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OCTOBER 14, 2004 –
Well, they finally found a way to have George
W. Bush sound coherent: ask him questions about nothing, the same
contentless rant topics that Rush Limbaugh, Bill "Call me, um, Willie"
O'Reilly, and FOX News would ask about.
Nothing about oil prices going through the roof and how it will be dealt
with, nothing - not one question - about anything to do with the
environment.
But two questions about religion, one about abortion, one about affirmative
action, one about illegal immigrants, homosexuality, and one asking what the
candidates thought of their wives.
I guess Schieffer - whose brother had worked with George Bush when he was
owner of the Texas Rangers - felt bad for the man and decided it was going
to be a contentless debate of softballs.
He even asked two questions about foreign policy ('How do you relieve the
strain on our troops without a draft?' and 'Can the nation feel secure
again?')
And when he hit topics like the economy, he asked loaded questions that
attacked Kerry's potential argument, such as, "Senator Kerry, is it fair to
blame the administration entirely for the loss of jobs?" and, "Who is
responsible for the rise in health care costs?"
The only hard-hitting, provocative question was about the flu vaccine
shortage.
It didn't seem as much a right-wing hit as Schieffer showing himself
unworthy of hosting a debate. He tried to give what should have been a
useful discussion about important things an Oprah feel.
What is your favorite cereal?" Oprah had asked Bush last election, allowing
him to show some charm and hide the fact he is a destructive disaster.
Kerry seemed to have spent too much time talking to Bill Clinton, and so
fallen into lovefestitis. Numerous occasions appeared where Kerry
could and should have clobbered the President, but he didn't.
When President Bush told the lie, yet again, that
Kerry had said he would use a Global Test that would give the world veto
power over our security, Kerry didn't nail him for lying yet again.
When the President lied and called his health plan a government takeover,
yet again, Kerry didn't blast away. Instead, he softballed back,
simply restating his position. Where was the firebrand who scolded
that the President has not leveled with the American people?
And still, somehow, the people thought Kerry won this one.
In reality, there was a real loser in this debate, and it was Bob Schieffer.
Everyone knew the President's views on faith and his wife, and so
nothing was gained by these exchanges except to show the President can talk
about something without drooling in embarrassing incoherence. And
truly, after the first question led to yet more repetition of the same Iraq
statements, most people probably switched off to baseball.
Thanks, Bob. Especially for bringing up affirmative action, something
that is not even a topic this election - that was last election, bimbo.
If Schieffer was trying to do a Limbaugh-like favor for the President it was
too little too late. But if Bob's real goal was to hit on only
sensational hot button topics and avoid useful topics, he did a wonderful
job.
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