Kerry seeks monthly debates

[leftchick]

http://news.bostonherald.com/national/view.bg?articleid=1336

<snip>Massachusetts Senator John Kerry says he'd welcome a debate every month with President Bush between now and the general election in November.

Aides are quick to say that Kerry's idea is not a formal challenge, but rather a ``spontaneous idea'' in response to a question yesterday about the long run-up to the election -- now that Kerry has sewn up the Democratic nomination.

[readmylips]

1. Kerry must add: without his earpiece to...

rove and hatchet karen hughes.

[jean]

11. if bush wears an earpiece, let's hope some techies can run interference

[nolabels]

32. He wears an earpiece and gets his cues from others?

My GAWD I thought he was the .......... ah forget it

[joeunderdog]

44. Nah. It just keeps him from sliding off of Karl the Ventriloquist's lap

[snippy]

46. I used to email the White House asking:

"When Karl Rove makes George Bush's lips move, where does he insert his hand?" Never got an answer.

[grannylib]

2. Can't wait... and they should make Chimpy debate his own sorry self

from 2000 while they are at it....talk about flip-flopping on issues (or Bait and Switch was mentioned as a better term by someone here at DU, can't remember who at the moment, sorry!)
Kerry would wipe the floor with the little imposter.

[dennis4868]

4. If you read....

Eric Alterman's and Mark Green's book called The Book on Bush you see a real pattern of bait and switch, whether it is foreign policy or domestic policy!

[grannylib]

19. hey thanks for the suggestion!

[Yogi]

3. Bush will run from the idea.

n/t

[displacedvermoter]

6. He'll talk about how he's fighting a war and can't be bothered

with political matters at this dangerous moment in time.

I can hear Scottie saying it any moment now.

[Dr Fate]

14. Kerry: "But you have taken more vaction time than any President..."

"...what do you mean you dont have time to discuss the important issues?

You have time to relax on the ranch and take more vacations than any Prez. in HISTORY, but not time to debate the isues that matter to us all?"

[grannylib]

20. Excellent point

[Dr Fate]

22. During a WAR, I might add. n/t

n/t

[fob]

36. Like going to NASCAR races and rodeos?

That IS important!!

[hang a left]

10. Kerry needs to clarify his challenge.

Aides are quick to say that Kerry's idea is not a formal challenge, but rather a ``spontaneous idea''

[displacedvermoter]

18. How about a series of fairly "spontaneous" sessions

as they pass each other on the campaign trail. Just each candidate (Nader, too? I don't know.) and a moderator. Make it a local newspaper reporter or broadcast person. Very low key discussions, not even a "formal debate".

Save a time for one or two "formal debates", make it two so each side gets to choose the format.

Do 4 or 5 of these informal sessions (Kerry will kill him!) and the 2 formal ones (Kerry will kill him, but by then, it might be too late anyway).

This format would allow the Russerts and Jim Lehrers a chance to participate in the final formal debates. But it would also give local issues (or national or international issues important to the local citizens) a fair share of discussion.

It will never happen.

[northernsoul]

30. make it formal challenge

Then B*sh has to either "stand tall" and get his ass whupped on a monthly basis, or show the world what coward he truly is.

[Joanne98]

12. Because he's an AWOL coward

repeat repeat:)

[joeunderdog]

45. You're right. Here's a RW op-ed response released already.

You can disagree with Bush on any number of issues, including the decision to go to war in Iraq. But no one candidate of the opposition party has to my knowledge ever uttered such a hate-infused polemic against the sitting president. This outburst is one with the MoveOn.org crowd's Bush-as-Hitler ads. It is bizarre. It is disturbing. It is disqualifying. Imagine a rage filled Kerry in the White House. And you thought Nixon had his demons.

At a minimum I hope the president responds by ruling out any debates with this jerk --any debates, period-- until a full apology is issued by Kerry to a full bank of cameras, a detailed and complete apology that includes everyone about whom the public might now think a liar or corrupt because of this recklessness. Seriously, the Democrats need to rethink their choice. Kerry's way off the cliff, and we have just begun to glimpse the inner Kerry: A mean-spirited, arrogant, angst-riden elitist with nothing but contempt for President Bush and the Americans who support him. And he has now given every nut in America more fuel for their inner demons.

more excuse making here...http://www.hughhewitt.com/

[KittyWampus]

5. Definately, Ask For 10 & Get 3

Actually, they'll probably only do ONE and Junior will get pre-approved questions like Arnold.

[Dr Fate]

16. Kerry should give speeches next to an empty podium...

And remind the public that Bush "refuses to have the debates that the people need to hear in order to know the issues. What is he hiding? What is he afraid of? I'm not afraid- I'm ready discuss the issues right now."

[peachy]

7. Kerry should invite Nader

He'd make big points with me if he invited Nader to participate as well. I think the dems do a diservice to themselves and to the public by engaging in the same kind of exclusionary politics that the repugs do.

[gkdarby]

15. nader in the debates

What do you think Nader would add to the debate?

