Grrrr Dana Milbank Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[grasswire]

From his live chat on Washington Post website today:

Arlington, Va.: After the president's lousy performance last night, is there any more talk from the White House about cancelling the next two debates?

Dana Milbank: Actually, Bush had a pretty strong performance; it's just that Kerry had a better performance, and Bush's obvious anger, seen on split screens across the nation, was unlikely to play well for him. But Bush delivered his points forcefully (if redundantly): Kerry wilts, wavers and flip flops.
I think there's no backing out of the next two debates; last night served to increase their importance.

<snip>

The longer the debate went on last night, it seemed, the weaker and more fatigued Bush sounded -- he doesn't do many speeches or appearances of any kind that call for him to be "on" for that long. And he really dislikes having to respond to personal criticism; it shows. Is this fixable? Is it just a matter of Bush getting into game shape, as it were?

Dana Milbank: Actually, I had the opposite take: that Bush started weak but gained strength.

http://discuss.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/zforum/04/milbank100104.htm

[e-mail]

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. There is no talk of cancelling them at the WH

They are talking about it, they are talking about it

Black is white and up is down, this is the WH we are talking about....

[MADem]

8. How STALINESQUE!!!

It's like that old Russkie saying, "There's no Pravda (truth) in Pravda, and no Isvestia (News) in Isvestia." The way the Russkies used to read the paper is just as you describe--black was white, up was down! Incredible that we have arrived at that point in four dreadful years...!

[glitch]

2. Something has really gone wrong with Milbank - I don't read him anymore

Bored with the whores. Although if I were a psychologist he might make an interesting case study.

[grasswire]

3. He is....

...a Skull & Bones member, too. Maybe there are factions within the secret society.

[papau]

4. Interesting Dana Milbank view - good to see next 2 debates are a go!

As to Dana's points - well - it is hard to argue with a fellows opinion.

Indeed Bush did deliver his points - asserting that Kerry wilts, wavers and flip flops. But He did so repetitively and without much proof.

It is a bit disturbing that Dana used the words "pretty strong performance" and "delivered his points forcefully (if redundantly)" -

I saw redundant - I did not see forceful - and I would have expected Dana to note that Bush's points were not substantiated. I expect Bush's points are story lined into DC pundits minds and they no longer can see how wrong they are at worst - and how nit-picking at best.

As to your point the Bush seemed fatigued, I agree - but in a lousy 90 minute performance I thought - like Dana - that the first 45 minutes were the worst for Bush. But I did not see a "strong" performance at any point.

But I will agree with the "Bush started weak but gained strength" as long as Dana throws he he gained strength to get to a D minus level at the end - and overall grade was a solid F.

I wish I knew what Dana was smoking when he saw a "strong Performance"!!!!????!!!!

:-)

[Warren DeMontague]

5. if Bush backed out of the other two now, it would be a disaster for him

Not only would this turd-like performance be the only thing in the minds of the voters, it would appear that he was running scared.

Yes! Cancel the debates!

[The_Casual_Observer]

6. Oh yeah, is was a pretty strong (smelling) performance alright

Eventually these guys are going to have to give up on *, they know that he will never deliver anymore tax cuts and a war with Iran and Syria or Korea is inevitable if he stays in.

[Phillycat]

7. No way they'll go to war with Syria.

They're evil, not insane. Iran of course.

[MADem]

9. Syria lacks black gold

Iran, on the other hand, has a number of very nice oil fields. Iran also has several refineries as well as very good outlet to the sea, unlike Iraq--which has Basra and not much else, since the Shatt al Arab is still hard to navigate (hasn't been dredged in more than 20 years, and is littered with crap from the Iran-Iraq war).

Iran is also in a bit of turmoil, but the only way they could shift the government successfully is to do it covertly (like they did the last time, with the Shah and Mossadeqh). If you go in there with a couple of hundred thousand GIs their nationalist spirit will totally overcome their desire for change. It's the "My leader may be an asshole, but he's MY asshole" phenomenon.