Pros fill in the blinks on W

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/237898p-204108c.html

Confronted with a debate challenge from John Kerry, President Bush blinked. And blinked, and blinked, and blinked, and blinked. And the cutaway camera shots that Bush's handlers did not want the networks to broadcast also caught an embarrassing smorgasbord of smirks that graced the President's face as Kerry made his case.

"Normally, excessive blinking is a sign of discomfort," said Barbara Laskin of Laskin Media, a Manhattan communications training and consulting firm. "He was uncomfortable and defensive and his blinking and body language reflected that."

<snip>

But frustration isn't the only thing Gerard Nierenberg, author of "How to Read a Person Like a Book," saw. "When someone is not sure of the truth, their eyes blink rapidly," he said.

<snip>

Bush's body language also undermined him, especially when Kerry was speaking, the experts said. The President looked peevish, his shoulders slumped, and at one point he issued a sigh that was nearly Al Gore-worthy in its intensity.

[whistle]

October surprise....George Dubya Bush cancels remaining....

...televised debates and chooses teleconference method.

[Scooter24]

29. I swear...

If Bush cancels, I say Kerry should show up anyways and answer the questions unchallenged. We are tired of playing by their rules. It's time for Bush to step up and take his spanking like a man. LOL

[whistle]

30. If Bush cancels the remaining debates then the networks....

...and cable news channels should be obligated to replay the first debate complete with constant split screen for everyone to see again and again. Kerry should also go to the debate even if Shrub fails to show and answer all of the questions.

[kodi]

44. then kerry shows up debating an empty podium

.

[LiberalFighter]

33. You mean online debate

[Arugula Latte]

39. I don't think they would risk having the Great Leader labeled a:

Big Pussy! (Excuse the language)

[truthisfreedom]

1. "unsure of the truth" is a perfect description of bush's legacy. all of it

from his humble beginnings as a little lying brat.

[Dr Fate]

5. Bush cannot even get his lies straight-much less the truth.

The hunching & grimacing certainly did indicate his total discomfort & confusion with the facts/truth.

[Peanut Gallery]

13. delete

..

[LiberalFighter]

34. Unsure of the truth?? I don't think so....

He knows the truth just doesn't want to admit it

Has to lie and knows that he is lying THEREFORE his eyes blinking

Nervousness is caused by his lying

[T Bone]

2. Can you say Tardive Dyskinesia ? Can you Google it ? I knew you could

Tardive Dyskinesia explains all the facial tics, and 'mouthing' movements, pushing that reptilian tongue all around and out and over the teeth.

[glitch]

4. Yikes! Thanks for the info - nt

[Richard D]

6. That is my hit too.

It makes so much sense. Why won't he do the physical, a lifetime of drug and alcohol use, Rx stuff for psychosis etc.

[kutastha]

12. Could very well be.

Those with TD don't really even know the tics are happening, but can sometimes stop them if they think about them. For * that would mean thinking about two things at once, and this is impossible since he'd probably soil himself trying.

[TheDebbieDee]

16. "This is impossible since he'd probably soil himself trying."

LLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOooooooooollllllll!

[LiberalFighter]

36. Then he would have 3 things to think about

[demoman123]

21. No. He does not have tardive dyskinesia.

You would never say this if you had ever seen someone with that.

[mcg]

46. I agreed, he does not have tardive dyskinesia.

Tardive dyskinesia is horrible, I know someone who had it, fortunately he recovered.

I do wonder whether something is physically wrong with Bush, but it's not that.

[bobthedrummer]

25. It's a frequently reported side effect of atypical anti-psychotic drugs

you could be on to something here, T Bone-he's lost it.

[LiberalFighter]

35. You mean he is one of those reptile aliens from outer space?

Alienation?

[blackspade]

42. Yep....

He's a Reptoid, for sure!

[illuminaughty]

41. Wow LMAO

That really fits. The article I read said drugs like "dopamine agonists" might help. Well, he definitely is an agonizing dope so maybe he'll get the meds before next debate.

Article also said person might "use fingers and arms as if playing an imaginary guitar or piano" Now that would be even better than this last twitchfest. I'll be waiting for it.

[atommom]

49. LMAO! Could there BE a more agonizing dope? nt

[Sputnik]

3. Remember when Right-Wingers

made a big deal during the primaries because they said Wes Clark didn't blink enough? They found that "creepy." I laughed because it's a scientific fact that people blink more rapidly when lying, as the article you linked pointed out.

Maybe Bush was just flirting with the nation, fluttering his eyes like that. (ewwwwww, gag) Just as they've been spinning Bush's lying (no pun intended)on the podium as the fact that he was comfortable in the debate. They say "comfortable", I say "drunk."

[progressivebydesign]

9. Interesting.. but I blink a lot when posed with a question..

I have a near photographic memory, and when accessing things from memory, I'm told I blink a lot.. picture your computer when it's "thinking" and the little light flickers. That's me!

Bush was blinking while listening to Kerry, and while he talked, etc. I honestly think there IS something physically wrong with him, that's why he won't chance a physical before the election. I WISH the journalists would make a bigger deal about that.. WHAT IS HE HIDING??

[MsMagnificent]

40. Oh they went after Wes Clarke with a vengeance

because he also was The/A Real Deal and they knew they had to try to neutralize him ASAP.

