The podium link is outdated. Here's the actual contract. Podia - YES!

[charlie105]

I've been reading posting at DU that state that podiums will not be used at the 1st and last debates.
Here's the posts:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=891043&mesg_id=891043
and
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=890205&mesg_id=890205



Both of these point to the official page of the debates:
http://www.debates.org/pages/news_040813.html

Please note that this is DATED AUGUST 13, 2004.



Now, here's the actual contract signed by the two campaigns:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/documents/debate_mou.pdf
Go to the bottom of Page 8 (sec. 6) and Page 16 (sec. iii). there might be more references that I missed.

And note that the contract is signed SEPTEMBER 20, 2004!

So, what is it? Podiums or no podiums???


:crazy:

[gmoney]

1. Actually, it's "podia"

like the plural of "medium" is "media"

[charlie105]

2. Please don't confuse me more than I already am!

:cry:

[high density]

7. Merriam-Webster says that the spelling 'podiums' is just fine...

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=podiums

;)

[gmoney]

14. Just a joke to muddy the waters further...

...call me a disrupter...

...go ahead, CALL me a rubberhead...

[high density]

27. Sorry, I couldn't tell if it was a joke or

something serious. :)

[incapsulated]

3. It's the final contract

The one signed on the 20th is the only one that counts. The other was what they were negotiating from, but not final.

Thank Christ!

[kokomo]

30. but what about Bush "friend" Bob Schieffer being a moderator???

Bob Schieffer is going to moderate the third presidential debate. Shouldn't he recuse himself sinc his brother Tom Schieffer has a very special relationship with George W. Bush. During the '90s, Bob Schieffer also struck up a friendship with George W. Bush when his brother Tom - now the U.S. ambassador to Australia - became a business partner of George W. Bush in the Texas Rangers.

http://www.tompaine.com/feature2.cfm/ID/2675

[The Chronicler]

4. My thread = overreaction thread of the day.

[incapsulated]

5. We all do it, at least once

Don't feel bad, everyone is a little nutty right now. :hi:

[bain_sidhe]

6. I can't get the pdf to show

I have an older version of adobe acrobat reader, maybe that's the problem? Could somebody copy and past the relevant info about the podia situation?

[charlie105]

8. Yes that's the problem. The link works just fine with Acrobat 6

[bain_sidhe]

9. Sorry, that was rude..

Can you paste it for us luddites? I need to keep my Acrobat 4 because my PageMaker 6.5 distiller uses it.

*edit to fix rude subject line*

[charlie105]

11. Sorry. Didn't mean to be rude. But

I just have the Reader and it does not allow me to copy. Moreover, it's a scanned copy, not created in Acrobat.

But here's the relevant part:

For the september 30 and October 13 debates, the candidates shall appear at podiums.....

and

the candidates shall enter the stage... and proceed directly to their positions behind the podiums....

[bain_sidhe]

12. Thank you

I just get frustrated sometimes, and forget to mind my manners. But, as I said, I can't upgrade... I know the reader's free, but PageMaker ISN'T! It's possible the distiller would work with a higher version, but if it doesn't, I'm screwed, because I'm in the middle of a project that will have to be converted to pdf in a few weeks.

Thanks again for the relevant info!

[napi21]

10. There will be podiums exactly 50 inches high. And there are

quite a few interesting little tidbits in that agreement. Some make sense, and some i find a little weird.

the candidates may not bring any charts, reference materials etc to the debate. They may take notes on whatever color and size paper they prefer and may use a pen of their preference.

Now I understand the no charts stuff, but why is it necessary to specifically permit any color paper and their choice of pens????

I haven't gotten though the whole thing, but some parts are pretty humorous.

[enigmatic]

13. For Bukowski's Sake...

SOMEBODY'S got to get a pic of Kerry standing next to W! How much does Kerry tower over him; 5-6 inches?

[napi21]

29. Shrub is 6'. Kerry is 6'4", I heard this on CNN last week.

[crispini]

15. Oh, jeez, I love this thread

It's got news of substance, a grammar nit about podiums, technical stuff, Luddites, and colored pens. It's got EVERYTHING. It's the OMNI-THREAD.

And I'm really loving this pdf too. I love source documents. Weeeeeeeeeeeee!

[bain_sidhe]

17. Tauntress!

And I'm really loving this pdf too. I love source documents. Weeeeeeeeeeeee!

You are an evil tauntress, and I will throw my sabots at you if you don't stop!!

[crispini]

19. SNORK!

Sorry... would cut 'n' paste if I could... :D

[crispini]

16. Pens and other materials

must be submitted to the Commission FIRST, then will be given to candidates.

Doubtless that's to keep Shrub from bringing in his laser light pen and using it to distract viewers during Kerry's rebuttals. "Hey... what's that funny red dot behind his head?"

[crispini]

18. In town hall debate, all questions

must be pre-approved by moderator (big surprise) and will be asked by the author of the question, who will be cut off if he/she asks a different question.

Ok, not really any surprises there...

"The moderator will ensure that an equal number of "soft" Bush supporters and "soft" Kerry supporters post questions to the candidates."

I suppose that makes me a "hard" Kerry supporter eh?

Both campaigns get to approve Gallup methodology for selection of questioners.

i.e. dig supporters out of the basement somewhere.

[marlakay]

20. My husband thinks Bush will wear shoes to make him taller

What do you think?

[crispini]

23. Kerry could smack him down if he did.

"No candidate shall be permitted to use risers or any other device to create an impression of elevated height."

"Mr. President, could you take off those shoes please?"

[marlakay]

24. Does it actually say that?

thats great!

[crispini]

25. Word for word! nm

[crispini]

21. Nothing so far about

coaching candidate via tiny radio transmitter in ear, heh.

[charlie105]

28. Good point.

dare anyone frisk the president?

[secular_warrior]

22. Whewww! What a relief !

I really thought they had blown it.

Make no mistake about it, the debates are the last 'big moment' in a presidential race, and are on the same level as the conventions, probably even bigger because that is when the swing voters really start to pay attention, with only a few weeks left.

A sit down coffee house style schmoozefest (just think back to 2000 VP debates where Lieberman basically kissed Cheney's ass) would've been a major mistake.

[crispini]

26. Hey, here's the bit about dressing room supplies

What, the pres is off the wagon???????!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BUSH:

Vegetable tray.
Sandwich tray: turkey, roast beef, ham.
Bowl of M&Ms.
Case of Corona.






ok....


PSYCHE!!!!! :silly: