No debate in 2004

[brainshrub]

Here's a quick thought:

If the Republican primary is in Mid-September, and the election is November 4th...when will the debate between the candidates be?

I suspect that there will be no presidential debate this year. This is a shame, because all the Democratic candidates would be able to cream Bu$h in a tete-a-tete.

[rainydaywoman]

1. I heard

*Bushie Boy said, He'll be too busy to debate. What a F*CK*NG Coward!

I think he said that on the Diane Sawyer interview. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

[NewJeffCT]

19. wait a minute

This guy spends half the year on vacation or at fundraisers...

[citizen snips]

22. Yes.

He is just hiding from the truth.

[CalebHayes]

25. Have you ever seen the movie "Head of state"?

If so. That is what we may need to do.

[cosmicdot]

2. orange alerts and national security may likely preclude such debates

... and cause election day anxiety ...

breakdown in control of such events may, also, preclude them

an October crisis(es) may preclude the warrior king from frivolous endeavors

Nixon learned his lesson, and his legend lives on within this White House

[DoYouEverWonder]

16. Orange alerts and national security don't preclude

W from fund raising and campaigning?

I don't think he can get away with that excuse.

[Fleshdancer]

3. I've been predicting over the past several months

that bush won't have the balls to debate. Nothing new since I think many other DUers are making the same prediction. It was like pulling teeth to get the guy to debate in 2000, remember? This time he'll act as if he's above the political proccess...you know, because Democracy is SO beneath him these days.

[tom_paine]

4. Even if he did debate, the 2000 Pravda model would still be enforced

The Party-Loyal Right-Wing Sub-Media would shriek 24/7 for a week "Bush WON! Bush WON!". This will, as always, drag much of Corporate TV Pravda in with it to amplify and launder the meme.

The vast majority of Imperial Subjects, having not actually seen the debates, will passively accept the Pravda.

End of story. bush won the debates. All of them. They don;t even need to have them, Amerika has become such an Orwellian Farce.

[Cocoa]

14. true, but...

all the dems know this.

So they will be going into the debates with the aim of destroying Bush so convincingly -- which they can easily do, given how bad he has sucked, how much he has lied, how smart the candidates are, and what a worthless debater Bush is -- that the whores' declarations of Bush victory won't convince anyone.

That's why I think there will be no debate, in fact I can't conceive of one, regardless of format.

Just look at the dem debates so far. Take the most stupid, worthless thing any of the dems have said at any of the debates, and it looks like genius compared to the smartest thing Bush has ever said.

[NewJeffCT]

20. low expectations

Last time around in 2000, Bush had such low expectations that as long as he didn't look like Jack Nicholson at the end of "The Shining", he would have won. We can't underestimate him (i.e., Gore rolling his eyes, but generally going easy on Bush)

[Bandit]

5. He is a coward and will not want to debate so we should follow Jon

Stewart's example and have sound-bite of Bush* debating Bush*. It was hilarious when Jon did it and there are far more sound-bite available now. Bush* "I don't believe the US should be involved in Nation-building" Bush*"I think the US should rebuild Iraq" etc. etc. etc. It would be a slam dunk but Pink Tutus are afraid of making him angry so will never happen. Why are'nt we dredging up GOP sound-bite right now saying how the justice dept can not investigate the Administration that appointed it. It was when they were hollering about Janet Reno not appointing a "Special Prosecuter" It would seem to me to be the most effective tool we could use but what do I know?

[cosmicdot]

6. we're in that realm where that idea is worth pursuing

the novelty of it might pull in a large audience ...

of course, CNN, Faux, CBS, CNN, C-SPAN, NBC, MS-GE-NBC, et al probably wouldn't cover it ... plus, they'll do their work discrediting it to their sheeple viewers

or pre-empted by something else ...


we need some clever folks, and some creative money

[phillybri]

7. Bush is a pussy....

He'll try to avoid it at all costs...

Truth be told, if he can manage to avoid debating, it will make him look REALLY bad...Like he has something to hide.

Debates have gone on during much tougher times in this nation's history (Lincoln v. Douglas?). If that changes now, people will want to know WHY...

[Kira]

8. I feel so naive

I thought he had to debate. I hope there is an outcry about it. Even though the convention isn't until Sept, I think it would be ridiculous if * said he wasn't going to debate yet because he wasn't the official nominee. But then again... that sounds about right.

[JanMichael]

9. So our "democracy" will then hinge solely on TV ads & talking heads?

So it's down almost purely to money?

Great. Just great.

[MoonRiver]

10. At that point the fix is in, and fascism rules.

:nuke:

[JanMichael]

11. It's certainly symbolic of their arrogance.

"We simply can't be bothered to show up to a debate, we're much too busy. Now go one now, touch the screen..."

[MoonRiver]

12. Somehow I don't think this will go over with the citizens.

Problem is I don't know if any of our votes count (literally) anymore.

[tom_paine]

13. That point is the point we are at now

At least, for the moment, the Bushevik variant of fascism seems "kinder and genlter", though I think the jury is out until they are finished transforming tyhe nation from what it was to what it is becoming.

[Silverhair]

15. You are just wishful thinking. There will be debates.

They will be the usual type forum. Candidates answering questions from moderators. Probably two of them, 90 minutes each, with a VP debate in between. That has pretty much become the formula.

[nostamj]

17. they should debate an EMPTY CHAIR

in an ad or whatever. if he won't debate, put the questions to an empty chair. this was done earlier in the year by some ?W types.

*'s refusal to debate could be devastating as it would reinforce the secrecy, spin and LYING that is endemic with this administration

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

18. Bush will too busy cooking the cardboard turkey for the troops.

To be delivered by him, if it's safe enough, and he has enough protection, and his private chef, and his teddy-bear, and his soldier suit, and the usual obedient press and selected soldiers who will cheer on command.

This will occur after our heroic troops kick down the door and arrest some poor guy who repairs shoes and has a name similar to someone who actually does pose a threat.

The mistake will be reported one year after the arrest and the gentle questioning by guys nicknamed "Truck" and "Duke", on page 12 of the "Northeast Texas Cowman's Journal and Advertiser."

[scarletlib]

21. debates are scheduled

for sure one is supposed to take place at the University of Miami in Florida. One or two others are also planned. of course that doesn't mean that bushco* won't cancel at the last minute due to some so-called "national emergency".

[maxsolomon]

23. even if there are "debates"

expect them to look much like ted koppel's recent farcical questions to the dem candidates. polls, money, anything but policy. scripted questions, no give & take, no opportunity to corner moran into answering an actual question. sort of like one of his "press conferences" (remember those?).

everything about this campaign is going to be controlled by the GOP. the fix is in. i don't want to be so cynical, but i don't see any beachhead for dean/clark/etc. the GOP machine is to well oiled to allow any opening.

ah, to live in a parliamentary democracy, where the PM has to debate the back benchers. bush would have been exposed as a fraud years ago. harumph! mutter mutter...

one opportunity: call him a pussy for ducking a real debate. over and over, before the GOP convention, in a non-"angry leftist" way. calmly & rationally question his manhood. make it a cage match. knuckle dragging white males love that shit.

and for god's sake, leave gun control & gay marriage OUT OF IT.

[Eric J in MN]

24. What's the difference?

Bush can stand behind a podium for 90 minutes and answer questions. So can his opponent. The pundits will declare Bush "the winner" no matter what.

[Leilani]

26. If he refuses to debate

We should have a "I'm mad as hell & I'm just not gonna take it anymore" demonstrations in every state. Bring your friends, family; we could organize it on the web & turn as many people out as possible.