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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Malnurtured Snay: [QB] [QUOTE]What to say about Bush? Let's get the compliments out of the way. When asked to skewer Kerry's character, he was classy and genuine. His anecdote about the war widow was heartfelt and poignant. He had a few good lines - and skewered Kerry easily on the $87 billion. He also kicked Kerry's elegant Brahmin butt on the coalition point, reminding him that Poland exists. (Kerry was effective, however, in detailing the relatively small contribution of most of the allies. But why oh why did he not mention the obvious parallel of the vast coalition Bush's father put together for the first Gulf War? If I were a debate judge - and I've had my fair share of debate experience - I would have flunked Kerry on the spot.) The few laugh-out-loud Bushisms - especially the point about the insurgents fighting "vociferously" - were worth the price of admission. On the more general point about alliances, Bush did well - espcially on the International Criminal Court, and on the need to base foreign policy fundamentally on the defense of the American people. More Americans will agree with him on this than with Kerry. Still, there were major weaknesses. If you believe, as I do, that the Iraq war is beginning to spiral downward, Bush was not reassuring. He seemed as out of it as ever. When Kerry rightly pointed out the failure of Bush to revamp the CIA or to secure Soviet nuclear material, Bush simply and sadly responded that every morning some guy comes in and briefs him on national security. Now I feel better. And you don't want to be the president who is forced to say, "Of course I know Osama bin Laden attacked us." Moreover, his fundamental critique of Kerry - that by criticizing the war, he had made himself unworthy to be commander-in-chief - was dumb and border-line offensive. It implies that if you've ever criticized the president's war conduct, you cannot succeed him in office. Huh? By that logic, the only credible alternative to Bush is someone who has agreed with him every inch of the way. Memo to Bush: we live in a democracy. [/QUOTE][URL=http://www.andrewsullivan.com]www.andrewsullivan.com[/URL] [/QB][/QUOTE]
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