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★ AMERICA VOTES 2004 ★ National: Iraq centerpiece of night Local: Debates change some views Continued from page 1A South Korea in talks with North Ko rea to defuse the crisis. Kerry advo cated bilateral talks between the United States and North Korea to find a solution. Kerry voiced concerns about con ditions in Russia, saying that crack downs initiated by Vladimir Putin go beyond what’s necessary to combat terror. Bush said he had a good personal relationship with Putin that “enables me to better comment to him and the better to discuss with him some of the decisions he makes.” Bush said Russia was a country in transition and that would remind Putin “of the great benefits of democracy. ” The two men clashed time and again over Iraq and the broader war on terror. Kerry said he had a four-part plan to battle terrorists, and said Bush’s could be summed up in four words — “More of the same.” “You cannot lead the war on terror if you keep changing positions on the war on terror,” retorted the president. Kerry appeared to taunt the com mander in chief at one point during the debate when he said his father, former President George H. W. Bush, had stopped troops from ad vancing on Baghdad after they had liberated Kuwait during the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Now, he said, the son ordered an invasion of Iraq anyway, without an exit strategy, and under conditions that mean the United States has in curred “90 percent of the casualties and 90 percent of the cost.” In response, Bush ridiculed his op ponent, saying he denigrated U.S. r allies in the war, voted against an $87 billion measure to aid Afghanistan and Iraq and sent mixed signals. “What’s his message going to be? Please join us in Iraq for a grand di version?” Bush said to Kerry’s con tention that he could summon broad er international support for the war. “They’re not going to follow some one whose core convictions keep changing because of politics.” In response to one question, Kerry said Bush had misled the country on the war by pledging to plan carefully, giving diplomacy every chance to prevail and more. He said bin Laden, the al-Qaida leader responsible for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, had used the invasion as a recruiting tool for terrorists. Bush said that was an “amazing claim,” and said the United States, not bin Laden, should decide Ameri ca’s strategy in the war on terror. Again, he said Kerry had changed his mind on the war, but this time, Kerry insisted that he had held one consistent position. “The only thing consistent about my opponent’s position is he’s been inconsistent,” said Bush. Given the stakes, it was not sur prising that the two campaigns nego tiated what amounted to a 32-page contract that covered debate details. They ranged from the choice of mod erator (Jim Lehrer of PBS) to the dis tance between the candidate lecterns (10 feet). Even so, a last-minute controversy flared, as Kerry’s aides objected to the placement of timing lights on the lecterns. DEBATES: MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE Continued from page 1A audience. Gallup must submit its method ology for choosing audience members to both campaigns for approval. In all debates but the Oct. 8 town hall-style debate, audience members are forbidden from asking questions or speaking during the debates and the questions are select ed by the moderator. In the town hall-style debate, audience questions must be ap proved and selected by the moderator "for the sole purpose of avoiding (duplicate questions,” according to the agreement. The agreement also dictated how media coverage of the debates is conducted. The candidates are restricted from offering challenges for more debates or accepting debate-formatted television or radio air time. Also, the agreement stated that tele vision networks cannot shoot footage of audience members, family of the candi dates or shots of a candidate when he is listening to his opponent speak. However, in Thursday's debate, several networks did show reaction shots of candidates. -Jared Paben DEBATE LINEUP • Thursday at the University of Miami - topics were foreign policy and homeland security. • (Vice-presidential debate) Tuesday at the Case Western Reserve - topics will be a mix of questions about domestic and economic policy, foreign policy and homeland security policy. Source: Commission on Presidential Debates Continued from page 1A Sophomore Cole Robinson, who watched the debate at the event, said Kerry clearly presented a more elo quent case. “Bush speaks a lot, but he does n’t say anything,” Robinson said. “1 think he gives a much more solid picture of his plans for Iraq than Bush has.” Robinson said Bush focused too much on Kerry’s voting record. “I think that Bush is a broken television at the Town Club in Down town Eugene to witness the debate. College Republicans Chairwoman Laura Jenkins said Bush "came out on top” in the debate. “After watching this debate, 1 think it’s really clear which candi date stands firm on his goals, his values, and what direction he’d like this country to go in,” Jenkins said. “It’s the real man versus the East Coast elitist.” Jenkins said Bush showed himself record when he talks about John Kerry changing positions,” he said. Robinson also said he agreed with Ker ry’s message that READ MORE ONLINE € For additional content, visit www.dailyemerald.com. to be a strong and steadfast leader. “1 thought Kerry, on the other hand, Kerry continued to flip-flip,” she said. “The debate Saddam Hussein was removed from power in an inappropriate manner. Nicolas Peslin, an international stu dent from France, said the candidates reiterated the issue of Iraq but an swered questions in a more straightfor ward manner than he expected. Peslin said Bush’s view that Amer ica sought a multinational coalition before attacking Iraq is not necessari ly held by citizens of his country. “America is not seen as very trust ful,” he said. Peslin added he feels that ties be tween other nations and America will improve if Kerry is elected. “1 know the French people are not in a position against America but in a position against the Bush administra tion,” he said. Bush supporters Members of the College Republi cans were among nearly 150 people who gathered in front of a big screen really cleared up where each candi dates stands.” She emphasized that foreign poli cy and homeland security are Bush's strong areas. “In general, the topic in this debate was to his advantage.” College Republicans member Tom Albright said Bush dominated the re buttals. “His rebuttals were incredibly articulate and witty,” he said. “(He) backed up all of his argu ments with fact and did not change his position tonight, unlike some other people. ” Albright said many people under estimate the president. “People say he’s stupid,” he said. “I say he’s stupid like a fox. parkerhowell ©dailyemerald, com News editor Jared Paben and news reporter Meghann M. Cuniff contributed to this story 019663 Central Lutheran Church Holy Communion every (Sunday at 8:15 AM, 10:45 AM, 6:30 PM Young Adult Bible (Study: (Sunday at 7:30 Looking for a place to live this fall? 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