spirited and a "smarty pants".

HE will not show up looking drugged. Did you notice that when BUsh wants he can totally turn on and turn off the precise well-spoken sentences. At other times, he purposefully comes off as a bufoon. Its always about context and timing.

It's called the rope-a-dope.

[EST]

29. Rereading this thread, everyone is right.

The debates will NOT be about the debates. It will be about staging, or stink bombs on the podium, bad microphones, something. These fuckers always play to win, not to play fair. They are in it to cut the other guy's heart out and eat it! Not playing---winning.

[Scorpious_Maximus]

31. I can't believe what I am reading here...

Honestly. We all know what the pugs do; what makes anyone think we aren't ready for that?


For me, I can't wait until the debates.


Just my opinion I guess. I have a lot of confidence in John Kerry.

[EST]

32. What is it we are ready for?

An honest debate? Not on your life! The only way, IMO, to make this whole thing fly is to keep jamming them, hard, again and again from now til then, so that any debate will be an anticlimax--a non-event. So that they have been already beaten so resoundingly no one will even be interested in watching any so-called debate.

[PretzelWarrior]

33. you, sir, nailed it. only lead edge of a new Bush scandal

or major disastrous news damaging the status quo will help knock Bush off his stride.

Kerry has got to evoke humility, honesty, and real sadness at the bitterness of partisan politics. Those are things people understand.

BUsh does one thing right. He is full of SH!t when he says it...but he says "I ask for your vote" and people respond to it.

Kerry just needs to do a straight up request to the national audience. I ask for your vote. I'd appreciate your vote. That's worth 3 poll points right there.

[Scorpious_Maximus]

34. We knew this was going to be ugly

Anyone who is expecting an honest debate on "the issues" doesn't understand the game.

And it IS indeed a game.


Your description of "what needs to be done" is already being done, isn't it?

It goes back to Sun Tzu. And Kerry is running his campaign by The Art of War.

The SwiftVets are self-destructing, Bush is on the defensive, and the counter-attack is coming.

I have the utmost confidence in the campaign.

By the debates, we will all be wondering what the fuss was all about.

[NewJeffCT]

62. I have confidence as well

But, the problem is that the media will set the expectations so low for Bush that when he doesn't drool all over himself and give the Nazi-salute while saying "Seig Heil!", he'll be declared the winner over the cold, aloof Kerry.

[Gore1FL]

36. Kerry vs Bush needs to mirror the fictional Bartlett vs Ritchie

Kerry needs to bulldoze Bush.

[PretzelWarrior]

39. but with a smile. Compassionate Kickass-ism

this is what we need from Kerry. And we need for BUsh to come unglued. Kerry was a prosecutor and he has daily contact with an awesome trial attorney. Maybe they can come up with ways to make Bush look petulent and even unhinged. He needs to be badgered into some kind of unholy pronouncement like: "You just wait til I win the election and see what happens to people like you, Commie."

[EST]

42. I kinda agree-

But it can't be obvious. If he drives right over chimpy, the Bush mafia will be reelected in a landslide, 'cause the big, bad smartass is picking on "our" president. Probably the best thing to happen to the good guys would be if the opposition doesn't think it through and manages to stall or refuse to debate. Then we don't have to mess with it. Right now the whole focus has to be pointing at these criminals and yelling Liar! Thief! Incompetent! etc until it gets welded into the public mind and they start thinking the same thing every time those rascals pop up. Incidentally, of course, those accusations have to be backed up by the evidence. We do, after all, tell the truth. The best minds I have ever seen are working on that, right here on du.

[fujiyama]

38. The outcome of the debates

is not in doubt. Regardless of how poorly Bush performs in the debates, he'll be proclaimed the "winner" by the media whores.

We saw CNN's (well I mostly watched CSPAN) coverage of the convention. Could it have been any more biased? It was disgusting.

Bush can get up there - make some ridiculous statements about Saddam being the same as Osama, and liberating countries, and the media will swoon and gush over him and his manliness. I'll watch the debates of course, but I'll skip the post debate coverage.

