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Margo Howard and Franklin Foer

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from: Franklin Foer

George W. Wobbles but He Doesn't Fall Down

Posted Tuesday, Dec. 7, 1999, at 6:20 AM ET

Prudie,

Even if you're not an Oil of Olay model--and I find that hard to believe--I would hope that you would never be caught farther than 15 feet from a Town Car.

Tomorrow I hope to return to the subjects of divorce and manners and models. But this installment of the Breakfast Table is more like a nightcap. Tonight's post-debate spin session spilled over into the hotel bar, and that's where I am just returning from. So forgive me if I am sparing in my recounting of the action.

Most top-drawer political reporters decided to sit this debate out. For this, I am thankful. Campaign advisers desperate to spin had nobody else to chat up. (Of course, dear Prudie, it would have been far more pleasurable to be sitting in my hotel room and dashing off mail to you.)

There seemed a consensus, to which even W.'s advisers couldn't really refute with a straight face: Bush looked truly wobbly. Not that he did himself any sort of long-term damage. But he seemed to be unsure with his responses. And the audience penalized him for it. As he coughed out answers or recycled lines from the stump speech, some of the Nice Republicans of Arizona actually laughed. The press watching the debate on TV in a remote location weren't so kind.

A final note. The candidates worked like hell to avoid engaging Alan Keyes in conflict and conversation. This seemed to piss him off even more. Afterward, he was heard muttering something about being an "invisible man."

Regards,
Massa Frank

the breakfast table
entries
12345678910111213141516
from: Franklin Foer

George W. Wobbles but He Doesn't Fall Down

Posted Tuesday, Dec. 7, 1999, at 6:20 AM ET
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Margo Howard is "Dear Prudence," Slate's advice columnist. Franklin Foer, a former Slate staff writer, writes about politics for U.S. News & World Report.
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