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10/01/2004: "We can and will win (or not)"

Watched the debate tonight (later than most, since it started at 3pm local time, and I watched the re-broadcast on the local PBS affiliate.) A transcript can be found here.

Bush got shellacked. For the past week the Republicans have been joking about how Kerry is a sweater, would sweat during the debates. But it was Bush who the camera captured wiping sweat from his brow. He was rambling, and incoherent. His answers wandered not only off topic but out of comprehensibility. In short, all of the things the President's handlers have been hiding from the public - got stuck right out there in the bright light.

Now, my opponent says he's going to try to change the dynamics on the ground. Well, Prime Minister Allawi was here. He is the leader of that country. He's a brave, brave man. And when he came, after giving a speech to the Congress, my opponent questioned his credibility. You can't change the dynamics on the ground if you've criticized the brave leader of Iraq.

One of his campaign people alleged that Prime Minister Allawi was like a puppet. That's no way to treat somebody who's courageous and brave that is trying to lead his country forward. (--Shrub)

Dianne Feinstein (who I am no fan of) apparently thinks that the Bush campaign team allegedly wrote a large portion of Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's speech to Congress last week.

Bush kept insisting that we can win "No, the way to win this is to be steadfast and resolved and to follow through on the plan that I've just outlined." (--Shrub) what has essentially become a guerilla war.

"The A.Q. Khan network has been brought to justice," said Shrub bragging about his national security record. Excuse me? This man, who gave nuclear secrets to Libya, Iran, and North Korea, was pardoned, with Bush's blessing.

Overall, Shrub resembled the Rain Man - repeatedly stating that Kerry, "changes positions." "He sends mixed messages." "He changes positions." "Mixed messages." "He changes positions." (I am not exaggerating here - I am accurately reflecting the number of times Bush mumbled these phrases.) "Mixed messages." "Mixed messages." "Mixed signals." "Mixed signals." "Mixed messages." "Mixed messages." "Waver."

And he only stopped babbling that mantra when he was saying seven times, that Kerry had called Iraq, "...the wrong war at the wrong time at the wrong place," and eleven times that it is, "hard work," fighting terrorist (in addition to pointing out twice people were, "working hard," at it.

Over and over, "This is the wrong war at the wrong time at the wrong place." "Hard work" "This is the wrong war at the wrong time at the wrong place." "Hard work" "Hard work" "This is the wrong war at the wrong time at the wrong place." "Hard work" "This is the wrong war at the wrong time at the wrong place." "Hard work" "This is the wrong war at the wrong time at the wrong place." "This is the wrong war at the wrong time at the wrong place." "Hard work" "This is the wrong war at the wrong time at the wrong place." "Hard work" "Hard work" "Working hard." "Hard work" "Hard work" "Working hard." "Hard work"

Only interrupted by, "Changes positions." "He sends mixed messages." "He changes positions." "Mixed messages." "He changes positions." "Mixed messages." "Mixed messages." "Mixed signals." "Mixed signals." "Mixed messages." "Mixed messages." "Waver."

Bush's ranting also constantly reminded of this Herman Goering quote:

"Why, of course, the people don't want war," Goering shrugged. "Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece. Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship."

"There is one difference," I pointed out. "In a democracy the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare wars."

"Oh, that is all well and good, but, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country."


I'm not a Kerry fan, but Shrub has gotta go.