To the doubters out there, last night's debate should have ended the debate as to the caliber of George Bush. I really tried to be objective (it's hard when it comes to Bush because the man engenders very strong negative feelings in so very many people), to put my views aside and to see what a less partisan person might see watching the debate. Was there any contest here? First of all, to my mind, vast differences in positions. Here's what I heard:
Kerry: Essentially against the doctrine of preemptive war. We need alliances in this complex world and must respect the opinions of mankind.
Bush: Arrogantly: "I don't need a permission slip", etc.
Kerry: For continuing on the path of nuclear disarmament.
Bush: Acting to weaken historic disarmament treaties. Wants to develop a new generation of nukes to defend us from whom??
Kerry: Global warming to be taken as a serious threat.
Bush: Pulled out of Kyoto. "Global warming is not proven."
Kerry: Iraq is a disaster. Bush made a colossal blunder.
Bush: Iraq? No problem. Bring'em on! Mission Accomplished!
Kerry had a very fine command of facts and figures. But he didn't sermonize. He was calm but on target. He sounded and looked reasonable and "Presidential."
Bush on the other hand was on the defensive for 70% of the evening. He seemed peevish and testy and struggled for words, rebuttals and answers, continously returning to a carefully rehearsed theme: "I'm consistent. People know what I stand for." But further than that he couldn't travel. And I believe people saw that and it should give them pause that this man of limited intelligence and complexity is the head of the world's most powerful military. I don't know how many times he repeated the phrase "mixed messages". Another oft-used phrase by the President who has spent most of his Presidency on vacation in Crawford, Texas, was that waging war was "hard work." Yeah, probably about as hard as his stint in the Texas National Guard.
Polls, taken afterwards by various news media , put the win for Kerry at anywhere from 70 to 30 down to 60 to 40. Of course, the spinmeisters and talking heads went to work immediately trying to save the day for King George, I hope to no avail. Is this the turn-around we've been waiting for? Time will tell. One thing is clear. Kerry (and his advisors) have finally seen the light. You cannot win the election by being Bush light. Ain't gonna work and it wasn't working - he was falling further and further behind. By taking a forthright stand against the war (he still has more to go in that regard) and putting the blame where it belongs on Bush and his neo-con gang, he can wrap up the election on November 2.
Bush appeared to be astounded that Kerry would criticize him, The War President. After all, that's what Rove and Cheney had assured him. Kerry put that one to rest and now the tragedy, blunders and lies of 4 years of Bush are fair game. Go get him, John!
We watched the debate at Jerry's, a Soho restaurant on Prince Street. The crowd, as any New York crowd would be, was about 90% Kerry. There were two Wall Street 30-something Bushies in the crowd. And, in a friendly manner, there was a back and forth between them (they were vociferous on behalf of George) and the rest. But even they (and this impressed me) had to admit that George lost the night badly. Did it change their mind? I don't know. It certainly had to plant the seeds of doubt.
Jerry's on Prince Street. Nice little bar and restaurant, just
a block west of Broadway.
Watching the debate at Jerry's.
Afterwards, and to my amazement, the crowd broke into a chant:
"Hey, Hey! Ho, Ho! George Bush has gotta go!" I'm not kidding. They actually did that. Over and over. One cool young guy at the bar began it and the entire place picked it up! I had absolutely nothing to do with it except to join in. New York is not Arkansas, that's for sure.
Joining us for dinner was Stacey's cousin Stephanie (in town for a trade show at the Pier) and her employee and friend, Emily, who lives in Jacksonville, Florida. She complains because she is ardently anti-Bush and it's not easy down there in that part of Florida. And so she was elated and cheered by the scene in the bar.
Emily on Prince Street - after the debate.
Stacey, Stephanie and Emily on Broadway.
This is the most important election in our lifetime if not in the history of our country. Despite a complacent and compliant media that misleads our people and distorts the truth; despite the lies, smears and calumnies of the Bush Gang, I believe the truth will out. Bush can spout(and the media can support) the bull about bringing Democracy to Iraq. He can paint a rosy picture in the face of terrible tragedy. But sooner or later, as Lincon pointed out, most of the people will be fooled no longer. Let's hope it's sooner.
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