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Oct 2, 2004

I owe a lot of policy debaters an apology.

It has always been my stance that policy debate in no way prepares you for the realities of public speaking. Policy teaches you to speak unclearly and quickly, use obscure sources and wild abstractions, and bicker unceasingly over minuscule matters of procedure.

However, after watching the Bush/Kerry debate in full, I have to admit that in one lonely way, policy debate does help you with public speaking. Policy nerd Kerry's scribbling while Bush talked was definitely a flow (that's the right word, isn't it?), and his arguments were always logically constructed and linear. Bush, of course, was lucky to remember a smattering of unconnected campaign slogans.

It irritated me, though, that Bush didn't have the presence of mind to question Kerry on the weak points he displayed, mostly on Iraq. I really do want to hear how exactly Kerry expects to step up the timetable in Iraq. Bush is right when he says that it would be criminally irresponsible of us to back out before the Iraqis are self-sufficient, and the only suggestion Kerry was able to make is that we pull in more countries - how that's going to make Iraq go faster is still a mystery.

In fact, despite his uncharacteristically clear explanation of his Iraq stance - the right fight fought the wrong way - Kerry still hasn't given me any warm and fuzzies on the issue. Any idiot can tell that things aren't going well, and Kerry hasn't gone beyond that to say how he'll make them better.

Nonetheless, for once I can't complain about the way Kerry carried himself (hehe). Anyone who thinks he didn't win outright is nuts.

But at least Bush can say he has cornered the Polish vote.
Nick ::: 1:44 PM ::: 0 comments

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