C-SPAN's Coverage of Tonight's Debate

[Amalthea]

I've just heard 3 different Republican campaign strategists use the phrase 'Bush talked from his heart' at least twice in their interviews.

This is a euphemism at best for 'he wasn't clued in on the facts'.

 

[Amalthea]

Nope, just one of the rare few that make decisions on what my personal opinions and views are. I dont tend to jump on many bandwagons

That's unusual, during election season the biggest cause of missed workdays is usually the injuries caused by falling off and jumping on bandwagons.

 

[Zoot]

Excellent point, Doctrine1st.

It sounds to me (from chat rooms) that some conservatives previously misunderstood Kerry's positions, which they now know clearer, and aren't necessarily as averse to them as they previously thought.

 

[utdbear]

Mike Gallegher here on WBAP in Dallas thought that they both batted .900 tonight. I agree, which means there will be no movement in the polls.

 

[burrow_owl]

Quickly scanning conservative blogs, you see a lot of 'Kerry wins on points, but an overall draw.'

We can probably guess at what the southpaw blogs are saying.

 

[Doctrine1st]

Mike Gallegher here on WBAP in Dallas thought that they both batted .900 tonight. I agree, which means there will be no movement in the polls.

Just means he got Bush decimal point in the wrong place, Bush batted about .009.

 

[Amalthea]

Correct me if I'm mistaken but shouldn't the guy who stumbles and has a poor recollection of the facts usually be considered the loser?

By those criteria Kerry was obviously the better debator tonight. He actually did look more 'presidential' for whatever that's worth.

 

[burrow_owl]

This is from Daniel Drezner, a conservative economist, and I think he pretty much nails it:

After an awful start, I thought Kerry and Bush got stronger as the evening wore on. But Kerry got much stronger -- his criticisms of Bush got sharper over time. Bush stuck to the message, stuck to his message, and stuck to his message. Also, I was glad to see that issues beyond Iraq came up for discussion. Indeed, the discussion about certainty boiled down to core philosophical disagreements on the process and preferences of foreign policy between the two candidates -- a rarity in this age.

 

[Zoot]

Interesting that one of these commentators mention that bloggers will play a role in the post-debate propaga... spin.

 

[BigToe]

The part I've been looking forward to... Jon Stewart's commentary on The Daily Show!!!

 

[Amalthea]

Bush has to stick to his very narrow message. Whether you are a Bush supporter or not (I'm not) I think it has to be said he is not a think outside the box kind of guy. That is why they did not want a true debate for instance. There is no way Bush's team would ever want a true debate format where Kerry could ask Bush direct questions. I don't like that but it is smart politics. (Oh and I have never voted Democrat either and wont this time lest people think I'm some Kerry apologist.)

 

[Law of Loud]

Well, it's not like debates are going to change the minds of hardcore Dems or Reps, anyway. Debates are for the swingers, lol, not the singers.

Explain the RNC then? Conventions often try to appeal to swingers, but what you have to realize is that we live in a country, where 50% voter turnout is a good showing. So, you want to motivate your base as well.

 

[Jewles]

If there are truly undecided voters out there watching tonight, Kerry won them over hands down. He had desisive answers to the questions, he had good rebutles and he looked better. (Bush was making faces for God's sake) Bush had about 12 lines and said them over and over and over. I was very very impressed with Kerry.

 

[Amalthea]

Is Bush tired of the job? He said quite a few times (which some of the pundits have mentioned) 'It's a hard job'. That is the kind of little sound bite that comes back to haunt you, especially when Kerry will be almost sure to bring that up as a sound bite in the next debate.

 

[KenH]

I took a nap this afternoon so I was able to stay away while eating pizza and drinking a Dr. Pepper.

I thought that President Bush started slowly. I think he got the best of the debate about North Korea. I didn't like Senator Kerry's "global test" idea for action to protect these United States. I thought Senator Kerry was more articulate and showed more breadth in his answers. Overall, I would say it was pretty much even but on a scale of 100 I would give Senator Kerry a score of 83 and President Bush a score of 81.

Also, the anti-war crowd among the Democrats are bound to be absolutely livid about Senator Kerry's endorsement of pre-emption.

 

[utdbear]

If there are truly undecided voters out there watching tonight, Kerry won them over hands down. He had desisive answers to the questions, he had good rebutles and he looked better. (Bush was making faces for God's sake) Bush had about 12 lines and said them over and over and over. I was very very impressed with Kerry.

and how did he win them 'hands down'? He hit no home runs, and really didn't make a ding on Bush, although Bush didn't really do much either. I don't see any movement in the polls happening and certainly nothing to make up the huge hole Kerry is in right now.

 

[Amalthea]

Ok it's official, Sean Hannity is just so biased. He has his head so far up Bush's backside that if Bush were to turn sharply, Hannity's neck would snap.

 

[Glaz]

Also, the anti-war crowd among the Democrats are bound to be absolutely livid about Senator Kerry's endorsement of pre-emption.

I suspect they'll choose to spin or ignore that portion of his comments.

 

[Zoot]

Same again.

Kerry didn't win. Bush lost.

 

[praying]

The part I've been looking forward to... Jon Stewart's commentary on The Daily Show!!!

thanks for the reminder, too funny Ihave tears in my eyes