Listening to Bush and Kerry on radio, Bush came off better...

[rfranklin]

This monring Juan Williams was doing a campaign report with clips from Bush and Kerry. Hearing them juxtaposed, I felt that Bush came across as easier to listen to and follow: "With the lessons of 9/11 in mind, I will not hesitate to defend America..." or some such twaddle to justify the Iraq invasion.

Kerry, on the other hand, brings to mind the word "stentorian" and he is not easy to listen to (though I know that what he says is more intelligent and more truthful and more realistic.) HIs delivery is just not listener friendly.

I don't know where this leaves us or what can be done, but Kerry's staff have to get him to simplify and work on making his delivery a bit more folksy.

[PCIntern]

1. I heard that too and commented

on another thread...

his deliever is not going to change with 70-some days left in the campaign. what has to be done, is to get out there and hammer *'s record, esp the military record to get this Wift Boat crap off the table and refocus the debate. Once again, Dems are not answering scurrilous charges hard enough. Thye should nail the Alabama National Guard Duty right to Bush's head.

WHERE WERE YOU MR BUSH!?

[no_hypocrisy]

2. In 1960, radio audiences thought Nixon won the debates, while TV

audiences believed Kennedy won.

It depends upon the perception based on the media.

But you're right. Kerry should keep working for improvement all around.

[JI7]

3. TV should matter more probably

since radio listeners will most likely be those who are already decided on the candidate to support.

[ClintonTyree]

4. Are people that shallow?

GWB may be easier to listen to, but there isn't a whole lot of substance to what he says. Kerry may be more difficult on the ear, but there is considerable thought behind his words.

In the last 30 years or so our country has started to put form before substance, hence the terrible shape we're in.

I guess that's what happens when you're one of those intellectual Liberals. It's far easier to be a brainless Republinazi and let others do your thinking for you.

I'll take Kerry's delivery any day.

[Career Prole]

16. Absolutely...I've never found stupidity all that appealing.

I can listening to reasoned words all day.

[DUreader]

5. juan williams is such a reich-wing hack, what do you expect?

he will always edit the shrub* and Kerry in this manner

[mediaman007]

6. Consider that Bush was talking to his base and that Kerry

was giving a major policy talk to the VFW.

Further, I think that Williams chose to use Kerry clips that didn't feature any applause, while the Bush clips were chosen to include the cheerleading fundies.

[HEFFA]

7. Sound bite democracy

It's tragic that some people will rely on the hand-picked and edited samples of positions and statements by the candidates. Personally, I'd rather listen to them expand on their positions. In this way, we can gain a substantive understanding of their beliefs and policy imperatives. Unfortunately, you may be right -- Bush is better suited to oversimplifying and condensing his thoughts into digestible sound bites. Fortunately, Kerry will be the more thoughtful and effective leader because he can see, consider and express thoughts on the larger problems that plague us.

[Paradise]

8. imho, 'big dog' should be coaching him on his people-speak! n/t

[bigtree]

9. Hell, I can't stand Bush's whiny, stupid voice

I wouldn't ever favor hearing him over our excellent candidate John Kerry. I guess it depends on how much you hate bush and how much you like our candidate. Don't try to sell folks on this. I mean, how far can you take something like this? Why the hell would I want to listen to an ignorant know-nothing who has contempt for everything I believe in. I hear the contempt and arrogance whenever bush speaks. I hear the phony lip service he gives to issues and concerns that I care about and I seethe with anger at his attempts to distort issues to make it appear that he gives a damn. There is nothing appealing about this duplicitous liar. There is nothing appealing about listening to this ignorant liar. There is no appeal in listening to a 'folksy' demagogue. I can't believe that anyone would put any value in the cadence of this ignorant hack.

[robcon]

10. I agree. Kerry needs to improve.

I fear what might happen in the debates.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

19. Yep, Bush is going to demolish Kerry in the debates. Remember 2000?

Keep repeating it....

[lukasahero]

11. Totally disagree

It's not about how Kerry speaks or delivers his speeches - it's about how the media edits the speeches to make dumya sound better.

How much airtime did dumya's "Sovereignty" comment get or how about the 'we misnamed the war on terrorism' fiasco? Can't say as he would have sounded better than anything Kerry has said on his worst of days if they'd played those. Note: they didn't.

[Surface Map]

12. agree somewhat

I think Bush comes across as sounding more sincere but Kerry offers more substance.

[lukasahero]

15. Do you really?

I guess it's probably my inability to get past my own disdain for him, but I can't listen to a word he says without thinking he's lying and he frickin' knows it. I guess I assume everyone else listening to him would also be aware of what an insincere, lying, backstabbing creep he is.

But I do agree that the masses are ignorant and Amerikans have a 30 second attention span so it probably works to his favor.

[incapsulated]

13. Won't matter, either way

Nobody is listening to speeches on the radio in any significant numbers.

[lunarboy13]

14. The operative word there is "clips"...

Part of the spin and a major part of the media filter the Democratic-Stategist has told us about is really what the Juan Williams report was all about. How did they decide what "clips" to play?

Yes, John Kerry can be a little stiff, but he does have moments of loose ease with people and that often does come through on the Campaign trail -- certainly not in a hall with thousands of people delivering a speech. Bush, on the other hand, while folksy, often drifts into un-articulate narratives that comedians play over and over.

The simple fact is this: Bush cannot effectively articulate his positions or policies. John Kerry, however, can.

[CBHagman]

17. I get to hear many unedited speeches, briefings, and hearings...

...and can assure you that Bush is a BLITHERING idiot. He is one of the worst speakers around. If you've heard his "discussion" of Native American tribal sovereignty at the Unity conference, you have a pretty good idea of what kind of speaker he is. Bush's technique is to stay on script, be aggressive, and use simple declarative sentences. Oh, and to lie a lot.

Juan Williams is basically a right-wing enabler and inserts the damnedest things in his NPR segments, such as Ann Coulter commenting on Max Cleland. Of course he's going to try glorify Bush.

I understand that Kerry comes off as ponderous, but he can speak off the cuff and talk rings around the average politician (Believe me, I've heard a lot of them, and most are not impressive speakers). I don't want Kerry remade as a faux folksy type who drops g's and talks down to people (both of which are Bush techniques).

My guess is that Kerry needs to cultivate the devastating sound bite and basically hand Bush his ass at every speech or media availability. I know he can do that.

[NewJeffCT]

18. This is why Bush will demolish Kerry in the debates

Bush will spit out patriotic platitudes full of empty promises or flat out lies while wrapping himself in the flag, while Kerry will give long nuanced answers full of accurate facts and will come across as aloof, intellectual, etc.