Remember the 2000 Election Debates

[CatWoman]

when all the media numbskulls fell over their mics and PCs to breathlessly, over and over and over, tell us what a grand job * did, and how he won hands down?

If Kerry is the nominee, and it looks more and more that he will be, how will the * campaign handle the presidential debates?

The press isn't as "friendly" towards this administration anymore.

I suppose Chimpy's gang could pull something out of their hats, but what?

[jean]

1. while we wait for the inevitable Kerry/Bush debate I'd like to see

video of past Kerry debates with Weld.

[Raven]

2. As I recall, Kerry/Weld debates were pretty good.

Both men were sharp. Weld was a very bright guy but Kerry bested him. Goerge W. ain't no Bill Weld. Kerry ought to mop the floor with him.

[CatWoman]

3. the same was said about Gore

:scared:

[NewYorkerfromMass]

7. Kerry is better under fire. He is cooler than cool. eom

[KittyWampus]

13. Catwoman, I Think Kerry Won't Pull Punches The Way Gore Did

Gore seemed to worry about seeming Intelligent and Assertive in the first debate.

Then he seemed overly aggressive in the second.

The third was, as Gore says "just right"

junior will probably want pre-digested questions.

Hopefully Kerry would be prepared with something to throw him off balance.

[rock]

4. Something out of their hats, but what? Their asses

They are in big trouble! Hiya CatWoman.

[CatWoman]

9. Rock, baby!!

:hi:

can you say, "National Emergency"??

Hell -- he uses "WAR" as his excuse for every thing else :eyes:

[cally]

5. I don't believe there will be a Bush/Kerry debate

I think it's part of the plan with the Republican convention so late. Then there will be an October surprise and * will be too busy to debate. :eyes: Of course, he'll have time to read the Very Hungry Caterpillar to school children and attend fundraisers.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

6. Well. I have to admit I can now see how Gore "lost"

There is no doubt Gore had the superior intellect, experience, and grasp of the facts- BUT Gore lost the personal "have a beer with the guy" impressions that sway a good number of voters. The "sigh", the physical intimidation where Gore approached Bush (in your face style), all communicated Gore's sense of intellectual superiority and it turned off a lot of people who were fence sitters.

The problem is that Gore sensed Bush was a threat and he overreacted.
He needed to be cooler than he was (and he was "cool" to a certain extent), but he lost control of certain impulses that in contrast made Bush look cool, calm, and collected- and I don't base this on my own observations but from what was later pointed out to me by moderates and Republicans I know.

Gore was tightly wrapped and ANGRY and it showed. And that is what turned some people off.

[Nashyra]

8. The bar was set very low for the *

I don't think he will get such a an easy pass this time.

[CatWoman]

10. I keep hearing that, and seeing that in print

but can I say that the LAST thing I want to do with my president is have a beer with him or her?????

Presidents have much more important things to do than to drink beer with constituents.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

12. Not everyone is absorbing the substance of the debate- (the ideas)

they are working on "instinctual" impact: 'is this guy truthful?' 'Does he have it 'together''? The less tangible things.

[citizen snips]

11. I don't know how the debates will go.

Kerry will either do great or he will be another Dukakis.And Bush will lean hard on his voting record. But Kerry is not the nominee yet.

Onedit: damn typeos.

[CatWoman]

14. I thought I said that

:shrug:

But Kerry is not the nominee yet.

[leyton]

15. Kerry too can win the expectations game.

Everyone expected Bush to appear as the idiot he was, so anything slightly less dumb than that was considered a victory.

Well, Kerry is perceived as boring (to a degree). If he is exciting and passionate during the debates, the papers will be talking about just that.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

16. It's exactly why he won Iowa

People saw him and came away duly impressed. The common theme I read were comments to the effect that he was a genuine human being with real concerns and well thought out ideas. (And of course there's that resume!)

[bushwakker]

17. They will do only one

and even that will be like pulling teeth.