# 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:** 17
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/321 "2004-10-01T02:44:23Z")
The [NYTimes.com](http://NYTimes.com) live feed is still on. Unguarded background chatter. No newsworthy slips yet; I’ll keep posted. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/322 "2004-10-01T02:46:26Z")
> [@Wile E](#): > > Are the Vice-Presidential candidates going to debate? I think that would be really interesting. Yes, they will… Lehrer announced the date and venue, I believe. Darned if I can remember where and when right now though. My take on the debate (as I know you are all breathless in anticipation): Bush did better than I expected… which I suppose speaks volumes about my expectations for him in this debate; but Kerry wins. I was surprised, though, at Kerry’s take on North Korea. Cutting other countries out of talks with NK? Why? Does he expect that NK will suddenly become more maleable if they are only dealing with the US? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/323 "2004-10-01T02:46:30Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > I don’t agree with Busch on stem cells or other conservative crap like DOMA. I also don’t like his inability to speak well to the public. > > But I like is proactive and agressiveness on issues of national security and foreign policy. We have to stick this one out. And the world IS safer without Hussein. When this is all over, the people of Iraq will live in a free country. People who were born in raised and comforted under a blanket of freedom and democracy their entire lives have no idea what Freedom is worth. I’m sorry, but the liberation of Iraq is a good thing. It’s a shit hole right now, but it will be better in the near future. And in the long run, it will be so much better off because of the decisions of the president. The world may be better off. You’re 100% right. There are a number of people and groups in the world that the world would be safer without. The real issue for the US Executive is in parsing out what critical threats need to be engaged militarily. Choosing to get involved in Iraq may take one bad guy and his administration out of the mix, but the various military, diplomatic and personal price(s) the US has paid on many levels across the board to do this, are (IMO) not in keeping with the real world nature of the threat Saddam posed. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/324 "2004-10-01T02:46:43Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > The [NYTimes.com](http://NYTimes.com) live feed is still on. Unguarded background chatter. No newsworthy slips yet; I’ll keep posted. Heh. Both Bush and Kerry have had unguarded mic moments – you just know they’ve both been told "you’re not allowed to call the other guy a Nazi until you’re in the car. " ---
**Author:** ![Leonard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@Leonard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leonard)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/325 "2004-10-01T02:47:02Z")
CBS quick poll says: 44% Kerry 26% Bush 30% Tie I didn’t catch exactly who they were polling, though. ---
**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, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/326 "2004-10-01T02:47:02Z")
> [@Dignan](#): > > Cheney drops an F-bomb: do a shot. Do a shot every time Cheney scowls. Drink the bottle if Cheney shows any form of “human” emotion. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/327 "2004-10-01T02:47:08Z")
I dont understand how a person “wins” a debate. Is is because Kerry is a much better speaker? To me, a debate is just a way for me to truly understand a person’s view point. They don’t really get in to things good enough to pursuade a person to agree with them. Either you do agree with them already, or you dont. We can’t call one a winnder just because we agree with everything they say. Bush obviously “lost” if the contest was to see who is a better speaker. ---
**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, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/328 "2004-10-01T02:47:34Z")
> [@Wile E](#): > > So what will the rules of that drinking game be? “Two Americas” Drink. 'Trial lawyers." Drink When Cheney talks out of the side of his mouth, drink. If Cheney tells Edwards to “go fuck himself,” drain the glass. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/329 "2004-10-01T02:48:07Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > The [NYTimes.com](http://NYTimes.com) live feed is still on. Unguarded background chatter. No newsworthy slips yet; I’ll keep posted. Audio was just cut, but the visual is now Bruce Cougar Mellensteen and a guitar. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/330 "2004-10-01T02:48:09Z")
Kerry wins on points in Round 1 of the debates, but he scored a LOT of points. All Bush really did was not wet himself. After successfully taking on Gore in the 2000 debates, nobody buys the notion that this constitutes “success” in a debate for Bush. Kerry won by acting and looking resolute and Presidential and hammering on the fact that the war in Iraq had nothing to do with the war on terror. Kerry wins in the substantive arena, and in the image arena as well, even though there were no key defining moments as in some earlier Presidential debates. All those undecideds who don’t like Bush but aren’t sure whether or not Kerry should replace him are probably thinking 'Hmmmm, Kerry might just be our guy." Another couple of performances like this and Bush is a goner. ---
