Any americans watch the debate last night?

[Dave Gilbert]

I did, and I'm still reeling.  I turned it on expecting a lot of strong (but empty) rhetoric from Bush and stiff, incoherant ramblings from Kerry.  What we got was the total opposite.  Kerry was strong, clear and decisive.  Bush was stammering, rambling, and kept losing his train of thought.  Without his peeps to back him up, he looked like an idiot.  Without the republican spin campaign to bring him down, Kerry came across looking VERY good.  Kerry not only nailed Bush's ass to the wall,  he cut off a slice and fed it back to Bush on a plate. 

Unforunately, I can't help but thinking “This is what we needed five months ago.”  Hopefully it's not too late.

[jetxl]

I don't know if alot of muddthrowing towards the opposision is going to get you to win. But it's sure fun to look at from Europe.
I just hope that people don't get sympathy for Bush.
If Bush loses, think about all that money lost from companies that invested in the Bush-campain.

[shbaz]

I pretty much expected that, he's a terrible public speaker unless it's a one way rhetoric. Initially in his presidency he refused to listen to speechwriters and made bumbling mistakes constantly. As soon as 9/11 happened he must have realized how important it was for him to come across as a strong leader so he probably started rehearsing and using speech writers then. I don't know for sure, but the difference is night and day so it seems that way to me.

I haven't watched it yet, I had work yesterday and class last night and fell asleep as soon as I came home. Don't spoil the surprises for me!

[Dave Gilbert]

It wasn't so much as how stupid Bush was that floored me, but how strong Kerry was.  It gave me hope again that we might see the last of GW.  Any non-americans want to give me political asylum if he wins?

[Andail]

Dave, cela va sans dire!

[Squinky]

I watched a bit. I do agree that Bush didn't always come across as polished as Kerry at some points, but to me that just means he's saying something that actaully means something, not all rehearsed and canned like Kerry. I guess I just don't like politicians like Kerry, he promises everything, and I don't believe he could do half of it....

[Andail]

Squinky, Bush's speech was just as rehearsed and canned as Kerry's, he just couldn't remember all he had been taught to say very well.

[DGMacphee]

I only saw the clip of Kerry and the whole "I made a mistake in how I talk about the war, but the President made a mistake in invading Iraq, which is worse." Probably the knock-out punch, right?

Bush I think that whatever insane ramblings Bush gives, he sure as hell believes in whatever he's trying to say.

Not always a good thing though.

Kinda like this video: http://www.ebaumsworld.com/bush-bs.html

Sure, I don't know what the hell Bush is talking about in the clip, but I bet he sure as hell means it.


Right now I'm listening to the whole thing via net radio.

I guess I just don't like politicians like Kerry, he promises everything, and I don't believe he could do half of it....

Four words:

No child left behind...

[Timosity]

I saw a few snippets on the news, but I must say, I could never see bush winning a debate, ever, against most people in general. I hope the debate has some impact on the general public.

Our prime minister john howard is pretty bad at public speaking too, he can speak ok but it's all planned, he can't think on the spot and isn't even good at bullshitting to get around questions he doesn't want to answer (all questions)

We had our debate a couple of weeks ago and Howard lost to opposition leader Mark Latham (who speaks quite well) 66% to 33% which is the same percentage Howard lost in the debate in the previous election which he won. so it's not always a guide.

Our election is next weekend, which was made so it was before the US election, cause if bush goes out, howard probably would too.

I really hope Howard gets kicked, but I had the same feel last election and I was way off. Unless it's a close election, We'll know in just over a week.

When is the US election scheduled for?

I really hope bush gets kicked too, regular non voters could really make the difference if they decide to vote.

The most worrying thing in the Australian campaign, and probably every campaign strategy from here on in, is the fact of the size of the aging population around the world. Many of the major calling cards are to the elderly, now I respect the elderly, but the polititians on both sides buy votes by offering gimmicky bullshit just for votes.

I wont get into any specifics cause this post would get too long, I'll just mention the fact that putting economy before environment is such a short sighted view, there is NO Economy without an Environment, fucking idiots.