What do they care? They're without morals and without souls.

They don't care who or what they slime, just as long as their little Weasel wins, by fair means or foul.

I just hope Wes Clarke (Edit :) he runs again in the future, and gets more versed in politics in the meanwhile... it was too bad he got cut out like he did.

[0007]

7. Ah yes!


Wrong again junior!

[napi21]

8. I might buy this is it happened all the time, but it doesn't.

Watch him when he's in a relaxed situation...he's OK then. Interviews with friendly people, campaugning with all friendly supporters around, and you don't see this activity. I don't think this diagnosis is the correct one.

I think it's more a reaction to very unfavorable circumstances. When he realizes he can snow everybody, he gets scared.

[llmart]

10. You guys here have it all wrong.....

Didn't Karen Hughes say it's his "pensive" face???

[jimshoes]

11. 10 to 1 junior don't know what that means

He might even think you just said something dirty. :evilgrin:

[Eye and Monkey]

22. yeah, but if you put an "ex" in front of "pensive", he understands THAT

Of course, I think we'd rather put and "ex" in front of Resident, and send him back to Crawford.

[LiberalFighter]

37. Tell gw* the pianist is extremely big

[skordane]

14. Cutaway Shots

I will bet anyone $100 vs. 1 cent that the arrogant little bastard thought that none of the networks were going to show the cutaway shots.

[Eye and Monkey]

23. I'm surprised that Andy Card didn't step up and whisper in his ear.

On the other hand, Card-Rove-Huge probably were worried that he'd freeze for 7 minutes if they whispered in his ear.

[JoFerret]

32. I bet you are right

.

[demigoddess]

15. what I saw was a little boy who did not like the fact that he was

being challenged. he was used to and expected to just be adored and not have any serious opposition. You see the same thing in little boys when they get caught doing something and really hate getting the following chewing out by mom or pop

[calimary]

27. I saw something very similar - a petulant little boy who doesn't like

the fact that he's really gonna have to serve that detention.

Funny, isn't it, how often I've heard the word "petulant" used to describe his debate demeanor. Equally funny how many pundits ranging from the "pros" on TV to observers here on DU saw him as a little boy.

Standing there with Kerry, it was like looking at an adult and a child. And Kerry was the adult - in EVERY respect.

So we frame it as:

Your choice is between a mature, thinking, reasoning adult and a spoiled, arrogant, petulant little boy. Which of those do you want YOUR president to be?

[mrbassman03]

17. Try to check out the video posted earlier...

http://www.dannybot.com/favor/howsmall.mov

[reprobate]

48. Kerry should be praised for not breaking out in laughter....

...in responce to some of *s responces. This video really showed just how disfunctional bush is.

[mumon]

18. He's gonna be blinking alot

and do all that other stuff liars do. He's toast!

[goclark]

19. Getting my nails done today

I was in a shop owned someone from Viet Nam.
When I came in with my Kerry buttons, they told me ," Wow, I'm for Kerry! Bush is sooo dumb. Did you see him on the debate? We watched it here in the shop and we laughed and laughed!!!"

Then one of the guys started blinking his eyes and shaking his head,just like Bush.

I just happened to have a registration form in my purse. There was only one person that was a citizen. He REGISTERED on the spot!

[proud2BlibKansan]

26. I went to a record store today

looking for John Fogerty's new CD. The girl gave me a discount because I was wearing a Kerry/Edwards t-shirt.

:headbang:

[The_Casual_Observer]

20. He was visiblty shaken each time Pres Kerry Made a point

and clobbered him, as if the blows were physical. As was predicted, he didn't know how to react to anyone who didn't "see it his way".

[crossroads]

24. He just can't take/handle responsibility or critizism!!!

Sonny boy never matured!
:eyes:

[peekaloo]

28. Next Friday night should be hilarious. It will be HARD WORK for

Boo$h to concentrate on answering questions while trying to appear calm and "presidential".

[Bragi]

31. On a different note...

I thought Kerry hammered Bush substantively on everything about the war in Iraq, but I am saddened that we live in such times that Bush's superficial facial gestures, upon being confronted by his failures in Iraq, have become the front and centre criticism of Bush in the debate.

In the media, substance has clearly given way to performance values. I'll take it, because it supports Kerry, but it's still sad. It's the flip side of the CBS documents becoming the big media issue, not Bush's current lies about his military service.

I know that you live by the sword, you die by the sword, but my fear is that the current sword is just a mere instrument of perverse weirdness.

Personally, I like the result -- Kerry won, Kerry gains. But I am disturnbed by the flimsy process by which that is happening.

Other than that, hooray for our side.

- B

[Carolab]

38. it's not superficial

those facial reactions are windows to the soul. I'm in sales. It's my bread and butter to read people and to make sure when they read me they know I'm for real.

[sendero]

47. I get your point..

.... but the fact is that these facial expressions tell a LOT about what is going on in his head.

You can write them off as insignificant, but they weren't, and thankfully most Americans read the message they sent loud and clear.

[lostnfound]

43. Something about this is akin to flunking a final exam..

after you've spent the entire semester partying.

[mcg]

45. W stands for Winky-Blinky

[liberalcanuck]

50. That sounds like a Photoshop job to me. A blinking * in a teletubby

outfit with the name Winky Blinky.