Debates will be slogans only - no Spontaneity, long answers, or direct Q's

[papau]

Debates – what Bush demanded and got in return for 3 debates.
1. As the first is likely to be the most widely watched - it will be on foreign policy and national security, rather than domestic policy as was proposed.
2. No direct engagement between the candidates is allowed — Bush’s “My opponent” rules, rather than “George, you are a liar”
3. Any Kerry long explanation will be deemed a “grandstand” – slogans only are allowed – indeed Moderators have to sign on and say they agree with the rules, or we'll find new moderators if they do not agree to turn on the light that will flash for TV audiences whenever Kerry makes a real, non-slogan – response --- and a “long” response will be met with timing lights and of audible time cues to disrupt Kerry’s point.
4. The voters at the town-hall debate won't be undecideds, but, Gallup’s “soft" supporters of each side?
5. Bush can not be asked a yes or no question – or have questions address to him with a "proposed pledges" (although rhetorical questions are allowed!!).
6. The town-hallers can't ask follow ups or participate after they ask their one question
7. Short & cowardly Bush wins a rule that “At no time during these debates shall either candidate move from their designated areas behind their respective podiums’… which will be ‘ifty (50) inches from the stage floor to the outside top of the podium facing the audience and shall measure forty-eight (48) inches from the stage floor to the top of the inside podium writing surface'-where they are free to place paper of their own choosing!
More Short and cowardly GOP person rules are in the VP Debate – they must sit behind a table – as designed by the GOP and agreed to by DEMs – so the youthful-appearing Mr. Edwards standing alongside Mr. Cheney does not make the obvious point.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/21/politics/campaign/21rules.html

by Inch, Bush and Kerry Reach Agreement on Debates
By RICHARD W. STEVENSON


WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 - President Bush and Senator John Kerry agreed Monday to meet for three debates before Election Day, after their campaigns hashed out dozens of details about coin tosses, seating and makeup.<snip>

But should either man feel the urge to stretch his legs during the first or third debates, he will be out of luck. "At no time during these debates shall either candidate move from their designated areas behind their respective podiums," the agreement says.

The first debate will be Sept. 30 at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla.; the second at Washington University in St. Louis on Oct. 8; and the third at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz., on Oct. 13. Vice President Dick Cheney and Senator John Edwards, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, will debate Oct. 5 at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

Spontaneity is in short supply in modern presidential politics. But during the debates, it will have been all but stamped out by the agreement, which was negotiated by two men who have cut a deal or two in their long careers, James A. Baker III for Mr. Bush and Vernon E. Jordan Jr. for Mr. Kerry.<snip>

[shoelace414]

1. same problem as 2000 debates

it's a joint press conference, not a debate

[carpe_vinum]

3. I have to agree. (m)

This is silly. Why bother? :eyes: I can see how this is the kind of debate Bush could rock. Rehearse him and sedate him. He'll do fine.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Bush will get to repeat his bumper sticker slogans.

Terra, terra, terra, weapons of mass destruction, blah, blah, blah. The physical arrangements are to ensure that nobody notices that Kerry is a whole lot taller than Little George (who claims to be 5'11" but probably isn't that tall, and will almost certainly be wearing lifts in his shoes). Historically, the taller candidate has almost always won. Gore was taller, too.

[Kierkegaard]

4. WTF?

Spontaneity? I can't even wrap my head around this nonsense. Why not just have them rehearse lines from 'Dumb & Dumber' and get ratings based on their performances? Or maybe we can have a bikini segment somewhere? What is this, a freakin game show?!?!?

I hope there is something missing from this 'agreement' that we aren't seeing, otherwise I can't imagine why Kerry's camp didn't laugh their asses off at this stupidity.

What a miserable shell of a country we have become. This is disgraceful...

[flordehinojos]

5. well you all, we don't have to wait for the machines to steal the election

The stealing of the November 2, 2004 elections has already begun.
The FEC has granted arrogant boy's every request for gagging his opponent, distorting his opponent's truth, and making sure that his opponent has no come back and no intelligent discussion of the issues at hand. He has also gagged WE THE PEOPLE if questioners during the town hall debate cannot ask a follow-up. Bush can't be asked certain types of questions ... and on, and on, and on.

BUSH IS NOT GOD. KERRY OUGHT TO BREAK THE MOLD. HE OUGHT TO HAVE RED LIGHTS, WHISTLES, AND RED SIRENS FLASHING AT HIM ALL THE TIME. IT WOULD DRIVE HOME THE POINT OF HOW BUSH CONTROLLED THE AGENDA IS. IT WOULD DRIVE HOME THE POINT THAT THE DICTATORSHIP IS IN PLACE AND THAT THIS BUSH DEBATE IS A MOCKERY OF DEMOCRACY.

BUSH WILL FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THE STATE THAT HE HAS SET FOR HIMSELF. KERRY WILL NOT.

BUSH IS A DISGRACEFUL SLUT.