Kerry Wins, Bush Spins

By all accounts John Kerry delivered big last night. I think he did very well. He established himself as Presidential timber, looked statesman like, and sounded like he knew what he was talking about. He made it clear that he could lead America, work with all of the leaders of the world and create the kind of priorities and policies that reflect the more traditional role America has played. We have generally been a nation that has stood for what was right, for what was just, and has held the moral high ground until Bush implemented his preemptive strike policy.

Bush seemed to have only one answer to every question and it really illustrated his shortcomings as a leader. Bush’s strength is supposed to be that he is able to stay on message. In politics controlling your message is exceptionally important. You want to frame yourself and not let others do it to you. Because Kerry has changed his mind as facts and truths were discovered, he has opened himself up to what some argue is being inconsistent in his positions. He has had a more difficult time defining himself.

Conventional political wisdom is that Bush is executing well, but last night I believe I saw why he is so able to stay on message so well. Bush only has one idea about how to do something. Once he makes the decision, the course is set come hell or high water. In his own words, changing direction in any way is “sending mixed messages”. Mixed messages are fatal in Bush’s opinion, a very closed minded way of thinking. That way also presumes that the people he is speaking to our simpletons and that it is a very dangerous course to have our foreign policy change.

Lets look at that philosophy as applied to something else the next President will do: appoint judges to the Supreme Court. There will only be one kind of person who is appropriate. Those candidates, (it is likely there will be more than one opening) will have to share his very conservative political philosophy. No moderate will have a chance.

When you hear people talk about this being the most important election in a life time, remember that not only has Bush destroyed our reputation in the world, he has only just begun to work on his domestic agenda. More tax cuts for the rich, no freedom to make a choice about your own body, not ability to do life saving research on stem cells, a Patriot Act that must be strengthened and continued.

I also cannot close without commenting on something I found deeply troubling, the philosophy that we must always be on the offensive. The only place that leads is which country is next?

Kerry did well. Bush looked squirmy, annoyed and he seemed to struggle to come up with answers that lasted as long as his time limit. It may not be fair, but to me that suggests that his knowledge isn’t very deep. I am happy to see that “Kerry was the winner” is the message that most Americans have gotten the day after the debate.