Woo.

[hummingwolf]

This country needs more debates like that one. Unlike the first debate between these two, neither candidate seemed whiny, irritable, or otherwise bad in a way that distracted from the issues. Both Bush and Kerry made their points reasonably well, though of course there was some attempted wriggling as you'd expect when you've got politicians on a stage. Both men made tactical mistakes as they spoke, but not huge errors in political judgment. I can't really see either one as the "winner" of this debate, and it seems to me that that shouldn't be what matters anyway. This was an educational show--perhaps not one that teaches a politically-aware viewer anything new, but at least one that makes things clearer to someone who had only a fuzzy idea of where the candidates stood.

Yes, my anti-Bush side wishes the current president had performed badly enough to turn off all the undecided voters. Overall, though, I believe it's better for us all if the voters get to hear both the candidates on a good night--and then, hopefully, go research those statements to find out how badly politicians were twisting the truth--so those voters can cast their votes knowledgeably.

Then again, most undecided folks will probably cast their vote based on whether they think a Munster or a chimpanzee looks better in a suit.

Comments

[mystified13.livejournal.com]

Personally, I think I'd go for a Munster.

[darth-spacey.livejournal.com]

Kerry talked like he was being scored per logical fallacy, with appeal to authority counting double.

Other than that, if I believed a single word of his platform, I'd've said he had some interesting things to say.

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

What about a Muenster? Behold the power of cheese!

[pnksaph.livejournal.com]

During this election season, I've unfriended a couple of people (on both sides of the political fence, and just until the election's over) because their entries were so hateful toward one or the other candidate. They were uncomfortable to read. I like your balanced assessment of the debate.

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

Heh. I'd love to see you do a point-by-point dissection of the debate. We may not agree on who should win the election, but you can be both intelligent and entertaining.

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there's been a lot of vitriolic commentary this time around. I know a few people who've had to stop talking to each other till election day (or whenever a winner is declared!). I very strongly dislike George W. Bush and many of the things he's done as president, but there's no point in being spiteful about it. And though part of me wishes Kerry had stomped all over Bush in the debate, I'm happy that both candidates had to face difficult questions, and that both candidates ended up making (most of) their positions clear.