October 14th, 2004
My final debate scorecard is posted.
For these debates, I scored each round as it happened and didn’t look at the final tally until afterwards. Last, as the debate was in progress, I thought that it was a pretty even fight. But when I went through and counted up the scores, I was shocked to find that Bush had been dominant.
What I suspect that means is that Bush’s win won’t be fully appreciated for another day or two. So watch and see where the conventional wisdom coalesces over the next 48 hours.
0 commentsFinal Statements
October 14th, 2004
Kerry offers, he says, “tested, strong leadership that can calm the waters of a troubled world.” Yet another moment of impressive discipline and forthrightness from the senator.
Bush: We’ve been through a lot together–yet another personal and personable note from the president, whose had more than his share of grace notes tonight.
0 commentsMy favorite Kerry line tonight
October 14th, 2004
“Frankly, I think we have a lot more loving to do.” It’s one of those lines so honest that it’s ridiculous.
0 commentsMore Soldiers
October 14th, 2004
One of Kerry’s strongest talking points for voters who support the president in Iraq, but wonder if we’re not still trying to win on the cheap is this talk of adding two divisions to the U.S. military. Whether you believe Kerry will ever out-war Bush is another matter.
0 commentsWho's Winning So Far?
October 14th, 2004
Maybe Kerry slightly, but Bush is never far behind, and on one or two occasions, Bush has pounded Kerry–about tax cuts, increasing jobs, Social Security reform.
0 commentsWonky-Tonk
October 14th, 2004
This debate is as steeped in policy detail as Washington, D.C., think tank panel discussion. Here Kerry has a natural advantage, but one that is quickly used up. It doesn’t take long for the most policy-conversant brain to become saturated with numbers and disbelieve them all.
0 commentsre-importation
October 14th, 2004
Oh, how I wish Bush would take it to Kerry on the absurdity of selling drugs to Canada and buying them back to escape our own regulatory system. Also there is a structural problem in a domestic policy debate between a compassionate conservative and a Massachusetts liberal: The former will never outgive the other.
Another note on the quality of debate: Disagreement and contradiction is happening without much rancor. Both candidates have had occasion to sharply reject the other’s characterizations of their positions and experience without getting all snide or angry about it.
0 commentsA good debate
October 14th, 2004
Both candidates have grown comfortable jousting with the other. Kerry’s softened his demeanor, smiling, bemused by some of Bush’s points. Bush has beefed up his numbers game, and he goes more often to hardy old sayings–reality versus rhetoric is one–that he feels confident using.
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