Speaking in Front of Friendly Audiences Hurt Bush Last Night Big Time

[Yavin4]

I saw a replay of the debate, and Bush got his ass handed to him on a plate. I believe that Bush did so badly because he surrounds himself with cronies, a compliant media, sychophants, and carefully screened audiences that dare not challenge him. This is the first time that Bush has been side by side with someone that has actually challenged his idiotic positions. When the whore-like corporate media has to spin like crazy that the debate on foreign policy was a draw, then you know that Bush got crushed.

[rumguy]

1. I've been thinking the exact same thing

He kept leaning over the podium searching the adience for friendly cheering sychophantic faces.

He was lost last night. Bush is a weak, weak man. The mask came off last night and it wasn't pretty. All the swagger, all the smirks, all the puffed up machoisms are all an act. The man is WEAK. He is pathetic.

[Technowitch]

2. I think you have a good point, Yavin4

Seriously, consider what would happen to a baseball player who, after managing to do reasonably well, thereafter received only easy pitches for the next few years... and then, for the space of the last eight months or so, essentially been playing T-ball (where the ball is atop a post, making it easy for even the smallest kid to hit it).

Last night, Shrub was thrust back into Major League politics -- where there was no script, no easy answers, and an opponent with WAY more experience handling pressure and debates.

I actually do think that the 'easy' audiences made Shrub go soft.

[PurityOfEssence]

3. That town hall could be a corker

Here's my dream:

Q: Why are you going to raise my taxes, and just how much will it be?

Kerry: Oh, I'm not going to raise YOUR taxes, I'm gonna raise HIS taxes (pointing to Bush). I'm going to raise my taxes, and those on his friends and associates, the very rich; for most of the people in this room, the rates will remain the same or even go down. most of you are already paying your fair share.

[peacetalksforall]

12. This town hall is a toasted town hall - all questions submitted AND

SELECTED in advance - if I heard correctly.

[BOSSHOG]

4. Rove mistake, BIGTIME

Instead of exposing the chimp to borderline hostile audiences and having more press conferences to give him experience, rove protected the little prick for years. It showed last night and the double benefit - bush probably wants nothing to do with anymore debates with Kerry, most likely resulting in worse performances during the next two debates.

Its like Apollo Creed not taking Rocky Balboa seriously

[aquart]

6. Rove had no choice.

Bush gets hostile when seriously questioned.

His own party would have been forced to impeach the asshole just to keep from getting creamed in the election. He would have taken them all down with him. He still may.

[BOSSHOG]

7. A sweet catch-22 for the fascists

The hostility is easily summed up - ignorance begats arrogance. The price one pays for being pampered all of one's life.

[txindy]

5. And * prepped for this for a long time.

That's what I can't get over. He practiced for this and the end result was pitiful. You're right. If * had more honest feedback, he might've been better prepared. I doubt he wants honesty, though, so he got what he paid for.

[Phillycat]

8. It always amazes me...

when I hear the "I'm George Bush and I approve of this meshage" slurring on the TV ads, I think to myself, "They must have had him say it about a million times, and that's the BEST one they got."

They have so little to work with.

[ProfessorPlum]

9. Yes, BUT

it is true that his applause-soaked speeches may have thrown his timing off for his usual bunch of talking points.

But campaigns hire people to "act out" the roles of their opponents as part of debate prep. It's funny to think that whoever they had playing the role of JK didn't even hit Bush hard enough to get him prepared not to look like a petulant monkey. Even his mock opponents must be yes-men.

Ah, the insulated life of a dictator.

Things are going to get dangerous now.

[Yavin4]

13. Ask A Stand-Up Comedian Who's Writing New Material

You have to try it out on a live audience to know whether or not it's funny. Doing it in front of your friends is not enough. There's a reason why SNL does a full two-hour, dress rehearsal of the show in front of a live studio audience before they do the actual show.

[GeorgeBushytail]

10. It's the price he pays

for living in a no-truth zone.

[peacetalksforall]

11. Exactly...yours is a perfectly logical interpretation.

Plus he thinks he is king. Kings dictate. No one argues with the king. His devout followers and swallowers (gullible non-thinking see only the bible followers) demand that NO ONE contradict the president.

I do not capitalize president or christians or jews when referring to the followers of the resident. A written form of protest. On the day that I can respect their policies and know that they aren't lying and stealing from us, I'll capitalize.

[elperromagico]

14. And bear in mind that Bush hasn't debated in four years.

Kerry had to debate from at least August of last year until March of this year in the primaries. And not just against one person; he had to debate with three, four, five, even eight other people, several of whom were skilled, capable debaters. Can there be better practice than that?

Something struck me last night - this is really the first time in his presidency that Bush has been challenged in a public forum in any way that could stick. His handlers have kept the hecklers out. They've limited his number of unscripted appearances so as never to show him at a distinct disadvantage. So we saw something remarkable last night: We saw Bush at a real disadvantage in a public forum.

Simply put, the guy's out of practice. He'll have to cram like crazy for the next two debates if he expects to really compete. I'm not saying it's impossible for him to do that... but it doesn't strike me as likely.

[Stephanie]

15. Out of practice? Nah. Incompetent.

No amount of practice could have saved him last night. But I do think that the Loyalty Oath crowds was a huge mistake. He's under the impression that all of his jokes are hilarious and all of his stock lines inspire cheers. They do not.

[tanyev]

16. Link to good post in editorials

on similar topic.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x76626