Bush Wins 3rd Debate

[Democratic Hawk]

Kerry won the first debate 6-1 [I'm being charitable to the President mind you], the second debate 7-6 (8-6) and the third debate 6-3!

All Bush did was to castigate Kerry as a 'liberal' in the old-tax-and-spend tradition and, frankly, he's in no position to criticise any one on fiscal responsibility. It got somewhat tiresome! Nevertheless, he gave a confident performance, which would appeal to his base.

Kerry, on the other hand, more or less matched the success of the first debate; however, it didn't came across as signifigant as it did then because Bush performed relatively better. The improvement was noticeable in Bush, while Kerry held his own and was, thus, able to win this debate.

I think Kerry really hit home on many domestic issues, rightly criticising Bush's record as well as offering his own policies. Bush berated them as being unaffordable without hiking taxes on the middle-class. However, Kerry countered by making it perfectly clear that he would cost his plans in accordance with the fiscally responsible "pay as you go" ethos. In effect, he would only do things once they were more or less affordable. Bearing in mind the state of the budget deficit, a President Kerry should not be expected achieve his goals too quickly. It's called being realistic! I'm sure Kerry will pursue a pragmatic approach to achieving his goals.

Kerry was right in that other US presidents didn't botch domestic issues in the face of problems of an equal, or greater, magnitude than today.

I'm certain that a President Kerry will fight for the increasingly squeezed middle-class and working families. He won't raise taxes on them because it would be political suicide if he did - but Bush has to scaremonger on that one by misrepresenting Kerry time and time again! Give me a break, George!

Dave