Franklin

OK – the debate is on-going … D#3. Did Kerry fence out a good path? Did Bush plant some firm stakes in the ground? Was it a whitewash of sorts? Did Bush do better in your view?

Imho (based on a minute here and a minute there) Bush looked more Presidential (whatever “Presidential is�, said in the voice of Prince Charles) in this debate (D#3) verses D#1. Kerry looked and sounded Presidential. So I guess it comes down to substance.

Over to you guys, how did the President and prospective President do?

ameriton

I think it's safe to say Bush is not a good speaker when he doesn't have a script (not that he is much then either). I have enjoyed this debate more than the first as they're hitting on a couple more domestic issues rather than the first. Obviously the first debate was meant to be based on foreign policy which I think is very important right now.

Kerry seems to be less professional this time, Bush seems to be at the same degree as in the first debate. A couple times they've gotten a little heated; Bush interrupted Charlie once and they had a little arguement about whether Bush got to speak again.

At one point Kerry was asked to look into the camera and promise he would not raise taxes. That got a little cheesey.. that's the first time during these debates I think he looked a little fake.

Right now they're going on about stem cell research.. basically that goes back to your views on abortion. That one's a toughie.

Kerry just said that he doesn't agree with abortion, but he does agree with federal aid for poor women who choose to have one because it's their constitutional right. Now Bush is speaking and he says that no federal money will go towards abortion. I tend to agree with Bush on this one. Personally I'm pro-choice, but I think if you choose that decision you need to take your own responsibility for it. I don't expect the government or my insurance company to pay for my birth control pills, but I suppose that's less of an abortion issue and more an ethical one.

I heard someone once compare abortion to slavery in the 19th century.. one of the topics politicians tried to stay away from it because of the way it split the people.

I don't know.. the debate is almost over and it hasn't really cleared anything up for me.

Celtic_Angel

OMG!! was that the real President Bush?........I'm not sure who it was but this guy could string several sentences together with no um?...or er"s.....in sight?

I'm not sure cutting off the moderator was curtious i mean Bush always looks like he's about to lose his rag, Kerry seems a little cooler and in control of his emotions which of course some people will take as plain cold .

Pimpbot

Bush looks like he is debating against Drunks in a crowded bar, he has no style at all. While Kerry looks cool calm and collected. Maybe Kerry could do a better job with the UN and possible coallition countries, if he can talk to them in a cool calm positive manner. Makes you wonder how Bush is when having talks with Foreign leaders.

Oh, I cannot wait until next week when the debate from ASU in Tempe(about 2 miles from my house) shuts down roads and stalls traffic during my nightly commute.

Celtic_Angel

Well I reckon this is why Bush embraces the topic , we all know mainsteam America is not only devoutly religious but also very conservative. He has these people regardless of the other larger issues!!! I have a friend who knows a Democrat who won't vote because their religion won't let them even begin to understand the whole abortion and even stem cell issue.
now THAT"S scary ...one issue Voters scare me silly and according to American friends there's a lot of them out there

Watching the after shows with callers phoning in to give their opinion of who won the debate and why i noticed that the Kerry supporters tend to be so on several important issues Iraq/health care but the Bush supporters tended to be stuck on one issue........... go figure! Still stuck on the flip-flopping or afraid to change Pres. in the middle of a war or this abortion thing

In addition to all the other topics I think a President who believes in Science is a wondeful thing ...being a Brit you probably agree( and no i'm not saying you're pro choice just pro science) but many many Americans cannot vote for Kerry just for this very reason- Bush can look in the camera and say he's against abortion and stem-cell research and know he's secured their vote

Celtic_Angel

heehee did you like his "want wood" joke haha the guys a f***ing stand-up comedian!!

Bob

The pill isn't cheap, if your some teenager at school who can't afford them, parents won't buy them, and your not in a major city, it's very difficult to go and get them, let alone afford it, so without help, your going to end up with a high rate of teenage pregnancies, which is just as big a problem....and that's the case that happens in maine, so there really should be more help and choice on the matter.

Mad Max7

Didn't they do well???

Celtic_Angel

well said Bob !!!
That's the fundamentall difference between Bush and Kerry ,Kerry realizes that a persons rights need to be protected INCLUDING their right to CHOOSE
people need to be able to make their own choices regarding their lives.Bush on the other had is taking away that right and imposing HIS PERSONAL beliefs onto us.....er that kinda sounds like dictatorship not diplomacy

torpkevuk

I'm sure we've all heard him say it, the amount of times its been repeated on tv, but....

WASHINGTON -- President Bush conceded yesterday he's had his struggles with Congress and is bound to have more, joking that "a dictatorship would be a heck of a lot easier." - Friday, July 27, 2001 - By SONYA ROSS (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)

If the man didn't have his finger on the button, it'd be laughable

Bob

Bush is a tad scary, and I think the main problem is what he wants to dicatate are his beliefs, which fair enough, but shouldn't be lamented on the population, people should have the right to choose what they do, it'll still happen, but only be more dodgy without legal protections in place

ameriton

No it isn't cheap, mine are $40 a month and my health insurance refuses to pay for them because they feel it is a choice. Yet they pay for Viagra.. go figure.

Bob

Yeah, crazy old world huh...I certainly appreciate the NHS now that I'm here, when those things were free...

dgsyd1

Someone I know had health coverage that wouldn't pay for birth control pills, but would pay for an abortion. It doesn't get much sillier than that!

doctor scrumpy

Just as an aside, we found that abc in the dc area showed the debate on Friday night, and the film Liar, Liar on Saturday night. Is there any connection ?