It looked to me that Senator Kerry won the debate last night. He seemed more prepared, more confident and competent. President Bush looked tired and was at times incoherent. But his points were correct more often than not. I think that Dick Morris hits the nail on the head in his analysis in the NY Post today, One Winner On Substance, Another On Style.
President Bush's positions on the issues aired in the debate last night are so sound and John Kerry's so contradictory that the Republican could not help but win the debate. But, despite the contradictions of his positions, Kerry showed Americans that he looks and acts like a commander-in-chief and someone we could trust with power.
...But Bush seemed disengaged, distracted and, at times, even bored. His performance reminded me of the style — or lack of it — that he brought to the pre-primary debates of 2000. He seemed to convey a message of: Don't bother me, leave me alone, you don't understand and I can't bother to explain what I'm doing and why I'm doing it.
...By contrast, Kerry looked presidential, collected and, above all, strong and confident. If you'd seen the two men without knowing which was the president and which the candidate, you'd have guessed wrong. Kerry looked like the guy in charge.
The more you look at what Senator Kerry said the more ridiculous it appears. Especially criticizing President Bush for going it
virtually alone in Iraq but demanding that he go it alone in North Korea. What is wrong with having a coalition this time Senator Kerry? But Senator Kerry looked more polished doing it.
There were some funny moments, both of them confusing Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussien. Senator Kerry talking about Islamic Muslims (sort of like Christian followers of Jesus) and President Bush' s concept of a pre-Sept 10th mentality. President Bush, it is either a pre-Sept 11 mentality or a Sept 10th mentality, not both.
Before last night I would have said this whole things is over. Now I am not so sure.
