Guardian:First Blood to Kerry in TV Debate

[liveoaktx]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections2004/story/0,13918,1317491,00.html
John Kerry regained the initiative in the US presidential race last night with a forceful performance in his first debate with George Bush, occasionally leaving the president scowling and at a loss for words.
Instant-response polls by three major television networks all showed that a large majority of their viewers thought the challenger had won the 90-minute verbal contest at the University of Miami - the first of three debates in the last month of the campaign.

Perhaps even more seriously for President Bush, the networks ignored broadcasting guidelines agreed beforehand and showed both candidates at the same time. On several occasions, Mr Bush could be seen sour-faced and nervous in reaction to some of Mr Kerry's remarks. Similar "cut-away" shots of Al Gore in the first presidential debate four years ago sapped his campaign and helped put Mr Bush into office.

........

"What you saw was a president who was annoyed, angry and aloof. He clearly didn't want to be there, and he was slouched over his podium," said Terry McCauliffe, the Democratic party chairman, in an interview in "spin alley", a university basketball court where partisans of each side strove frenetically to influence media coverage of the event.

[JoFerret]

1. Slouched, slurred, blinking, petulant

frightened, fidgety, blank. A veritable Alfred E. Neuman.

[reprobate]

14. Yes, the patented bush "Deer in the Headlights" expression.

That's sure to attract voters, right? It is to laugh.

[Palacsinta]

2. My favorite expression was.........

his narrow eyes, lower lip stuck out, petulant whiny look. You just knew he was thinking, "I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!I HATE YOU! Just you wait! I'll get you!"

[soothsayer]

3. He's always chewing the inside of his cheek. Wonder what that means

if anything

[Demit]

5. drug-delivery system? Little pinch of something in there?

[muriel_volestrangler]

16. There was a programme on political body language on British TV

several months ago, and they picked up on Bush's cheek-chewing. I think they said it was his 'stress reaction' - when he's unsure of himself, he'll do it.

[Ilsa]

6. He presses his lips together so tightly

that they curl outward. * isn't used to hearing criticism, only praise. His press corps has been subdued, his campaign audiences are more like worshippers bowing to God. That's why he becomes so unravelled when actually confronted with his mistakes.

I think that is an error on the part of the campaign managers, but I can understand why they want to keep him "protected" all the time. If he hears too much criticism, he'll turn into a ten year old again and they are afraid he'll literally breakdown.

[CookieD]

7. You are so right. n/t

[ProfessorGAC]

10. No. He Was Doing The "I'm Gonna Tell My Mom" Look

Don't you think?

Little frat boy getting his lunch taken away. He got slaughtered. He knew it. He was about to cry.
The Professor

[Dhalgren]

4. I was really surprised by Bush's complete lack of anything

to say. I had assumed he would have some sort of prepared drivel to spout, but he seemed to be stuck with just silly little digs at Kerry. Kerry was head and shoulders above Bush in every aspect of the "debate". Kerry was prepared, but he also spoke from his heart and was thinking on his feet. Bush was truly pathetic, it was painful to watch. He's got nothing...

[Ilsa]

9. The soundbites fall apart when analyzed, don't they?

And Bush's pathetic delivery makes it more obvious. His ego is so fragile, he can't handle confrontation. That's why I disagree with all the pundits who said he was a masterful debater; I think he's too emotional.

[ProfessorGAC]

11. He Used All That Had

The soundbites and platitudes are all they've had for 12 months. They relied on them the whole term. Now, it's all they've got. And, on top of that, those things are doomed to failure in a one-on-one debate.
The Professor

[SpiralHawk]

15. Spot on Professor !

I noticed that, too. he was just mouthing the soundbites over and over -- there was no deep or personal thought or feeling in anything he said. He was like a broken, static afflicted record. But then again, if repitition counts for anything with voters (and I am afraid it does) he gets credit for never once letting go of the "flip-flop" meme and its permutations. In that respect, he was well coached.

[William Bloode]

17. I concur as well.....

Even repukes whore, and mighty intern slayer Joe Scarbough kept repeating last night that it appeared all bush had seemed to have done to prepare for the debates, was to "just memorized 30-35 minutes of talking points". After that they most all agreed Shrubya ran outta gas and talking points totally blowing it.

Not to mention the panic i saw on Freeper Republic, these guys lost it over there, and their spinmiesters had a hard time keeping the crew together over there.

On a final note this morning, one thing that struck me looking a a couple polls after. Dumdo of course retains his solid 30-33% base, the ones who would vote for him if he ate babies. Kerry really energized his base, while shaking el' shrubo's cofidence. But the number thats stuck with me was from the question did the debate change your mind? Well of course we know most votes are tied up, but Kerry swung 18% who said he changed their minds, to Shrubs 9%. This was also from an Aol poll so it was repuke infested to begin with.

[JoFerret]

13. So used to the closed door rallies of devotees and worshippers

he forgot to prepare for the real world . Blinking bubble boy from BushWorld

[KansDem]

8. What makes this so amazing is that "foreign policy" was suppose to be...

Bush's strong suit.

If Bush flubbed so badly on this subject, how's he going to do with "domestic policy?"

[alarcojon]

12. Indeed!

I can't wait for debate # 3!

[wrate]

18. What really killed * was the contrast of having a TRUE STATESMAN

by his side. * is zero, but next to Kerry he is less than zero. As much as I despise *, I even felt bad for him last night.