These are going to be running thoughts on the debate…
9:00 pm – Live from Miami, Florida, we have Fox News coverage, this should be unbiased… Jim Lehrer is moderating this debate, sponsored by the Commision on Presidential Debates… Topic is Foreign Policy and Homeland Security. This should be interesting.
9:04 pm – Out come the candidates, little handshake and we’re off…
9:05 pm – First question to Kerry: “Do you think you could do a better job than President Bush?” Answer, Hello Miami and Florida, oh and I can do a better job than Bush… Rebuttal, 9/11, 9/11 uh uh uh uh 9/11… Al-Quaeda, 9/11, Taliban, 9/11, Iraq, 9/11, threats, safer, 9/11, weapons of mass destruction, 9/11, free nations reject terror, 9/11.
9:08 pm – Question to Bush: “Do you think America would be safer with Kerry as President?” Answer, America will be safer, cause Bush thinks he’s gonna win and we will defeat this enemy. Rebuttal, we should be strong, resolute and determined, and I’ll kill the terrorists (Osama Bin Laden), but not in Iraq, that was a collosal error in judgment, and he has the military behind him.
9:12 pm – Question to Kerry: “What collosal misjudgments?” Answer, where to begin? (Ouch) America was going to war as a last resort, but he doesn’t believe the United States did that. Money could have been used on healthcare and stuff like that. Rebuttal, Kerry saw the same intelligence Bush saw and said they should go to war… World is better without Saddam Hussein.
9:15 pm – I missed the question, but Bush is still going on about how their after Saddam Huss… Osama Bin Laden, but they’re making progress. When Iraq is free then America will be more secure. Rebuttal, Iraq isnt even close to the centre of attention in the war on terror, and he rushed to war without a plan to win the peace. And it’s getting worse by the day… Bush extension, Kerry voted for use of force, and now he’s flip-flopping. Kerry, we have to be steadfast for the troops now we’re there…
9:20 pm – Question to Kerry: “As President, what would you do differently about Homeland Security?” What message does it send about sending money to Iraq and not the police? Bush thought it was better to give rich people tax cut than invest in homeland security. Rebuttal, How is Kerry going to pay for all these promises? (you spent it all George!!) We’re modernising our borders, a good offense is the best defence. PATRIOT Act is vital, we must stay on offence…
Dammit, I need a break from this…
9:27 pm – Bush says the troops will come home when the mission is successful, but didn’t he proclaim that the mission was accomplished last year?
9:29 pm – It’s getting a bit hectic up in this piece, extensions, rebuttals… Kerry talks about his Vietnam days, he’ll lead the US to victory.
9:30 pm – Question to Kerry: “Are troops dying because of a mistake?” He says the planning for the whole affair was a mistake, invading Iraq because of 9/11 would be like America invading Mexico because of Pearl Harbor (snicker). Bing! First mention of Haliburton… Rebuttal, Bush frequently talks to world leaders, and says they wont follow a leader who thinks the war was a mistake. Kerry extension, it’s American run, along with Britain and Australia. Bush extension, you forgot Poland!
9:35 pm – Question to Bush: “Was was the miscalculation in post war Iraq?” Answer, our victory was too quick, the enemy laid down their arms and disappeared but we’re fighting them now. We have a plan in place and we’re making progress… Rebuttal, Kerry says Bush would do the same thing, even knowing the intelligence was a load of bull. Switches over to North Korea about nuclear weapons.
Another break, I think I’m going to need a few of these… Kerry has had one consistant position, Saddam was a threat but America went the wrong way to disarm him, and Bush goes back the the flip-flopping.
Kerry hits backs with his promises and says with Bush it’ll be 4 words “more of the same.”
OK, I’ve given up even trying to follow this, it’s kind of like a car crash, I don’t want to watch it, but I just can’t help it, besides, I’m more looking forward to the Daily Show after debate round up.
Anyhoo, Kerry’s on the offensive about troops guarding the oil ministry in Iraq and not anywhere else. Bush responds with some incoherant babbling before questioning how Kerry can “change the dynamics on the ground” and “if we give our word, we keep our word.” And it’s essential “we hold the line.”
9:54 pm – Question to Bush: “Would you run the US into another war?” He didnt want to run the US into this war let alone another one, but he would, only as a last resort, there was no doubt he thought that Saddam hoped the world would turn a blind eye and the world would be worse off because of that. Rebuttal, Kerry says Bush said something revealing, he said the enemy attacked the United States, Saddam Hussain didnt attack the US, Al-Quaeda did, and they had them cornered in the mountains in Tora-Bora, but he outsourced that job to Afghan warlords. He then goes back to North Korea and nuclear werapons
9:59 pm – Question to Kerry: “Whats your take on pre-emptive war?” Answer, it’s a Presidential right to do so, but you have to do it in a way “that passes the global test” and the word of the President of the United States used to mean something, not anymore… Rebuttal, Bush babbles about tests, but he takes pre-emptive action to secure the safety of the United States
10:03 pm – Question to Bush: “Whats your stance on North Korea and Iran?” He said it! He said Nooculur!!! Twice!!! Three times!!! Love it!!! At least Kerry can pronounce Nuclear, that’s gotta mean something.
10:07 pm – Question to Kerry: “What would you do about Sudan?” Kerry, sanctions, sanctions, sanctions… Provide logistical support, not just humanitarian support. We can’t allow another Rawanda. Bush agrees it’s genocide, and he’s commited $200m in aid to them and he’s going to commit more.
10:11 pm – Question to Bush: “Are there underlying character issues with John Kerry?” Bush says it’s a loaded question, but he admires what Kerry has done for his country and his family. Not so sure he admires his senate record, his concerns are his flip-flopping on Iraq and what he believes you cannot lead if you send mixed messages. Rebuttal, Kerry aknowledges that being President is tough and has great respect and admiration for President Bush’s family and he wont comment on the President’s character.
10:16 pm – Question to Kerry: “What do you think is the most important threat to the United States?” Answer, nuclear ploriferation, and Bush isn’t doing enough about it. Rebuttal, Bush says funding has increased for nooculur ploriferation (hehe) and he started a ploriferation security inititive.
10:21 pm – Last question to Bush: “Do you think Russia has done the right thing about terrorism?” Answer, Putin doesn’t believe in checks and balances (whatever the hell that means) but he backs the war on terror, and he has a good releationship with “Vlad’mir” and Russia is a country in transition. Rebuttal, Kerry understands the transition in Russia better than anyone, he was the first senator in Russia after the downfall of communism, he then switches over to North Korea again.
Kerry rounds up with saying that America should be respected more, and who will get the kids home and the job done, he looks us in the eye and says he defended the country as a soldier in Vietnam and he’ll do it again as President… Tough talking there.
Bush rounds up with saying the if America shows weakness, the world will drift towards tragedy, but not if he’s President for four more years… Irony of ironies there.
And so ends the first of three debates on the Election So Bad, You Shouldn’t Vote Sober™. Tune in next week for my ramblings on the next debate (if I can be bothered to watch it)…
