8 p.m. EST Sept. 30, 2004
The first presidential debate between John Kerry and George W. Bush is about to begin.
They are at the podiums. Jim Lehrer is asking Kerry if he could do a better job preventing another 9-11. He says yes, he can. He says America is safest and strongest when it is leading the world and has strong alliances. Bush has left the alliances shattered, Kerry said. Going after the financing, renewing alliances and reaching out to the Muslim should be pursued aggressively, which he says Bush hasn't been done.
Bush blinking a lot, looking tight. He defends the Iraqi invasion by saying he realized that a threat must be addressed before it gets worse. He says he doesn't think there will be another 9-11. Kerry looking down as Bush talks.
Bush says the U.S.must constantly be on the offensive while spreading liberty. The problem with that is the rest of the world feels they are being invaded by the United States and is imposing its will on the rest of the world.
Kerry says he will hunt down the terrorists. But he adds,correctly, that the U.S. must be smart, not getting bogged down in Iraq when terrorism's heart is in Afghanistan.
Bush looks extremely nervous, frequently blinking.
Kerry rips into Bush putting 10 times as many troops in Iraq than Afghanistan. He points at the massive opium problems in Afghanistan.
Bush is lamely defending his attack on Iraq, noting that Saddam Hussein was misleading U.N. inspectors. He says the world is safer without Saddam Hussein.
Bush says the U.S. has the capability to go after the terrorists in Afghanistan/Pakistan and Iraq. He says bin Laden is isolated, shut off. He says the war against terrorism is going on in the Phillipines as well.
The worst podium poundingI've ever seen -- when George W. pounds it defending his actions and goals.
Bush looks truly awful as Kerry is talking.
Kerry notes that fire station and other part of America that need to be strengthened to truly improve our national security have been ignored and instead we have tax cuts and spending billions of dollars in Iraq and elsewhere when it can be better spent.
We didn't need that tax cut, Kerry said. We need to be safe, he said.
Bush is stuttering and stammering and truly not up to the task. He said of course he wants America to be safe. As teens would say -- yeah, duh.
Occupiers in a bitterly hospital land. That's Kerry quoting George W's fatherabout why he didn't go into Iraq in 1991. There's no exit strategy.
There's no exit strategy.This president hasn't even had the statesmen like summits that draws nations together, he pushed them away, Kerry said.
It's almost bizarre how pathetic Bush is tonight. He is so defensive and not doing well. He says other nations aren't going to follow someone whose core convictions keep on changing.
The U.N. offered help after Bagdad fell and didn't take it up, Kerry said.
"I don't appreciate it"when a candidate for president diminishes the contributions of other members of the coalition, Bush said.
Actually, Kerry didn't do that. This is more Bush b.s. He's so ridiculous. I've never seen him this lame before.
Kerry said he respects the contribution of the British, but notes there are only a little more than 8,000 British troops. That's the largest number provided by any of the 30 U.S. allies. Many of the nations are just providing a few hundred troops....
OK. I clearly have an opinion. It was weakening, but after seeing this debate there is no doubt in my mind that the American people would be extremely foolish to re-elect George W. as president. This guy is an embarrassment. He's wrong, misleading and, actually (gee, I never thought I'd write this) stupid. My goodness, save us from four more years of George Bush and his gang.
Kerry is scoring a knockout blow tonight. George is swallowing hard, trying to make people think he isn't being beaten up in this debate.
I can't believe what I just heard -- George Bush said it wasn't his administration that put sanctions of Iran. Is he saying that is something someone should be ashamed of doing? My Lord, get this guy off the stage.d
Has any incumbent president ever had a worse performance in a presidential debate? Truly horrendous.
9:55 a.m. Sept. 5, 2004
Would you want a customer to think your food is so bad that you need to "wash it down?"
I was looking for a quick pasta meal Saturday evening so I decided I'd pick up the "Classic Sampler"meal at a Fazzoli's drive through. I didn't want to buy a drink, since I had plenty at home.
The clerk asked over the speaker, "Would you like a large Coke to help wash that down?"
Wash it down? I didn't think this was going to be some distasteful medicine that needed to be washed down. I almost told the clerk if the restaurant's food were that bad I didn't want it.
I simply said, "No" and drove on to the next window. But it left me wondering what is wrong with us that people would actually want to buy food that needed to be washed down. Does that say something about what has happened to American society?
I have always liked Fazzoli's. If the employees think the food is something that needs to be "washed down," however, I might want to reconsider eating there again....
Since 1980 I've almost always had a VCR. However, last fall an excellent VCR that I'd had for nearly 14 years was broken beyond repair. Until this week, I was without a VCR. I finally bought a nice Sony hi-fi stereo VCR for $80, one that would play my existing S-VHS tapes but would not record in that format. S-VHS is a sharper picture with greater luminance that standard VHS tapes.
So I'm rediscovering the tape library I'd built up over more than 20 years. I'm finding considerable treasures in that library and giving my DVD addiction a little rest....
Today is the big football games for Kentucky natives. The University of Kentucky (my alma mater) will travel to Louisville to meet the University of Louisville Cardinals, the school Igrew up watching and which is still my favorite college team. So I guess I have to say,"Go Cards!"....
So former President Bill Clinton is going to have heart bypass surgery. George Bush and the other Republicans had their hearts bypassed many years ago and it's hard to believe they have any heart left, let alone sound minds....
I'm reading a collection of short stories by Paul Anderson, the great science fiction writer who died in 2001. The book is "Going for Infinity."...
The long Labor Day weekend is underway so this might be a good time to create Volume 25 of the Sounds of the Century, the CD Collection.
9:30 a.m. Aug. 29, 2004
If the mentality of the current Republican Party had influence the founding fathers would there have been an American Revolution?
Does anyone know just how great the Sounds of the Century Collection is?
Watching the DVD version of "The Beatles Anthology." Awaiting viewing is the DVD set of "Citizen Kane" complete with the documentary "The Battle Over Citizen Kane."
Was "Citizen Kane" the greatest movie of all time as some surveys have said? Perhaps. It's certainly a landmark movie with lots of innovations, a great story and performances. I have a hard time picking any one movie as the greatest of all-time. I guess I'll watch it again and ponder that question a little more.
Noon - Aug. 22, 2004
First thoughts: is this a blog or an on-line diary?
Listening to wonderful recording called "The Oceanic Concerts" featuring Pete Townshend on acoustic guitar and Raphael Rudd on piano and harp. Recorded about 25 years ago, released just a few years. Spiritual, sometimes rocking and delightful
Reading Dan Brown in reverse. Currently flying through "Digital Fortress." Previously read "Da Vinci Code" and "Angels and Demons." Fun, stimulating reading.
Watching old classics. "Tom Jones" on DVD, courtesy Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library.
Question: can an experienced, award-winning journalist find satisfaction as a sports clerk for a daily newspaper and a temp employee in a hospital's purchasing department?
OK. This is the first take. Time for lunch, then laundry.
