Who one the 1st president debate?

Originally Posted by lokstah

This is the interesting heart of the matter. As we've heard time and time again in the lead up, the crux of the modern debate is a contest of presentational style -- an ability to engage your opponent, engage the moderator, and most of all, engage the audience. It's not about facts or plans, so much as it's about inspiring confidence in the electorate that you've got plans under your belt, and you've got accurate facts well-filed in your skull. That's presentational.

I'd watched the 2000 debates, and I've seen clips of Bush's debates with Ann Richards. The general consensus regarding those contests is that Bush entered each heavily branded as an inarticulate, intellecutal underdog, and was able to turn the tables in dramatic fashion. He'd combine a joke and a smile with an easily digested, predetermined soundbite, and though never appearing brilliant, he'd always appear more in control than his stiffer, wordier opponent.

Yes, bias abounds, but the read I got from last evening's debate was of an attempt at the same strategy, but with fewer gains than expected. Perhaps that's due to Kerry's positioning as a double-reverse-underdog; so many expected Bush to run circles around him. The president's reliance on soundbites was more significant than usual; nearly every other question saw him erect a word bridge (sometimes smoothly, sometimes wobbly) to get back to an accusation of "inconsitent position," "mixed messages," or claims that the war was "hard." The repetition crossed an elegance threshold into sounding a bit dim. The Bush team seems to have found the limits of that technique; I suspect he'll repeat himself less often next week.

On top of that, Bush seemed far less comfortable than usual, and certainly less comfortable than he did against Gore or Governor Richards. He leaned forward, stuttered and paused frequently, seemed to lose his temper at points, and sighed loudly at least twice. These aren't cardinal offenses, but for a man whose key strength is his easy, everyman cool, they made a difference. Kerry kept his composure quite well, and the abrupt time limits prevented him from getting too... well, boring.

If debate victories are about strength of presentation, I don't think the poll numbers we're seeing regarding last night are a mystery.

Originally Posted by limerickman

I don't know about anyone else - but Bush does sometimes appear to have this glazed expression.

Originally Posted by limerickman

It gives the appearance of someone who cannot engage in a formal situation: maybe he is better working a crowd in a less formal situation?

Originally Posted by Bikerman2004

The point of my post is that a Kerry supporter will think Kerry won. A Bush supporter will think Bush won. Of course now that Kerry's losing in the polls, his supporters will cling to any hope they can find at all.
Nobody really cares if Bush mispronounces a name. Other than Bush haters. Besides he has a Texas accent. He will pronouce words differently from me or someone from another part of the country or world. Yeah Kerry threw out a lot of facts, but Gore did that as well. Voters are less interested in details than in what the person stands for. In that regard Bush did well. I thought Kerry did well, but I don't think he changed many minds.
I'd hoped that Kerry would tell us what he's planning on doing, but nothing really materialized.

Originally Posted by Mr_Kingkillaha

where are the Bush supporters in this forum? I didn't notice anything from them in here yet.
sadly i missed the debate so i have no opinion, but i plan to see the next one.

Originally Posted by Jakebrake

I did not watch the debate, so I can offer no opinion of their performance.

Originally Posted by lokstah

I'll lend you my tape.

Originally Posted by Jakebrake

Recorded it for posterity eh? Cool beans, swing that on by, bring your bike along so we can go riding, and then watch the debate as we knock down a few cold shiner bocks.

Originally Posted by lokstah

You buy me a Shiner Bock, and I'll bring you a couple Anchor Steams. Regional beer exchange.

Originally Posted by Jakebrake

Damn!!! That looks like some tasty brew...Hmmm, Anchor Porter, that would be my choice if I was there, looks to be a loaf of bread in every bottle.

http://www.shiner.com/home.html

http://www.anchorbrewing.com/index.htm

Originally Posted by Jakebrake

Woot! This is getting better and better, sub distributor here in Austin.

Originally Posted by lokstah

Well then we're just a hair away from a little party, aren't we?

I've only had Shiner Bocks when a friend of mine from -- guess where... Austin -- has come to visit. Good sturdy brown beer, that is.

Originally Posted by Jakebrake

Oh, you would fit right in, liberals abound. Berkeley CA of the Southwest.