Miami, We Have A Problem (Debate Haggling Continues)

[ruggerson]

From ABC News, Noted Now:

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/NotedNow/Noted_Now.html


MIAMI, WE HAVE A PROBLEM: A senior Republican official tells ABC News' Jonathan Karl that the first presidential debate, scheduled for Thursday in Miami, could be canceled unless there is a breakthrough soon in negotiations between the two campaigns and the Commission on Presidential Debates.

The only remaining sticking point, Karl reports, is the reluctance of the Commission on Presidential Debates to sign the agreement negotiated by the Bush and Kerry campaigns.

The commission and the campaigns have been negotiating a side letter the commission (and moderators) would sign instead of the agreement, but the Bush campaign finds the current draft of the letter too weakly worded.

[Mika]

1. I just heard this on a Guy James show ABC newsbreak

?

[punpirate]

2. As is usual from ABC...

... there's not enough in this to tell what's going on. Is the Bush campaign just stalling? Can't tell, because the disagreements aren't defined. Sheesh. :eyes:

[ruggerson]

3. My gut tells me

That this is Shrub doing a rope a dope.

The way they position Shrub as the underdog is to pretend like he does not want to debate, is fearful of debating, etc.

So they float stories like he doesn't want to face the Town Hall questions. And now, this one that purports to tell us that the Republicans are threatening to cancel the first debate.

It's all public posturing meant to lower expectations for Bush.

Good news is that it doesn't seem to be working this time. New Time poll shows more people think Bush will win the debate than Kerry. That's great news in terms of media reaction to the debate.

[SKKY]

13. That's very good perception...

...The only reason Bush "won" any of the debates against Gore was because he came in as the underdog and didn't get completely squashed. There were so many chances Gore had to just pummel him and didn't. I've heard/read that Kerry took note of this and won't be making the same mistake. I want Kerry to be thug-like in these debates. Like it or not, he's got a perception problem that needs to be fixed, and squashing Bush and doing so very convincingly is the only way to fix that.

[Roy]

4. Maybe Kerry should step forward....

And point out that after Bush trounced Al Gore (as was reported... er spun), he realizes that as the underdog in these debates he will be at a disadvantage, but he is willing to chuck all of the signatures and guarantees just to give the people a good debate.

[Justice]

6. That is A Great Strategy

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. Mmm, what's the matter Georgie

too many people watching your pal Roger Stone right now, for him to pull one of his stunts, at the debate, for you?

[bobthedrummer]

7. What else could be expected from this crew?

:eyes:

[napi21]

8. I heard this same story yesterday on a TV news report.

The comment then was that the moderators didn't see any reason why they should have to sign the agreement. They are professionals and it should be accepted that if they say they will abide by the rules of the agreement, that they will do so.

I don't understand why either campaign would insist on the moderators having to sign this thing. What are they afraid of...the moderator will all of a sudden take off on his own and start asking non-previewed questions?

[Starlight]

12. Bill Moyers recently did a program on the debates

http://www.pbs.org/now/politics/debatehistory2.html

http://www.opendebates.org/documents/REPORT2.pdf

The League of Women Voters refused to continue sponsoring the debates because the parties insisted on having full control. Now the debates are strictly regulated by the candidates because they don't want to have any surprises or look stupid. You *know* little Georgie couldn't actually answer any questions intelligently on his own. He just memorizes/reads the answers his handlers give him. :eyes: The GOP is terrified that he'll make a fool of himself in the debate just like his daddy did in 1992. :)

[FlemingsGhost]

9. Does anyone really think these are going to be "debates?"

C'mon ... really.

(John Kerry will be "Gored." Mark my words ...)

[Roy]

14. What makes it possible....

What makes it possible for Kerry to be Gored is these rules that muzzle Kerry, and allow Bush to not have to speak to important issues.

This is the only purpose for these overly restrictive rules of which Kerry will try to be fair and follow and Bush will ignore with impunity.

They use despicable tactics to gain an advantage and then when there is an outcry, they say "oh yeah, I agree lets's get rid of... whatever.

examples, Ken Starr-independent council..... 527s ---swift boat liars

Kerrys' people should be able to see this and take it to the people and force these idiots have some semblance of a real debate.

[proud patriot]

10. bush is WEAK , what a scaredy cat

:eyes:

[AlCzervik]

11. I saw on either nbc of cbs that the 2st one is all set

but at the end of the report they dropped in a little bomblet about how the commission hasn't agreed to the terms of the other 2 debates.

[DeepModem Mom]

15. "Puts blame squarely on Bush campaign"

Senior debate commission member says debates are in jeopardy, puts the blame squarely on the Bush campaign, Karl reports: "If they don't want to debate, that's fine. They can tell the world why the don't want to debate. If they decide to pull out, it's on them."