i cant think: Debates 2004 Round Two

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October 9, 2004

Debates 2004 Round Two - Kerry 2 Bush 0

The candidates have just left the ring in Missouri, and tonight's debate was a much more lively affair than round one. There did not seem to be any real new ground covered tonight, although there were a couple of moments that stood out as, well, not quite knockouts, but definitely worthy of review and further dissection.

It seemed that a much more well-rested and comfortable Bush showed up tonight than the man who was at last week's debate. There was much less of the grimacing, scowling Bush; tonight he showed up with the Distracted Face. Almost every time the camera caught him in a cutaway, he had that blank look with the darting eyes, the one that cries out for a comic-style thought-balloon above his head. Kerry was calm, with a face that said "I'm in control, and that's cool." Bush almost never addressed the questioner by name, while Kerry always did so, even at one point bringing up the name of a previous questioner. I guess that Dale Carnegie training course really does pay off.

The Bush moment of the night had to be when he responded to Kerry's accusation of helping himself to a personal tax cut by claiming himself as an employee of a timber company that he owned by saying "I own a timber company? I didn't know that. Anybody need some wood?" It turns out that, according to ABC News, Bush did indeed own a timber company and claimed $84 of income from that company on his 2001 tax return.

As for Kerry, a questioner asked him if he would be wiling to look directly into the camera and state in simple language that he would not raise taxes on those who earn less than $200,000 per year. Kerry immediately did just that, in a moment that was eerily reminiscent of Bush Sr.'s "no new taxes" pledge. A gutsy move, but one that could very well come back to haunt him later.

In the end, we have to give this one to Kerry, if only because he did not allow Bush to re-take the momentum that Kerry had gained in the first debate. We look forward to seeing the polls in the next couple of days, and eagerly await the final showdown next week.

UPDATE: In writing this piece we relied on our sometimes failing memory when we quoted President Bush. In the interest of fairness, after reviewing the transcripts, what Bush actually said was "I own a timber company? That's news to me. Need some wood?"

Posted by bcoffee at October 9, 2004 12:34 AM