No MTP thread here? Well there is now....

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

First off let me say that overall I think he did a pretty good job.

Handled the predictable plethora of Dean questions with aplomb and grace for the most part. It never looked like he lost control of the interview. Grade: B.

High points: "I haven't taken one dime of PAC money, co-sponsored Clean Elections bill." "My economic plan takes into consideration the costs of Iraq, unlike the Chimp." Appeared calm, cool and measured throughout.

Low points: "I was happy with the Gingrich revolution." That quote stung. When asked about Chimp's "lack of knowledge," he back-peddled.

Waffles?: Raising SS age. FICA cap. Benefits of tax cuts. IWR. All more or less explained away in a believable way. Some more than others.

Not too shabby.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. Wow!

Church meet doormouse.
Doormouse meet church.



:boring:

[LWolf]

2. LOL

What's an MTP? What candidate was talking to whom?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

5. Meet The Presswhore. MTP.

John Forbes Kerry chats w/ Tim Whoressert.

[LWolf]

14. Ahhh...tv.

No wonder I was lost. I never remember to turn the damn thing on.

Hope Kerry did ok.

[dsc]

3. I just finished seeing it

I thought he did well though I think some of Dean's 'waffles' can now be dispensed with. I see virtually no difference between what Kerry said and what Dean said in regards to Cuba for example.

[Fabio]

4. Impressions

Here are my impressions of JK's performance:

1) Very well prepared and direct with Tim Russert. Not defensive, but no pushover either. I thought this was best exemplified in his pushback on the vetting of his economic plan/deficit reduction package.

2) Sufficiently harsh on GWB, but could have had a field day with the Vogue quote. Still, critical about the administration without seeming personal.

3) 35 minutes without a commercial break and constantly talking about Iraq. That's quite a marathon. I know the IWR was a difficult position for JK to take at the time. I know he stands by his vote in a very real way. I think voters can and should know that it was a exceedingly difficult personal decision to make, but one made with a larger set of decision criteria than just yea or nea of GWB trustworthiness as CIC.

4) Let me say first off that Howard Dean is not my favorite, mostly because he has been throwing bombs at JK since last summer (some deserved, most not IMHO... and yes, JK is predictably my guy). But I thought JK was very fair in his critique of Howard Dean --> always objective and policy focused, never personal in tone --> I just wish that HD took that stance with JK. (not flame bait)

5) PAC money issue is HUGE to me personally. It is one of the roots of JK's progressive credentials, and I am happy he got to say it.

6) Finally, enough Deborah Orin (NYPost) and Boston Herald quotes to squash any rumors of liberal media bias. Nice people.

Overall grade: A-, but arguably a B+, as I saw room for improvement in general and specifically in terms of expressing some of his personal misgivings about IWR, despite being firm about vote.

Comments?

[George_Bonanza]

6. What's PAC money?

[leftist_rebel1569]

7. Political Action Committee

I think they give millions to candidates that support a certain issue or something else along those lines...

[DrFunkenstein]

10. See the Center For Public Integrity

http://www.publicintegrity.org/dtaweb/home.asp

Corporations don't contribute to PACs because they are good citizens. They contribute because it is the best - and cheapest - investment they'll ever make.

I am proud that Senator Kerry has foresworn this temptation throughout his Congressional career.

[DrFunkenstein]

9. Some Follow-up Thoughts

1)Totally agree. When pressed with difficult questions, he still managed to take charge of the answers.

2)He was totally being baited on the "lack of knowledge" quote. You could see that he knew he was being baited, and he didn't go for it. In fact, he managed to turn around the question and get back on message.

3)I was really surprised at how few commercials there were, which is in Kerry's favor. He's not a sloganeer, and I'm glad Russert gave him space to really address the issue.

4)I was happy Kerry rebuked his staff for their loose lips (they tend to act as his unofficial id). I hope he works to keep them more disciplined with the press.

5)Again, totally agree. That's a facet of his candidacy that doesn't always get out, and I think it is crucial in differentiating himself from the corporate-sponsored politics that made 2000 so distasteful. He also did a good job of putting the burden of public financing on Dean. I doubt that either one of them will accept it in the end, but it was great way of taking the issue without attacking.

6)Really! The myth of the liberal media was laid to rest. I was surprised that Russert used such a "low" source of journalism, but it did manage to get at a prevailing attitude in the air. And Kerry did a nice job of taking it on.

7)I am so relieved that he didn't "regret" his vote. Although his position is a difficult one, it was the only possible line to take without falling off the tightrope. And, ultimately, I think that his opinion is shared by most Americans - Saddam needed to be held accountable, especially after 9/11, but that Bush is a complete incompetent, dangerously so.

He also did a good job of aligning himself with the troops on the ground, a position I think he feels deep in his heart.

[Egnever]

11. How strange

I saw this so differently.

1)Totally agree. When pressed with difficult questions, he still managed to take charge of the answers

I noticed this too but saw it more as avoiding the questions. I hoped for more direct answers.

2)He was totally being baited on the "lack of knowledge" quote. You could see that he knew he was being baited, and he didn't go for it. In fact, he managed to turn around the question and get back on message.

