The Miami Massacre
Guest blogger: tas
Impatient, arrogant, noticeably irritated, and snapping back his answers in a tone which suggested that he was insulted to even be questioned, Bush was at his very best last night. Except, of course, when he shows us five different ways to say Kim Jong-il, pronounces mullah as "moo-lah," and asks Jim Lehrer for extra time to respond to Kerry and gives the camera a deer in the headlights look for a few seconds before forming a sentence. While that may not be his best, that's just classic.
I really wish that I could bring myself to discuss foreign policy, the War in Iraq, and everything else that was brought up in this debate, but I just can't get over the fact that Bush performed so horribly. And besides, beyond dictating that the Commander-in-Chief should merely serve as a cheerleader to our Armed Forces, he didn't partake in much discussion about policy, either. "Mr. President, how do we win the War in Iraq?" 'We must stand strong and support our troops. Rah-rah-sis-boom-bah!' Listening to him convinced me that his only plan for Iraq was to team up with Senator Lott and form the Axis of Pom-Poms.
And Poland? Poland?!
After watching last night's debacle, I don't think I can ever take Bush seriously again. What was your impression of the debate?
You pretty much summed it up right there. But i don't know. The thing is, every time I think Bush is at his absolute worse, his approval rating goes...UP. It's so weird. Who are these people who are approving him?
Posted by: drublood | 01 October 2004 at 10:37
Take him seriously--when he screws up, it brings out people's protective side. No time to gloat--as a number of people pointed out, this is the critical period where the story of the debate is getting written. Time to get the story steered away from Kerry-the-smarty-pants to Bush-the-brat.
Posted by: Amanda | 01 October 2004 at 12:39
Check out what he said right after the debates:
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Politics/ap20041001_862.html
...Bush accused Kerry of withholding support for American troops and offering to turn over decisions about the nation's security to other countries. He said, "The use of troops to defend America must never be subject to a veto from countries like France."
Posted by: SamHaque | 01 October 2004 at 13:43
That was the most beautiful thing I have seen, in what has become the theatre of the absurd, of unscripted bush appearences, since the moment when asked if he "could remember any mistakes" during the April Press conference.
I did have the misfortune of missing the first (and last) of the weekly press conferences leading to the transfer of solidarity, and more recently the rose garden party with Allawi. I can't wait for the next two, and I definitely can't wait to see Crashcart taken apart by Edwards. I have an old James Brown song running through my head "I Feel Good"
dubya has been on a downhill slide since the MTP with Russert, and that was Bush in a hitting cage with Russert tossing underhanded softballs, I just don't see him getting any better unless Lilly has figured out a dosage combination of fritalin and LSD, that can temporarily reverse the brain damage.
Oh the whores will be a-spinning, but people got a whiff of the fact that the emporers clothes, are to put it nicely, threadbare. Now is the time to start inviting our moderate republican friends into the fold rather than pointing and laughing at them.
Kerry/Edwards in a Landslide!!
Posted by: kent | 01 October 2004 at 21:37
Amanda, how would you like the story of the debate to be framed? The impression I got, as you can probably tell, is that Bush is more of an idiot then I ever could have imagined. I'm sure this could be played up more politely, though. I don't think anyone can deny that Kerry looked more presidential in the debate, so maybe it should be spun as proving that Kerry's a man who can handle the presidency while Bush doesn't even know what to say without his advisors around?
Posted by: tas | 02 October 2004 at 06:58
I was a little upset that Bush didn't mention Eritrea.
I mean, you can't be president of the United States and demean our solid Eritrean allies.
The fucker.
Posted by: ricky | 03 October 2004 at 04:29
How could he have missed them? Everyone knows that Saddam's Republican Guard were heard shouting, "The Eritreans are coming! The Eritreans are coming!," before soiling themselves.
Posted by: tas | 03 October 2004 at 04:48
I was mainly relieved when I watched the debate because Kerry so-o-o clobbered Bush. I'm just afraid that people will forget and the media will keep spinning the debate in some way to favor Bush that he might win again in November.
How much you wanna bet that Bush chickens out of the next two debates?
Posted by: Trish Wilson | 03 October 2004 at 17:42
swing left, sweet pendulum
comin for to Kerry U.S. home
swing left, sweet pendulum
comin for to Kerry U.S. home
i looked at the country, and what did i see
(comin for to Kerry U.S. home)
a big swing of voters, votin for Ker-ry
(comin for to Kerry U.S. home)
to be sung to the tune of "swing low, sweet chariot"
Posted by: nowness | 03 October 2004 at 20:12
He may not chicken out, but he could raise the terror alert level to red and tell everyone in the country to purchase duct tape and plastic at 9pm EST sharp or else face certain death. Then blame Saddam.. Oops, I mean Osama.
Posted by: tas | 04 October 2004 at 05:26
Well, http://www.warblogging.com/ had a great link to someone's new site:
http://www.youforgotpoland.com/ .
I'm sure Kerry will never forget them again, lol.
Posted by: Morrigan | 07 October 2004 at 12:29