The Debate: Round 2

I watched the whole thing before and after going to the Shrumbowl (UBC killed SFU). It was good television-I'll say that. There were constant attacks by both sides, and at one point Bush completely talked over the moderator. The moderator (I forget his name) was more of a hindrance than a help.

Bush again hammered home his messages: Bush is consistent, and you know where he's coming from.

Kerry? Not so much.

The key moment of the debate where Bush spoke to the people in their homes and got the message across was this speech:

WASHINGTON: Thank you.

Mr. President, my mother and sister traveled abroad this summer, and when they got back they talked to us about how shocked they were at the intensity of aggravation that other countries had with how we handled the Iraq situation.

Diplomacy is obviously something that we really have to really work on.

What is your plan to repair relations with other countries given the current situation?

BUSH: No, I appreciate that. I -- listen, I -- we've got a great country. I love our values. And I recognize I've made some decisions that have caused people to not understand the great values of our country.

I remember when Ronald Reagan was the president; he stood on principle. Somebody called that stubborn. He stood on principle standing up to the Soviet Union, and we won that conflict. Yet at the same time, he was very -- we were very unpopular in Europe because of the decisions he made.

I recognize that taking Saddam Hussein out was unpopular. But I made the decision because I thought it was in the right interests of our security.

You know, I've made some decisions on Israel that's unpopular. I wouldn't deal with Arafat, because I felt like he had let the former president down, and I don't think he's the kind of person that can lead toward a Palestinian state.

And people in Europe didn't like that decision. And that was unpopular, but it was the right thing to do.

I believe Palestinians ought to have a state, but I know they need leadership that's committed to a democracy and freedom, leadership that would be willing to reject terrorism.

I made a decision not to join the International Criminal Court in The Hague, which is where our troops could be brought to -- brought in front of a judge, an unaccounted judge.

I don't think we ought to join that. That was unpopular.

And so, what I'm telling you is, is that sometimes in this world you make unpopular decisions because you think they're right.

We'll continue to reach out.

Listen, there is 30 nations involved in Iraq, some 40 nations involved in Afghanistan.

People love America. Sometimes they don't like the decisions made by America, but I don't think you want a president who tries to become popular and does the wrong thing.
You don't want to join the International Criminal Court just because it's popular in certain capitals in Europe.

This is a fascinating exchange: Bush regards the battles that the US has fought as noble battles that in the long run will be seen as the right decisions. Its a tough love practice that a parent demonstrates to a child "Listen Europe, we realize that having you come home at a decent time won't make me 'popular' with you or your arab friends, but its for your own good". And to be fair, that's the 'jerk' interpretation.

Its also rare in this day to hear a politicians speak about making principle based decisions. It surfaced recently that Chirac was prepared to invade Iraq before he realized that opposing the invasion would make him popular at home and with the arab world. It is not a coincidence that the Palestinians now front his image alongside Arafat's and Osama's in the streets. Bush realizes that he could have taken an easier road, but made a tough decision that knew would entail difficult days...because he believes that a better day is ahead. Bush is a true believer, and you have to give credit where credit is due. Kerry does not seem like believes Iraq is a priority, and I do not want to think about what he will do for the Moore/Carter wing of the democrats once they come calling.

You gotta
Strap yourself to the mast my friend
and the storm will end
--the Verve

I disagree with the italized portion near the end. I think that Bush is probably too insulated by 'yes men' to realize that great portions of this earth genuinely hate the US, and that includes many of the countries currently regarded as allies. This isn't such a big deal, really, as long as those countries are not actively working against you...and this is where France crossed the line, as has Turkey at certain points.