Kerry v.s. McCain: no contest!

[ginnyinWI]

Since both were on talk shows yesterday I could directly compare the two. When you watch McCain on Meet the Press, he does seem okay at first, but I think it's only because he's far more rational and realistic than his bosses, *, Cheney, and Rummy.
But then you flip over to Kerry on "Face the Nation" and, Wow! It's not just that I'm rather partisan and more than a bit biased. He would be so, so much better as president than McCain, because he has so much more vision, intellect, and capacity to lead.

I could get into the content of each interview, but suffice it to say that McCain wouldn't come out with anything specific and only relied on generalities and platitudes like, "mistakes were made", and "we're making progress", spoken in his mournful Eyeore voice.
Kerry speaking was direct, specific, decisive and sure--much more confidence-inspiring. Sure, he's in the opposition party and had sharper criticisms for the administration, but it was more than that. He clearly sees the big picture and relates it to the historic past, and also looks down the road into the future. That's exactly what we need in a president. McCain just reacts to one problem at a time with a "this is what we should do to fix this one thing" attitude. Not good enough!

Kerry also was more in command of the interview--he laid out what he wanted to say, point by point, and didn't let the political questions sidetrack him. He backed up what he said by citing views of military people which made his arguments even stronger. McCain just gave his own views and tried to put a happy face on Iraq. If America wants another president who will paint unrealistic, rosey pictures, they'll want to vote for him. But if they want someone different, someone who can actually lead, then they'd better pick Kerry.

[TayTay]

1. I am not impressed with McCain as a speaker either

I think part of his appeal is based on that reverse snob thing: he speaks like a regular guy. Well, maybe, but could he do it just a bit better. He does have the Eeyore (Love that description, btw) voice and a slightly hang doggish way of speaking. BTW, I have heard that he is the opposite with staff and people who piss him off and that he yells a lot and loses his temper a lot.

Anyway, I agree with you. I thought Kerry's interview as more substantive and he came off well. Not perfect, but I thought he did well. (I liked the Leiberman answer. I think that was just a diversionary question anyway. I liked how Kerry answered it. We need to divert the conversation away from 'the Dems are in disarray' to a real discussion of the issues.)

[karynnj]

3. There's some that's just disingenuous about his round pasty face

with the little smile. I thought it was telling the way he handled the Murtha and Kerry quotes - both of which he should have been ashamed of.

On the Murtha one he first tied to switch the word from "emotional" to "sentimental" and then said it came with age and when asked said he would be sentimental too when he was 72 - and that it was not a bad thing. So, having actually said Murtha was an "appropriator" and that he was never a big thinker and that his reason to question the war was that he was emotional - all very demeaning things he ends up with Murtha and he are sentimental - and he wasn't called on it.

With Kerry, the rat said that he didn't have the "strength to see it through in Iraq" and his counter was that he and John had been friends for years and later said it was a policy difference. Again, he wasn't called on the fact that having a different policy doesn't equate to saying he's weak.

The whole time he was just inserting his little smiles - I can see why he's seen as likable, but after the Murtha/Kerry comments, I very atypically would have wanted to throw something at his increasingly grotesque smiling face.

[rosesaylavee]

2. Kerry was actually involved in the discussion

and McCain was speaking what must have been rehearsed responses. Kerry was relaxed enough to laugh and make side comments. McCain was a robot. No contest. I agree.