My biggest fear about the debates

[whalerider55]

Having watched Kerry debate here in the People's Republic of Massachusetts, my biggest fear is this...

The repugs will lower expectations for Bush- "he's not an intellectual, just an honest, good ol' boy, he's a straight talker..."

Bush will be so busy biting his lip to stay on script, and Kerry is such a lethal debater, that Bush, like a deer caught in the headlights, will actually garner sympathy among the viewers.

Kerry wins on the issues, deconstucts Shurb's arguments every way from Sunday, and ends up looking like a bully. Anything that is perceived as personal or unfair coming out of Kerry's mouth will be spun by Herr Rove, to obscure Shrub's paralytic performance on the issues, and the attacks on his record.

Having said that, I would like nothing more than Kerry to publicly verbally eviscerate his opponent, to twist his ear and make him call out for mommy or poppy.

All his life, the tides of fortune have been pushing W into this position- one on one with someone who isn't scared of him, who knows what it's like to be shot at, and the parental units won't be a phone call away.

Sweet.

Whalerider55

[salin]

1. Then again...

bush looks simplistic, babbling and completely contentless...

Kerry doesn't have to bother deconstructing bush's points... all he has to do is to layout solid (but understandable) policies... and emphasize that he actually has plans to accomplish things rather than rhetorical empty platitudes... (he doesn't have to say this - just do it.) If he avoids the sighing and eyerolling that Gore did (which I didn't notice, but several fence sitting friends sure did... and which I would think would have been next to impossible not to do myself given the childlike silly responses bush often gave), then he will win without looking like a bully.

[whalerider55]

2. points well taken

I have seen Kerry debate; and I remember the Bush/McCain debate that the 527 used as an ad earlier this year- and his reaction to the confrontation didn't seem to hurt Bush.

I agree that Kerry needs to emphasize how he would deal with the issues differently than Bush, and enumerate the issues Bush has created for us since his elevation to the throne.

whalerider55

[cheshire]

3. Kerry needs to ask * questions on the side. If * can't answer he will be

seen ass worse than simpathetic. He will be shown for the incompetent idiot that he is.

[tedzbear]

5. But * won't answer them.

He will only say what he wants to say and only answer questions that were not even asked.

[salin]

7. everytime he does that

he looks shifty. Even in nondebate fora.

Twice this year he went before the public ostensibly to answer questions about Iraq... each time he dodged giving any real answers... and each time he lost ground in terms of public support. I think this is an excellent suggestion - each time he doesn't acknowledge questions (because they would require nonscripted responses) he looks shifty and incompetent.

[salin]

9. For example

remember how awful he looked when he kept trying to dodge answering the "have you made any mistakes" type questions... and finally answers one (framed as "would you do anything differently") to which he stupidly says "No... I can't think of anything... you put me on the spot... if I had more time I might think of something... yuck, yuck..." He looked awful - and the commentators all picked up on it and repeated it over and over again.

[Mz Pip]

4. As long as Bush

doesn't get a hot pocket on stage, the media will declare him the winner.

Of course if Bush gets a hot pocket and it doesn't stink too much the media will ignore that too.

Honestly, Bush could drool and no one would call him on it.

I remember the 2000 Debates and Bush was asked a question about racial profiling. He ended his answer with "Racial profiling. It's illiterate children." My friend and I looked at each other and rolled our eyes in wonder when Jim Laher never followed up with "WTF does that mean???"

MzPip
:dem:

[Benhurst]

10. I'm afraid you're right, MzPip. The media will proclaim W the

winner no matter what.

Jim Lehrer was a horrible moderator in 2000 and has given us little reason over the past 4 years to expect he will be any better in this year's debates.

He will let Bush* get away with murder, and pin Kerry's ears back for every error, or perceived error, he makes.

:puke:

[cindyw]

6. I have to say that I am looking forward to someone bullying Bush.

I think of all the world Bush deserves to be bullied after the way he bullied the world.

I like to think that Kerry should treat Bush in the way he would treat a world leader who is our adversary. After all the Repubs are the ones who brought up the dumb idea of Kerry not being able to take on terrorism if he cannot take on Bush. Revealing argument to me, but given that the ideais out there now, I think that Kerry shoudl debate him as if he is Yasser arafat, Sharon, Kim Jong Il, etc. It will give people an idea about how he will handle world leaders.

[Eric J in MN]

8. Kerry needs to explain his plans to people who actually watch,

knowing full-well that the media whores will declare Bush the winner of each debate no matter what.