This is where i think he will come away from this badly dmamged. The quote shown of him saying that all of the inteligence agencies agreed on Iraqs ability to launch WMD running up to his war vote Was a complete condradiciton of the facts of that report. This will hurt him badly when the press gets ahold of it. This is the same line bush is trying to get us to follow, the idea that bush lied to us isnt because the reports were wrong its because he ignored the reports and gave his own version of them. Kerry was shown here to be doing the same thing. I think this single handedly will sink him and i was sorry to see it.


4)I was happy Kerry rebuked his staff for their loose lips (they tend to act as his unofficial id). I hope he works to keep them more disciplined with the press.


This part was pure politics. We all know he doesnt really have a problem with this. Passive agresiveness at its finest.

5)Again, totally agree. That's a facet of his candidacy that doesn't always get out, and I think it is crucial in differentiating himself from the corporate-sponsored politics that made 2000 so distasteful. He also did a good job of putting the burden of public financing on Dean. I doubt that either one of them will accept it in the end, but it was great way of taking the issue without attacking.


I dont think Dean will take public funding in the end, And if he can come up with the dollars not to i encourage him not to. Public financing only works when the whole field plays by the rules and bush isnt going to so all bets should be off. Unless you get more money with public financing than you would without then you are a fool to take it in a race that your oponent plans to outspend you. I think kerry was very clear that he would avoid public financing if he could do it without loosing face.

6)Really! The myth of the liberal media was laid to rest. I was surprised that Russert used such a "low" source of journalism, but it did manage to get at a prevailing attitude in the air. And Kerry did a nice job of taking it on.

I fully agree russert was on attack mode. However i think kerry did a great job of ducking it not of taking it on. Towards the end he got better at taking it on but throughout the first half of the show it was mostly ducking.


7)I am so relieved that he didn't "regret" his vote. Although his position is a difficult one, it was the only possible line to take without falling off the tightrope. And, ultimately, I think that his opinion is shared by most Americans - Saddam needed to be held accountable, especially after 9/11, but that Bush is a complete incompetent, dangerously so.

We part waters comletely here. Kerry wants to say the president do what he asked him to do but doesnt regret giving him the go ahead to do it. Conflicting statements IMHO and if he had said yes he regreted it I would have stood up and cheered for him. Instead he tried to reinforce what I consider a bad vote. It was an oportunity for him to get me behind him and he blew it.

Once again for the penut gallery Saddam had nothing to do with 9/11 and as such bears no responsibilty for it that he needs to be accountable for.

I do think he came off as very personable and a lot more likeable than he has to me in the past but he was all over the place in his answers yet again and got nailed pretty badly on a few stances.

I would prefer a Kerry that comes from strength and conviction. I didnt see that in him today and it worries me because it is verry likely he could be our next president. What i saw was politics as usual and I am tired of that.

[Egnever]

8. Agreed!

I will expect no more SS waffles from kerry supporters after today

[DJcairo]

12. Kerry has no ss waffles-Dean does

Kerry never suggested raising the retirement age-Dean did.
Kerry's only suggestion today was the need to look at how the system can be made more equitable, Perhpas people who make $300,000 don't need to be getting SS benefits if they make it to age 95.

This is all quite a bit different than Dean suggesting people cannot be eligable for their full SS benefits until age 70. Currently I believe it is 65. Quite a bit different indeed.

[Egnever]

13. I see you also were watching a different MTP than i was

Russert said in 96 kerry was on record as suporting raising the age on social security. Maybe i heard it wrong. I eagerly await the transcripts

[sandnsea]

15. my son called

at 9:00. Kind of hard to tell your kid, who is in fire camp, call back in an hour!

I'll have to wait for the transcript, but it won't be the same, I realize.

To people who think Kerry ducks his answers, or whatever... what he does is explain his thinking on the question and then answer the question. Typically, again, I haven't seen this interview.

For example:

What is the best apple pie?

Kerry: Well, there's different kinds of apples that can be used in apple pie, McIntosh, Jonathans, Granny Smith, lots of kinds and quite a few ways to mix the apples to get different flavors. And of course there's a variety of ways to make a pie that vary in different parts of the country and some pies have more cinnamon and some are juicier and some have raisins, so there are alot of things to consider. But for me, I like a nice tart Granny Smith pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Dean: Well the way we do it in Vermont is with a good tart apple and some maple syrup on the pie and it just doesn't get any better than that.

And that's the difference between Howard Dean and John Kerry. And I have no idea how they like their pies, I made that part up.

[Egnever]

18. excelent example

I think you nailed it.

[blm]

16. Labor Day Weekend.

Not too many watching.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

17. Hadn't thought of that

and that's too bad for Kerry, though I suppose he timed this visit to MTP to closely precede his formal announcement.

Dean got a big bump after MTP, despite what is generally regarded as a poor performance, wonder what effect it will have on Kerry?

Still early, I expect them both to be back on the show a few times.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

19. What was your take on his appearance?

I don't know that I've read what you thought. Plus, do you think I had a fair take on his appearance? Just wondering.