Recommended Post-Debate Reading
From Hoffmania: Thrust! Parry! TOUCHE!
I think Bush just made a simple gaffe on Kerry’s name rather than going after Senator Kennedy. Although it’s certainly possible he was trying to associate the two in voters minds.
Watching the Debate with Mark Evanier.
Scroll up, Mark was liveblogging.
On Tapped: Reagan’s Popularity.
Washington Monthly’s Debate Liveblogging Round 3….
About the Dred Scott thing: What I think Bush was doing there was slyly trying to create an equation between slavery and Christianity.
Remember what he said right before saying that he thought slavery was wrong (way to go out on a political limb there, Georgie)? He said he thought judges who wanted to remove “under God” from the pledge of allegiance–presumably because they recall something from school about churches and states–were wrong. As though the two were at all comparable. And I do think he was implying a comparision.
See, if there’s one thing “Christians” love to do it’s feel themselves persecuted. Oh, it’s just so wrong the way they can’t have a prayer over the loudspeaker before the football game or at the high school graduation! Never mind the athiests, Jews, Protestants, etc who may be in the audience.
These god-fearing Christians remain a major part of Bush’s base, and this was his way of signaling to them, a finger tap against the nose to say don’t forget I’m one of you.
Also on Tapped: On the subject of there being no attacks since 9/11, Garance Franke-Ruta asks What about Anthrax? Which reminds me: The presidents men refused to hear from those who had experience with those sorts of attacks…because they worked for Planned Parenthood or like organizations.
Not all misstatements are created equal. Or “Mistaken Like the Wolf.”
From the AP via Yahoo! News: Kerry and Bush Face Off Over Deficit, War
By the way, did anyone else hear the crickets when Bush tried to make joking references to the first debate? “That answer almost made me want to scowl,” indeed.
It’s quite clear that when Kerry says we’re going it alone, he’s speaking for all intents and purposes, not literally. But Bush really does see things so simply, he can’t stand that. That’s why he has this shrill, stubborn insistence on reciting the other countries in the coaltion in a talismanic attempt to ward off Kerry’s criticism. And, boy, did I love Kerry’s response.
“Mr. President, countries are leaving the coalition, not joining,”
And did anyone else with a memory that extends as far back as four years ago feel Bush’s remark about Supreme Court Justices “I want them all voting for me” came off as a little more chilling than lighthearted?
