Bush Sees a Safer America, While Kerry Sees a ‘Colossal Error’
Kerry vs. Rule, Bush vs. His Temper
As I watched last night’s Presidential debate, I was struck by the growing realization that George W. Bush is a fool. That is not something I say lightly, because I am aware of the reality that this is a sentiment neither universally shared nor appreciated. Yes, I am virulently anti-Bush; I detest George W. Bush the politician and everything he stands for. Nonetheless, I until last night was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt when it came to questions regarding his intellectual agility. No more. Bush could barely string together complete sentences, much less construct coherent arguments. The man was clearly out of his element intellectually. THIS is the leader of the Free World?? Be afraid, y’all…be very afraid….
Bush’s strategy seems to focus on the repetition of emotional talking points: focusing on Kerry’s “inconsistency”, Kerry’s “multiple positions” on the war in Iraq. How many times did the phrases “grand diversion”, “wrong war, wrong place, wrong time”, and “mixed messages” pass Bush’s lips? Rather than focusing on what he has done and will continue to do, Bush focused on the typical vague Republican accusations against Kerry. Clearly, the strategy seemed to be “if I repeat these ‘charges’ often enough, maybe people will believe me”. Perhaps, but they also exposed the reality that the Emperor Has No Clothes.
Kerry, to his credit, kept his answers short, focused and (for the most part) devoid of the five-dollar words and the tangential verbosity he is famous for. He looked confident, intellectual, and resolute, as opposed to Bush, who looked petulant, hesitant, uncertain, and at times just plain angry. Of course, you could pass this analysis off as pure partisanship, and I’m not going to argue the point. Yes, I am biased, but it seemed crystal clear to me that John Kerry clearly thumped George W. Bush. Kerry was honest and forthright. Bush spoke in cliches, simplistic phrases, and consistently worked to connect 9.11 and Saddam Hussein. Bush was an empty suit. I know; what a shock, eh?
Bush hammered half-truths and half-baked accusations. Kerry attacked Bush with specific, focused arguments, and he did so with surprising grace, passion, and abbreviated eloquence. An hour into the debate, Bush looked like a scared, petulant child who’d been caught in one too many lies. In fact, that is exactly what happened. No matter how many times Bush tried to tie Saddam Hussein to 9.11, Kerry beat him down like a rented mule. There is something to be said for speaking the truth firmly and concisely.
Will this debate ultimately have any impact on the outcome of the election? Who knows? That’s an argument I’ll leave to pundits with intellects more nimble than my own. I will say, though, that I am much more confident in John Kerry now than I ever have been. For the first time, I can actually see Kerry as an effective President. Four years into George W. Bush’s reign, he still hasn’t shown that he can be anything close to effective. Let’s face it, America. George W. Bush may have been smart enough to hire people smart enough to steal an election. Beyond that, the C-Student-in-Chief has nowhere near the intellectual candlepower necessary to lead the world’s most powerful nation.
WE DESERVE BETTER.
