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KERRY
VS BUSH / ROUND TWO: CERTAINTY WITHOUT
HUMBLENESS IS SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Tonight
George Bush recovered from the pounding he took in Round One and held
his own in Round Two ~ by relentlessly preaching to his base
with his same shop worn
message
of fear and patriotism.
According
to a DNC press release, respondents to ABC News' "insta-poll"
declared Kerry the winner by a slim margin:
Kerry: 44% Bush: 41%
Kerry
was on message all night and Bush acted like he was on message
but as they say in Texas ~ He was all hat and no cattle .
For
example his answer to the question about who he would select for
the Supreme Court was indicative of most of his answers . David
Talbot , Salon, sarcastically sums it up ;
"
Did he really answer the question about his criteria for picking
a future Supreme Court justice, after stumbling around aimlessly
for awhile, by suddenly latching onto the 1857 Dred Scott
decision, that reaffirmed the institution of slavery, as an
example of something he’s against? This will come as an
enormous relief to all runaway slaves currently on the loose in
America – although he might have risked alienating the Trent
Lott wing of the party with his bold stand. "
I was somewhat
disappointed by the many opportunities Kerry had to score
major debating blows but allowed himself to get defensive
instead of staying on message ~ like Edwards did with Cheney.
A good
example would be Bush's
challenge That you can run but you can't hide
referring to Kerry's liberal stance on many issues.
A
perfect Kerry rejoiner would have
been Mr President , you can run but you can't hide from the
damage you have inflicted on the American people and our
credibility throughout the world .
In other
words, I was waiting for a Kerry knockout punch
and instead I saw more spirited sparring ~ and kerry winning on
points.
But
there was something else that became very obvious as the debate
rolled on ~ and it was the distinct difference in personalities
and character of these two men.
Kerry
shows the character development of being tested under fire on
the battleground and for championing unpopular political issues
~ he's a serious diplomat
.
There's
a deep sense of humbleness that graces his certainty and it
makes him quite human and appealing as a candidate.
It's how I
might have seen Lincoln ~ who was also a trial lawyer fighting
for unpopular issues.
Bush, on
the other hand, appeared arrogant and self righteous ~
particularly when, against the rules, he shouted down the
commentator to make his point.
This is
a very entitled man who is used to getting his way . He has
failed at every business that was given to him, through his
connections, and is now failing at his court appointed
presidency.
He is
incapable of self reflection or genuine sincerity ,
rules mean nothing to him
~ and he still refuses to take accountability for his obvious mistakes
in judgement.
Bush's
continual self-satisfied smirking and winking at his audience
after answering a question , usually with a vacuous answer, was
disconcerting.
It
is also a disturbing and obvious sign that his whole personna is
built on perception ~ not on substance.
Bush's
world is black and white and there is no room for constructive
dissent, nuance or gray.
He
is a loose cannon in a complex world that desperately needs
diplomacy ~ not obstinacy .
Bush has
never gone to the deep inner well , that Kerry has visited under
fire, and is incapable of getting beyond his own self absorption
and hubris.
And that
is precisely the man who illegally and brazenly invaded Iraq,
against the established rules of the United Nations ~
because he wanted to take out the man who tried to kill his father and,
in the process, one up his Dad and make a
financial killing for his corporate buddies .
As
Williams River Pitt said " We have institutionalized
revenge and made it the basis of our policy and war with Iraq .
"
That
brief moment during the debate gave myself and millions of
Americans a glimpse of the real George Bush ~ an entitled man
of limited intelligence and massive certainty without a shred of
humbleness and compassion.
Bush's
smug self righteousness in contrast with kerry's openness and
engagement was shockingly obvious and revealing as to who
would make the better leader of the free world.
It's
time for a change .
Allen L
Roland
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