If I was Karl Rove, I'd tell W to skip the debates

[Atman]

What does Bush have to lose at this point? Plenty! So Kommander Karl will want to salvage what he can of this mess. By using the tactic of saying he won't debate Kerry because he is such a waffler that he can't be trusted to tell his real opinions on anything anyway, it will score all sorts of points with undecideds and fence sitters.

"What chutzpah!"

"Yeah! Kerry said he voted for the war then against the war and that he'd do it again...how can you debate a guy like that?"

Of course, there will be a big outcry. But BushCo doesn't care. Remember, the remaining faithful are unlikely to leave him at this point. He only needs to pick up those on the fence.




Or so they think. Personally, I don't believe anything less than one of their contrived disasters will help him, and even then...not so good.

[Gryffindor_Bookworm]

1. I thought of this, too -- you're right on.

The smartest thing Rove could do would be to have Shrubby skip the debates. He could invent a disaster or else just say "I'm too busy being President -- I can't take time to prepare for and have this debate. The American people have seen enough to make up their minds."

We NEED those debates for the contrast.


God, I wish it was November! I want this long nightmare to be over!!

[RobertSeattle]

2. A year ago I thought Bush would skip the debates

But that was when he was ahead in the polls by double digitis. Skipping the debates, no matter how "good" the spin, will cost him several percentage points in votes - something he can't afford now.

But there's always a chance of LARYNGITIS of epic proportions this fall...

[still_one]

3. The only way it can be done if we are code red

[GainesT1958]

4. I, too, have always thought "Chip" Rove would play this card...

And I still think it's a real possibility. Dub could, indeed, weasel out of them by claiming he's "too busy being a wartime leader" or some such tripe, and save not only himself from embarassment, but also Cheney at the hands of Edwards. Of course, it may well cost Dub a lot of those "fence-sitters"...:eyes:

B-)

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

7. I'm almost more interested in Edwards-Cheney than Kerry-Bush...

One way or another, Kerry would handle himself against Bush.

On the other hand, I don't think the minions of Commander Bunnypants REALIZE that prior to a debate with Cheney, Edwards would effing do his HOMEWORK. He did not win his legal cases by showing up unprepared. And while I know there is frustration along the lines of "why aren't they responding" when the Bush attacks come, the Kerry campaign isn't missing a single crossed "T" or dotted "I."

I think that in a debate, Cheney would walk on stage with his snarly, smirky arrogance and within very short order, Edwards would (to quote "Bob Dole" on "The Simpsons"), "tear him a third corn chute."

Bring it on, Evil Dick.

[BillZBubb]

5. I think that is correct unless they can totally dictate the terms:

1st debate: Each candidate answers questions from the moderators. The candidates cannot ask each other questions. The moderators are Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, and Sean Hannity.

2nd debate: This is a town hall meeting format. The candidates cannot ask each other questions and they cannot follow up another candidates answer to a question. Candidates can segue from a question into any topic they choose without criticism.

3rd debate: Each candidate gives a 10 minute address. Moderator Ann Coulter asks alternating questions to each candidate for 30 minutes. Each candidate gives a 5 minute summary.

Otherwise, a major biking accident might be in order!

[Sporadicus]

6. Would Fence-Sitters Be Impressed By Such Tactics?

That's pretty transparent, and I think people who haven't decided yet have more common sense than the average * supporter anyway.

[zmdem]

8. If I were Rove, I'd disagree with you as Rove

Bush did quite well in his debates with Ann Richardson and Al Gore. The downside of declining to debate is bad. Bush's track record in this regard is good. Therefore, as Rove, I'd say "bring it on".

[DrFunkenstein]

9. Agreed - Bush Is Underestimated Time and Again

And he will be once again. So Kerry is really going to have to nail him. A tie will be a win for W.

[zmdem]

10. Won't be as easy for Bush this time

As the sitting president, he doesn't have the same advantage of low expectations as he did before. Still, I agree, a tie could well be seen as a win for W.

Will be interesting.

[OHdem10]

11. Some predict Bush will win

the debates. OReilly and Larry Sabato(Pol. Science Professor).
"Bush will stand there and say I am the strong warrior---and it is over"

Of course they predict Bush will get a convention bounce after "Kerry is the first candidate in history not to get a bounce"

Do not yell at me. I did not say these things. Fox is busy setting Bush's bar so low with expectations. This is so expected from them. Set the bar so lo--if he grunts he wins.

OHdem10