Milo, that was the gist of it to me as well. This was one of the subjects he seemed to really care about, and the look of scorn on his face when he said “can’t learn” made the point for me. I wasn’t even confused. When you just read it, it sounds much more like he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. I agree that Bush is mealymouthed and spoonerized on occasion, but it seems like people are trying to catch him rather than listening to him.
Obviously, Bush will now get the “pro-life” votes and Gore will not.
He did seem uncomfortable talking about it, as if we all already knew and why ask me?
But Gore simply was too snide.
I’m glad I’m not voting for either of them.
I can’t even remotely agree with this. When he was trying to define “at risk”, he had to pause (as if searching for a definition) and then almost blurted out “can’t learn.” Nothing in his answer attempted to undermine or question the appropriateness of that label; instead, I have to wonder if it didn’t expose some latent prejudice about the ability of certain kids to learn. After all, it is easier to be reductive about the issue than to address so many of the other socio-economic factors that put these children “at risk” in the first place (particularly since these are issues that Republicans have never really prioritized in the first place). I’m not denying that the guy is sincere and has “compassion”, but that still doesn’t excuse his ugly characterization (which he did nothing to qualify or explain or clarify afterwards). I’m not voting for Gore, but he should have jumped all over Bush on that one.
…with Firestone tires. Milo, this was priceless. I was also thinking that Gore looked like a hand-tinted photograph, then I noticed an eerie similarity to Reagan…on purpose?
Still, I think Gore so acting so animated because of his reputation for being wooden. My guess is his advisors told him to be more demonstrative to let America know that he isn’t as stiff as believed and he, unfortunately overdid it.
OTOH, Bush just looked like a goof.
Nader probably ended up gaining more ground in the polls by not being able to participate than either Bush or Gore did by being so unremarkable.
Did I hear Bush say something about getting oil from Mexico so we wouldn’t be dependant on foreign oil? Or did I mishear? Or did I miss our annexing of Mexico?
I see in this morning’s papers that Bush supporters chanted “No fuzzy math! No fuzzy math!” at his rally yesterday. And Dubya reprised his “He thinks he invented the calculator!” witticism, his “MediScare” quip, and his “I’m not from Washington or Andover or Yale or Harvard; I’m just an ol’ shit-shoveller from West Texas!” claim.
SOMEBODY thinks his speechwriter did a good job. And you’ll never go broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.
[hijack]
“BTW, my cable system has, at 9:00 Tuesdays, ‘Angel’ on Channel 6, ‘Dark Angel’ on Channel 9, and ‘Touched by an Angel’ on Channel 21. Sheesh.”
I noticed that too, and I thought it was pretty funny. Here in Chicago, it wasn’t even cable: 8pm had “Angel” on WGN-9 (WB), “Dark Angel” on 32 (Fox), and “Touched by an Angel” on 38 (PAX). Rather than watch the debate (I’m voting, but I know who I’m going to vote for) I clicked between Angel, Dark Angel, and “Broken Arrow”.
[End hijack]
I also noticed his resemblance to Reagan. I was watching and I said. “Al looks a lot older than he did a while ago…a lot older. In fact…he’s starting to look a lot like…like…Reagan!!!” It’s kind of odd.
Jman
I put my name after my post. If this offends you, oh well.
Yup, won’t go broke doing that. Take for example the whoppers that Gore told during the debate to score points. (We already mentioned the poor little old lady can collector nonsence). He also told a stopry about public schools, and one school was in such bad shape (and supposedly overscrowded) that a student had to stand in class. Turns out that school was in a very well to do area (Sarasota, FL?) with a beutiful, spacious campus, and all kinds of recent improvement, wonderful equipment, etc. The classroom was being refurbished, and had new boxed equipment in the room, and that’s why it was crowded. Wow. Gore has no boundaries to score points with the gullible. Not that Bush won’t do it, just that Gore is so blatent about it…
Reading these debate threads is like wathing that Star Trek episode where they got stuck in a closed timelike loop and had to do everything over and over again.
Remember that one?
ArchiveGuy, I’m going to go find the videotape and see if I haven’t been imagining things. It’s entirely possible. Regardless, it is my opinion that Dubyah does not harbor some deep-seated convition that Hispanic kids “can’t learn”. It’s a verbal slip, no more, no less.
The implications of a man running for the highest office in the land scattering sound-bite worthy verbal slips around like the Easter Bunny, I leave to the reader.
I have to agree with the “can’t learn” thing being an unfortunate slip. It was obvious he was bragging up these “can’t learn” kids - after all, he said they ended up being the “best learners” of the State. It was obvious (to me, anyway) that he was trying to describe these “at risk” kids as being shuffled off with the thought “Those ‘at risk’ kids can’t learn.” But that the particular school program these kids were put in proved that they indeed were great learners.
I believe this is better suited to MPSIMS, so off it goes.
Yup. While on the StairMaster today, I was watching CNN which said that as far back as JFK, the “tearjerking letter” ploy was used, and has always backfired. Why Gore did that, I dunno. But I do like the fact that Bush directly attacked Gore, while Gore wimped out with a “I’d rather attack problems than the candidates.” Makes me think that Gore didn’t do his homework to drag up any dirt on Bush, conversely, Bush is a “cleaner” candidate than Gore.
Tripler
I’m voting Bush, 'cause he’s pro-military. It’s all about job security baby . . .
In all fairness, this woman said she had to collect cans to pay for her food because her medicine was so expensive at some “town hall” meeting. Maybe she was coached, but the words did come out of her own mouth.
I was waiting for Bush to point out that this woman had been reduced to collecting cans under a Clinton/Gore administration.