First Presidential Debate


America witnessed the first debate of this presidential election. Well, calling it a debate is a bit of a stretch. It was really just an extended campaign speech cut into really small segments. It should have included Ralph Nader. His inclusion would have brought real issues to the forefront and forced real answers - not the prerehearsed, canned responses that both candidates spewed.

So who won? Despite the clearly liberal slant to pundits on network television, George W. Bush won the debate. Even with his trademark long pauses, mumbling and often-confused looks, his answers destroyed those of Kerry.

John Kerry attempted to dispel the flip-flop issue, but only succeeded in proving it is justified. He said that the President did not give enough equipment to our troops, but was zinged by Bush when it was pointed out that Kerry voted "against" that very funding.

Kerry was for and against a preemptive attack policy. He stated that "as long as we remain a country that will conduct a preemptive war, we're inviting people to do the very thing that we don't want them to do." But a few minutes later when asked directly if he would support preemptive action, he stated "The President always has the right, and always has had the right for preemptive strike.” And then as if to save face, he committed his largest flub when he said that he would only support a preemptive action that passed a "global test." What the hell does that mean?

How can you trust a guy that can't even wait until the end of his own answer to flip-flop?

The media will tell you that Kerry won the debate and will use almost all their air time to pump up Kerry or denegrate Bush... don't believe it? Get a stopwatch and time it.

Does this debate clear anything up? No. We all knew Kerry was a flip-flopper before the debate. We all knew that Bush stumbles over his words and occasionally appears to have brain lock while speaking. We all knew that Kerry would say whatever he thought would get him elected. We all knew he would attack George Bush. We all knew that Bush would pounce on the flip-flop issue. We all knew he would defend what our troops are doing in Iraq. We all knew Kerry would lament what our troops are doing in Iraq. So what was the reason for the debate? It wasn't to reveal any new information to the public.

What is the difference between these candidates? On foreign policy, the difference is that Bush will continue to push aggressively to defeat terrorism. Sure, Bush will slide HUGE big business pork through the back door while beating a drum and waving a flag out the front - but Kerry will slide HUGE big business pork through the back door while weakening the US position in the world... and that is just too dangerous a difference.

In addition, there will be several Supreme Court justices appointed during the next term and their effect will last for a generation. That is a scary thought...

- posted by Chris @ 9:59 PM