Any Of You Think You'd Beat bu$h In A Debate? (Serious Question)

[Dinger]

After viewing Fahrenheit 9-11, I think I could.

[theivoryqueen]

1. even if I had read no other printed material than "Heidi"

I feel pretty confident I'd whoop his ass

[Occulus]

2. So you've seen it?

I think I could without seeing the film, to be honest. See, just about everyone has more than two neurons to rub together.

[Dinger]

6. No, But In 8 Days I Will

[PragMantisT]

3. Like a friggin' rug!

But there's no joy in beating an unarmed opponent.

[oblivious]

4. If there was a buzzer that went off every time someone lied, I could.

[Raster]

5. i think a head of cauliflower could beat gee-dubya in a debate...

...seriously, any reasonably educated, cognoscente being could take on gee-dubya and win. he is NOT the most articulate of orators.

[Aunt Anti-bush]

7. My 11 year old son said the other day that he could debate Bush

and he would WIN. I don't doubt it, either. He's very interested in politics and can out talk his goofy republican uncle. (Who by the way after talking to my son for about an hour about Bush, has decided he just wont vote at all this year. It isn't a vote for Kerry but at least it is one less vote for *.)

[Mikimouse]

8. I'd like to see him here, for example...

Bush: BLah, blah,blah, WMD, Osama, Sadaam..Blah, blah, blah
Mikimouse: Link?
Bush: No link yet, but definitely blah, blah, blah...
Other Duer: Link, Please
Bush: blah, blah, blah, Sadaam, WMD, Osama, connection, terraists...Blah, blah, blah
Moderator: Deleted, administration removed

[MAlibdem]

9. gimme two weeks to prepare...

...and I think I could.

Since I graduated high school my brain's been off...but give me two weeks to prepare and I'm confident I would soundly beat him.

[janx]

10. Yes, but I don't know that I could do it in a way that either he

or the pop media would really understand.

11. Given a decent set of handlers, nearly any DUer could kick his ass

I'd study the Gore v Bush tapes. I'd study the Carter v Reagan tapes and most importantly, I would study the Bush v Bush tapes from Jon Stewart's show and call Bush on every lie he ever told while trying to get elected.

Throw in a Reaganesque line like "George, you'll just never get it, will you?" with a sprkle in my eye and a half grin, like we were sharing a secret over a beer.

Always push Bush, always question his ability to accept responsibility for his errors. The man has no shame, and cannot conceive of the reality of his own short-comings. Bring it back to that, without wearing any goofy foil hats, and eventually Bush will slip up, say something off the cuff that is blatantly egotistic and self-satisfied.

In short, let Bush beat himself.

[LibDemAlways]

12. The chimp memorizes a few

key words and phrases like "evildoers" "terra-ists" "tax cuts" and "Jesus," and keeps repeating them no matter what question is asked.

So anyone with the ability to articulate a complete coherent sentence could whip his sorry ass in a debate. The media spin is another story.

[Awsi Dooger]

13. No chance, and DUers are severely overestimating Kerry's chances

I have the 2000 debates on tape and have reviewed them extensively. Remember, they ARE NOT DEBATES in the classic sense, merely alternate responses to a moderator's question. The candidates are not allowed to question each other. Several of the early responses to this thread seem to envision a trump card, ad libbed back-and-forth with Bush, getting the best of him in every exchange. That is bozo reality.

The Bush we are seeing and loathing on a daily basis is not the one who will face Kerry. He will retreat to Crawford for a few days and practice positive, big-picture canned replies that are unfortunately the staple of presidential debates. Until watching the tapes from 2000, I had conveniently forgotten how charming and likable Bush can be in those formats, even if phony as hell. He has a great rapport with the moderator, fantastic timing with self depreciative humor and smiles frequently and effectively.

I despise George Bush and his administration as much as anyone on this board, clicking the channel whenever his voice or image is imminent. But I am hardly foolish enough to underrate his personal skills, especially in comparison to John Kerry. At this point in 2000, if DU had existed, I guarantee overwhelming conventional wisdom would have had Al Gore trouncing Bush in the debates and cinching the election.

[bklyncowgirl]

14. It's all about appearances

George W. Bush may not have a clue about policy but he's a skilled TV performer and he can be a very charming man. That's not saying he's a good man. Hitler was a charmer too.

Kerry could win every factual point and Bush could still slaughter him in the debates. The average voter doesn't care about the details of policy. They are looking for someone they feel comfortable with. That translates to someone who looks relaxed, but firm and resolute, a calm big brother figure.

Ask Al Gore how it works.

[Awsi Dooger]

15. Correct, an ideal big brother or next door neighbor-type

I'll never forget when an elderly woman mentioned that priority in the first debate watching party I hosted. I try to gather swing voters and see how they react to the candidates.

Kerry will tower over Bush when they walk out and shake hands for debate #1, always the largest audience by far. That moment cannot be overemphasized. The shock value literally might earn a point or two in subliminal advantage before the first spoken word.

Otherwise, Kerry will need to be extremely relaxed with memorable, big ticket sound bytes and none of that robotic laundry-list policy idiocy like from his prepared speeches. From experience, the casual voters in my living room will shake their heads and either depart for the bathroom or kitchen if Kerry tries to prove he's a know it all.

[tritsofme]

19. Thank you.

Some people need to be brought back down to earth.

If we were looking at a real debate, Kerry would win hands down. But that's not what presidential debates are, they are a whole different animal.

[uptown ruler]

16. Of Course

friends,

I think he beat Gore last round because he just kept his mouth shut and played Mr. Manners. Gore killed him as far as facts go, but Americans are all about image, not brains. I'd just try to out manner him. =P



ScrutinyHooligans

[GreenPartyVoter]

17. If I had a good prep team and a voice coach

[Mobius]

18. No one needs to debate him

he just needs to debate himself, and he'd lose. Like he gets into a fight with his ear piece or something...