How can Bush's handlers possibly let him debate Kerry?

[bacchant]

Kerry looked good this morning, unlike Bush he's a tough nut to crack. He left Russert looking like a boy who just got his ass paddled. How on earth can they let shrub go toe to toe with this guy?

[brainshrub]

1. They won't.

Or if they do, * will whine that Kerry is breaking the rules of the debate like he did with Gore.

[jjmalonejr]

2. My wife contends that they won't let him debate.

Can you picture him in even ONE debate?

Can you imagine him refusing to debate?

It's gonna be interesting to see what happens...

[skooooo]

3. How can the not let him debate Kerry?

It would be a disaster to him to avoid the debates.

By the way, I take exception to your comments about Russert getting his "ass paddled". Russert was doing his job and asking the tough questions. That's what Kerry should expect from a press corp. who is doing their job. I think this is something that America hasn't seen for a few years because Bush was given a free ride. I welcome the tough questions, and don't see them as being devised as an attack on Kerry (unless they obviously are). Russert was as fair as anyone should be, imo.

[bacchant]

7. I agree as long as it goes both ways

My comment about Russert was based on how flustered he seemed at the end of the show, not on his line of questioning.

[nodictators]

21. Russert's repeated focus on Kerry in the '70s wasn't fair

Russert used a quote from a single person -- Hibbard or something -- to call into question Kerry's Silver Star and three Purple Hearts.

That is grossly unfair! Russert had no evidence, just the quote.

Where the hell was Russert in the Viet Nam years? Did he serve?

And what about Bush? Was he a cocaine user in the '70s? How many DUIs did he have?

Russert and the rest of the media covered-up Bush's past. Was that fair?

I believe Bush has said he hasn't used cocaine since 1974. Maybe some has a source for that remark.

[skooooo]

25. I'd just as soon Kerry confront this stuff...

than not. Unfair? I don't think so. Maybe they don't play hard ball with Bush as much, but I don't think that really helps Bush much either...

[seabeyond]

35. i dont mind them bringing this up

a number of times. and let what kerry is saying sink into the veterans heads, the ones that have just heard the right crap. let them hear kerry say this in honesty over and over, may help them along to resolve what is up in iraq now, what bush is doing, and no longer holding against kerry and staying true to republican crap

[Poiuyt]

38. They'll create a diversion - Terror Alert

Tom Ridge will raise the terror alert level so that bush won't have time to debate Kerry.

[still_one]

4. They won't

some event will come up which will give him an excuse for not participating in the debate.

I assume it will be based on national security issues

[BigDaddyLove]

5. If people can look at Bush's latest 'press conference'.........

and not come away deeply embarrassed for America, then I doubt very much they'd see anything but a Bush victory against Kerry no matter how poorly he did in a debate.....they just will refuse to see reality.

[Selwynn]

22. DING DING DING. Winner.

[LittleApple81]

6. They will DEMAND question beforehand...and given ONLY to Bush.

and probably will get them.

[skooooo]

9. Debates WILL be held in English -- tough break for Bush...

is this really fair?

[sushi]

13. Good one!

[Nite Owl]

8. It'll be that old low expectations

thing like what happened with Gore and a series of 'funny' putdowns and lies that won't be followed up on by the press. Lucky if there is one debate.

[justgamma]

10. Look

The expectations for Shrub will be so low, that if he manages to string 2 coherent sentences together, he'll come out as brilliant to the pundits.

[MikeG]

11. It all depends on who is winning in September.

If its Kerry we'll get three debates, two at podiums and an Oprah, town hall meeting style debate. W will get creamed.

If its W, we'll get one debate with so many restrictions on give and take that W won't be harmed.

BTW, I'm in the 700 club, I see Jesus and Ditka.

[Skinner]

12. They'll do what they did to Gore.

Lower expectations among the press corps. Here's how it works:

They tell the press corps that Kerry will do great, and Bush will suck.

Very few Americans actually bother to watch the debate.

During the debate, Kerry kicks Bush's ass. Kerry is obviously much better prepared, much smarter, altogether more presidential. But Bush makes it through the debate without making a massive gaffe.

Press corps declares Bush the winner, because he "exceeded expectations"; calls him "folksy" while labeling Kerry "aloof know-it-all"; endlessly mocks Kerry for something thoroughly unimportant like the number of sighs, the way the TV lighting falls on his brow, or the color of his necktie.

Newspaper headlines and TV news declare Bush winner. American people -- who never saw the debate in the first place -- assume that Bush won.

[bacchant]

20. Heh

especially if they run the Apprentice edition of Fear Factor, opposite.

[Selwynn]

23. DING DING DING. Also winner.

I have nothing to add becuase that is exactly right.

