The more I think about it: Clear Kerry Victory

[ochazuke]

Bush was again very belligerent. When he shouted down the moderator, it was emblematic, but Bush's exasperated and angry manner was evident throughout. It was again brought to a head when Kerry gently ribbed the moderator for the lightest moment of the debate. Bush's follow up comment was again a strained and shouted, whining complaint.

Kerry again tonight was masterful. He pulled together a wide range of facts and arguments to push his case, showing how issues are tied together as well as how Bush has failed at everything.

The very last question of the debate echoed back to that disaster of a press conference last spring where Bush was asked about any mistakes he has made. He still doesn't have an answer.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. He tried

when he said that he may have made tactical mistakes... ok bush, free clue, tactical mistakes woudl be done at the theater level, when patrols find the enemy. If bush is making tactical mistakes, tell me how large are his STRATEGIC mistakes? (Tora Bora anyone)

[Mojambo]

2. I keep seeing pundits saying

that Bush was under control tonight?

Huh!? They didn't see that coalition exchange where Bush just went off the deep end?

He was scary. There is no other word for it.

Kerry's "Missouri as 3rd largest coalition member" answer flat out won the debate for him.

[ochazuke]

5. Well, to his credit, he didn't shower the whole audience with spit.

Although when he shouted "THIS IS A GLOBAL CONFLICT THAT DEMANDS FIRM RESOLVE!!" I was scarred. It was as much like Hitler as anything I have ever seen in American politics.

[aquart]

6. The temper maybe, but not the talent.

Hitler, god help us all, had real talent as a demogogue.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

3. Here's the trick to debates like this that aren't really

debates in the true sense of the word: wait.

Wait an hour, check your gut. Wait three hours, check your gut.

Next morning, check your gut. It should be more and more clear who really won as the first 12 hours go by.

Yep, Kerry. Kerry all the way. The rightwing blogs I check out are eerily quiet and have been since it ended, besides a few half-hearted "hey yay, we won!" posts that got no responses.

Can you hear the crickets chirping in right wing blog land?

[JCMach1]

4. I agree, my article about it is at the top of the page

http://www.thesyndrome.com/

It was once again more of a stylistic victory.

[speedoo]

12. It was a victory of style AND substance.

On almost every question, Kerry's comments were more substantive and well reasoned.

[SammyWinstonJack]

7. I think bush blew it

Kerry owned the stage........... Bush never answered one question. He never owned up to one mistake!

[AP]

8. Bush's flip flopping on prescription drug re-importation will destroy him.

I see that exchange as having a huge impact on Bush. He's caught in a lie. He completed the lie in exactly the same room. And it was such bullshit of him to say "I might change my mind in December" AFTER THE ELECTION even if he had never made the earlier comment. So to have his quote and Kerry's rebuttal all so clearly set out is ruinous for Bush.

[gardenista]

9. Yep, it's growing on me, too. Just like the Edwards/Cheney debate.

I have a feeling that over the next few days, it will become even more clear that Kerry not only was best in style and substance, but that he dangled Bush like a playful cat with a confused but pissed off mouse.

I think we might win this thing!

[nebula]

10. Bush lost it early

the moment he actually compared Canada to a third world country, he lost all credibility in the debate.

[demzilla]

11. Each achieved his objective, which means Kerry wins

Bush played to his base, which was eroding, and probably stopped the erosion. Kerry played to the swing voters and continued to make himself an even more plausible alternative. Ultimately, Kerry is expanding his support while Bush is holding his own.

[chaska]

13. Kerry looked very presidential...

very composed, always calm. I even wondered if it were a deliberate contrast to Shrub's behavoir. I think that will go a long way with joe and jane voter. Did bush look like someone you'd trust to protect you? I want someone with a cool head in that office. Kerry had an obviously higher intellect too.

Bush was shrill, strident, defensive, condescending, whiny, and he bullied the moderator. Maybe p buchanan is right that that will play well with males. Personally, I doubt those males watch debates. I know it won't play well with females and thinking males.