When I was in the market for a used car, I took one out for a test drive. The seller kept trying to convince me that the "check engine" light was supposed to be on all the time. I thought of that guy while watching Bush tonight.
He performed well, as well as could be expected, certainly better than before. And yet this improvement had the paradoxical effect of underlining his weaknesses.
Body language issues, tone-of-voice issues, "likability" issues -- hell, even the Promptergate issue that has fetched this site so many new readers -- all of these issues are, in a sense, distractions. Bush, at the top of his game, rose above such distractions. He forced us to see past questions of delivery and style. He forced us to pay attention to matters of fact.
And fact is not his friend.
We remain stuck with a quagmire of a war, lessened world prestige, fewer jobs, massive debt, and an economy that has given us not one day of true prosperity in nearly four years.
Kerry flubbed the abortion question, although he rebounded admirably in the follow-up. At all other times, he was in command -- precisely because he was rarely the topic of discussion.
The theme of the debate was Bush's record. As Karl Rove has noted, if you're explaining, you're losing. Bush had a lot of splainin' to do.
I could go on, but most of the folks poking their noses into this blog probably have but one question in mind. "Hey, conspiracy guy -- you see any evidence that W was wired tonight?"
Short answer: No.
My ladyfriend, however, did spot something interesting. (She's the one who started me on this trail when she noted the mystery bulge during the first debate. Maybe I should worry about her penchant for spotting bulges.)
When two candidates met, Kerry made sure to pat the President on the back. Right between the shoulder blades.
The cackle she emitted at that moment nearly sent a bit of half-chewed Taco Bell spicy chicken burrito flying across the room.
(Rest assured: I will have more to say about Promptergate. It'll come...uh, promptly. Lots of news today!)
(ADDENDUM: For some reason, today's "Promptergate" piece appears beneath these words, even though it was written after this post and thus should appear at the top of this page. Blogger works in mysterious ways.)
7 comments:
Guess what, the terrorists want Bush to go. Guess what some Americans want too?! Vote Bush for the last leash of life. ---Narendra Nayak tandbiscuits@rediffmail.com
Check it out: where it is really visible this time is when Bush tells, after the question about abortions, about his "unborn victims of violence act" - very clear to see the cable running up the left side of his back.
Of COURSE the White House and all their spokespeople will deny that Bush is wearing such an object, it would be an embarassment to him and them and especially because it is not allowed to wear such an object during a presidential debate. Notice how, whenever "searching" for a name of person or thing he makes a noticeable pause. Just more "gracefully" than last time, he awaits his "helper".
Could it possibly be a T.E.N.S. unit or other medical device?
I had not heard the prompter story when I watched the second debate. But I was struck by the peculiar way that Bush kept tucking in his tie and reaching into the front of his suit, almost as if adjusting something, or worrying whether something showed. I had not seen him fidgit in that way before. I sensed that occasionally he almost seemed to be preoccupied with some aspect of clothing. The repeated, distracting gestures seemed at odds with his usual manner. Keep digging.
I think the most obvious segment demonstrating Bush getting assistance through an earpiece was in answering the question about the environment. His pauses were inapproriate - waiting for words - which came out choppy and rambling. His eyes were darting like someone listening. I'm wondering if reviewing this portion of the debate, one couldn't tell which side was receiving. Perhaps a language specialist or someone who trains actors in this technique could help expose this sham on the American public.
I think you are wrong when you say that Bush was not wired this time. I watched some of the debate without sound, looking specifically for a new shape since I knew they would not use that square, boxy looking gizmo again.
I believe he had a new device in a circular shape, higher up, just to right of center of his back, almost on the right should blade. I only saw this shape two times and it is quite thin but not completely flat.
The joker is cheating each and every time he speaks... anywhere! Yes he throws in some of his memorized sound bytes but for many months I have been arguing with friends that this liar is also a major cheat. Not surprise there. Look how he managed to get into the White House.
In regard to the previous observation that "...during the part of the debate about Kim Jung Il, Bush addressed someone named 'Ted'. Who is this 'Ted' that Bush was talking to? ...This would be explained if Bush had an earpiece and was speaking to his 'handler.'--
A reader commented that it might be the former Solicitor General Ted Olsen, a skilled debater. Perhaps more likely, it was a slip of the tongue as Bush confused Jim Lehrer with Ted Koppel.
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