Second Debate
Posted : October 9, 2004 at 11:28 am [America/Los_Angeles]
Click on the image to play the movie
After watching the debate last night, it seems to me that President Bush’s answer on just about everything is,
“Look, I know how this works. You may disagree with me. Heck, the whole world may disagree with me. However, I am telling you, this is the right thing to do and we must continue down this path. And, as for Senator Kerry’s approach, he is just plain lying. Never mind what he tells you. Never mind what you think about him. He is unfit to be the Commander-in-Chief because I say so.”
Do you see a pattern here. President Bush and folks in his Administration know it all. Heck, they seem to know more about Senator Kerry than the Senator himself. Frankly, this sort of arrogance scares me. Did the President ask you to elect him based on his record? Did he ask you to elect him based on his vision? Did he admit any mistake after seeing the ground realities in Iraq? Did he admit that it was wrong to cut taxes not once, not twice, not thrice but four times at a time when the country was at war and the deficits were booming? Did you see a man who was in touch with the reality of the world. Nope. I don’t think so. It seems like he was saying “Elect me, because I know what I am doing and I know I am right.”
I think it’s a shame that American voters are even giving this President a second thought. This President has single-handedly done more harm to this country and it’s future than any US President that I am aware of.
As for Senator Kerry’s performance last night, I thought he carried himself very well. He was definitely more Presidential than the President who, on many occasions, was downright angry. However, I would have preferred a more laser-like focus in the answers and a more aggresive tone from the Senator. It is not enough to rattle off a bunch of stats to prove your point. Yes, these numbers are important. But they have to be presented with some “heart”, some “passion”. In his attempt to look and be Presidential, he is letting the President get away with lies and misstatements.
In a debate, you should always be on the lookout for an opportunity to “checkmate” your opponent. And yes you can “go for the kill” if and only if you can bring the two - “passion” and “facts” - to the fore at the right time and in the right context. Kinda like Senator Tim Ryan does in the video clip above while answering the question “Should United States of America reinstate the Draft?”.
President Bush gave Senator Kerry plenty of opportunities last night. The Senator had the “facts” but his “heart”, his “passion” was lacking at crucial times. Result: President Bush’s chances of re-election lives on.
- Anand
Category: United (or not) State of American Politics 2004