NBC will run "preview of debate" Sunday Nite

[mhollis]

NBC Nightly News will have a piece with Bush and Kerry virtualy debating each other on Iraq and foreign policy. One of the "moderators" will be David Gergin. Seigenthaler anchors.

I got wind of this after being asked to do the virtual debates between the candidates. For some reason, Bush didn't seem to get as much time as Kerry.

Enjoy.

[napi21]

1. This could be truer than the debates on Thurs.

At least the snipits won't be a scripted!

[mhollis]

12. The debates won't be debates.

There are so many rules (created by the Republicans) that are designed to put Kerry at a disadvantage that one wonders...

For example, no candidate can ask a question of the other. Like Kerry can's ask Bush, "Where is Osama bin Laden, where is Mullah Omar?" Everything will be totally scripted. The Republicans want a clock on screen all of the time to show when Kerry goes over his alloted time so that they can claim he cheats.

[w4rma]

2. What is a "virtual" debate? (nt)

[faithnotgreed]

3. interesting. thanks for sharing

[Judi Lynn]

4. mhollis, do you have a link for this news?

I tried to look for one, but I'm not sure where you got it.

In the meantime, I've got GREAT NEWS for Missouri Democrats, and a GREAT LAUGH! The Republican candidate for the Missouri's Governor's race, Matt Blunt, is trying to HIDE FROM THE DEBATE with Clare McCaskill, a really fired-up Democrat!

Blunt won't take part in Oct. 21 debate
By Terry Ganey
Post-Dispatch Jefferson City Bureau Chief
09/24/2004

JEFFERSON CITY – Matt Blunt, the Republican governor candidate who once said he would debate any time, any place, has declined to face Democrat Claire McCaskill in a debate scheduled Oct. 21 in Columbia.

Blunt's campaign said scheduling conflicts prevented the secretary of state from participating in the 90-minute, televised encounter, sponsored by news organizations and a college.

"Of course we are disappointed and a little surprised," said Vicki Russell, associate publisher of the Columbia Daily Tribune, one of the sponsors. McCaskill had accepted the invitation, Russell said. The same request was sent to Blunt on Aug. 4.

That was the day Blunt attended a campaign rally with supporters in Maryland Heights and said he would debate any time, any place to shed light on the "stark contrasts" between him and McCaskill, the state auditor.

"He hasn't backed out," said Blunt spokesman John Hancock. "He isn't able to do it. He has a longstanding series of events that day on a policy rollout."
(snip/...)

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/missouristatenews/story/44B8A6E21AC3A73886256F1900754455?OpenDocument&Headline=Blunt+won't+take+part+in+Oct.+21+debate

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yay! Yipee!

[sally343434]

5. More fakery

Gee, a fake debate to go along with the fake polls and the fake supporters. I wonder if they'll have a screenwriter's credit.

Stay tuned for the fake election!

[PROGRESSIVE1]

6. .

[daleo]

7. A "virtual debate" is no debate

What a crackpot idea. The essence of debate is dialog - how can this possibly be considered a debate?

This can be carefully choreographed to provide a show that Bush can be said to win, though.

[sadiesworld]

8. What are you talking about?

Do you have a link for this?

If true, this absolutely sucks...no way NBC will be fair to Kerry.

[mhollis]

11. No link because

At the time I posted the comment, the story had not aired.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

9. I wish they would play Jon Stewart's piece with Bush debating himself

That's one of the funniest comedy bits I've ever seen.

[spooked]

10. Is this it?

http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story1065.shtml

Bush/Kerry in virtual debate

News and financial information site Reuters.com has announced a new video feature which puts US presidential candidates head-to-head on key campaign issues.

'Head2Head' uses video clips of key sound-bites from the campaigns of President George W Bush and Senator John Kerry. Footage will be added regularly until the presidential election in November.

"Readers can see what the candidates have to say about the domestic and international issues including the economy, healthcare, Iraq, terrorism, education, jobs, and other key issues," said Azhar Rafee, General Manager for Reuters.com.