Who won the third presidential debate and why?

Bush owned Kerry.

 

My vote goes to a tie.

I agree with Mort Kondrake that it was a bit dirty for Kerry to bring up Cheney's lesbian daughter.

I found it to be a rather dull event, really.

 

Bush waffled and waddled throughout, I voted Kerry.

 

Draw.

More civil debate, and both made good points.

 

Senator Kerry absolutely won. I think that he won this as much as he won the first one. The second debate I think was won by Kerry tremendously.

This debate focused on domestic issues, and Bush's record on this area is terrible. The deficits have gone way up, and there are other examples, as well. Senator Kerry would do a far better job than Bush in domestic policy. His financial and national policies would be similar to Clinton's, which I think would be beneficial to the middle class and the poor.

 

Now get get to listen to news guys talk about it, even though we decided who we think won.

 

Wow. This debate, hands down had the best questions.
I think they both showed strong points and weak points.
Bush, once again displays his inarticulate communication skills. I loved how he admitted it though saying Laura spoke better English than he did.

Kerry did well...truely a better speaker, however seemed to be the same "robot" aristicrat we have seen in the other debates. I just can't help but think he simply rattles of statistics without actually knowing them, though. I loved the joke on himself though about marrying Teresa.

I give it to Bush simply for being more genuine.

 

I too voted for a tie.

Senator Kerry started off strong but he seemed to get tired and sweaty towards the end of the debate; that definitely hurt his performance.

President Bush had a better performance tonight than in the last two debates; he was more clear and didn't seem to rely on tired platitudes as he usually does, but he still didn't come to the level that Kerry maintained (until the last third, when he got tired).

Bush's habit of pounding on the lectern is also a little annoying.

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Couple of interesting things I noted:

1. I was very disappointed in how Kerry said his health care plan was not a "government-run program". It by definition is, and he shouldn't be ashamed of it; indeed, he should [i]embrace[/i] it. At the same time, he should let everybody know that while the government does play a key role, the plan still involves private insurance companies and does give people a choice on plans.

2. Bush went out of his way to attack liberals and Massachusetts, then at the end of the debate talks about wanting to unite the nation. [b]You don't unite a nation by ridiculing at least a quarter of the population and an entire state.[/b]

3. Bush also claimed that his tax cuts were primarily geared towards the middle-class. While this is untrue, the fact that he touted it as such shows how weak the conservative mantra, that the rich should get more in tax cuts, really is. [b]How do you conservatives who support Bush feel about Bush's abandonment of this principle[/b]?

 

Bush won, hands down.

IMO if you think Kerry won this round you are in denial. Bush refuted the vast majority of Kerry's "statistics" with his own. Bush practically made Kerry look like a liar in the third debate. Bush also finally took Kerry's voting record to the forefront and showed us just how two faced Kerry really is.

I openly admit that Kerry won the first debate and I think the second debate was a tie, but this one definately goes to Bush.

3. Bush also claimed that his tax cuts were primarily geared towards the middle-class. While this is untrue, the fact that he touted it as such shows how weak the conservative mantra, that the rich should get more in tax cuts, really is. How do you conservatives who support Bush feel about Bush's abandonment of this principle?

I make just over $20,000 a year and Bush's tax cuts have made my take home cash after taxes grow even larger. I see the difference in my income each time I get paid. You absolutely cannot tell me that Bush's tax cuts haven't benefited me. Kerry likes to focus on the "rich" card as a tactic to get the middle class angry. It's a despicable trick and you shouldn't fall for it.

 

Vezner, it's odd to be calling Kerry a liar when Bush directly said he never said this:

"I don't know where he [bin Laden] is.You know, I just don't spend that much time on him... I truly am not that concerned about him.

March 13, 2002.

 

Show me a link that gives the whole speech. It sounds to me like Bush was trying to impress on us that Bin Laden is trying to make us dwell on him and the terror he spreads when it fact we shouldn't fear him as much as Bin Laden would like us to. We are on the hunt for him and Bin Ladin is on the run. He doesn't have the power and influence that he wants to have.

So yeah, show me the link because I am not going to take a sound byte as proof that Bush is a liar.

 

Kerry likes to focus on the "rich" card as a tactic to get the middle class angry. It's a despicable trick and you shouldn't fall for it.

Bingo.

A collegue of mine is a multi-Millionare and has a substantial income. He didn't get a tax benefit.

 

I don't think anyone can doubt Bush's resolve in bringing that guy to justice.

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Part of the problem I have with this upper 1% nonsense, is that the richest Americans often pay less taxes because they have their money invested and live off the interest (like John Edwards did in finding that Medicare loophole to avoid paying Medicare taxes).

It is the small businesses that suffer when those tax rates go up, not the richest Americans.

 

Part of the problem I have with this upper 1% nonsense, is that the richest Americans often pay less taxes because they have their money invested and live off the interest (like John Edwards did in finding that Medicare loophole to avoid paying Medicare taxes).

It is the small businesses that suffer when those tax rates go up, not the richest Americans.

Exactly. Kerry likes to leave out little details like that.

 

Vezner, I'm sure the web will be loaded with clips and transcripts of Bush's statement tomorrow, so I'll leave it at that.

 

Bush. Kerry is a good speaker, i can give him that, but his points were proven baseless.

 

I agree with Vezner. Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

I honestly am at a loss at to how anyone can say that Kerry won this debate. Bush effectively refuted most of Kerry's calaims (especially on the area of healthcare and taxes, possibly Bush's best moments.) He also came across as more human and down to earth than Kerry.
As Bill Kristol said, "a slaughter."

 

I'm stunned that people are saying Bush decisively won the debate. I find that nothing short of ludicrous.

It was about even.

 

Bush won, hands down. The three yards and a cloud of dust offense that faltered in the first debate was so much more effective in opening up holes in Kerry's defense. When Kerry moved up to play the run, Bush threw the ball downfield and burned him for multiple scores.

And he beat him on his "home field", so to speak.

 

And he beat him on his "home field", so to speak.

Home field?

Arizona is almost certainly going to Bush, so I'd say Arizona is Bush territory.

 

Just a note now that the debates are over. President Bush often seemed to ignore opportunities to hit Senator Kerry when he slipped up. I'd say he wanted to stick to the remarks and arguements he had prepared instead of following some inane comment by Senator Kerry into left field. Perhaps too much so since he could have won handily if he'd gone after kerry for a few of his statements.

 

It was a tie, and therefore an important victory for George Bush. It was Kerry's last chance to break out in this race, since the last few weeks will favor Bush, absent earthshattering economic news or a catasrophic event in Iraq.

 

Home field?


He meant Domestic Policy.


Part of the problem I have with this upper 1% nonsense, is that the richest Americans often pay less taxes because they have their money invested and live off the interest

Yeah but you still have to pay taxes off of interest.
I mean their are some shelters but not many.

Here's something interesting...

Did you know that if you make more than $350,000 a year, you are not allowed to write off Mortgage interest?