H 23°, L 4° | Tomorrow: 
H 21°, L 6°For those searching for a way to waste 90 minutes of their life, last Thursday's debate was quite the success. Perhaps this is only true for the bona fide political junkies out there. Regardless, the recitation of trite, pre-programmed talking points by both Bush and Kerry held my interest only slightly longer than Jane Eyre. Cynics everywhere are vindicated for even the least-jaded, most optimistic true believer out there could not have accepted that intellectual battle and discourse in civil society has all but died. Any veneer lifted over our eyes to hide that truism from us before is gone now; all that is left is the waste of reality TV politics. Who's going to be voted off the island this year?
So let's get to it then: who won? What's the sound byte?
Substantively, this debate was only marginally less hollow than Jessica Simpson's skull. Judging only the words of either the President or the Senator, few things said by either candidate is of great interest. I found both candidates' responses to the question about Russia and Putin troublesome, and I would have liked a clearer condemnation of his anti-democratic policies toward both dealing with the Chechnya problem as well as his imprisonment of billionaire oil magnate Mikhail Kodorkovsky of Yukos for opposing him politically. They both took similar positions on that issue, and I find them equally misguided. Putin cannot be considered as close an ally as was once hoped, and this reality had better sink in fast for whoever wins this November.
Beyond that, Bush laid out his plan for Iraq, Kerry his, and once again, the American people are forced to weigh whether or not they actually believe Kerry to be capable of bringing in a wider coalition to help in Iraq. I personally found him to be less than convincing, and found Bush's point about not insulting those who are our allies to be well founded. The Daily Show may mock Poland and our other allies all it likes, but any Commander in Chief does so at their peril. Disparaging our allies will only serve to isolate us even more, rather than building a wider coalition. In Kerry's world, the opinions of France and Germany are the ones that really matter. Combined with his "global test" doctrine, our national security and foreign policy would be held to the whims of those whose interests conflict with our own. Indeed, I wonder how much of our support for Israel would pass such a test. This myopic and dispassionate worldview, combined with his disparaging those who are there with us (including Iraqi Prime Minster Ayad Allawi) makes his case about his capacity to lead the global war on terror less convincing.
Anyone who came into watching the debate with a clear and defined view on foreign policy was likely unmoved by the words of their opposed candidate, and it is for this reason that I have to call the debate a tie. Both candidates missed this opportunity to shine far above the other, missing points to go for the jugular with a retort or attack. Maybe it was the pressure, but I think that two people other than Bush or Kerry who believed exactly as they do could likely have had a better and more skillful debate.
Nevertheless, in the spin room, ties don't bring home the bacon in terms of likeability points in the polls, so let's see who performed better for the audience. Ultimately, Kerry proved victorious in the acting realm: his calm and confident attitude will clearly help him bridge the gap between those who are voting for him only to oppose Bush and those who actually like him. But how much? This remains to be seen.
I actually think Bush did well enough for himself though, but he needs to do a better job next time if he wants to keep his current one. Everyone knows he fumbles over words, gives long pauses, and speaks very slowly, so anyone claiming that he did any of these things as a negative is just plain desperate. It is an inherent handicap he gets, not because I'm giving it to him, but because we all know him, and we are all over it by now. His sighs arguably are reminiscent of Gore in 2000, but I and many were sighing along with him all the way. In the end though, it is a weakness and a sound byte he did not need. Karl Rove needs to get to debate prep, and fast.
Over the course of this election, I have come to an important realization: Americans do deserve better. Better than Kerry and Bush, that is. Where is the Reagan or Lincoln of our time? The Trumans and FDRs? The ones who inspire us with their deeds and attitudes, speaking to the very core of our souls with their words. I can't find them today, and I wonder if anyone can.
Someone call John McCain. We need a statesman to lead us, not the bad taste and ill residue of political puppetry.
Zach Stern ([email protected]) is a senior majoring in political science.
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This is the new Republican spin… “the debate sucked” “the debate didn’t matter” etc., anything to convince people that Kerry didn’t put a huge ass-whooping on Bush that has fundamentally altered the outlook in the race. Kerry was the decisive winner, everybody knows it, the polls all confirm it, so try to make the first debate disappear in terms of importance. An interesting strategy, but it won’t work.
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“ultimately, Kerry proved victorious in the acting realm.”
what other realm is there? that matters, i mean…
i don’t know how you can say bush won when the latest polls put kerry slightly ahead, having been behind by 6-8 points.
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…by the way, did you just compare Reagan to Lincoln? please tell me you didn’t just compare Reagan to Lincoln.
