Kerry will be lucky to hold his own in the debates

[Teaser]

http://yglesias.typepad.com/matthew/2004/09/expectations_ma.html

Um...did someone leave Paul Waldman off the memo? Bush didn't try to back out of the "town hall" debate because he was afraid of the format. That was just a clever trick. He's going to kick ass in all three debates, but especially in the town hall. John Kerry's nuanced ways may go over okay with the elite press corps, but when he gets to speak mano a mano with average Americans, George W. Bush's rhetorical skills are unmatched. Like regular people he eschews details in favor of broad principles and compelling moral language, positively exuding the combination of decency and boldness that people are looking for in a leader. The debates are going to be a rough ride for Kerry, whose strength lies in the formal address. If he manages to get through the ordeal without utterly humiliating himself, I'll be happy.

Y'know, Matt's right. These debates really do favor Bush. Let's not get our hopes up people. Kerry is not really that good a debater, and Bush is far, far better than most people admit. So factor that into your expectations, folks.

[JimmyJazz]

1. as always, I am greatly looking forward to hearing the master

[Teaser]

2. Bush is a master debater, true...

heh.

[JimmyJazz]

5. ah, so it wasn't lost on anyone

:7

[Trajan]

3. Bush is a fucking Da Vinci when it comes to debating ....

a goddamned Rembrandt ....

[blue neen]

8. Yes Rembrandt, that's it. Bush is a true artisan.

[kerryin2004]

4. Bush is the greatest debater ever..

He has never lost a debate..I hope Kerry holds up to all the scrutiny that he gets.. If Kerry wasn't the incumbent I wouldn't be worried, but they have a 4 year record they can go after Kerry for..I wish Kerry had been a better president the last 4 years..

[blue neen]

6. Bush'es speaking style is SOOOOOOOOOOO compelling.

He just rivets you to the screen. Look how well he did at the UN today! "cough, cough" "choke" "hurl"

[Zinfandel]

17. Bush will win the debates hands down.

The media will be falling all over themselves telling all Americans about how great Bush did in each debate. Whether Bush is chewing on a mouthful of horseshit through out the whole debates...Bush will be pronounced the winner to people who watched the debates and the 80 to 90 % of the people who won't watch the debates will believe it.

Fox will be cuming in their pants saying over and over and over again, how Bush kicked Kerry's ass, and the rest of the media will fall right in line saying it over and over again until even you believe it and start saying Kerry should of done better in the debates...

[kcwayne]

7. I especially like the sweeping moral principle about GYN's

not being able to practise their love on their patients. We need more of that!

[blue neen]

11. He is just so damned inspiring, isn't he?

[fishface]

9. In otherwords Bush appeals to the slow witted

intelluctually dulled nitwit that voted for him in the first place.

[AspenRose]

15. He should run rings around that former prosecutor, Kerry.

I mean, only Fancy Pants Elitists can understand half of what that Massachusetts Librul sez.

;-) Tee hee

[LTR]

10. Bush makes JFK sound like Porky Pig

Am I laying it on too thick?

[ScreamingMeemie]

13. N-n-n-n-n-n-ot at all...

:hi:

[blue neen]

14. LMAO!

You're only speaking the truth!

[denverbill]

12. It will be a HUGE victory for Kerry if he just doesn't make any big gaffes

If he somehow manages to emerge without looking like a total incompetant buffoon, it would be a miracle.

[WinterStorm]

16. Does it hurt to read about how good Kerry is at debating?

:shrug:

[TomClash]

18. Bush is the greatest debater of all time

Really. Kerry should not even be in the same room.

[nostamj]

19. yup, at the whim of a hat....

* is the master

[Chiyo-chichi]

23. George W. Bush

would have trounced either Lincoln or Douglas! He'd have made Jack Kennedy look more stiff than Al Gore!

[yardwork]

20. Bush is the best debater the world has ever seen

If Bush doesn't win the debates by at least forty points it will be a miserable failure.

[VOX]

21. * has taken his rightful place beside Martin Luther King Jr., JFK,

Winston Churchill, Malcolm X and FDR as one of the great orators of all time.

Kerry might as well run up the white flag now, and avoid the humiliation. :D

[Darby]

22. Bush will handle Abu Ghareff questions very well I think - he's gifted

[Darby]

24. Bush will wow the audience with his discussion of "tribal soverignity"

[ParanoidPat]

25. I have such absolutely LOW expectations for Kerry's performance......

.....that if he just lives through the debates without dying of embarrassment I'll consider it a victory of sorts. :(

[the Kelly Gang]

26. "the elite press corps,"..who they ??

[George W. Dunce]

27. I hate to sound like

a defeatist but Kerry may want to give up the debates, he is against such over whelming odds. I mean what if they ask Bush about tribal sovereignty? We all know how that is his strong suit.Even worse, what if they ask him to name some leaders form around the world and he bust out "the General Guy who runs Pakistan is what I call um'" Could be a long long night for John Kerry.

[nagbacalan]

33. We're in trouble if they base questions on chapters 3 thru 7 in

"My Pet Goat."

[moondust]

28. Bush is the Zen Master of debate.

He NEVER loses a debate. It is simply not within the realm of possibility.

(Personally, I don't know why they're even bothering to have them. The outcome is a given. The jury is already in.)

[gasperc]

29. rhetorical skills

and Bush in the same sentence???

[Behind the Aegis]

30. remember

Not only is the Shrub a great debater, you just can't fool him! Ask him about it!

"Steal our election once, shame on you....steal our election twice, er..well...you WON'T steal it again!"

[Cronus Protagonist]

31. Yeah, Bush just has that Charisma with a capital "C"

Kerry will have his work cut out to be able to reach half of the voters that Bush has an instant connection with. It's going to be tough.

Fascism: We Report You Decide
http://cronus.com/fascism

You might be a Republican if...
http://cronus.com/quiz

Commentary by a Republican...
http://cronus.com/republican

The REAL Republican Platform...
http://cronus.com/platform

Bush's Illustrated Resume
http://cronus.com/bushresume

Isn't That Strange?
http://cronus.com/oil

:)

[Walt Starr]

32. The debate formats are hardly fair to Kerry

They should be forced to gag and hogtie Bush whenever Kerry speaks.

I'm afraid it's the only way Kerry even stands a chance.

[hiphopnation]

34. Kerry = stinky shag carpet, * = "Dirtlifter" steam cleaner

Kerry debates * = CARPET CLEANED



* has really turned modern politcal discourse on it's ear and offered all of civilized man a new methodology in approaching dialectics. Kerry...pfft! Take the hint!! Give up now!!