Linda McQuaid (Toronto Star): Kerry Strong, Presidential & Bush Petulant

[Dudley_DUright]

In the run-up to last Thursday's presidential debate, we were repeatedly told that George W. Bush had the edge: His warm, folksy approach allowed him to connect with people, while Democratic challenger John Kerry was regarded as cold and cerebral.

What chance would Kerry have, then, against a down-to-earth president who came across to voters as someone they could have a beer with, or turn to for comfort when they lost their dog?

We were also told presidential debates are not determined by substance; Richard Nixon lost in 1960 because of his 5 o'clock shadow, while Al Gore was said to lose in 2000 because he sighed too many times.

But when the media pundits were finally cleared off the stage and the real show began, an odd thing happened: A real debate broke out.

To the surprise of many, Kerry came across as strong and even presidential, while Bush appeared faltering, confused, petulant and almost inarticulate at times. He seemed like a schoolboy who'd been sent to the front of the class to discuss a book he hadn't read. And to make matters worse, he was obliged to debate a guy who was suddenly coming off like Abe Lincoln.

more...

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar%2FLayout%2FArticle_Type1&c=Article&cid=1096668608946

[readmylips]

1. School Boy vs Abe Lincoln..

I love it. Thank you Canada Press.

Little bush was like a sheltered Amish Boy sent off to Times Square to see the real world. He find he ain't got nothing to fight with...that was little georgie bush who uses arrogance, pet names, hates his own father, scolds world leaders...uses any and all means to make himself look good. John Kerry stripped his clothes off and the world saw little georgie in his birthday suit.

Take that to the bank Baba Mama Bush! Your children and grandchildren are all criminals.

[Cha]

2. This is a article from Canada..And I'll bet the Canadians

are loving this, too! They get the real news up there.

"Seeing their president squirm might come as a bit of a shock to many Americans, who may never have really seen him confronted.

Probably no recent president has been as carefully shielded from public scrutiny, or as tightly scripted, as this one.

Bush's occasional ventures beyond the protective confines of the White House compound have generally been to military events or gatherings of pre-cleared Republicans.

He only agreed to appear before the 9/11 commission on condition that he could bring along Vice-President Dick Cheney. The administration apparently feared allowing Bush to go unscripted into a session where some tough questions could come his way. Better to have the more experienced and savvy Cheney on hand in case any heavy mental lifting was required."

This is dispicable that any American president(sic)should be so coddled. It's time to turn the little whining monster out!

[highplainsdem]

3. She nailed it

"He seemed like a schoolboy who'd been sent to the front of the class to discuss a book he hadn't read."

God only knows how often that actually happened to Dubya during his childhood. Journalists have tended to let him get away with unsupported claims to knowledge in recent years, but Kerry's unrelenting corrections of Bush's mistakes, plus that brilliant reminder that GHWB was smarter than his son in avoiding a quagmire in Iraq, have to have evoked a lot of painful childhood memories and resentment. All of which played out so vividly on his face...

[readmylips]

4. Bush #1 taller than Junior...

Junior bowlegged like his mama. Junior doesn't like standing next to his parents. He wants to be either, Nixon's son or Ronald Reagan's.

My stepson is shorter than his father (my hubby). That is like a huge needle in my stepson's life. To make it worse, my son (stepson to my hubby) is taller. That does not sit well with my step son.

[missjudy6]

5. Happy to see...

" Although allowed little access to Bush, the media have been surprisingly pliant, rarely putting tough questions to the administration. Whatever the reason for this — perhaps fear of being attacked as "liberal" — it has allowed the highly organized and aggressive White House spin machine operated by Karl Rove to largely control the agenda and shape the current presidential campaign."

More pressure should be brought to bear on the American press to report the facts. And to acknowledge commentary as such.
It is an unfortunate fact most Americans get their news, and thus form their opinions, from mainstream news. Unfortunate in that they are not aware they are being fed information from less than unbiased sources. As Ms McQuaig so aptly put it, White House spin machines are controlling the agenda.
It is long past time for Democrats and Progressives to start asserting a little control.
A case in point: The 60 Minutes/Dan Rather documents.
The mainstream media stepped all over each other to condemn Rather, 60 Minutes and the documents. Completely lost in the entire fiasco was the point few if any dispute. George Bush WAS the recipient of special favors for his father's influence to avoid the war. George Bush DID then shirk his diminished responsibilities.
Had any other president or politician been accused of such blatant disregard for the law of the land (pre Bush administration) the stepping by the press would have been to be the first to call for their head.
It is beyond my comprehension how:
1) The neocons continue to portray the press as liberal
2) The press or ANYONE considers this an insult
3) Any mainstream news media types can garner any pride from their work.
4) How we as Americans allowed it to be if one dissents, report facts, or merely disagrees with the pap and swill coming from the white house one is labeled unpatriotic.
It is long past time for the media to take responsibility and start reporting facts in an unbiased fashion.
It is long past time we as citizens demand they do so.