**Author:** ![Tigers2B1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc29f/32.png) [@Tigers2B1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tigers2B1)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/331 "2004-10-01T02:49:18Z")
Oh christ ----- NBC is coming on with the “Truth Squad.” Well, at least it’s not CBS – :rolleyes: ---
**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, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/332 "2004-10-01T02:49:38Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > I dont understand how a person “wins” a debate. Is is because Kerry is a much better speaker? To me, a debate is just a way for me to truly understand a person’s view point. They don’t really get in to things good enough to pursuade a person to agree with them. > Either you do agree with them already, or you dont. We can’t call one a winnder just because we agree with everything they say. > > Bush obviously “lost” if the contest was to see who is a better speaker. Kerry clearly won on substance. It wasn’t just style. His statements were more coherent, more on target and more logical. When did Giuliani become such a whore? ---
**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, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/333 "2004-10-01T02:49:57Z")
> [@manhattan](#): > > Heh. Both Bush and Kerry have had unguarded mic moments – you just know they’ve both been told "you’re not allowed to call the other guy a Nazi until you’re in the car. " “With the windows rolled up, the engine running, and your face turned away from the window.” ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/334 "2004-10-01T02:50:25Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > I dont understand how a person “wins” a debate. Is is because Kerry is a much better speaker? To me, a debate is just a way for me to truly understand a person’s view point. They don’t really get in to things good enough to pursuade a person to agree with them. > Either you do agree with them already, or you dont. We can’t call one a winnder just because we agree with everything they say. > > Bush obviously “lost” if the contest was to see who is a better speaker. A candidate wins by achieving his goal in participating in the debate, by persuading people they should vote for him. This is not necessarily the same as winning the substantive debate. Frex, I don’t remember anybody ever talking about the issues that Nixon and Kennedy debated, everybody just talks about how much Nixon sweated. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/335 "2004-10-01T02:50:32Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > When this is all over, the people of Iraq will live in a free country. Will they? The fact that this administration installed an ex-Ba’athist assassin and terrorist who has never previously shown any desire for democracy doesn’t put any pause in your confidence? > [@](#): > > I disagree. Freedom is worth 1,000 lives. It is easily worth 1,000 lives. Brave words from someone not on the front line. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/336 "2004-10-01T02:51:45Z")
> [@astro](#): > > You’re 100% right. There are a number of people and groups in the world that the world would be safer without. The real issue for the US Executive is in parsing out what critical threats need to be engaged militarily. Choosing to get involved in Iraq may take one bad guy and his administration out of the mix, but the various military, diplomatic and personal price(s) the US has paid on many levels across the board to do this, are (IMO) not in keeping with the real world nature of the threat Saddam posed. I completely understand you. But, because of my personality and profession, I will never disagree with a liberation of any country. There are people who are deciding which ones are most politically and humanely viable, but when they finally do pick a place, I will be glad to go!! I only hope that once we are deployed to a place, we get full support while there - to include enough troops and supplies. And that we stay until we have finished. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/337 "2004-10-01T02:52:10Z")
> [@Bruce\_Daddy](#): > > I thought he said **Rue De Day** :o Wasn’t Rue da Day a drag queen in New Orleans? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tigers2B1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc29f/32.png) [@Tigers2B1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tigers2B1)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/338 "2004-10-01T02:52:22Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > I dont understand how a person “wins” a debate… Whoever you wanted to win BEFORE the debate ----- “wins” the debate. Nothing more - nothing less. ---
**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, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/339 "2004-10-01T02:52:51Z")
Fox news is saying how Bush “hammered” Kerry on Iraq. Was there a debate that I missed after the first one? ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2004, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963/340 "2004-10-01T02:53:11Z")
> [@Neurotik](#): > > Brave words from someone not on the front line. :chuckle: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-kerry-debate-watch-along-thread/266963.md?page=18)