The one part of the debate that I gave Bush an edge collapsed when I read the actual transcript.

 

Read it here and make your own decisions.

 

an example:

 

Justification for war in Iraq and WMD

President George W. Bush: "We all thought there was weapons there, Robin. My opponent thought there was weapons there. That's why he called him a grave threat. I wasn't happy when we found out there wasn't weapons, and we've got an intelligence group together to figure out why. But Saddam Hussein was a unique threat. And the world is better off without him in power. And my opponent's plans lead me to conclude that Saddam Hussein would still be in power, and the world would be more dangerous."

 

 

Sen. John Kerry: "I always believed he was a threat. Believed it in 1998 when Clinton was president. I wanted to give Clinton the power to use force if necessary. But I would have used that force wisely, I would have used that authority wisely, not rushed to war without a plan to win the peace. I would have brought our allies to our side. I would have fought to make certain our troops had everybody possible to help them win the mission. This president rushed to war, pushed our allies aside. And Iran now is more dangerous, and so is North Korea, with nuclear weapons. He took his eye off the ball, off of Osama bin Laden."

another one that is just brutal:

 

President Bush: "You tell Tony Blair we're going alone. Tell Tony Blair we're going alone. Tell Silvio Berlusconi we're going alone. Tell Aleksander Kwasniewski of Poland we're going alone. There are 30 countries there. It denigrates an alliance to say we're going alone, to discount their sacrifices. You cannot lead an alliance if you say, you know, you're going alone. And people listen. They're sacrificing with us."

 

Sen. Kerry: "Mr. President, countries are leaving the coalition, not joining. Eight countries have left it. If Missouri, just given the number of people from Missouri who are in the military over there today, were a country, it would be the third-largest country in the coalition, behind Great Britain and the United States. That's not a grand coalition. Ninety percent of the casualties are American. Ninety percent of the costs are coming out of your pockets. I could do a better job."

another one that is just brutal:

 

President Bush: "You tell Tony Blair we're going alone. Tell Tony Blair we're going alone. Tell Silvio Berlusconi we're going alone.

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actually, he called him "Servio" Berlusconi.

Kerry talked in detail about Iran and North Korea during the first debate. He explained that he wanted bilateral negotiations with North Korea, as well as multinational negotiations with China and others involved. I doubt that either candidate believes that military action against either Iran or North Korea would be a good idea. Kerry wants to expand sanctions against Iran if they don't shutdown their nuclear program.

Sanctions against Iran won't work if we let other countries do business with them. It's been documented that even Haliburton has done business with Iran. We won't be able to get any international cooperation if Bush continues to ignore the global community.

And Iran now is more dangerous, and so is North Korea, with nuclear weapons. He took his eye off the ball, off of Osama bin Laden."

 

Ummmm...North Korea had 2 nukes as early as when Clinton was in office. They have developed more effective delivery devices since, but claiming that they went nuclear on GW's watch is false.

 

Oh, and BTW, it was Clinton who set the precedent by letting North Korea hold him over a barrell and hanging adherence to a non-proliferation treaty over his head, whihc htey broke anyways.

 

Iran: I find it hard to beleive that Iran is now more dangerous with a hundred thousand American troops sitting next door. Not that it matters, mind you, since Iran isn't going to nuke anyone anyways, even if they had nukes.