# Bush-Kerry Debate: Watch Along Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 1, 2004, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963 "2004-10-01T00:58:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/241 "2004-10-01T02:17:17Z")
“Trans-shipment.” Drink! ---
**Author:** ![ummm.yeahh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ummm.yeahh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ummm.yeahh)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/242 "2004-10-01T02:17:27Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I’m simply struck, again, by the overwhelming anti-Bush commentary here, and how sharply it contrasts with the poll numbers. There’s a smug attitude here at how badly Bush is being beaten, and no real sense of how the majority of the country is reacting. > > “How could Bush be winning? None of my friends are planning to vote for him!” I’m Bush fan… and want him to win, but he is getting wipped like a rented mule. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/243 "2004-10-01T02:17:45Z")
> [@Patty O'Furniture](#): > > 5 pages in an hour. That’s got to be some kind of record. Got to say this new server is keeping up with us just fine. Surprising that it is. Have they laid on a special server for this occasion?? I’ve never in 2 years seen a thread fly like this. Maybe it’s due to the fact that a relatively small number of dopers are posting in _one_ thread, and a much smaller number are posting elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/244 "2004-10-01T02:18:03Z")
Agree with the smile problem. “You’re Herman Muuuunster…” \ I think Kerry’s fine point about holding on to values whooshed over Bush’s head. Hey, Kerry said nuclear correctly now, about 90 times–let’s wait for the answer…hey, I think Bush said it right. ---
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/245 "2004-10-01T02:18:39Z")
One word… NUCULAR! idiot! ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/246 "2004-10-01T02:18:44Z")
missile defense system… :drink, smashes bottle on head: ---
**Author:** ![Reyemile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@Reyemile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reyemile)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/247 "2004-10-01T02:18:47Z")
Bush says he spent more money on containing nuclear materials, Kerry says he hasn’t. Anyone got numbers? ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/248 "2004-10-01T02:18:51Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I’m simply struck, again, by the overwhelming anti-Bush commentary here, and how sharply it contrasts with the poll numbers. There’s a smug attitude here at how badly Bush is being beaten, and no real sense of how the majority of the country is reacting. > > “How could Bush be winning? None of my friends are planning to vote for him!” So hows about you share with us your view on how the debate is going? Can you honestly say that Bush is doing better than Kerry? Do you sincerely think Bush has held his own? Don’t keep us all in suspense. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/249 "2004-10-01T02:18:56Z")
Kerry looks confident, but smug. He just let out a smile like “Yeah, I know the answer to that one …” ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/250 "2004-10-01T02:19:00Z")
Do I have to sip a mixed drink every time that Bush says “mixed message”? ``` Hugh Hewitt (a conservative radio host) has a score card of the debate on his website. (http://hughhewitt.com/) He's given Kerry a bunch of low grades and Bush a bunch of high grades which leads me to wonder if he's watching the same debate I am. ``` Kerry did start out slowly on the first pitch or two, but he did a pretty good job on the Iraq questions. Bush got walloped on Iraq, mostly because he was trying to defend what couldn’t be defended. He sounded whiney and petulant. I do think that Bush is settling down a bit now that the focus has shifted more towards the war on terrorism and away from Iraq. ---
**Author:** ![Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Random)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/251 "2004-10-01T02:19:04Z")
Most inarticulate moment of the night award goes to Bush on his response to Kerry’s quick, positive proliferation comment. But Bush is scoring points on keeping China involved in the Korea talks. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/252 "2004-10-01T02:19:23Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I’m simply struck, again, by the overwhelming anti-Bush commentary here, and how sharply it contrasts with the poll numbers. There’s a smug attitude here at how badly Bush is being beaten, and no real sense of how the majority of the country is reacting. How can we know that, **Bricker**? We won’t know till tomorrow or later. Your comments on how _you_ see the debate would be helpful in gaining that knowledge. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/253 "2004-10-01T02:21:00Z")
Good personal relationships with people? Has he developed good personal relationships with anyone? ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/254 "2004-10-01T02:21:03Z")
one question in the back of my mind, kerry still avoided a description of his Iraq exit strategy… ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/255 "2004-10-01T02:21:07Z")
Kerry’s avoiding the big emotional attitude, he’s mostly sticking with logical arguments. “Vladamur…” Bush sounds like me when I forget to take my Ritalin. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/256 "2004-10-01T02:21:23Z")
“Vladimur” ? :drinks: ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/257 "2004-10-01T02:21:37Z")
> [@](#): > > “Well actually we increased spending for, errr…uhh…ummm…” That’s the closest we’ll get to a sound bite tonight. The next DNC commercial should be nothing but Bush-moments like this strung together. Would probably be a 5 minute commercial. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/258 "2004-10-01T02:22:25Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Kerry’s avoiding the big emotional attitude, he’s mostly sticking with logical arguments. > > “Vladamur…” > > Bush sounds like me when I forget to take my Ritalin. I owe you a coke. Or a beer. :drinks: ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/259 "2004-10-01T02:22:36Z")
Is it just me, or are these debates more substantive and direct than others have been? Maybe it’s Lehrer’s questioning, but it seems like there have been fewer vague platitudes. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/260 "2004-10-01T02:22:46Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > one question in the back of my mind, kerry still avoided a description of his Iraq exit strategy… Was he asked about it? Remember they have to keep it short and sweet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963.md?page=14)