[Bluebear]

40. Bush is masterful and convincing in debates

His State of the Union was a high point, very convincing why we went into war. The nation tends to rally behind this very experienced debater. My expectations for Bush is his usual stunning performance and grasp of events and concepts. Good luck to Kerry, he will need it.

[PretzelWarrior]

41. eggzactly. the man has a grasp of what's important to a viewer

and he hits on all cylinders. He's like Lou HOltz. He pretends like his own hanging is right around the corner and then delivers the big ones which journalists and the objective, unbiased media analysts somehow pick up on and report to the intelligent and discerning public.

[EST]

44. Gawd, I love it.

You are truly gifted! Every line just dripping sarcasm and not a cuss word in a mouthfull. (He he) Im a little envious.

[PretzelWarrior]

47. (blushing). thanks

this whole line of inquiry has really fired me up

[Bluebear]

46. Every speaking opportunity yields a sound bite

America really hasn't been treated to his full prowess, as events have made press conferences almost passe in this age of terror. But Bush will come out swinging, no doubt. I wonder if he had debate experience at Yale, he's clearly a trained specimen.

[EST]

48. He's a natural con man.

*'s entire life has been about getting someone else to take the tests for him. Take the blame, fix the ticket, scrub the records-this is, after all, the bush mafia.

[VOX]

71. But to date, the media keeps giving * free passes...

BushCo has the youthful press corps so desperate to file anything that the inkers have lobbed some of the silliest, pathetic softballs in *'s direction. They don't cross him, they grovel.

Remember the first *-Gore debate? The media generally agreed that Gore had been "mean" to *. (Like a guy who's allowed himself to be treated "mean" is better qualified to be president!)

* could fart brown mist at the podium, and the fawning RW media would exclaim in unison, "Genius!"

Time to hold the media's feet to the fire, IMO.

[Piperay]

51. Yeah, chimp is going to win

each and every debate for sure, he is going to mop the floor with Kerry and Uncle Dickie will do the same with Edwards, sigh. ;-)

[Cronus Protagonist]

53. Don't forget all the media too

George just has to smile at the end and he's going to be declared the winner. We can't count on good debates to win this election. We need good policies and we need to keep pointing out that Kerry and Edwards will give us America back again OR we're toast.

Swiftboat Veterans for Bush

JFK - Drop Bush Not Bombs! - FUCK BUSH
http://brainbuttons.com/home.asp?stashid=13

[mzmolly]

55. He's undefeated, cunning and "a good ol' boy from Texas"

:eyes:

His faux persona as a down to earth rancher from Texas vs. the so called aloof liberal from Mass, is something to be concerned about.

I hope they ask * when he bought the ranch :evilgrin:

[NewJeffCT]

61. agreed

Bush will spit out factless patriotic platitudes that make people feel good. Kerry will give strong, but long answers that are full of stupid things like facts. The media will then declare Bush the winner because he didn't drool all over himself and shout, "Sieg Heil" while on stage.

[rullery]

56. Landslide for Kerry?

I realize that many posts here are satire, proclaiming that Bush is such a great debater, etc. But as long as Kerry doesn't appear to be too pompous, as Gore did, I have no doubt that Kerry will win the debates, decisively. Edwards too should do very well against Cheney.

While many proclaim that this will be another close election, I do believe that it could be a Landslide for Kerry. Way back in 1932 the Gallop poll said that Hoover would win against Roosevelt. Of course that election was a landslide for Roosevelt. Why? Because many of those who had lost their jobs no longer had telephones, so Gallop never reached them. They all voted for Roosevelt!

By the same token, many voters have lost their jobs these last 3 1/2 years. Many others no longer consider their jobs to be secure. They know that Bush and Co. have supported outsourcing. Also many Reservists and National Guard have been called up and sent to Iraq, and have had their time extended there. Their families and friends are keenly aware of this. For these reasons and others, I do believe that there could be a landslide for Kerry this fall, and we could even take back the Senate and the House! I pray this will be!