[Darth Mandarb]

I have been an adamant 'non-voter' for some years now.

I guess I just never saw the point.

It's not as if my vote means anything (especially with the archaic electoral college still in place.) Ã, However, as I get older and more established in this crazy world I find myself feeling more and more involved in the whole 'political scene'.

I'm not going to get into Bush bashing. Ã, As DG said, though he may not coherently form his thoughts into speech, I do think he believes in what he's saying.

Sara and I were watching together (she hates Bush with a STRONG passion) and I said, "You know, this is how it seems to me; Ã, Bush is spittin' out things he's memorized. Ã, But Kerry seems to know what he's saying."

They're both politicians, so I trust them no further than I can throw them.

"Well Ed with your bad back you shouldn't be throwing anything!"
"Go suck your head."

Bush was, I think, just out 'politicianed' last night.Ã,  I think Kerry is a better thinker and (obviously) a smarter man.Ã,  It was very one sided from my way of thinking.

Bush kept referring to 'wrong war, wrong place, wrong time'.Ã,  If you have to keep going back to the same thing over and over then you've lost the debate in my opinion.

Between Kerry's (convincing) attitude, displeasure with GeeDub, and Drew Barrymore ... I might just vote this time.Ã,  Too bad I'm going to be in Las Vegas on Nov. 2nd.

[DGMacphee]

We had our debate a couple of weeks ago and Howard lost to opposition leader Mark Latham (who speaks quite well) 66% to 33% which is the same percentage Howard lost in the debate in the previous election which he won. so it's not always a guide.

That's cause last election they had Children Overboard. If they want to win, they'd better pull something similar, though that's doubtful cause Labor will just call it Children Overboard 2 and call Howard a rodent.

I'm not going to get into Bush bashing.  As DG said, though he may not coherently form his thoughts into speech, I do think he believes in what he's saying.

Actually, I was Bush-bashing when I said that. I meant that yes, he believes in his actions and his opinions, but his actions are very misguided and his opinions don't have much basis.

It's kind of like Iraq. Bush says "Yes, invading Iraq is the right things to do."

Why?

"Well, WMDs and mobile weapons facilities and terror and Sept 11."

Eh

Yes, he believe strongly in invading Iraq, and people saw strength in that. Only problem is that believing strongly in something often blinds you from reality.

[Gregjazz]

Didn't have time to watch the debate.

I was in computer science lecture.

[Darth Mandarb]

Actually, I was Bush-bashing when I said that. I meant that yes, he believes in his actions and his opinions, but his actions are very misguided and his opinions don't have much basis.

Oops ... well either way, I'm not going to bash the moron.

[DGMacphee]

I think you just did. 

[Eggie]

When I was in America there was a little message scrolling across the bottom of the screen on CNN about an overweight woman not finding a bed big enough and Bush buying her one out of the goodness of his heart.

For some reason I found that pretty funny...

[Timosity]

Most Australians missed our debate cause they were watching Australian Idol. Surely there was an ant walking across the table that was more intreresting

Is the debate in the US a popular thing to watch?

Sadly enough I live in an electorate with a fuckup for a candidate, who will win no matter what, as much as he's screwed up (which he has majorly). I just can't see how a seat can be so safe with Phillip Ruddock sitting in it, it boggles the mind, It just makes me sick.

It just shows that often people are just brought up to vote for a certain party no matter who the representative is in the particular area

[DGMacphee]

Ah, the Chronicles of Ruddock. I could go on and on. He came to Brisbane last year to pimp the latest detenion centre that's going up in our eastern suburbs. I was doing a news story on the centre with a friend whose Dad used to be head of Amnesty --  Ruddock always wore an Amnesty badge when he was immigration minister. While in Brisbane, Ruddock called a meeting with certain specialist groups and people, including my friend's Dad. Her Dad asked him during the meeting, "Why do you keep embarassing Amnesty?"

Ruddock didn't have an answer.

Also, from an ABC news story: "An audience of about 50 million people are believed to have tuned in [to the US debate]."