[peachy]

27. An alternative viewpoint maybe?

If Nader is not in the debate you can bet that Kerry will be accused of being a left wing extremist. How could they possibly make that claim if Nader is there? I also think that Kerry would do a lot of good for himself by listening to the things that Nader is saying that draw people to him in spite of the overwelming desire to beat bush in November.

Kerry - please don't make me ralph again!

[newyawker99]

42. Hi gkdarby!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Dr Fate]

23. 3 against 1? No thanxs.

We will have enough of a time fighting the GOP & media without having him attack us too.

[liberalnurse]

8. I doubt that will happen......

Why should *bush? He is in the cat-bird seat......

[Dr Fate]

13. In that case, Kerry should give speeches next to an empty podium

With a sign that says- "What are you hiding, Mr. Bush???"

[liberalnurse]

17. That would be a powerful statement.

It would need to get media coverage so there should be an attention getter as well. Al Sharpton comes to mind as one who could set-things up.

[Dr Fate]

21. All he has to say is "Bush is AWOL from another Debate"

"I have a podium for him, if he is not frightened or busy taking more vacation time than any president in history, then perhaps he can debate the important issues that the people need to hear about..."

The media will have no choice but to show it- and with an empty podium that says "Where's Bush???"- it would be classic.

The RWingers will FREAK OUT and talk about it on Fox even...

[liberalnurse]

26. He, *bush may just "wag the dog"

to weasel out of it that way......kerry would look baron and desperate then. I would go with a Sharpton plan...he is most creative.

Lets use our tools within the party.

[emulatorloo]

24. Better Yet a TV monitor playing Bush's Broken Promises

EOM

[Occulus]

34. Better yet

*'s campaign speeches... from the last time.

He's gone back on just about everything, and Iraq wasn't mentioned all that much back then, as I remember.

[DiverDave]

9. I think

a few will happen, but not without tantrums from the frog destroyer though.
Oh, and thief-in-chief will lose, hands down.

[proud patriot]

25. Great Idea

I like it :D

[Vickers]

28. Kerry should offer to debate in Crawford

You know, to make it convenient for the "War President."

[Dr Fate]

41. I love it- Kerry could say

"Think of it as another one of your 'working' vacations."

I love it- if Bush backs out, Kerry should say this...

[SOS]

29. Hopefully

in whatever debates come our way this year, Kerry will demand some ground rules such as no advance questions and the ability to cross question Bush*. Bush would be forced to back out, since he can't perform in an unscripted debate.

[jeanmarc]

31. Ahead in the polls as well!

Great idea, Kerry! They always claim that they run when they are ahead in polls and this guy is charging like a bullmoose!

[Gloria]

33. Why not make it a formal challenge????? And repeat it EVERY day or week

to start formulating the image of Bush as a chicken who is running away from a tough fight???

I say, a CHALLENGE A DAY, on anything, is the way to stay in the news AND
push Bush further and further into a corner. It's the "drip drip drip" approach that can be so effective over the coming months...except "drip" with a hammer......

[Crachet2004]

35. This is an opening shot...

Bush can't debate Kerry, even WITH Rove in his ear. Rove was in his ear at the kid gloves Tim Russert interview, was'nt he? And Bush STILL came off as a dufus!

Can you imagine him on the stage with Kerry? I wish!

The strategy here, may be to make Bushco back down from debates. To guarantee this, Kerry could refuse the questions being made available to the candidates in advance. No way will Bush do a 'cold' debate!

And Nader should be ignored...he is way smarter than Bush, and therefore more dangerous to Kerry. Plus, he is a traitor and cannot be trusted. Also, his support numbers do not justify him a place in the audience, much less the debate.

[peterh]

37. Kerry’s offer is rebuffed….

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/national/8151663.htm

A senior Bush campaign official, speaking on condition of anonymity, rebuffed Kerry's offer yesterday, saying the president would stick to the "tried and true" format of "a series of debates in the fall."


I heard one talking-head last week state that it was his feeling that the twit, at the minimum, would do one debate and possibly at the max…just one. Personally, if they end up doing more than one, say three, I’d be shocked….I can’t see the string-pullers exposing themselves to that type of risk and with their war chest, they’ll just let the propaganda ads do the work…

[Dr Fate]

40. Cowards. Kerry should call them just that.

Kerry:
"Why is Bush too coawrdly to debate the issues at hand? It cant be because he's too busy- he has taken more vaction time than any Prez. in history. i f he was not to busy to take all those vacations, then he is not to busy to let the people here this important debate..."

[SOS]

38. Idea for Kerry

Ask that the debate rules and format return to the 1960 construct.
No more farcical campaign speechs passed off as "debate"!

[belle]

39. I think he's about as likely to go for that as Saddam's duel challenge.

Personally, I'd've loved to see either one.

[ignatius]

43. Oh man, I would buy tickets to see that. The dazed deer in the

headlight look,, the punch drunk head shake..the smart ass smirk..and that would be before a question is even asked!!!

[demgrrrll]

47. Wow when I read the headline my first thought was that is effin brilliant.

Put him on the run. Great chess move.