[skooooo]

26. I think there's a little more on the line now, though...

...with young people dying in Iraq, I think politics as usual doesn't quite hold up. I'm hoping that Americans will be engaged enough to listen...I suspect they will be.

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TomNickell]

14. The format of the 'debate'

The big fuss will be over the format of the debate(s). Bush will hold out for something like what he got with Gore--questions from the moderator, no follow-ups, no questions from the opponent.

If they -really- don't want to debate they will demand a format that Kerry will never agree to. Then try to make it look like it is Kerry's fault there were no debates.

I don't think the low-expectation game will work this time. It's clear that much is at stake. Unlike before, when the biggest issue seemed to be the color of Al Gore's suit.

[put out]

27. Here's the format:

Kerry lays on the floor with duct tape over his mouth, and hog-tied. * gets to walk around with a cold one and say stuff like "How do ya like them apples, Boston Boy (smirk, snicker), yeah, from now on you're gonna be called 'Boston Boy'".

Then, Kerry gets out of that stuff and, verbally, of course, hands Lil' Boots his ass on a platter.

Then folks will say "Why are those liberals so angry?".

One can dream, right?

[The empressof all]

15. He will not debate

I predict.....some crisis will be manufactured to allow him off the hook to attend to presidential responsibilites.

[Hornito]

19. Bingo, Wubette!

n/t

[Taylor Mason Powell]

31. Crisis or no...

...I've been saying for months now - no debate. The bushies have nothing to gain from it and a lot to lose...

[PfcHammer]

16. JK was talking monthly debates on a different topic. the prospect

of watching * get his ass handed to him every
couple of weeks is one we relish, but they
can't help avoid. they've managed only a
couple of news conferences in 4 years, they'll
wiggle out some how.

[earthside]

17. Lose-Lose for Bush

To debating or not to debate, that is the question ...

It's a lose-lose quaundry for the Bush campaign. Debate and get your head handed to you -- don't debate and look like a coward.

What will they do? What will they do?

[Hornito]

18. Can't - won't

No doubt, Rove/Hughes will insist on moderator delivered questions, with no real debate of any kind allowed, .... if they even allow even that to take place. Chicken George will show his true "yellow" colors. Man is a little, lying wimp, a scared little boy, and Poppy and Babs won't be able to save his ass this time. Kerry would/will slap him like the wuss he is. Hopefully, when his refusal to debate comes (and it will), Kerry will be ready to show the world what a yellow chicken George is, and hound him until election day over his refusal.

[RedSock]

24. * has said he welcomes the debates

* has said he welcomes the debates and his chances to explain what he's doing ... yah okay.

but if he refuses, kerry and the dems have a LOT of ammo to show the massive flip-flip of crusader bunnypants.

we keep waiting for a meltdown and it doesn't come. i wonder if some of kerry's people want to provoke a meltdown during a debate. ...

mention that * read about a goat while hundreds leapt to their deaths in manhattan on 9/11. that might do it!

[bacchant]

30. Oh I see, that's when Bush will finally tell us

People keep expecting Bush to articulate his policies in these scripted appearances of his. All they ever get is "staythecoursestaythecoursestaythecoursestaythecourse..."

[acmavm]

29. I can only see bush* debating Kerry if Unca Dick is sitting by his side.

And even at that bush* will have his ass kicked.

[monobrau]

32. The sheeple don't trust educated, articulate people

How could he have come out of debating Gore without being finished?
It doesn't matter if a Gore or a Kerry can answer debate questions with facts and aplomb. Joe six-pack likes to think that the president shares his intellectual laziness and contempt for the international community and the environment.

[Lefty48197]

33. Sorry. This year's debates have been pre-empted by some really important

"War on Terror" duties that the President MUST attend to. Again, we apologize for any inconvenience, but the war on terror is of paramount importance.

[napi21]

34. There will be a debate with Bush & Cheny against Kerry.

After all, aren't they setting a precedent at the 9/11 Comm?

They'll use some excuse like, we're a team!

[seabeyond]

36. i'zzz thinking that too, and that is ok

with me. i think in speaking truth, adn if your brain works, lol lol two against one is totally cool, could be fun, keep the rythym high adn fast.

yup i am ok with that

[Jim Sagle]

37. Kerry will be in no position to debate - he'll be in Gitmo...

as an enemy combatant.

[Tellurian]

39. Bush will want the questions delived to him early...

And have rehearsed sharp answers mined with questions for Kerry!

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

40. Never happen

After all, we are at war and * is a "wartime president" (his own self-description), and to question his actions or judgment is to give care and aid to the enemy. Hence, no debates.

We didn't have any debates in 2000 -- just joint appearances -- so what else is new?