Mood:
party time!Topic: politics
Boggers Note: This post was prepared last night while I was watching the first presidential debate live on NBC. Some of this won't make sense without viewing the debate at the same time, but I have left everything in, as this is the clearest representation of my thinking during the debate. I have cleaned up some spelling and typographical errors, but the material has remained essentially as it was written. Questions that the candidates were asked appear in bold. You can find the full transcript on this page at CNN.com. Enjoy, Tony.
Welcome to a new phase in Jerk technology. I'm preparing this post in real -time as the first presidential debate is underway in Miami. Florida. (Florida. Coincidence? I think not.) Before I get into the specifics of what I think of this debate, let me say that this "debate" is complete and utter bullshit. It's a dual press conference, at best, with no direct questioning of the candidates. We can be sure we'll hear a lot of platitudes, and rhetoric and slogans. But one thing we won't hear is real, honest to God debate. One more caveat: I'm drinking Scotch neat while I'm watching this thing - which is probably a good thing.
Is it a bold move that Bush went with the "kindler, gentler" blue tie and not the traditional, red power tie that Kerry has opted for?
Damn that September 9th thinking.
Anyone else think that two minutes is way too damn long for these guys to talk about any one topic?
Bush's "leaning-over", conversational style works, I think, when he's the governor of Texas, but he's not coming across as presidential so far.
Didn't Kerry vote against appropriations for this war? Can he then blame Bush for soldiers not having the most technological Kevlar vests?
Is it a good idea for Kerry to seem to be so vigorously nodding whenever Bush speaks?
At this time I'd like to use a one-minute "discussion extension."
What would Kerry do, specifically, to increase homeland security?
Specifically, Kerry would not do the things that Bush has failed to not do.
Bush seems incredulous that he even has to sit and listen to this jerk-off. "I'm the president, Goddamn it, who the hell does this guy think he is?
Bush is dripping with incredulousness, and it's really disturbing me. You're the fucking president, not a radio talk-show host.
I see we're running out of time
We still have thirty seconds, Mr. Vice-President.
We'll, to sum up...thousand points of light, stay the course, thousand points of light.
Forcefulness works for Bush. I bet he was the worst schoolyard bully in the world.
How would Bush bring American soldiers from Iraq home?
Iraqiization. That sounds familiar. How's that worked out before?
Kerry has a unique position of advocating one position (continuation of the war in Iraq, to a point) while a majority of his supporters advocate an opposite position (pull-out immediately). If Kerry wins, he faces the possibility of advancing his platform while at the same time leaving his supporters feeling betrayed.
By the way, I was in Vietnam. Did I mention that?
"Allied Summit" is Kerry's "lock box"
Bush has never found a phrase he didn't like beating into the ground. What kind of message is that?
What notes, exactly, are these guys taking? Any chance their doodling "I love Kirsten Dunst?"
By the way, I heard that the draft was coming in the spring.
Let's invade Mexico!!!
Kerry: A vote for me is a vote for Kofi Annan.
You can't build an alliance when you blast those already joined in an alliance. This is a strong answer for Bush. Kerry, its true, will have a hard time creating his international alliance for a war that is unjust and divisionary. Good Bush answer.
Everybody forgets Poland.
Bush can barely keep a straight face when he says "victory."
Can we declare victory in a war that we are clearly still fighting?
Bush: I'm a compassionate, optimistic, conservative realist.
Bush is much better at hammering away at his core tenants. Kerry is a flopper; his convictions are fluid. He's not up to the task. He's weird and French-looking.
I just looked at the clock. This thing's only been going on for thirty-seven minutes. Are you kidding me?
"Coalition" is an awfully strong word for what we've got in Iraq. I think there were more varied groups involved in the A-Team.
Kerry: It's not that he's lied. He's just not been candid. (I wonder why people can't warm up to Kerry.)
The booze is making me warm and drowsy. It is not, unfortunately, making either of these guys interesting.
Kerry will follow in the footsteps of Ronald Reagan. Interesting.
Bush: "I agree with Senator Kerry whenever he agrees with me on something that he no longer agrees with."
Bush: The only things consistent about Kerry are his inconsistencies. Good line.
But honest, who doesn't think about Missy Johnson?
It's very hard for Bush to love Missy as best he can. (This is a weird thing to say.)
Was Iraq worth it?
Bush: Yes. He kept it simple. It's hard to lose life, but there is a greater good.
Kerry: Being a soldier is the noblest thing anybody can do. Did I mention that I was in the military? Swift-boat captain. You wanna see my medals. Now, wait a minute, they were around here a minute ago.
Timeline for ending US involvement in Iraq: Could be six months, if I had already been president a year ago or so. Kerry will change the dynamics on the ground. "My war down to one sheet of paper." Mentioning the fact that Bush asked to move funds from security to training is a good move, though.
I believe Kerry's staff said the prime minister of Iraq was like a "Muppet." Just like this president. Lying and misleading.
Bush strongly disagrees with a position that Kerry does not hold. Now, that's bold leadership.
9:52. This is utterly exhausting.
Bush's plan to prevent the use of troops is to "speak clearly." I feel better already.
Let's not look at Libya. Let's look at this picture of Kirsten Dunst in the new romantic comedy Wimbledon.
Kerry made be leading Bush to try to justify Iraq being involved with 9-11. Let's see if Bush takes the bait.