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and what exactly are those needs of France and Germany that conflict with our own? don’t try to tell me that they want the terrorists to win…
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Bush seemed annoyed whenever Osama Bin Laden was mentioned. Crazy!!
I want to address this profundity found in your article:
“I personally found him to be less than convincing, and found Bush's point about not insulting those who are our allies to be well founded. The Daily Show may mock Poland and our other allies all it likes, but any Commander in Chief does so at their peril.”
That is an interesting quote, given how much grief France has taken from the neo-con hawks. Now try this one:
WARSAW (AFP) - Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski said that his country had been “taken for a ride” about the alleged existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
“That they deceived us about the weapons of mass destruction, that’s true. We were taken for a ride,” Kawsniewski said Thursday.
Perhaps you could look up the meaning of denigrate, and then explain that quote, given our Current President is making allies feel as though they have been “taken for a ride”.
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We need Germany and France not because their worldviews are interesting or valid, but because they have money and troops. Period. We don’t need the “Coalition of the Willing” for the same reason—they’re primarily for show. And as for “denigrating” our allies, I assume you are willing to criticize the Bush administration for the manifold actions they took to piss off the world prior to Iraq. No? Okay.
And as for wishing for a Lincoln, or even a Reagan, Republicans had the chance to nominate John McCain in 2000, but instead chose the smirking mass of incompetence currently in the White House. That’s primarily because Bush and Rove convinced South Carolinians to believe that McCain had illegitimate children. etc. I’m not a Democrat who sees McCain as some sort of savior—He probably would have invaded Iraq as well—but at least he might have been counted on to be competent and relatively honest with the American people in regards to WMD and the costs of the war, etc. You get what you deserve.
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Bush laid out his position on Iraq?
What position?
“I ran headfirst into a brick wall, but I was resolute!”
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Before the debate, Bush had an 8 point lead or thereabouts in most national polls. Now, they’re dead even. Sounds to me like Kerry won the debate in a landslide.
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Just for you Dems out there…. Remeber the last time we trusted you with the office
A black man says he misses Bill Clinton. “Yep, that’s right - I miss Bill Clinton! He was the closest thing we ever got to having a black man as President. Number 1- He played the sax. Number 2- He smoked weed. Number 3-He had his way with ugly white women.
Even now? Look at him… his wife works, and he don’t! And, he gets a check from the government every month.
Manufacturers announced today that they will be stocking America’s shelves this week with “Clinton Soup,” in honor of one of the nations’ most distinguished men. It consists primarily of a weenie in hot water. Chrysler Corporation is adding a new car to its line to honor Bill Clinton. The Dodge Drafter will be in production in Canada this year. When asked what he thought about foreign affairs, Clinton replied, “I don’t know, I never had one.”
American Indians nicknamed Bill Clinton “Walking Eagle” because he is so full of crap he can’t fly.
Clinton lacked only three things to become one of America’s finest leaders: integrity, vision, wisdom.
Clinton was doing the work of three men: Larry, Curly and Moe.
The Clinton revised judicial oath: “I solemnly swear to tell the truth as I know it, the whole truth as I believe it to be, and nothing but what I think you need to know.”
Clinton will be recorded in history as the only President to do Hanky Panky between Bushes
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i watched the debate to see who i hated less, Bush or Kerry. I found myself wondering, why i should vote, if they are both idiots. Everyone who watched that debate is now dumber thanks to those 2. I am not a supporter of Bush, and in some ways i was leaning towards Kerry. But after hearing Kerry’s opening statement, i was pissed off, then after hearing his opinion on how to deal with terrorists, i was disgusted. A man who is as ignorant as to say “miami you look great after all the hurricanes” should be shot. News flash Kerry, miami didn’t get hit by ANY hurricanes this year, how about you drive an hour north, towards palm beach and stuart, that’s where the damage is. Or how about 2 hours west, towards pt charlotte. What kind of dumbass are you? And regarding your “kill the terrorists” comment, i am glad your foreign policy plans are so diplomatic, humane, and thought out. Yeah, so much for getting back on the committee of human rights, or for gaining support from other countries. Why don’t we just kill everyone while we’re at it? And Bush, i can’t even begin to say how amused i was at his lack of response. Maybe for the next debate, instead of arguing over some spotlight and making a big deal about it, they can come up with better responses, or at least hire someone to come up with responses for them. I am sure they already have a team of “experts” when it comes to writting speeches and whatnot, here’s a tip: hire someone new.
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I love it…the anti-Kerry camp living in an alternate reality and trotting out sad Clinton references. No spin can hide how your boy stuttered, smirked, and rolled his eyes towards receiving an ass-kicking.