Volume III. No. 07
 10-02-04
 Bush/Kerry Debate No. I
 author: Vance Cureton
 © Copyright 2004
 

 George Bush lost the debate. John Kerry whupped him good Thursday night.
 And perhaps this was the moment the Kerry campaign had been hoping for. 
 The fact that Kerry's reawakening occured before a national television audience 
 is as remarkable as it is fortuitous, if the Democrats have any real chance of
 kicking Bush out of the Oval Office.

 John Kerry actually made George Bush look small and insecure. Kerry was 
 as equally personable. He was statuesque and poised. He had the appearance 
 of a president. Thankfully, Kerry left his penchant for long, wordy, and sometimes 
 incomprehensible answers back at his hotel room. Side-by-side it was President 
 Bush who succumbed to the pressure. Bush, at times, seemed flustered and 
 agitated. His face was a comical mask of annoyance and indisposal. He too
 easily slipped into the role of a man of privilidge who doesn't appreciate having 
 his motives and decisions attacked in so public a forum.

 George Bush gave the impression that he wanted to be elsewhere. Thus, the 
 public was left with an image of the President as an impatient and bullheaded
 man of only average intelligence. A weak debater, Bush was revealed as an 
 idealogue who lacks the penchant for thinking outside of the box in hypotheticals,
 or for elucidating complex problems in his own words. A man loathe - in a nation 
 that is quick to offer forgiveness - of admitting having made a mistake in judgement. 
 As John Kerry so eloquently stated. "It is one thing to be certain, but you can
 be certain and be wrong."

 The vicious and untrue Swift Boat ads. The oft-repeated phrase of "flip-flopper" 
 were how Republicans have so effectively defined - and weakened - Kerry's 
 candidancy in the weeks since Bush's nomination at the Republican convention. 
 Tonight was perhaps the first stage of a Democratic deconstruction of the 
 myths of the George Bush presidency. 

 A deconstruction the Kerry campaign must effectively accomplish if they 
 are to win come November.

 George Bush is a vulnerable president with an approval rating that hovers
 within a few points of 50%. But the beleaguered Kerry campaign has up until 
 Thursday's debate, not found the exact voice to weaken Bush. The exact 
 wording, if you will, as to how to detach Bush from his greatest strength. 

 That of a self-acclaimed, "War President."

 There is an overused phrase familiar to all sports fans. "The best defense, is 
 a good offense." Kerry attacked his opponent face-on. Eloquently stating in 
 the first few minutes of the debate that,"This president has made...a colossal
 error in judgement. And judgement is what we look for in the president of
 the United States of America."

 Kerry is now the anti-war candidate and unapologetically so. Iraq and Saddam
 Hussein were not responsible for 9/11. The despised Al Qaeda was. And with 
 this change in strategy and focus the Kerry campaign has apparently decided 
 to forcefully confront the "War President" on his own turf.

 The Bush campaign made a huge mistake in suggesting - off record - that 
 Kerry was one good left hook from being out of the running altogether. Bush 
 didn't come close to landing such a blow, Thursday night. Equally, the Kerry 
 campaign must not make the mistake of believing that with one good showing 
 in the "first debate" and they are back on solid footing.

 If Kerry is to win in November, his campaign must have him as well-prepared
 and "relaxed" for the next two debates. Encounters which won't be centered 
 around foreign policy issues. Although the Democrats believe domestic issues
 will be more friendly to Kerry, he must add more substance to his message, and 
 find the means to connect with people. -- In all walks of life. And in all areas of 
 the country. Even those he has no chance of actually winning.

 The public must come away from the next two debates with a distinct idea of 
 what he stands for. This will prevent any last minute Republican "smear ads"
 from again refocusing the campaign upon Kerry's personal characteristics, 
 instead of upon their candidate's four miserable years in office.

 Thursday's successful debate performance was a good new start for the 
 Kerry campaign machine. But, John Kerry is not running for "Mr. Congeniality." 
 Yes, he would do well to keep the smile and flaunt his new found self-assurance
 at every campaign stop. But he must deliver bold new ideas for redirecting the 
 energies of the country, whilst doing so. He must present a powerful vision
 of an America on the rebound. An exciting vision that will allow millions of
 undecideds to vote confidently for the Kerry/Edwards ticket come election 
 night 2004.
 

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