How much patience should the president have with Hussein? Is it really a good idea, as Kerry suggests, that the president of the United States go around the world like a used car salesman: "What do I have to do to get you into an alliance today?"
Kerry would preserve the right to pre-emptive strikes. And as pierced faux-radicals throw things at the screen the Imperial presidency breathes a sigh relief.
Did Kerry just say he's been fighting for proliferation?
Does Kerry really think he can win this election by telling us how poorly the rest of the world thinks of us? We love that people hate us. We're the New York Yankees of the world.
"Continue bi-lateral nuclear arms reduction!" - Randy, Bill Bradley volunteer, New Hampshire, 2000.
Maybe it's the scotch talking, but Jim Lehr has an ass that won't quit.
Speaking of Lehr, why do the candidates keep addressing him? They understand that he doesn't decide who gets to be president, right?
While it's true that people care about terrorism and homeland security, they don't care about it in the same way that they care about education and health care. They don't want specific proposals about what to do with North Korean fuel rods, for example. I'd like to see the ratings for this.
My mom: Where the fuck is Darfor? Is "Raymond" on?
Lehr has a great attitude about his role in this debate. His questions are open-ended and designed to get the candidates talking. He's not playing "gotcha."
"Mixed messages" is fun to say. Try it. Mixed messages, mixed messages, mixed messages.
By the way, I agree with Bush. I also admire the Kerry daughters.
Did Bush say that he admires Kerry for being a great dad?
Whoa, when did this turn into a love-fest.
Certainty is a dangerous position for a president, Just ask Harry Truman.
This consistency issue is about to turn ugly and petty.
You're a flopper.
No, I'm not.
Yes you are.
Uh, ah.
Huh, uh.
Biggest challenge to American security:
Kerry: nuclear proliferation. Good answer. The cold war plans of nuclear proliferation spreading stability don't ring true any more. We're not worried about a country getting nuclear weapons so much as terror cells and other non-government groups getting their hands on this kinda of weapon. No disagreement from Bush.
Bush looks almost as if he's gonna wink when he talks. With a "get-a-load-of-this-guy" look on his face. Men will like this, but I think women will think it's cocky and arrogant.
20 after 10 and the booze has a solid grip on my brain, and apparently, my keyboard.
You know what would spice this debate up? Keep one candidate backstage while the other reveals that he secretly slept with his wife. Then let the guy come from behind stage and whoop ass, a la Jerry Springer.
Did Bush misjudge Putin?
Yes, is the only answer to that question? And yet, perplexingly, Bush has managed to completely mangle his response. I blame the time limits. Not every thing needs a two-minute answer. But if you don't fill up your allotted time you look like you don't have anything to say.
Kerry is about to quote George Will. The worlds gone mad, I tell you, mad.
Bush has an eerie Nixonian habit of intimating that, if you only knew what I know you'd want me to be president too.
Does anybody believe that the executive branch allowed the legislative branch to look at the "same intelligence" as they had.
Closing Statements. The end is almost near.
Kerry and Bush both love America. So they go that going for them, which is nice. Kerry was in a war, has he mentioned that. Vietnam and everything. The whole deal. Future belongs to freedom and not fear. Fabulous.
How many people out there, not knowing that this debate is issue-specific, are wondering why these guys aren't talking about health care? Also, will there be a debate about deficit spending for non-military, non-security related programs. Will there be a debate about discretionary spending being higher now than it was during the Johnson administration? Or about the, (you knew I was going to mention this), looming Social Security crisis.
Charles Gibson is hosting a debate. What, was Matt Lauer unavailable?
Teresa Heinz Kerry looks pretty boozy.
Laura Bush: "What a flake."
Teresa Kerry: "What a lame-ass."
The crowd went nuts when Brokaw just said "Tim Russert." Russert says Kerry has found his voice. Good thing, since its almost fucking October.
Edwards is now talking with Brokaw. The mole on his face is granting an interview to Brit Hume at the same time, however.
Surprisingly, Edwards thinks Kerry did splendidly. Bush, not so much.
Brokaw brings up a good point. How can you build a coalition with people opposed to the war? If they're opposed, they're opposed. Chirac et al aren't getting on board no matter what.
McCain on CBS. Bias exposed in having a Republican who is less than in love with Bush and a little too admiring of Kerry?
C-SPAN 2's got live spin room coverage. This is locker room coverage for political nerds.
Call-in reaction on C-SPAN. Always a bad idea. Bush supporter: Thank God we've got a good Christian man as President. Kerry supporter: Kerry showed his intellectual superiority that makes me sick that Bush is our president. The gist: Kerry people really think Kerry did well. Bush people think Bush did well. Bush people think Kerry is weak-willed and a flip-flopper. Kerry people think Bush is a moron who has trouble finding his way home from the office.
Now watching the Navy - Air Force Game. Air Force just tied it up with 2:21 left in the fourth.
So that was the first presidential debate. All in all, it was better than I though it would be. Although I had really, really, silly low-expectations for this thing, so that's not saying much. Both candidates mollified their bases. But neither reached out to swing voters. I wouldn't expect much of a bounce for either guys from this. Incidentally, I don't think I learned anything from this debate, which probably should be the point of this thing. No big gaffes, which I guess is all the candidates we're hoping for. Secretly I was hoping that Bush would say something about their being no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe. But that didn't happen. No blood drawn, no big punches landed. A definite draw.
Until next debate,
Tony
