October 14, 2004
The debate
Reading Dawn Summers, I can't believe we watched the same debate. She seems actually excited by the questions and their answers while I daydreamed about my boyfriend visiting me and thought about how I probably won't be able to get my hair cut before the election. It was a deadly boring debate. I wrote in minute 9 that it was going to be hellish. There wasn't one 'zing' moment and there also wasn't anything new at all. I think it was a tie, with an edge to Bush for seeming more human than Kerry. This was a debate to get an impression for 'the person' and if you hate Bush then nothing was going to change that for you tonight. Similarly, if you think Kerry is a pompous ass, that impression was only solidified. I can't imagine that a person that sat through that until the end was undecided. It's unfortunate, Bush voters, but it looks like the only debate that mattered was the one our guy lost. Don't despair, debates rarely make or break elections, but that remains the sad truth.
Posted by Karol at October 14, 2004 01:47 AM | TrackBackTechnorati Tags:
Actually there were at least two people in our politically mixed debate-watching crowd tonight who said they were still undecided at the end. One, interestingly enough, wants to vote Kerry because he’s pro-choice — but finds herself mistrusting him for different reasons every day. At least with Bush, she said, she knew why she mistrusted him.
The other undecided voter had an equally interesting observation: that Bush clearly has a team behind him, but Kerry seems to be going it alone. To her this was worrisome, as a presidency is all about cooperation. If Kerry doesn’t have a clear sense of team now, what does that say about the kind of presidency he’d have?
Mixed assessments on who won, at any rate, but even the Kerry supporters seemed to think his performance was rather lackluster.
My take over all? Nothing compares to watching a debate en masse. We even had a post-debate moderator who did a great directing thoughtful, focused discussion. I guess that’s what happens when mixed crowds gather in someone’s home instead of a bar. ;)
Posted by: Christi at October 14, 2004 03:53 AM"It's unfortunate, Bush voters, but it looks like the only debate that mattered was the one our guy lost. Don't despair, debates rarely make or break elections, but that remains the sad truth."
Totally in agreement. Unlike most of us, Karol puts bread on her table in politics and it takes a lot of courage to tell your side painful truths so I appreciate what she is saying, her bluntness, her honesty and, yes, her integrity here.
The debates helped JFK, Carter in 76, Reagan in 80, Bush in 88, Clinton in 92 and Bush in 2k. I don't think they make presidents but they can break them. If Bush loses, a lot of people will target Iraq of course but the first debate will also be pointed out. I don't think the big poll leads were correct. Few outside the mindless contigent of Bush partisans thought their guy was up 14 points. But you better believe if Kerry wins, we'll be reminded of that and how Kerry is a great closer.
Posted by: Von Bek at October 14, 2004 09:42 AMI have criticized Karol numerous times in the past for being a spinner and I'll stick with it, because the alternative is less pleasant. But, I will freely admit here that she seems to be turning over a new leaf lately and I am glad to see the spin departing. Here's to continuing constructive and intelligent discussion.
Posted by: Signor_Ferrari at October 14, 2004 02:16 PMSignor, just because you don't agree with something doesn't mean it's spin. Try some intellectual honesty.
Posted by: Karol at October 14, 2004 02:27 PM
