Kerry should announce at the beginning that he will break the rules

[59millionmorons]

This would endear him to the media and totally rattle Bush.

[dumpster_baby]

1. I agree--media has already laid a backdrop for breaking the rules

and if the rules are broken, I can only see it helping kerry and hurting bush

[Rosco T.]

3. what's Shrubby gonna do ? Take his ball and go back to Alabama?? n/m

[luaneryder]

9. We can dream, can't we?

[skylarmae]

2. I CAN JUST HEAR THE REPUQ SPIN NOW

[Rosco T.]

4. They can spin this "COWARD Can't stand up to a real man".

[GreenArrow]

6. hey can spin -- "Kerry won't play by the rules"

to remind people of "soreloserman" in 2000. They can spin it as being about "honor and integrity." There is nothing to be gained from kerry breaking the rules. Now, if Bush were to break the rules first...

Bush whined about the rules in the 2000 debates too, FWIW.

[Mountainman]

5. I heard on the radio that the commision for the debates hasn't signed off

on them so they don't have to be obeyed. That's the excuse the media has to use whatever TV shot they want.

[Thrill]

7. If he does that they'll had that to the flip flops

"He was okay with the rules, then he was against them"

More Repuke talking points

[earthside]

8. 35 Dead Iraqi Kids Today

I said something similar to this on an earlier thread.

Kerry should let Bush whine a couple of times about Kerry breaking the rules. Then when the time comes, Kerry needs to go over the time limit and then pound Bush by saying:

"Thirty-five innocent Iraqi children were killed today; hundreds were injured; an American GI was killed today. This is very serious business. And if that means I have to take the time to tell the truth to the American people, then I am going to break some inconsequential rules. A real leader will lead, will not look for protection from technicalities. I am ready to lead this nation through danger into safety ... and you will never hear me whining about 'debate' rules -- I'm going to lead."

Bush will then be destroyed.

[MsUnderstood]

10. And the soundbyte from that masterful commentary

In an outrageous burst of Anger, Kerry spit fire at his opponent "I am going to break some inconsequential rules. "

[dolstein]

11. Kerry should strip naked and write S-L-A-V-E on his forehead

Thanks for reminding me just why the left has become so marginalized. The tactic you propose smacks of desperation, not of confidence.

You are also completely deluding yourself it you think Kerry could do ANYTHING at this point that would endear him to the media. Remember, the media at this point is composed of two types of people: feckless liberals who absolutely despise Kerry because they consider him a phony and raging conservatives who despite Kerry because he's a liberal. The former group will slam Kerry for engaging in a political stunt, the latter will point to this as just another example of Kerry flip flopping. And after Bush has been crowned the winner, he'll walk away from the last two debates, citing Kerry's obvious failure to adhere to the agreed upon rules.

[phish420]

12. I just said a similar thing earlier...except...

I think he should just say from the get go "I wish we could have more of a formal debate and exchange of ideas instead of a scripted presentation", so that he will have said what was on the mind of almost everyone watching. Relate to the viewers off the bat, and they will listen more closely