I'm worried about the lights too. Like the CNN crawler.

[tjdee]

Everyone's going to be watching the numbers instead of listening to the answers. That means "reporters" too. They're all going to be trying to catch Kerry going over. Remember when the news networks started the crawler? It was distracting, and sometimes it'd be VERY easy not even to look at the screen save the moving text at the bottom.

When I first heard about it, I didn't *get* it. Which is probably why Kerry's people brought this up today.

God DAMMIT, hello Democrats??? Who the hell agreed to this?? (Yes, I'm talking to YOU Vernon Jordan!)
I HATE that we have to do every single thing Bush wants just to have a friggin debate like we deserve since we PAY his slimy ass.

:grr:

Screw. I'm going to look for some carbs.

[AmerDem]

1. you can thank

Shaheen, Shrumm, Cahill.... all memebers of the gang that can't shoot straight...and damn proud of it!

Sad indeed!

[girl gone mad]

17. Inept all the way.

I hate to be a backseat driver, but with them heading into oncoming traffic so often..

[high density]

2. I think the networks will shut off the crawl for the debates

I wish they'd shut it off almost permanently. The only real use I can see for it is during significant breaking news stories where a ton of fresh viewers are flooding in.

[tjdee]

5. Yes, but there are Lights/counters of some sort on the lecterns!

That's what the Kerry campaign is upset about.
Aww geez, I don't even know are they lights or lit up counters?
Ugh.

[Catfight]

20. This is used in Toast Masters, maybe Kerry wants to distract Mr. ADD.

If he makes a big deal about it before hand, shrubya will get all giddy at the possibility something might bother the Big guy! Don't worry folks, this is completely under our control! We can play by their rules and STILL win because we ARE winning! If Bush were such a great President there wouldn't be 250% more voters in Ohio alone just to oust this piss-ant.

Sit back and enjoy the show.

[ZombieNixon]

26. If you don't want the crawler

watch it on C-SPAN, that's what I'm going to do. Everyone needs to call in to C-SPAN afterwards and say how great JFK2 was and how much Chimpy Arbusto sucked. I know C-SPAN barely counts as national TV, but it seems to be the only place that they actually care about your response. However, if CNN or any of the other networks have a call-in, do that instead; more people will hear the word.

[jean]

3. and who controls the lights? what if there's a malfunction?

[Barney Rocks]

4. Let's not slam Kerry's

negotiating team yet. We know they did score some wins (even the very fact that there WILL be 3 debates). They probably scored some wins that we aren't even aware of. I want to give them the benefit of the doubt at this point.

[tjdee]

6. Can someone detail a win Kerry has gotten?

Beside that we are having three debates, and one will be a town meeting?

It appears Kerry thinks they can work with these jacked up rules as long as they have the chance to debate. Kerry is confident in his debating ability.

But I have a huge problem with 2 things:

1-That we even have to go through this to get a debate.

2-That no one seems to have thought of, BEFORE TODAY, the implications of a rule where Americans will be distracted by such stupidity as moving numbers/blinking lights. I believe the Kerry people say it's like a game show--WHAT are these people getting paid for, if they didn't anticipate that before???

I didn't either, but I'm not getting paid for it.

[Barney Rocks]

11. I have a feeling that

they won on things that we are not even aware of yet (and that even the Bush team does not realize will be wins for us). To say the things I suspect could be used in our favor would tip our hand. But wait and see--I do not think the negotiating team was negligent, I think they tried to set up a win for Kerry. We just need to keep our fingers crossed that everything goes as planned.

Remember--Kerry is playing chess here. The moves may not be apparent to us until several moves have happened. I am not going to second guess the team until it is over.

[tjdee]

14. Okay, I can see that point.

But even if that is the case, then why NOW are they bringing up this lights thing?

I'm all for having faith, and I would be ecstatic to be the one who looks stupid if this goes without a hitch.

I just hope it goes without a hitch.

