Archive for October, 2004

Foreign policy debate mistakes

Monday, October 4th, 2004

Some of Bush's mistakes:

0:06:10 "Do you believe the election of Senator Kerry on November the 2nd would increase the chances of the U.S. being hit by another 9/11-type terrorist attack?" "No, I don't believe it's going to happen. I believe I'm going to win."
0:07:55 "The enemy understands a free Iraq will be a major defeat in their ideology of hatred. That's why they're fighting so vociferously."
0:14:20 "Of course we're after Saddam Hussein -- I mean bin Laden."
0:15:44 Bush tries to pound on the podium.
0:30:57 "What's he say to Alexander Kwasniewski of Poland?"
0:32:37 "Well, actually, he forgot Poland."
0:40:25 "Let me finish" (who was interrupting him?)
0:42:20 "You know, it's hard work to try to love her as best as I can"
0:45:35 Bush interrupts Kerry. Lehrer lets Bush respond, but Bush pauses for five seconds and then babbles about mixed messages.
0:52:00 In response to a question about Iraq: "the enemy attacked us, Jim". (Kerry called him on it.)
1:10:35 "You cannot lead if you send mexed missages." (How are the Capitol Steps going to make fun of this spoonerism?)
1:11:55 Referring to his daughters: "I'm trying to put a leash on them." (Kerry called him on it: "Well, I know. I've learned not to do that.")
several times Being the president is hard work.

Some of Kerry's mistakes:

0:37:00 "United States, the America and Great Britain"
0:57:15 "Global test". (Bush called him on it.)
0:58:00 "Iran and Iraq are now more dangerous -- Iran and North Korea are now more dangerous."

The times refer to the Washington Post's Real stream, which I watched using Real Alternative and Gebest's Media Player Classic. Political Animal: Clip Contest, commenters on Daily Kos, and georgewbush.com caught some mistakes I might have missed otherwise. I copied some quotes from the MSNBC/FDCH transcript of the debate.