An hour into the second debate between these two and they're both cooking. I've never seen such a good presidential-level debate.
In Bush-Kerry, the format is great. Neither man is tied behind a podium. Both can walk around, look the questioner and audience in the eye, and their energy, vitality, and strong voice, gesture, and body language make each of them out to be intelligent, alert, on top of their material, and their game. Each lands rhetorical blows on each other, and each does not flinch, but comes right back with the next left jab, right hook, uppercut, always trying for the knock-out blow, the haymaker.
My friends who denigrate the president for his constrained debating style, based on previous debates, are shown to have underestimated this president. He's a formidable debater, with not a shadow on him And that's pretty remarkable, considering that Kerry shows every sign of being a hugely powerful adversary in the debating ring. Remarkably evenly matched.
Both campaigns have a right to feel proud of their man this time around. Let's hope it stays this way for the next half hour, and the next debate.
Terrifically engaging no matter whose side you're on.
Incidentally, for students who are married to their written notes when presenting a case, note well that there's no need to hang onto notes and look down into them when addressing your audience. Put down your notes, look at your audience, and tell 'em the story. Otherwise why bother? We can read our own notes. Put YOUR spin on your story. That's what every audience wants to hear. That's what Bush and Kerry are doing, telling it like it is, as each sees it, without notes. Dy-no-mite!
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