[Barney Rocks]

15. I admit--the light thing bothers me too.

But--I really do feel confident that we got a few things in the agreement that are going to swing our way. Our team has some VERY smart people on it. So--I am really putting some faith in them--and we will see.

Anyway--all my best regards to you--we are on the same team, and I know sometimes it is hard not to be nervous. This is a big deal and until it is over I will be on edge.

[tjdee]

28. Right back at ya.

Yup, we're all hoping for the same thing.
:)

[Catfight]

21. get ready to look stupid, this is well planned, trust me! n/t

[SoCalDemocrat]

7. Lights are designed to embarrass Kerry

The obnoxious lights are designed to make Kerry look bad. He takes his time making his points, and has a slower speaking style. The Bush team knows this and its why they added it to the format. They want that blaring light going off near the end of every Kerry speech point, so it will become the issue instead of what Kerry is trying to present.

It will be horrendous if they allow the lights to be used in this manner.

[tjdee]

9. So the Kerry people said "Great Idea"?

WTF happened there?
Apparently Joe Lockhart says there's nothing in the rules about them, but shouldn't they have SPECIFIED? Before the DAY OF?

Way to give the media something trivial to focus on. That's the story, nothing to see here!

[WilliamPitt]

8. Jesus fucking Christ

Can we wait for the debate to happen before we declare fucking defeat?

Christ.

There's an old saying, a compliment, about someone 'being a good person to have in a storm.' Remind me to thank God that I'm not at sea with some of the people on this forum, and on this thread.

[tjdee]

10. I'm not declaring defeat at all....

I'm just irritated, very much so, that the lights have now become the focus of this debate (and no, my posting about it did not make it so). The story, right now, is not that Kerry is going to clean Bush's clock. The story, right now, is this light issue.

And if the lights make it to air, "regular" Americans are going to be waiting for that light to blink. That's my concern.

I still think Kerry is going to stomp all over Bush, I'm just curious whether anyone but us will notice. Because of this light issue.

[Barney Rocks]

12. Thank you!

WillianPitt, thanks for some optimism. The pessimistic stuff is killing me today--people are second guessing Kerry and the team, but they have NOT lost yet. In fact, we haven't necessarily even made a big mistake yet. I am nervous too--just because this is a big event--but my hopes are UP.

[girl gone mad]

19. I'm not declaring defeat..

but threatening to bring a screwdriver into the debate hall to remove the lights wasn't exactly the best PR move.

It makes them look foolish, like they didn't even bother to read the contract.

Unless, of course, there plan is to give Bush a false sense of security or make people think Kerry is scared. Somehow, though I think it's just turning the lights into more of a distraction and talking point for the media.

[Catfight]

22. Here's to that Wil Pitt, I'm actually excited about this! Kerry will

turn that boat right into that storm. It really doesn't take much to distract dumbya, the light isn't going to be on the lectern, dumbya would stare at it and go into a trance.

I will donate 300 dollars to DU if Bush mentions the name Osma Bin Laden tonight! Anyone wish to join me?

1000 dollars if he states Saddam and 9/11 have a connection

1000 dollars if he states there may still be WMD's in Iraq

[ZombieNixon]

27. No, don't lose your money

You can bet the Shrub will claim Saddam and 9/11 were connected, as well as the WMD thing. So you're already out 2 grand. The Osama thing sounds good though. If I weren't a poor student I donate, too.

[formernaderite]

13. Team Kerry agreed to this....the worst thing to do is whine the day

of the debate. That makes the news.

[Catfight]

23. Actually, Bush WILL be distracted with that light now! LOL BRILLIANT!

[genius]

16. Kerry should have a team rip them out.

[Catfight]

24. Kerry should have a brand new bulb put into BOTH...LOL...Bush

can't handle distractions folks....give me a break.

[bush equals idiot]

18. I have a feeling

Kerry has more planned than we even dream.

[Catfight]

25. :) you got it! Begala and Carville are WAY smarter than Rover.