For those who, like most sensible Americans, missed last night’s final presidential debate of the 2004 campaign season here’s a handy summary:
Bush:
- Education. No Child Left Behind.
- My opponent is a Massachusetts liberal.
- Wooosh.
- I can’t speak credibly about race in America.
Kerry:
- Jobs.
- I was an altar boy.
- I can’t speak credibly about religion in America.
- I married a wealthy woman.
My take: Kerry by a hair, largely on style points.
Nearly every president of my lifetime has come into office primarily or even solely interested in domestic affairs. But in every case foreign relations has come to dominate his interest and attention and in no case so much as with George W. Bush. My friends, that is the nature of the presidency. It’s a foreign policy job.
Why is it a surprise that in this debate Mr. Bush showed an avidity, a zest for the subject matter, that I haven’t heard in the previous debates? He reminded me of a hunting dog who had caught the scent and was finally on the trail. John Kerry’s performance in this debate was completely consistent with his performances in the previous two debates.
Neither candidate has any real idea of how to stem the sharp increases in cost of health care; neither candidate has a real idea of what to do about immigration—the closest to an intelligent suggestion was Mr. Kerry’s fleeting point about enforcement of employment regulations; neither candidate has a workable plan for dealing with Social Security or Medicare. Surely Mr. Kerry must know that there are going to be major changes in Social Security. His no-change position is just not credible.
The candidates have sharp differences on abortion, the minimum wage, and affirmative action. Is this a surprise to anyone? And will any sensible American change his or her vote based on a candidate’s position on any of these issues?
To be perfectly honest I find both of these candidates deeply disappointing. As my wife pointed out earlier in the day, there’s something wrong with our system if this is the best we can come up with. But one of these men will be elected.
So, now the debates are over. We’re on the final leg of the campaign.
UPDATE: Don’t miss Joe Gandelman’s stunning round-up of reactions to the debate from around the blogosphere. This is the place to start.