[treepig]

57. the atlantic monthly agrees with you

Recently I saw an amazing piece of political video. It was ten-year-old footage of George W. Bush, and it changed my mind about an important aspect of the upcoming campaign. Because the President so rarely exposes himself to live, unscripted questioning, and because he has expressed himself so poorly the few times he has risked such exposure this year, the political establishment assumes that John Kerry has a big advantage in this fall's debates.

I'm not so sure. Bush has been far more skillful in his debating career than is generally appreciated, and his successes in that realm put his widely noted lack of eloquence in a different light. During his career George Bush's speaking style has changed significantly, which is why the tape from 1994 was so intriguing. But his underlying approach to political communication has been constant—and extremely effective

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/prem/200407/fallows

[MichDem10]

58. Softball...

It's difficult to come off as a dolt when the moderators lob a big ol' softball question at Bush.

[CBHagman]

59. Kerry needs to get Bush mad.

It's the Perot thing. If he can get Bush to drop the fake charm and the smile and go testy, it could be very effective.

Bush is not a fine debater, he's someone with a shtick and the blessing of low expectations and an AWOL press corps. He trots out the kind of simple, declarative sentences that sound good to the voters but are pure hogwash when actually examined (e.g., "spreading the peace").

Kerry has to get under Bush's skin, get that famous vindictiveness and thin-skinnedness of Bush's on display for the country. Kerry has to show a sense of humor and a confident but not haughty demeanor.

It's going to be an uphill battle, as A) the pundits are mostly Bush sluts and B) Kerry does have a ponderous style.

I think Kerry himself is trying to create good expectations for Bush, so that if Bush stumbles (or implodes), Kerry will be there to deliver the coup de grace.

[bringbackfdr]

65. Learn from the original JFK

Kerry needs to ignore Shrub and speak directly to the people, on the issues, on his vision for the country. Shrub will come out with his folksy right-wing babble, most of it attacking Kerry. Kerry's best counter is to come up with his own soundbite that will echo Reagan's "Are you better off than you were four years ago? Is America better off? Is the world a better place?"

[PretzelWarrior]

66. I believe that is the key. You are right.

I don't know if he's dumb enough to fall for that trap. Another one he likes to do is go all testy and look like a normal guy who is reacting to "the man"

[mumon]

67. "the problem is the solution"

Duh.

All Kerry's got to do is show he's a warm human being, who CAN deliver punchy one-liners.

Kerry didn't act at all patrician, IMO, on The Daily Show.

Kerry's going to win this one, if he understands his opponent's ploys and weaknesses.

Fear not folks.

Kerry's not going to fight the last war. And the Repubs ONLY have the last war to fight.

[PretzelWarrior]

70. I agree the Daily Show appearance was good..but.....

they can still find things to say he shows himself too stiff, impersonal..looking down at the common man who introduces himself while in the restroom.

I actually think that's what he needs--a few occasions of looking aloof and a few of looking warm...people won't know what to expect...and then they can see him exude charm on debate nights.

[LynneSin]

72. Bush is 'undefeated' because he forced Gore to do the debates...

the Bush way.

For awhile it seemed that Bush would refuse to do the debates unless he got his way. Gore conceded and pretty much Bush was given all the questions ahead of time in order to prepare all those witty remarks & retorts he gave.

Bush is not a debater and has no skills. I was on a HS debate team - the skill of a talented debater is to do enough homework on the possible topics that you are ready to speak about any issue off the top of your head. Bush can't do that - he comes off like an idiot

[Joe Chi Minh]

78. Record

You seem to forget Bush has a record to defend now, bransonfu... and the media are more ambivalent.

[PretzelWarrior]

80. so what? record schmecord. they are spinning tales.

most of modern politics is about being able to create a good story about yourself...about America...about struggle of good vs. evil

Bush and his brilliant writers will come up with new and shocking ways to twist facts around to hit some emotional connection with the lemming public sitting at home watching the debates in their easy chair, atkins-friendly haunches of beef in their mouths, very little in their minds.

They will watch and hear the pundits say Victory is defeat and defeat victory--ergo, Kerry looked too smart, too capable, to "presidential" (who does he think he is?) and the victory will be awarded to Bush.