EDIT: Just finished listening to the debate. Boy, oh boy, did Bush screw-up with his point on the war crimes court. Try making a coherent (and logical) argument out of that one.

[Anarcho]

I watched the entire debate. Ã, I was very impressed with Kerry's performance. Ã, He kept his cool during Bush's repeated attacks, and rather than taking a defensive position, he gave concise and (mostly) concrete answers regarding his positions. Ã, I still think his “plan” for Iraq sounds far too similar to Bush's, and perhaps unrealistic, but the situation in Iraq seems like a quagmire no matter which way you go. Ã, The international community is not going to send troops into Iraq. Ã, Bush burned too many bridges.

Bush, on the other hand, was mostly on the defensive. Ã, I felt that he was beating a dead horse with his “we can't send mixed messages” rhetoric. Ã, He also stumbled repeatedly, and hilariously pouted and grimaced during Kerry's rejoinders. Ã, He just came off as a dickhead. Ã, Of course, I already thought he was a dickhead, and this just reinforced my beliefs. Ã, 

The real question is how will the media spin it? Ã, I remember watching the Gore/Bush debates last time around and thinking that Gore held his own, but the talking heads convinced everyone that Bush kicked ass. Ã, It's like Jon Stewart said on the daily show, and I'm paraphrasing but it was something like, “I'm sure that by this time tomorrow, what we had thought happened, will not have happened.”

-Logan

When is the US election scheduled for?

November 2nd.

I might just vote this time.Ã,  Too bad I'm going to be in Las Vegas on Nov. 2nd.

Darth, vote absentee!Ã,  What state do you live in?Ã,  Check out Rock the Vote's website to request an absentee ballot: http://www.rockthevote.com/rtv_primaries.php

[Anarcho]

Darth, I see from you're profile you're from Florida.  Dude, you live in Florida!  You think your vote doesn't matter!?!  Were you around in 2000?  Every vote counts, especially in a swing state like Florida (even if they're not all counted).  The election in 2000 came down to just a few hundred votes.  Get your ass an absentee ballot!

[Darth Mandarb]

... the situation in Iraq seems like a quagmire no matter which way you go. Ã, The international community is not going to send troops into Iraq. Ã, Bush burned too many bridges.

I think most people can see exactly where the Viet ... I mean Iraq situation is headed.

I like to think (perhaps naively) that if the US votes a new leader into office, one who is willing (and wants) to repair the bridges that Bush has burned, the rest of the world leaders should be willing to start a new.Ã,  New leader, new policies, new hope, blah blah blah ...

Darth, I see from you're profile you're from Florida. Dude, you live in Florida! You think your vote doesn't matter!?! Were you around in 2000? Every vote counts, especially in a swing state like Florida (even if they're not all counted). The election in 2000 came down to just a few hundred votes. Get your ass an absentee ballot!

I didn't live in Florida then.Ã,  I've only been here about a year.Ã,  I am looking into getting an absentee ballot ... as to whether or not I'll use it ...

Let me explain my (uneducated) take on why I find my vote to be useless.

In the 2000 presidential election, GW got 47.87% of the popular vote (50,456,002 votes) and Al Gore received 48.38% (50,999,897 votes).Ã,  But Bush took 271 electoral votes, to Gore's 266.Ã,  (statistics from here) So we got stuck with Bush when it should have been Gore.Ã,  (I didn't particularly want Gore as president either ...)

Now it would seem to me, that in a democratic society that is "by the people" where they shove the 'privelage' of the vote down our throats, the candidate with the most of the popular vote should win.

The electoral college can make the popular vote completely pointless.Ã,  It's like a safety valve ... if those in power don't agree with the popular vote, just use the electoral college to put who you want in office.

Sure it's only happened 3 times in history (1824, 1888, 2000) but that's three times too many if you ask me.

It seems common sense to me, if Gore got more votes by the people' he should have won the election.Ã,  But 'lo and behold what's this??Ã,  Florida can't seem to get the count right ... and somehow, after all the BS, GW is elected.

You know ... the governor of Florida must haveÃ,  been so embarassed ...