Presidential Debates

[DaBeeeenster]

Bush and Kerry go at it 1 on 1 in (I believe) 3 debates starting (I think!) on Thursday.

Does anyone know if they are being televised or broadcast on the radio?

[Rave]

I couldn't find any details- shame, as I'd be interested too.

Rich :¬)

[Galant]

Well, the first takes place not too far from where I live.

I imagine they'll be broadcast in some form. I'll keep my ears open and see what I can find out.

[DaBeeeenster]

No doubt cspan will be streaming it?

Galant, can you confirm?

Edit: Just being lazy! Sorry.

http://www.c-span.org/2004vote/debat...t_CD=PresVP_04

[chriscom]

Sorry for being too late,

I have just finished watching it live on BBC1.

IMHO, Kerry came across as much more informed and natural, Bush on the other hand kept repeating the same lines.

I'm really surprised Bush was ever made president as he is awful at public speaking and most times comes across as a bit thick.

I found it strange to hear Bush conclude that they have climbed a mountain and are now looking down on a valley of peace.

[GreenPiggy]

The good thing is that the pollsters view Iraq and terrorism as Bush's main strengths.
If Kerry has pounded him in this debate it bodes very well for the next 2

[daniel_owen_uk]

I read this on reuters (via 3 phone) this morning, made bush sound like he came over better to me.

Kerry going on about how we bush was wrong to go to war at the time he did (basically), and Bush saying that Kerry was giving out the wrong message to the troops/allies/iraq's.

Wouldn't mind hearing the whole thing though.

[chriscom]

I read this on reuters (via 3 phone) this morning, made bush sound like he came over better to me.

Kerry going on about how we bush was wrong to go to war at the time he did (basically), and Bush saying that Kerry was giving out the wrong message to the troops/allies/iraq's.

Wouldn't mind hearing the whole thing though.

That is what is rather odd,

There were talking about this on news24 last night, The reporter was saying how those who watched the interviews thought Kerry won the debate but those reading the reports on the debate thought Bush had won.

[[GSV]Trig]

Cant get that GreenDay song out of my head....

[chriscom]

What Kerry actually said on the war on Iraq was.

That America shouldn't have gone in without a plan in place once they had ousted Saddam and it was wrong to take away troops from Afghanistan which is the centre off the war on terror (I.E Bin Laden 9/11) to start a war in Iraq.
He also said how bad it was that the troops were so ill prepared and not having the proper body armour, nor the armoured vehicles.

He did say however, that one can't pull out now, but what America needs to do is start working with other countries.

I liked the fact he mentioned that America is going around telling other countries they must disarm but at the same time is spending millions on making nuclear cluster bombs. He said he would abandon this program.

[nichomach]

That is what is rather odd,

There were talking about this on news24 last night, The reporter was saying how those who watched the interviews thought Kerry won the debate but those reading the reports on the debate thought Bush had won.

Not so odd...who's doing the reports? Fox? CNN? Reuters tend these days to do a lot of recycling anyway, so I think the chances of balanced and accurate reportage are somewhat less than that of a snowball in hell...

[Stoo]

Fox basically pumps out what the Whitehouse tells them, CNN do something similar, but aren't quite as frothing at the mouth rabid, but I'm a little surprised that Reuters were following their lead..

[FarmerJon]

Sounds about right...the US media are notoriously biased & all have their own interests and wallets as a priority. Will hope to watch the debate myself later, I really hope that people dont rely on reports like that without watching for themselves.

[GreenPiggy]

most of the newsagencies, even Fox's own website are showing polls that say Kerry won the debate, generally about 40% to 25% ish
Hopefully it will lead to a polls bounce but then there hasn't been any time for Fox etc.. to pick over Kerry's words for an elusive flip-flop or failing that to invent one.

[daniel_owen_uk]

53% to 47% (kerry favour), on snap CNN poll.

Both camps claiming a victory it seems.

[tillyoubreakit]

Well not being an American i dont know wich one is the better one. But i think that the American public will choose the "lesser evils" of the two. Bush will properbly size it down to the final question "Who is better at defending this country against terror?" which in my opinion he and his father raised. Being from Europe which Bush totally toled to F-Off i would choose neither of the two.

Cheers